The Prince and the Yaka

A king of a single city had one son, who was a Prince of five years. At that time, a Yaka [41] having settled in that kingdom began to devour the people of the city, and by reason of this the whole city was like to be abandoned. At last, the King and the men of the city, making great efforts, seized the Yaka, and having made an iron house, put him in it, and shut the door.

とある都の王に息子が一人あり、五つの王子だった。そのころヤカー [41] がその国に住みついて、都の人々を食らいはじめ、そのせいで都じゅうが捨てられかけていた。とうとう王と都の男たちが力を尽くしてヤカーを捕らえ、鉄の家をこしらえてそのなかに入れ、戸を閉めた。

At that time it became necessary for the King of the city to go to war. After he had gone off to the war, when the King's son one day had opened the door of the house in which was the man-eating Yaka, and was looking at him, the Yaka fell down, and made obeisance to him, and signifying his misery to the Prince, began to weep. So the Prince, pitying him, told the Yaka to go away. Then the Yaka, saying to the Prince, "It is good. I will assist you, too," went away.

そのころ、都の王は戦に出かけねばならなくなった。王が戦に出かけてから、ある日、王の息子が人食いヤカーのいる家の戸を開けて眺めていると、ヤカーは倒れ伏して頭を下げ、その惨めさを王子に示して泣きはじめた。そこで王子は憐れんで、ヤカーに行けと言った。するとヤカーは王子に「よろしい。わたしもあなたをお助けしましょう」と言って去っていった。

After he had left, when the Prince had gone home the King who had gone to the war returned, having conquered. When he looked at the room in which the Yaka had been, the door was open. The King asked who had opened the door. The Queen replied that the Prince opened it. Then the King said, "To-morrow I must behead that wicked Prince."

ヤカーが去ってから王子が家へ帰ると、戦に行っていた王が勝って帰ってきた。ヤカーのいた部屋を見ると戸が開いていた。王は誰が戸を開けたのかと尋ねた。后は王子が開けたと答えた。すると王は言った。「明日、あの不埒な王子の首を刎ねねばならぬ」

The Queen, being sorry at this, having tied up a packet of cooked rice, and given it and money to the Prince, and having given him a horse and sword, said, "The King has settled to behead you to-morrow for letting the Yaka escape. Go away at night to any country you like."

后はそれを悲しんで、飯をひと包み縛って王子に渡し、金も渡し、馬と剣も渡して言った。「ヤカーを逃がしたかどで、王が明日おまえの首を刎ねると決めました。夜のうちに好きな国へお行きなさい」

So the Prince, taking the money and the bundle of cooked rice, and the sword, mounted the horse, and set off to go to another country. There was a travellers' shed at the road along which he was going. As he was unable to go further on account of weariness, he went that night to the travellers' shed; and having fastened the horse to one of the posts of the shed, he lay down, placing the bundle of rice at his side.

そこで王子は金と飯の包みと剣を持って馬にまたがり、別の国へ行こうと出発した。行く道に旅人の小屋があった。疲れて先へ進めなくなったので、その夜は旅人の小屋へ行き、馬を小屋の柱につないで、飯の包みをわきに置いて横になった。

Then seeing a youth running along the road, he called him, and asked, "Boy, where art thou going?"

すると道を走ってくる若者が見えたので、呼んで尋ねた。「小僧、どこへ行く」

The boy said, "I am going to a place where they give to eat and to wear."

その子は言った。「食べるものと着るものをくれるところへ行くのです」

Then the Prince said, "I will give you pay. Stop and look after my horse."

すると王子は言った。「給金をやろう。留まってわたしの馬の番をしてくれ」

The youth said, "It is good. I will stay."

若者は言った。「よろしい。留まります」

The Prince said, "I do not know the fords in this country; therefore tell me of a path by which we can go to another country."

王子は言った。「わたしはこの国の渡し場を知らぬ。別の国へ行ける道を教えてくれ」

The youth replied, "There is a river here. On the other side of it there is a city, to go to which there is not a short road from here. However, there is another road further on. By it we must pass over a bridge."

