A Wonderful Medicine

Prince Cheung had been First Minister of the land for thirty years. He was a man just and upright, now nearly ninety years of age. His son was called Whal, and was second in influence only to his father. Both were greatly renowned in the age in which they lived, and His Majesty treated them with special regard. Prince Cheung's home was suddenly attacked by goblins and devils, and when a young official came to call on him, these mysterious beings in broad daylight snatched the hat from his head and crumpled it up. They threw stones, too, and kept on throwing them so that all the court was reduced to confusion. Prince Cheung made his escape and went to live in another house, where he prepared a special medicine called sal-kwi-whan (kill-devil-pills), which he offered in prayer. From that time the goblins departed, and now after five or six years no sign of them has reappeared. Prince Cheung, too, is well and strong and free from sickness.

鄭(チョン)公は三十年のあいだ、この国の首相の位にあった。正しく実直な人で、いまや齢は九十に近かった。その子は活(ファル)といい、父に次いで力のある人物であった。父子ともにその時代に大いに名を知られ、王もまた特別の敬意をもって遇された。ある時、鄭公の家が突然、鬼と物の怪に襲われた。若い役人が訪ねてきたとき、この怪しいものたちは白昼堂々その頭から冠をひったくり、くしゃくしゃに握りつぶした。石も投げつけ、投げ続けたので、屋敷じゅうが大騒ぎになった。鄭公は難を逃れて別の家に移り住み、そこで殺鬼丸(サルクィファン)——鬼を殺す丸薬——という特別の薬を調え、祈りとともに供えた。その時から鬼どもは去り、五、六年たったいまも、その気配はふたたび現れていない。鄭公もまた達者で丈夫で、病一つない。

Yi Ryuk.

李陸(イ・リュク)