The White Turtle

At a village there are an elder sister and a younger sister, two persons. The two are going away, it is said.

ある村に姉と妹の二人がいる。二人は出かけていくのだという。

While going, they saw two bulls going along. Then the cattle asked, "Where are you going?"

行く途中、牡牛が二頭歩いているのを見た。すると牛たちが尋ねた。「どこへ行くのだ」

"We are going to a country where they give to eat and to wear" (meaning that they were in search of husbands).

「食べるものと着るものをくれる国へ行くのです」(つまり夫を探しているということである)。

"Are we good enough for you?" [31] the cattle asked.

「われらではおまえたちに釣り合わぬか」 [31] と牛たちは尋ねた。

"What do you eat?" they asked.

「あなたがたは何を食べるのですか」と二人は尋ねた。

"Having been put in those chenas we eat paddy and jungle vegetables."

「あの焼畑に入れられて、籾や藪の菜を食う」

Saying, "We don't want you," the two women go on.

「あなたがたはいりません」と言って、二人の女は先へ行く。

As they were going, they met with two jackal-dogs. "Where are you going?" they asked the two women.

行っていくと、豺犬に二匹出会った。「どこへ行くのだ」と二人の女に尋ねた。

"We are going to a country where they give to eat and to wear," they said.

「食べるものと着るものをくれる国へ行くのです」と言った。

"Are we good enough for you?" they asked.

「われらではおまえたちに釣り合わぬか」と尋ねた。

"What do you eat?" they asked.

「あなたがたは何を食べるのですか」と二人は尋ねた。

"We eat a few fruits and crabs," the two jackals said. "What do you eat?"

「われらは木の実や蟹を少し食う」と二匹の豺は言った。「おまえたちは何を食う」

"We eat dried-fish fry," they said. Saying, "We do not want two jackals," the two women still go on.

「わたしたちは干魚の揚げものを食べます」と言った。「豺は二匹ともいりません」と言って、二人の女はなお先へ行く。

While they were going, an elder brother and a younger brother were ploughing. They asked the two women, "Where are you going?"

行っていくと、兄と弟が鋤いていた。二人は女たちに尋ねた。「どこへ行くのだ」

"We are going to a country where they give to eat and to wear," they said.

「食べるものと着るものをくれる国へ行くのです」と言った。

"Are we good enough for you?" they asked.

「われらではおまえたちに釣り合わぬか」と尋ねた。

The two women asked, "What do you eat?"

二人の女は尋ねた。「あなたがたは何を食べるのですか」

"We eat dry-fish fry," they said.

「われらは干魚の揚げものを食う」と言った。

"Then both parties eat it," they said. "It is good."

「それではどちらも同じものを食べるのですね」と言った。「それはよろしい」

"If so, it is good. Go to our house," the men said. [32]

「それならよろしい。われらの家へ行け」と男たちは言った。 [32]

Afterwards those two men, having given the two keys of their houses into the hands of the elder sister and the younger sister, said, "The cooking things are in such a place; go there, and having opened the doors cook until we come."

そのあと二人の男は、姉と妹の手に家の鍵を二つ渡して言った。「煮炊きの品はどこそこにある。そこへ行って、戸を開けて、われらが帰るまで煮炊きしておいてくれ」

Then the two women went to the houses, and the elder sister opened the door of the elder brother's house and cooked; and the younger sister opened the door of the younger brother's house and cooked. Afterwards the two men came home, and having eaten, stopped there [with the sisters, as their husbands].

そこで二人の女は家へ行き、姉は兄の家の戸を開けて煮炊きをし、妹は弟の家の戸を開けて煮炊きをした。そのあと二人の男が帰ってきて、食べてから、そこに〔姉妹とともに、その夫として〕留まった。

After many days had passed, the two sisters bore two girls. The younger sister had many things at her house; the elder sister had none. On account of that, the elder sister through ill-feeling thought, "I must kill younger sister."