若者は答えた。「ここに川があります。その向こう側に都があって、そこへ行く近道はここからありません。ですが少し先に別の道があります。それで橋を渡らねばなりません」

"If so," said the Prince, "having bathed here let us go."

「それなら」と王子は言った。「ここで水を浴びてから行こう」

Having seen that three Princesses who were at the city on the other side were bathing, he also was pleased at bathing there. After he had gone to bathe, the three Princesses of the King of the country on the other side, when they looked saw the good figure of this Prince.

向こう側の都にいた三人の姫が水を浴びているのを見て、王子もそこで浴びるのを喜んだ。水浴びに行くと、向こう側の国の王の三人の姫は、見てこの王子の立派な姿を目にした。

After that, as the Prince wished to go after bathing, the youth who was to look after the horse having mounted it, began to ride away, wearing the Prince's clothes, and taking the sword.

そのあと王子が水浴びのあとで行こうとすると、馬の番をするはずの若者が馬にまたがり、王子の着物を着て剣を取って、乗り去ろうとしはじめた。

When the Prince, having bathed, and seen the Princesses on the other bank putting on their clothes, came ashore to put on his clothes, on his looking for them there were no clothes, no sword, no horse. The youngest Princess of the three who had bathed on the other side well knew what had happened.

王子が水を浴びて、向こう岸の姫たちが着物を着るのを見て、自分の着物を着に岸へ上がると、探しても着物もなく、剣もなく、馬もなかった。向こう側で水を浴びていた三人のうち末の姫は、何が起きたかをよく知っていた。

This Prince, having on only his bathing cloth, bounded off, and while running along overtook the horse and youth. When he was still far away, the youth said, "Do not come near me; should you come I will cut you with the sword. If you are willing to look after this horse, take hold of its tail and come."

この王子は水浴びの布だけをまとって駆け出し、走るうちに馬と若者に追いついた。まだ遠くにいるうちに若者は言った。「そばへ来るな。来れば剣で斬るぞ。この馬の番をする気があるなら、その尻尾をつかんで来い」

Then because that one in any case must go to the city, he said, "It is good," and having taken hold of the horse's tail went with him. Going thus from there, they arrived at the city.

すると王子は、どのみち都へ行かねばならぬので、「よろしい」と言って、馬の尻尾をつかんでついていった。そうしてそこから行って、二人は都に着いた。

It was a custom of the King of that country that, having sent a guard, when any one of the men of another country arrived, he was to write the names of those persons, and come to the King. When these persons arrived, a guard being there asked their names. The youth who came on the horse said, "My name is Manikka Settiya; except the youth who looks after my horse, there is no one else with me."

その国の王には、見張りを置いて、他国の者が着いたらその名を書き留めて王のもとへ来るという定めがあった。二人が着くと、そこにいた見張りが名を尋ねた。馬に乗ってきた若者は言った。「わたしの名はマニッカ・セッティヤ。馬の番をする若者のほかには誰もおりません」

The guard having gone, said to the King, "Lord, a person called Manikka Settiyare has come and is there, together with a horse-keeper."

見張りは行って王に言った。「陛下、マニッカ・セッティヤレという者が、馬番とともに来ております」

Then the King thought, "Because the man called Manikka Settiyare has this name, Manikka, he will be able to value my gem" (manikya). A gem of the King's having been taken through the whole country, no one had been able to value it.

すると王は思った。「マニッカ・セッティヤレという男は、マニッカという名なのだから、わしの宝玉(マニキャ)を値踏みできるだろう」。王の宝玉は国じゅうを回されたが、誰一人値踏みできなかったのである。

So having summoned that Manikka Settiyare, the King, after giving him food and drink, showed him it, and said, "Manikka Settiyare, there is my gem. Can you value it?"

