The Crocodile's Wedding

In a certain country there is a Crocodile in the river, it is said. On the high ground on the other bank there was a dead Elephant. A Jackal of the high ground on this side came to the river bank, and on his saying "Friend," the Crocodile rose to the surface.

ある国の川に鰐がいたという。向こう岸の高みに象の死骸があった。こちら側の高みの豺が川岸へ来て、「友よ」と言うと、鰐が水面に浮かび上がった。

Then the Jackal said, "Now then, how are you getting on, living in that [solitary] way? I could find a wife for you, but to fetch you a mate I have no means of going over to the land on that bank."

すると豺は言った。「ときに、そんな〔独りきりの〕暮らしでどうしている? わたしなら妻を見つけてやれるのだが、連れ合いを迎えに向こう岸の陸へ渡る手だてがない」

The Crocodile said, "Ane! Friend, if you would become of assistance to me in that way can't I put you on the other bank?"

鰐は言った。「アネ! 友よ、そんなふうに力になってくれるというなら、向こう岸へ渡してやれぬことがあろうか?」

The Jackal said, "If so, Friend, put me on the ground on the other side, so that I may go to-day and ask for a mate for you, and come back again."

豺は言った。「それなら友よ、向こう側の陸へ渡してくれ。今日行って連れ合いを頼んで、また帰ってくる」

Then the Crocodile, placing the Jackal on his back, swam across the river, and after placing the Jackal on the other bank returned to the water.

そこで鰐は豺を背に載せて川を泳ぎ渡り、豺を向こう岸に下ろしてから水へ戻った。

The Jackal went and ate the body of that dead Elephant. Having eaten it during the whole of that day, he returned again to the river. Having arrived there, when he said "Friend," the Crocodile rose to the surface and asked the Jackal, "Friend, did you ask for a mate for me?"

豺は行って、その象の死骸を食べた。一日じゅう食べてから、また川へ戻ってきた。着いて「友よ」と言うと、鰐は水面に浮かび上がって豺に尋ねた。「友よ、わたしの連れ合いを頼んでくれたか?」

Then the Jackal said, "Friend, I did indeed ask for a mate; we have not come to an agreement about it yet. To-morrow I must go again to settle it. On that account put me on the ground on the other side." So the Crocodile, placing the Jackal on his back, swam across the river, and placed the Jackal on this bank.

すると豺は言った。「友よ、たしかに連れ合いを頼んできた。だがまだ話がまとまらない。明日また行って決めてこなくてはならぬ。それゆえ向こう側の陸へ渡してくれ」。そこで鰐は豺を背に載せて川を泳ぎ渡り、豺をこちらの岸に下ろした。

Next day, as it became light, the Jackal went to the river, and as he was saying "Friend," the Crocodile rose to the surface. The Jackal said, "Friend, in order that I may go and make a settlement of yesterday's affair and return again, put me on the other bank."

翌日、明るくなると豺は川へ行き、「友よ」と言うと、鰐は水面に浮かび上がった。豺は言った。「友よ、行って昨日の話をまとめて帰ってこられるように、向こう岸へ渡してくれ」

Then the Crocodile, placing the Jackal on his back crossed the river, and having placed the Jackal on the other bank went again into the water.

そこで鰐は豺を背に載せて川を渡り、豺を向こう岸に下ろしてまた水へ入った。

The Jackal having gone to the dead body of the Elephant, and eaten it even until nightfall, came to the river after night had set in. As he was saying "Friend," the Crocodile rose to the surface, and asked, "Friend, did you get it settled to-day?"

豺は象の死骸のところへ行って、日が暮れるまで食べ、夜になってから川へ来た。「友よ」と言うと、鰐は水面に浮かび上がって尋ねた。「友よ、今日は話がまとまったか?」

The Jackal said, "Friend, I have indeed settled the matter. They told me to come to-morrow in order to summon her to come. On that account put me on the far bank."

豺は言った。「友よ、たしかに話はまとめた。迎えに呼びに来るように、明日来いと言われた。それゆえ向こう岸へ渡してくれ」

After that, the Crocodile, placing the Jackal on his back, went across the river, and having placed the Jackal on the ground on this side returned to the water.

そのあと鰐は豺を背に載せて川を渡り、豺をこちら側の陸に下ろして水へ戻った。

The Jackal next day also, as it became light, went to the river. When he said "Friend," the Crocodile rose to the surface. The Jackal said, "Friend, if I must bring and give you your mate to-day, put me on the other bank."

豺は翌日も、明るくなると川へ行った。「友よ」と言うと、鰐は水面に浮かび上がった。豺は言った。「友よ、今日こそおまえの連れ合いを連れてきてやらねばならぬから、向こう岸へ渡してくれ」

After that, the Crocodile, placing the Jackal on his back, went across the river, and having placed the Jackal on the ground on the other side, went into the water.

そのあと鰐は豺を背に載せて川を渡り、豺を向こう側の陸に下ろして水へ入った。

The Jackal went that day to the dead body of the Elephant, and having eaten it until nightfall the Elephant's carcase became finished. In the evening the Jackal came to the river, and when he was saying "Friend," the Crocodile rose to the surface, and asked, "Friend, where is the mate?"

豺はその日も象の死骸のところへ行って、日が暮れるまで食べ、象の死骸は食べつくされた。夕方、豺は川へ来て、「友よ」と言うと、鰐は水面に浮かび上がって尋ねた。「友よ、連れ合いはどこだ?」

Then the Jackal said, "Ando! Friend, they made a mistake about it to-day; they told me to return to-morrow to invite her to come. Because of that put me on the other bank again. Having come to-morrow I will bring and give you the mate."

すると豺は言った。「アンドー! 友よ、あちらが今日は手違いをしてな。明日また来て迎えに呼べと言われた。それゆえもう一度向こう岸へ渡してくれ。明日来て、連れ合いを連れてきてやろう」

After that, the Crocodile, placing the Jackal on his back, swam across the river, and having put down the Jackal on the ground on this side, went into the water.

そのあと鰐は豺を背に載せて川を泳ぎ渡り、豺をこちら側の陸に下ろして水へ入った。

Then the Jackal, sitting down on the high ground on this bank, said to the Crocodile, "Foolish Crocodiles! Is it true that a Jackal King like me is going to ask for a wedding for thee, for a Crocodile who is in the water like thee? I went to the land on that bank to eat the carcase of an Elephant which died on that side. To-day the carcase was finished. So now I shall not come again. Thou art a fool indeed."

すると豺はこちらの岸の高みに坐って、鰐に言った。「愚かな鰐どもめ! わたしのような豺の王が、おまえのような水のなかの鰐のために縁談を頼みに行くものか。わたしは向こう岸の陸へ、あちら側で死んだ象の死骸を食いに行ったのだ。今日でその死骸は食べつくした。だからもう二度と行かぬ。おまえはまことに愚か者だ」

Having said this, the Jackal came away.

そう言って、豺は去っていった。