多くの日がたって、二人の姉妹は二人の娘を産んだ。妹の家には品がたくさんあった。姉の家には何もなかった。それで姉は悪心から「妹を殺さねばならぬ」と思った。

One day, the two sisters having cooked rice, while they were taking it to the rice field the younger sister went in front, and the elder sister went behind. On the way, they came near the river. Then the elder sister said, "Younger sister, didst thou never bathe? The skin on thy back is dirty. Take off that necklace and the clothes on thy body, and lay them down, and let us bathe and then go."

ある日、二人の姉妹が飯を炊いて田へ運んでいくとき、妹が先を行き、姉がうしろを行った。道中、川のそばに来た。すると姉は言った。「妹や、おまえは水を浴びたことがないのかい。背中の肌が汚れているよ。その首飾りと体の着物を脱いで置いて、水を浴びてから行こう」

They put down the two mat boxes of cooked rice, and having descended into the river, she called, while bathing, to her sister, "Younger sister, come here for me to rub thy back." While rubbing she threw her into the middle of the river. Then she took the two boxes of cooked rice and went to the rice field. The younger sister died in the river.

二人は炊いた飯の莚箱を二つ置いて川へ下り、水を浴びながら姉は妹を呼んだ。「妹や、背中をこすってあげるからこちらへおいで」。そしてこすりながら、妹を川の真ん中へ投げ込んだ。それから炊いた飯の箱を二つ取って田へ行った。妹は川で死んだ。

After the elder sister went to the rice field, the younger brother asked at the hand of the elder sister, "Why has no one come from our house?"

姉が田へ行くと、弟は姉に尋ねた。「なぜうちの者は誰も来ないのだ」

Then the elder sister said, "Ando! Catch her coming! [33] Isn't she playing [illicit] games at home?" Having given the two boxes of rice to the elder brother and the younger brother, that woman returned home.

すると姉は言った。「アンドー! 来るものですか! [33] 家でよからぬ遊びをしているのでしょう」。そして炊いた飯の箱を二つ、兄と弟に渡して、その女は家へ帰った。

Afterwards that younger sister's girl asked, "Loku-Amma, [34] where is our mother?"

そのあと妹の娘が尋ねた。「ロク・アンマ [34]、うちの母さんはどこ」

Then the woman said, "Ando! Catch her coming! When I came she was still stopping in the rice field."

すると女は言った。「アンドー! 来るものですか! わたしが帰るとき、まだ田にいましたよ」

After it became night, the elder brother and the younger brother having come home, the younger brother asked, "Girl, where is thy mother?"

夜になって、兄と弟が帰ってきて、弟が尋ねた。「娘よ、おまえの母さんはどこだ」

Then the girl said, "At noon she took cooked rice to the rice field with Loku-Amma; she has not come yet."

すると娘は言った。「昼にロク・アンマといっしょに炊いた飯を田へ運んでいきました。まだ帰ってきません」

The younger brother said, "Where? She did not go to the rice field."

弟は言った。「どこへ。田へは来なかったぞ」

Then the girl said, "At the time when I asked at the hand of Loku-Amma, 'Where is our mother?' she said, 'She is at the rice field.'"

すると娘は言った。「ロク・アンマに『うちの母さんはどこ』と尋ねたら、『田にいる』と言いました」

Afterwards the elder sister, calling the elder brother and the younger brother, both of them [to be her husbands], took her sister's goods, and remained there with them. From the next day, having cooked she gave the rice into the hands of the two girls to take to the rice field.

そのあと姉は兄と弟の二人を呼んで〔二人とも自分の夫にして〕、妹の品を取り、彼らとそこに留まった。翌日から、飯を炊いて、二人の娘の手に渡して田へ運ばせた。

After the girls had gone near the river for two or three days, they saw one day a White Turtle in it, and approached and tried to catch it. When the elder sister's girl went to catch it, it went to the middle of the river; when the younger sister's girl went, it came to the bank, and rubbed itself over the whole of her body.