そこでそのマニッカ・セッティヤレを召し出し、王は食べ物と飲み物を与えてから宝玉を見せて言った。「マニッカ・セッティヤレよ、これがわしの宝玉だ。値踏みできるか」

That Manikka Settiyare replied, "My horse-keeper will tell you the value."

そのマニッカ・セッティヤレは答えた。「わたしの馬番が値を申し上げましょう」

The King became angry because he said, "My horse-keeper will tell you it," and indignantly caused the horse-keeper to be brought speedily, and asked, "Can you value this?" The horse-keeper Prince said, "If I try hard I can." Then the King gave it into his hands.

王は「わたしの馬番が申し上げる」と言われて腹を立て、憤って馬番を急いで連れてこさせ、尋ねた。「これを値踏みできるか」。馬番の王子は言った。「よく努めれば、できます」。そこで王はそれを手に渡した。

Taking it and weighing it, and learning when he looked at it that there was sand inside the gem, he said, "As it now appears to me, the value of this gem is four sallis" (half-farthings).

王子はそれを取って重さを量り、見て宝玉のなかに砂があるとわかって、こう言った。「いま見たところ、この宝玉の値は四サッリ(半ファージング)でございます」

The King becoming angry asked, "How do you know?"

王は腹を立てて尋ねた。「どうしてわかるのだ」

The Prince replied, "There is sand inside this gem."

王子は答えた。「この宝玉のなかに砂があるのです」

Then the King asked, "Can you cut it, and show me it?"

すると王は尋ねた。「それを切って見せられるか」

The horse-keeper said, "If you will ask for the sword belonging to that Manikka Settiyare, I will cut it and show you it."

馬番は言った。「あのマニッカ・セッティヤレの持つ剣をお求めくださるなら、切ってお見せします」

After that, the King gave him the sword that was in the hand of the Settiyare. Then the horse-keeper, taking the sword, and remembering the name of his father the King, and thinking, "By the favour of the Gods, if it be appointed that it will happen to me to exercise sovereignty over this city, I must cut this gem like cutting a Kaekiri fruit," put the gem on the table, and cut it with the sword. Then the sand that was in the gem fell out, making a sound, "Sara sara."

そのあと王はセッティヤレの手にあった剣を渡した。すると馬番は剣を取り、父である王の名を思い起こし、「神々の恵みによって、この都を治めることがわたしに定められているなら、この宝玉をカエキリの実を切るように切れますように」と思って、宝玉を卓に置いて剣で切った。すると宝玉のなかにあった砂が「サラ サラ」と音を立てて落ちた。

Afterwards the King, thinking, "When this horse-keeper knows so much, how much doesn't this Settirala know!" having given food and drink to the horse-keeper, and also to the Settiyare, and having greatly assisted them, made them stay there a little time.

そのあと王は「この馬番がこれほど知っているなら、このセッティラーラはどれほど知っていることか」と思い、馬番にもセッティヤレにも食べ物と飲み物を与え、たいそう手厚くもてなして、しばらくそこに留めた。

The youngest Princess well knew the wicked things that this Settiyare was saying about the horse-keeper youth. On account of her great sorrow concerning this horse-keeper, the Princess instructed the butler who gave the food at the royal house: "Give the horse-keeper who accompanied that Manikka Settiyare, food like that you prepare for me, and a bed for sleeping on, and assist him a little."

末の姫は、このセッティヤレが馬番の若者について悪しざまに言っているのをよく知っていた。この馬番をたいそう気の毒に思って、姫は王の家で食事を出す膳部に言いつけた。「あのマニッカ・セッティヤレについてきた馬番に、わたしに用意するのと同じ食べ物と、眠る寝台を与えて、少し手厚くしてやってください」

After that, the butler and the rest helped him. The Prince was unwilling to enjoy that pleasure. "Ane! I am a horse-keeper. Do not you assist me in that way," he said.

