The Speaking Horse

There was once a certain King who was greatly wanting in common sense, and in his kingdom there was a Panditaya who was extremely wise. The King had a very beautiful white horse of which he was very proud. The Panditaya was respected and revered by all, but for the King little or no respect was felt, on account of his foolish conduct. He observed this, and became jealous of the Panditaya's popularity, so he determined to destroy him.

むかし、たいそう分別に欠けた王がいて、その王国に、きわめて賢いパンディタヤ(学者)がいた。王はたいそう美しい白馬を持っていて、それを大いに自慢にしていた。パンディタヤは誰からも敬われ尊ばれていたが、王は愚かな振る舞いのせいでほとんど敬われていなかった。王はそれに気づいてパンディタヤの人望を妬み、彼を亡き者にしようと心を決めた。

One day he sent for him. The Panditaya came and prostrated himself before the King, who said, "I hear that you are extremely learned and wise. I require you to teach my white horse to speak. I will allow you one week to consider the matter, at the end of which time you must give me a reply, and if you cannot do it your head will be cut off."

ある日、王はパンディタヤを召し出した。パンディタヤが来て王の前にひれ伏すと、王は言った。「そなたはきわめて学識深く賢いと聞く。わしの白馬に口をきくことを教えてもらいたい。考える猶予を一週間やろう。その終わりに返答せよ。できぬとあらば、そなたの首を刎ねる」

The Panditaya replied, "It is good, O Great King," [72] and went home in very low spirits.

パンディタヤは「かしこまりました、大王さま」 [72] と答えて、たいそう沈んだ気持ちで家へ帰った。

He lived with a beautiful daughter, a grown-up girl. When he returned she observed that he was melancholy, and asked the reason, on which the Panditaya informed her of the King's command, and said that it was impossible to teach a horse to speak, and that he must place his affairs in order, in preparation for his death.

パンディタヤは、年ごろの美しい娘と暮らしていた。帰ってくると娘は父が沈んでいるのに気づき、わけを尋ねた。そこでパンディタヤは王の命を娘に告げ、馬に口をきかせることなど不可能だ、死に備えて身のまわりを整えねばならぬと言った。

"Do as I tell you," she said, "and your life will be saved. When you go to the King on the appointed day, and he asks you if you are able to teach his horse to speak, you must answer, 'I can do it, but it is a work that will occupy a long time. I shall require seven years' time for it. You must also allow me to keep the horse by me and ride it, while you will provide food for it.' The King will agree to this, and in the meantime who knows what may happen?"

「わたしの言うとおりになさいませ」と娘は言った。「そうすればお命は助かります。定めの日に王のもとへ行って、馬に口をきかせられるかと問われたら、こうお答えなさい。『できます。ですがそれは長い年月のかかる仕事です。七年の猶予をいただきとうございます。またその馬をわたしの手もとに置いて乗ることをお許しくださり、餌は陛下がお与えください』と。王はこれを承知なさるでしょう。そのあいだに何が起こるか、誰にわかりましょう?」

The Panditaya accepted this wise advice. He appeared before the King at the end of the week, and prostrated himself. The King asked him, "Are you able to teach my white horse to speak?"

パンディタヤはこの賢い知恵を受け入れた。そして一週間の終わりに王の前に現れ、ひれ伏した。王が尋ねた。「そなたはわしの白馬に口をきくことを教えられるか」

"Maharajani," he replied, "I am able." He then explained that it would be a very difficult work, and would occupy a long time; and that he would require seven years for it, and must have the horse by him all the time, and use it, while the King would provide food for it.

「マハーラージャニ(大王さま)」と彼は答えた。「できまする」。そしてそれはたいそう難しい仕事で長い年月がかかると説き、七年の猶予が要ること、そのあいだ馬を手もとに置いて使わねばならぬこと、餌は王が与えることを申し述べた。

The King was delighted at the idea of getting his horse taught to speak, and at once agreed to these conditions. So the Panditaya took away the horse, and kept it at the King's expense.

王は馬に口をきくことを教えてもらえると思って大喜びし、すぐさまこの条件を承知した。そこでパンディタヤは馬を連れていき、王の費えでそれを飼った。

Before the seven years had elapsed the King had died, and the horse remained with the Panditaya.

七年が過ぎる前に王は死に、馬はパンディタヤのもとに残った。