娘たちが二、三日、川のそばへ行ったあと、ある日、そこに白い亀がいるのを見て、近寄って捕まえようとした。姉の娘が捕まえに行くと川の真ん中へ行き、妹の娘が行くと岸へ来て、その体じゅうに身をこすりつけた。

After the elder sister's girl had gone home, she told the elder sister of it: "Mother, there is a White Turtle in the river. When that girl goes it comes to her; when I go it swims far away," she said.

姉の娘は家に帰ってから、姉にそのことを告げた。「母さん、川に白い亀がいるの。あの子が行くと寄ってくるのに、わたしが行くと遠くへ泳いでいってしまうの」と言った。

That elder sister said, "Ha. It is good. I shall eat it," and lay down.

その姉は言った。「ふん。それはよい。わたしがそれを食べよう」と言って、横になった。

The younger sister's girl hearing it, went near the river, and said, "Mother, she must eat you, says Loku-Amma."

妹の娘はそれを聞いて、川のそばへ行って言った。「母さん、ロク・アンマがあなたを食べると言っています」

Then the White Turtle said, "Ha. It is good, daughter. Let her eat. After she has cooked she will give you, also, a little gravy, and a bone. Drink the gravy, and take the bone to the cattle-fold, and having said, 'If it be true that you are our mother, may you be created a Mango tree,' throw it down."

すると白い亀は言った。「ふん。それはよい、娘や。食べさせておやり。煮てから、おまえにも汁を少しと骨を一本くれるだろう。汁を飲んで、骨は牛囲いへ持っていって、『あなたがまことにわたしたちの母さんなら、マンゴーの木となりますように』と言って投げ下ろすのだよ」

Afterwards, when those two men came home, having seen that the woman was lying down, "What are you lying down for?" they asked.

そのあと二人の男が帰ってきて、女が横になっているのを見て、「なぜ横になっている」と尋ねた。

Then the woman said, "It is in my mind to eat the White Turtle that is in the river." So the men went to the river, and having caught the White Turtle, and brought it home, and cooked it, gave it to the woman. Then the woman got up and ate it.

すると女は言った。「川にいる白い亀を食べたいのです」。そこで男たちは川へ行って白い亀を捕らえ、家へ持ち帰って煮て、女に渡した。すると女は起き上がってそれを食べた。

She gave the girl a little gravy, and a bone. The girl having drunk the gravy, took the bone to the cattle-fold, and saying, "If it be true that you are our mother, may you be created a Mango tree," threw down the bone.

女は娘に汁を少しと骨を一本渡した。娘は汁を飲んで、骨を牛囲いへ持っていき、「あなたがまことにわたしたちの母さんなら、マンゴーの木となりますように」と言って骨を投げ下ろした。

After that, a Mango tree being created, in a day or two grew large and bore fruit. As the two girls were going near the Mango tree they saw that there were Mangoes on it, and went close to it. When the elder sister's girl went to pluck the Mango fruits, the branches rose up; when the younger sister's girl went to pluck them, the branches bent down, and spread over her body and head. Well then, after that girl had plucked and eaten as many as she wanted, the branches rose again.

そのあとマンゴーの木が生じて、一日二日で大きく育ち、実をつけた。二人の娘がマンゴーの木のそばへ行くと、実がなっているのが見えたので、近寄った。姉の娘がマンゴーの実をもごうとすると枝は持ち上がり、妹の娘がもごうとすると枝は垂れ下がって、その体と頭に広がった。さてその娘がほしいだけもいで食べると、枝はまた持ち上がった。

That also the elder sister's girl, having come home, told her: "Mother, there are fruits on the Mango tree at the cattle-fold. When I try to pluck them the branches rise; when that girl tries to pluck them the branches rub the ground."

それも姉の娘は家に帰って告げた。「母さん、牛囲いのマンゴーの木に実がなっているの。わたしがもごうとすると枝が上がって、あの子がもごうとすると枝が地面をこするの」

The woman said, "Ha. It is good. I will split that and warm it in the fire."

女は言った。「ふん。それはよい。それを割って火にかけて暖まろう」

After hearing that also, that girl, having gone to the Mango tree said, "Mother, having split you she must warm you in the fire, Loku-Amma says."