そのあと膳部たちは馬番を手厚くもてなした。王子はその心地よさを享けるのを嫌がった。「アネ! わたしは馬番です。そのようにもてなさないでください」と言った。

After that, the King's youngest Princess, for the sake of sending the Prince away from the post of looking after the horse, went to the King, and wept while saying thus: "Ane! Father, [42] because of this youth who looks after them, my sheep are nearly finished. On that account, taking the horse-keeper who came with that Settiyare, to look after my sheep, let us send the youth who looks after the sheep to look after the horse."

そのあと王の末の姫は、王子を馬番の役から離れさせようと、王のもとへ行って泣きながらこう言った。「アネ! 父さま [42]、番をする若者のせいで、わたしの羊が尽きかけております。それゆえ、あのセッティヤレといっしょに来た馬番を、わたしの羊の番に取って、羊の番をしている若者を馬の番にやってくださいませ」

The King replied, "Having asked the Settiyare we can do it."

王は答えた。「セッティヤレに尋ねてからならよかろう」

The King having asked the Settiyare the thing she told him, "You can do it," he said; and after he had thus spoken to the Settiyare it was done. So the horse-keeper went to look after the sheep. Having gone there, while he was looking after them for a long time, the sheep increased in number by hundreds of thousands.

王はセッティヤレに姫の言ったことを尋ね、セッティヤレは「そうなさってよろしい」と言った。そう言われて、そのとおりになった。そこで馬番は羊の番をしに行った。行って長いこと番をしていると、羊は何十万頭にも増えた。

One day, when the King had gone for hunting sport into the midst of the forest, he was seized there by a Yaka. After being seized, he undertook to give the Yaka the King's three Princesses, and having escaped by undertaking this charge he came back.

ある日、王が狩りの遊びに森の奥へ行くと、そこでヤカーに捕らえられた。捕らえられて、王はヤカーに三人の姫を与えると約束し、そう請け合うことで逃れて帰ってきた。

Next day he made a proclamation through the whole city by beat of tom-toms. What was it? "Having been seized yesterday in the forest by a Yaka, I only escaped by promising to give him my three Princesses. To-morrow a Princess, on the day after to-morrow a Princess, on the day after that a Princess; in this manner in three days I am giving the three Princesses. If a person who is able to do it should deliver them, having married that person to them, I will appoint him to the kingdom."

翌日、王は都じゅうに太鼓を打って触れを出した。何かというと、こうである。「昨日、森でヤカーに捕らえられ、三人の姫を与えると約束してやっと逃れた。明日は姫を一人、明後日は姫を一人、その次の日も姫を一人、こうして三日で三人の姫を渡す。もしこれを果たせる者があって姫を救い出したなら、その者に三人を娶らせ、国を授けよう」

Then Manikka Settiyare said, "I can do it."

するとマニッカ・セッティヤレが言った。「わたしにできます」

On that day, that Prince who was looking after the sheep went to look after them. While he was there, a man, taking a sheep, ran off into the chena jungle. While bounding after him in order to recover it, having gone very far, the Prince saw him go down the hole of a polanga snake.

その日、羊の番をしていたあの王子は番をしに行った。そこにいると、ある男が羊を一頭取って焼畑の藪へ駆け込んだ。取り返そうと跳んで追いかけ、たいそう遠くまで行くと、男がポランガ(蝮)の穴へ下りていくのが見えた。

After going near the polanga's hole, and looking down it, and seeing that the hole descended into the earth, the Prince went along that tunnel. Having gone on from there it became dark, and going on in the darkness he saw a very great light. Having gone to the light, when he looked about there was a man asleep, wearing very many clothes.

ポランガの穴のそばへ行って覗き込み、その穴が地の下へ続いているのを見て、王子はその地下の道を行った。そこから進むと暗くなり、暗がりを進んでいくとたいそう大きな光が見えた。その光のところへ行って見まわすと、たいそうたくさんの着物をまとった男が眠っていた。

Then it was in the mind of this shepherd to go away, and in his mind not to go. If you should say, "Who was sleeping there?" it was the Yaka who had formerly been in that iron house, and had left it. That Yaka at that very time saw in a dream that the Prince who had sent him out of that house had come to him, and was there. While seeing him in the dream, the sleeping Yaka awoke, and when he looked up the Prince was beside him.

すると、この羊飼いの心には去ろうという思いと、去るまいという思いがあった。そこで眠っていたのは誰かといえば、以前あの鉄の家にいて、そこを出たあのヤカーだった。そのヤカーはちょうどそのとき、自分をあの家から出してくれた王子が自分のところへ来ている夢を見ていた。夢で王子を見ているうちに、眠っていたヤカーは目を覚まし、見上げると王子がそばにいた。

The Yaka, getting up from there, went to the Prince, and while he was embracing him the Prince became afraid. Then the Yaka said, "Lord, let not Your Majesty be afraid. The Yaka whom you sent away from that house is I indeed."

ヤカーはそこから起き上がって王子のもとへ行き、抱きしめると、王子は怖くなった。するとヤカーは言った。「陛下、恐れないでください。あの家からあなたが去らせてくださったヤカーは、まことにわたしです」

After that, the Prince sat down. Then the Yaka asked, "Where are you going?"

そのあと王子は腰を下ろした。するとヤカーは尋ねた。「どこへ行かれるのです」

The Prince replied, "That I sent you away, our father the King decreed as a fault in me, and appointed that I should be beheaded. Then our mother, having tied up and given me a bundle of cooked rice, told me to go anywhere I wanted." Having said this he told him all the matter.

王子は答えた。「おまえを去らせたことを、父である王はわたしの咎と定めて、首を刎ねると決めた。そこで母が飯をひと包み縛って渡して、どこへでも好きなところへ行けと言ったのだ」。そう言って、いきさつをすっかり話した。

After that, the Yaka brought the lost sheep, and having given it to the Prince, asked, "What more do you want?"

そのあとヤカーは失われた羊を持ってきて王子に渡し、尋ねた。「ほかに何がご入り用ですか」

The Prince said, "I want another assistance."

王子は言った。「もう一つ助けがほしい」

"What is the assistance?" he asked.

「どんな助けですか」と尋ねた。

The Prince replied, "After I had remained in this way, the King, the father of the Princess who looks after the sheep, and of two more Princesses, having gone hunting and been caught by a Yaka, is giving the three Princesses to him as demon offerings. If there should be a person who can deliver them, he has made proclamation by beat of tom-toms that having given to him the three Princesses in marriage, he will also give him a part of the kingdom."

王子は答えた。「こうしているうちに、羊の番をしている姫と、そのほか二人の姫の父である王が、狩りに行ってヤカーに捕らえられ、三人の姫を鬼への供物として渡すことになったのだ。もし救い出せる者があれば、三人の姫を娶らせ、国の一部も与えると太鼓を打って触れ出している」

The Yaka said, "It is good. I will bring and give you victory in it. Be good enough to do the thing I tell you. After you have eaten rice in the evening, be good enough to come to this palace." He then allowed the Prince to return home.

ヤカーは言った。「よろしい。それに勝ちをもたらして差し上げましょう。どうかわたしの申すとおりになさってください。夕方に飯を召し上がってから、どうかこの宮殿へおいでください」。そしてヤカーは王子を家へ帰した。

The Prince having eaten his rice in good time, went to the Yaka. After he had gone there, the Yaka having given him a good suit of clothes, and a horse, and a sword, instructed him: "As you go from here there will be a path. Having gone along that path, there will be a great rough tree. Go aside at it, and while you are waiting there the Yaka from afar will make a cry, 'Hu.' Having come to the middle of the chena jungle he will say again, 'Hu, Hu, Hu.' At the next step, having bounded to the place where the Princess is stopping, he will again say, 'Hu.' After he has said this, as he comes close to the Princess you will be good enough to step in front. Then the Yaka, becoming afraid, will look in the direction of your face; then be good enough to cut him down with the sword."