それも聞いて、その娘はマンゴーの木へ行って言った。「母さん、ロク・アンマが、あなたを割って火にかけて暖まると言っています」

Then the Mango tree said, "Ha. It is good, daughter. Let her split. A splinter having fallen will remain here. Take it, and having said, 'If it be true that you are our mother, may you be created a Kaekiri creeper,' put it down at the back of the house."

するとマンゴーの木は言った。「ふん。それはよい、娘や。割らせておやり。木くずが一つ落ちてここに残るだろう。それを取って、『あなたがまことにわたしたちの母さんなら、カエキリの蔓となりますように』と言って、家の裏に置くのだよ」

Afterwards, when the elder sister's two men came, having seen that she was lying down, "What are you lying down for to-day also?" they asked.

そのあと姉の二人の男が帰ってきて、女が横になっているのを見て、「今日もなぜ横になっている」と尋ねた。

Then the woman said, "Having split the Mango tree at the cattle-fold, it is in my mind to have a few splinters warmed for me in the fire." So the two men having gone to the cattle-fold, and having cut and split up the Mango tree, and brought a few splinters home, put them in the fire and fanned it. After that, the woman got up, and warmed herself at the fire.

すると女は言った。「牛囲いのマンゴーの木を割って、その木くずを火にかけて暖まりたいのです」。そこで二人の男は牛囲いへ行き、マンゴーの木を切って割り、木くずを少し家へ持ってきて火に入れ、あおいだ。そのあと女は起き上がって、火で暖まった。

Then that girl went to the place where the Mango tree was, and when she looked a splinter was there. Taking it, she came to the back of the house, and having said, "If it be true that you are our mother, may you be created a Kaekiri creeper," she put it down. In a day or two a Kaekiri creeper was created there, and bore fruits.

そのあとその娘はマンゴーの木のあった場所へ行って見ると、木くずが一つあった。それを取って家の裏へ来て、「あなたがまことにわたしたちの母さんなら、カエキリの蔓となりますように」と言って置いた。一日二日でそこにカエキリの蔓が生じて、実をつけた。

On going there, the younger sister's girl said, "There is fruit," and having plucked and eaten as many as she wanted, she came home. When the elder sister's girl went to pluck them there was not a single fruit.

そこへ行くと、妹の娘は「実がある」と言って、ほしいだけもいで食べて家に帰った。姉の娘がもぎに行くと、実は一つもなかった。

Having returned home, the girl said regarding that also, "Mother, on the Kaekiri creeper which is at the back of the house there are many fruits when that girl goes to it; when I go, not a single one."

家に帰って、娘はそれも告げた。「母さん、家の裏のカエキリの蔓に、あの子が行くとたくさん実がなるのに、わたしが行くと一つもないの」

The woman said, "Ha. It is good. Having uprooted it I will eat it in a dry curry."

女は言った。「ふん。それはよい。それを引き抜いて、汁なしの煮物にして食べよう」

That girl after hearing that also, went near the Kaekiri creeper and said, "Mother, having uprooted you and cooked you in a dry curry, she must eat you, says Loku-Amma."

それも聞いて、その娘はカエキリの蔓のそばへ行って言った。「母さん、ロク・アンマが、あなたを引き抜いて汁なしの煮物にして食べると言っています」

The Kaekiri creeper said, "Ha. It is good, daughter. Let her eat. At the place where I am uprooted there will be a Kaekiri root. Take it to the river, and having said, 'If it be true that you are our mother, be created a Blue-Lotus flower,' throw it into the river."

カエキリの蔓は言った。「ふん。それはよい、娘や。食べさせておやり。わたしが引き抜かれた場所にカエキリの根が残るだろう。それを川へ持っていって、『あなたがまことにわたしたちの母さんなら、青蓮の花となりますように』と言って、川に投げ入れるのだよ」

The elder sister having uprooted the Kaekiri creeper, took it home, and having cooked the curry, ate. After that, the girl went to the place where the Kaekiri creeper had been, and when she looked a Kaekiri root was there. Having taken it to the river, and said, "If it be true that you are our mother, be created a Blue-Lotus flower," she threw it into the river. Then a Blue-Lotus flower was created.