王子は早めに飯を食べて、ヤカーのところへ行った。行くと、ヤカーは立派な一揃いの着物と馬と剣を渡して、こう教えた。「ここから行くと道があります。その道を行くと、大きなごつごつした木があります。そこで脇へ寄って待っていると、ヤカーが遠くから『フー』と叫びます。焼畑の藪の真ん中まで来ると、また『フー、フー、フー』と言います。次のひと足で、姫のいる場所へ跳んできて、また『フー』と言います。そう言ってから姫に近づくとき、どうか前に踏み出してください。するとヤカーは怖くなってあなたの顔のほうを見ます。そこをどうか剣で斬り倒してください」

The Prince having gone in that manner to the tree, when he looked about, Manikka Settiyare having climbed aloft was in a fork of the trunk, lamenting, having turned his back. While he was lamenting he saw this Prince coming, and [thinking it was the Yaka], trembled and lost his senses.

王子はそのとおりに木のところへ行って見まわすと、マニッカ・セッティヤレが高く登って幹の股におり、背を向けて嘆いていた。嘆きながらこの王子が来るのを見て、〔ヤカーだと思って〕震えて気を失った。

Then, in the very manner foretold, the Yaka came, crying and crying out. As he came near the Princess, the Prince cut him down, and having drawn out and cut off his tongue, and also asked for a ring off the hand of the Princess, came away to the palace of the friendly Yaka. Having arrived there, and placed there the clothes, the horse, and the tongue, all of them, he returned to his house before any one arose.

そして告げられたとおり、ヤカーが叫びに叫びながら来た。姫に近づくと、王子はヤカーを斬り倒し、その舌を引き出して切り取り、姫の手から指環も求めて、友であるヤカーの宮殿へ帰ってきた。着いて、着物と馬と舌をみなそこに置いて、誰も起きないうちに家へ帰った。

Manikka Settiyare, having descended in the morning, chopped the Yaka's body into bits, and smeared the blood on his sword. While he was there, the King went in the morning to see if the Princess was dead or alive. Having arrived there, he saw Manikka Settiyare there looking on, and he returned to the city, taking Manikka Settiyare and the Princess.

マニッカ・セッティヤレは朝に木から下りて、ヤカーの体を細かく刻み、その血を自分の剣に塗った。そこにいると、王が朝に姫が死んだか生きているか見に来た。着くと、そこにマニッカ・セッティヤレが見ていたので、マニッカ・セッティヤレと姫を連れて都へ帰った。

On the next night, also, they went and tied another Princess. The Prince that night also having gone there, killed a Yaka who came, and cut off the Yaka's tongue, and after asking for a jewelled ring came away. That time, also, Manikka Settiyare went there, and after smearing blood on his sword remained there. The King went there in the morning, and calling the two persons came away.

翌晩もまた、別の姫を連れていって縛った。王子はその夜も行って、来たヤカーを殺し、ヤカーの舌を切り取り、宝玉の指環を求めてから帰った。そのときもマニッカ・セッティヤレがそこへ行って、剣に血を塗ってそこにいた。王は朝にそこへ行って、二人を呼んで帰った。

On the following day he did the very same to the other Princess. This Prince, having taken away the three jewelled rings that were on the hands of the three Princesses, and the three tongues of the three Yakas that he had cut off, remained silent.

翌日もまた、残りの姫にまったく同じことをした。この王子は三人の姫の手にあった三つの宝玉の指環と、斬り倒した三体のヤカーの三つの舌を取って、黙っていた。

As Manikka Settiya had come falsely smearing blood on his sword each morning, as though he had killed the Yakas, the King sent letters to all royal personages: "Manikka Settiya has cut down three such powerful Yakas, and has delivered the three Princesses who had been devoted to be given as a demon offering to the Yaka who seized me when I went hunting. Because of that, I am giving the three Princesses to him in marriage. You must come to the festival, and look at the Yakas who have been killed." After that, the royal persons came from those countries.