姉はカエキリの蔓を引き抜いて家へ持ち帰り、煮物にして食べた。そのあと娘はカエキリの蔓のあった場所へ行って見ると、カエキリの根があった。それを川へ持っていって、「あなたがまことにわたしたちの母さんなら、青蓮の花となりますように」と言って、川に投げ入れた。すると青蓮の花が生じた。

When the two girls were going together to the river to bathe, having seen that there was a Blue-Lotus flower, that younger sister's girl went and held out her hands in a cup shape. Then the flower which was in the middle of the river came into the girl's hands, and opened out while in her hands. When the elder sister's girl was holding her hands for it, it goes to the middle of the river.

二人の娘がいっしょに川へ水を浴びに行くと、青蓮の花があるのを見て、その妹の娘が行って両手を椀の形に差し出した。すると川の真ん中にあった花が娘の手に来て、その手のなかで開いた。姉の娘が手を差し出すと、花は川の真ん中へ行ってしまう。

That girl having come home, said of it also, "Mother, there is a Blue-Lotus flower in the river. When that girl goes it comes to her hands; when I go it moves far away."

その娘は家に帰って、それも告げた。「母さん、川に青蓮の花があるの。あの子が行くと手に来るのに、わたしが行くと遠くへ動いてしまうの」

The woman said, "Ha! It is good. That also I shall seize, and take."

女は言った。「ふん! それはよい。それも捕らえて取ってやろう」

The girl after having heard that also, went and said, "Mother, she must pluck you also, says Loku-Amma."

それも聞いて、娘は行って言った。「母さん、ロク・アンマが、あなたも摘むと言っています」

Then the Blue-Lotus flower said, "Let that woman say so, daughter. She is unable to pluck me."

すると青蓮の花は言った。「そう言わせておおき、娘や。あの女にわたしは摘めない」

Afterwards the woman having told at the hands of the two men, "Pluck the flower and come back," the two men having gone to the river tried to pluck it; they could not. When they are trying to pluck it, it goes to the middle of the river.

そのあと女が二人の男に「花を摘んで帰ってきておくれ」と言うと、二人の男は川へ行って摘もうとしたが、できなかった。摘もうとすると、花は川の真ん中へ行ってしまう。

Afterwards, the men having told it at the hand of the King of the country, and having told the King to cause the flower to be plucked and to give them it, the King also came near the river on the back of an elephant, together with the King's servants. The elder sister, and the two girls, and the two men stayed on this side.

そのあと男たちはそれを国の王に告げ、花を摘ませて渡してくれと王に頼んだ。そこで王も、王の従者とともに、象の背に乗って川のそばへ来た。姉と二人の娘と二人の男はこちら側にいた。

Then the people on this side and the people on that side try and try to take that flower; they cannot take it. That younger sister's girl having gone to one side, after looking on said, "Indeed I am able to take it, that flower." The King on the other side of the river having heard that, while he was on the back of the elephant, said, "What is it, girl, that you are saying?"

こちら側の者もあちら側の者も、その花を取ろうと試みに試みたが、取れなかった。その妹の娘が脇へ行って、見てから言った。「わたしならあの花を取れます」。川の向こう側の王がそれを聞いて、象の背にいながら言った。「娘よ、何を言っているのだ」

Then that girl said, "O Lord, I am greatly afraid to speak; I indeed am able to take it, the flower."

するとその娘は言った。「陛下、申し上げるのがたいそう恐ろしゅうございます。わたしならあの花を取れます」

"Ha. Take it," the King said. Afterwards, when the girl was holding her hands in a cup shape, the flower that was in the middle of the river came into her hands.

「よし。取ってみよ」と王は言った。そのあと娘が両手を椀の形に差し出すと、川の真ん中にあった花がその手に来た。

Afterwards the King, taking that flower, and placing the girl on the elephant, went to the King's city.

そのあと王はその花を取って、娘を象に乗せ、王の都へ行った。