マニッカ・セッティヤが毎朝、ヤカーを殺したかのように偽って剣に血を塗って来ていたので、王は王侯すべてに手紙を送った。「マニッカ・セッティヤが、それほど強い三体のヤカーを斬り倒し、狩りに行ったわしを捕らえたヤカーへの鬼の供物として捧げられるはずだった三人の姫を救い出した。それゆえ三人の姫をこの者に娶らせる。祝いにおいでになって、殺されたヤカーをごらんいただきたい」。そのあと王侯たちがそれらの国から来た。

While they were there, that Prince went to the palace of the friendly Yaka. The Yaka having given that Prince golden clothes, and a golden crown and necklace, and a golden sword, told him to go, taking those rings and tongues, and mounted on a white horse. The Prince putting on those things, and mounting the white horse, went.

みながそこにいるあいだに、その王子は友であるヤカーの宮殿へ行った。ヤカーはその王子に黄金の着物と黄金の冠と首飾りと黄金の剣を与え、あの指環と舌を持って、白い馬に乗って行くようにと言った。王子はそれを身につけ、白い馬にまたがって行った。

When he went to the palace where the royal persons were who had come to fulfil the object of the occasion, those royal persons became afraid, and having made obeisance to him, asked, "Lord, where is Your Majesty going?"

この場に集まっていた王侯たちのいる宮殿へ行くと、その王侯たちは恐れて頭を下げ、こう尋ねた。「陛下、どちらへおいででしょうか」

"'I have cut down a very powerful sort of Yaka.' Letters went through foreign countries to this effect, and that there is a marriage festival for the person who killed the Yaka. On account of the news I also have come to look," he said.

「『たいそう強いヤカーを斬り倒した』。その旨の手紙が諸国に届き、ヤカーを殺した者のために婚礼の祝いがあるという。その知らせを聞いて、わたしも見に来たのだ」と言った。

After that, those royal persons said, "It is good, Lord," and with pleasure showed him the heads of the Yakas.

そのあと王侯たちは「よろしゅうございます、陛下」と言って、喜んでヤカーの首を見せた。

Then this Prince asked, "Is there or is there not a tongue to every living being whatever?"

するとこの王子は尋ねた。「生きとし生けるものには、みな舌があるのではないか」

Every one said, "Yes, there is one."

みなが言った。「はい、ございます」

The Prince having looked for the tongues in the mouths of the Yakas, asked, "What is this, that there are not tongues for these Yakas?"

王子はヤカーの口のなかの舌を探して尋ねた。「これはどうしたことだ、このヤカーどもに舌がないとは」

After that, every one asked it of Manikka Settiya. Manikka Settiya being afraid, remained without speaking.

そのあとみながマニッカ・セッティヤに尋ねた。マニッカ・セッティヤは怖くなって、何も言えずにいた。

Then he asked it of the two eldest Princesses. The two Princesses said, "We do not know."

そこで王子は上の二人の姫に尋ねた。二人の姫は「わたくしどもは存じません」と言った。

At the time when he was asking it of the youngest Princess, she replied, seizing the hand of the Prince who split off the tongues and took the jewelled rings, "This one went away after taking in his hand the ring, and cutting off the tongue of the Yaka." After that, the Prince brought to light the three rings and the three tongues, and showed them.

末の姫に尋ねると、姫は舌を切り取り宝玉の指環を取った王子の手をつかんで答えた。「このかたが、指環を手に取り、ヤカーの舌を切り取って行かれました」。そのあと王子は三つの指環と三つの舌を明るみに出して見せた。

Speedily having beheaded and cast out Manikka Settiya, they carried out the wedding festival of the marriage of the three Princesses to the Prince. After that, those royal personages went to their own kingdoms, and the kingdom having been bestowed on this Prince he remained there ruling it.

ただちにマニッカ・セッティヤの首を刎ねて捨て、三人の姫を王子に娶らせる婚礼の祝いを執り行った。そのあと王侯たちは自分の国へ帰り、国はこの王子に授けられて、王子はそこで国を治めつづけた。