How a Jackal Settled a Lawsuit

In a village there is a rich foolish man. One son was born to the man. When they had been there in that way for a long time, as the rich man's son was growing up, his father died. Then all this wealth came into the hands of his son. The son was a fool just like the father.

ある村に金持ちの愚かな男がいる。その男に息子が一人生まれた。そうして長いことそこにいるうちに、金持ちの息子が育つころ、父が死んだ。するとこの財産はすべて息子の手に渡った。息子は父とそっくりの愚か者だった。

One day, having seen a wealthy man going in a carriage in which a horse was yoked, that rich man's son thought he ought to go in that way in a carriage in which a horse was yoked. This rich man having gone home spoke to a servant, and said, "I will give thee thy expenses for going and coming. Go thou, and buy and bring me a horse," he said. Having said it, he gave him a hundred masuran, and having given them sent him away.

ある日、馬をつないだ馬車で行く金持ちを見て、その金持ちの息子は、自分も馬をつないだ馬車で行くべきだと思った。この金持ちは家に帰って下男に言った。「行き帰りの費えは出そう。行って馬を一頭買ってきてくれ」と言った。そう言って百マスランを渡し、送り出した。

This servant having gone on and on, went to a great big country. Having gone there, he made inquiry throughout the country--"Are there horses to sell in this country?"

この下男は行きに行って、たいそう大きな国へ行った。着くと国じゅうに尋ねてまわった。「この国で売る馬はありませんか」

Then a man of that country said, "The Gamarala of this country has many horses," he said. This servant who went to bring horses having given a masurama to the man whom he had met, said, "Please show me the house of the Gamarala who has the horses," he said. So the man, calling the servant, having gone to the Gamarala's house, sent him there.

するとその国の男が言った。「この国のガマラーラが馬をたくさん持っている」と言った。馬を連れに行ったこの下男は、出会ったその男に一マスラマを渡して言った。「その馬を持っているガマラーラの家を教えてください」と言った。そこで男は下男を呼んで、ガマラーラの家へ行って、そこへ送り届けた。

The Gamarala asked these men, "What have you come here for?"

ガマラーラはこの者たちに尋ねた。「何をしにここへ来た」

The servant who went to get horses said, "I have come to take a horse for money," he said.

馬を手に入れに来た下男は言った。「金で馬を求めに来ました」と言った。

"For whom?" he asked.

「誰のためだ」と尋ねた。

"For a rich man in a village," he said.

「ある村の金持ちのためです」と言った。

Having given fifty masuran he got a horse. After he got it he again gave a masurama to that man who went with him. Having given it, and the two persons having gone a considerable distance, [86] this man left both the horse and the man to go [alone], and went home.

五十マスランを渡して馬を手に入れた。手に入れてから、いっしょに来た男にまた一マスラマを渡した。渡してから、二人でかなりの道のりを行ってから [86]、この男は馬も下男も置いて〔一人で〕行かせ、自分は家へ帰った。

When the servant had taken the horse, and gone a considerable distance, after he looked [he found that] night was coming on. On seeing it, taking the horse and saying, "This night I cannot go," having sought and sought for a resting-place, he met with a place where there were chekkus (mills for expressing oil). There this man found a resting-place; and having tied the horse to an oil-mill, this servant went to a village, and ate and drank, and having returned went to a shed at the side of the oil-mill, and lay down to sleep. Having become much fatigued because he had brought this horse very far, the servant went to sleep.

下男が馬を引いてかなりの道のりを行ってから、見ると夜が近づいていた。それを見て、馬を引いて「今夜は行けない」と言い、休む場所を探しに探して、チェック(油を搾る臼)のある場所に行き当たった。そこでこの男は休む場所を得て、馬を油搾り臼につなぎ、この下男は村へ行って飲み食いし、帰ってきて油搾り臼のわきの小屋へ行って横になった。この馬をたいそう遠くから引いてきてひどく疲れていたので、下男は眠り込んだ。

At dawn, the man who owned the oil-mill, having arisen and come near the oil-mill, when he looked saw that a horse was tied near the oil-mill. So this man thought, "Last night the oil-mill gave birth to a horse"; and unloosing it from the place where it was tied, the owner of the oil-mill, having taken the horse home, tied it in the garden.

夜明けに、油搾り臼の持ち主が起きて臼のそばへ来て見ると、馬が臼の近くにつないであった。そこでこの男は「ゆうべ油搾り臼が馬を産んだのだ」と思い、つないであった場所からほどいて、油搾り臼の持ち主は馬を家へ連れていって庭につないだ。

Then the servant having opened his eyes, after he looked, because the horse was not near the oil-mill went seeking it. Having seen it tied in a garden close to a house, he spoke to the [people in the] house, "Having tied this horse near the oil-mill, in the night I went to sleep. This one breaking loose in the night came here." Unfastening it, as he was making ready to go, the man who owned the house came running, [and saying], "Where did my oil-mill give birth to this horse for thee last night?" he brought the horse back, and began to scold the servant. Then the servant thought, "Now I shall not be allowed to go and give this horse to the rich man. Because of it, I must go for a lawsuit."

すると下男は目を開けて見たが、馬が臼のそばにいないので探しに行った。ある家のすぐそばの庭につないであるのを見て、その家の〔者に〕言った。「この馬は油搾り臼のそばにつないで、夜に眠りました。こいつが夜にほどけてここへ来たのです」。ほどいて連れて行こうとすると、家の持ち主が駆けてきて、「わしの油搾り臼が、ゆうべどこでおまえのためにこの馬を産んだというのだ」と言って、馬を連れ戻し、下男を叱りはじめた。すると下男は思った。「これではこの馬を金持ちに渡しに行かせてもらえまい。それゆえ訴えに行かねばならぬ」

As he was going seeking a trial he met with a place where lawsuits were heard. The servant having gone [there] told the judge about the business: "When I was bringing yesterday the horse that I am taking for a rich man, it became night while I was on the road. As there was no way to go or come, I tied and placed the horse at this oil-mill, and went to sleep. Having arisen in the morning, after I looked, because the horse that I brought was not there I went looking and looking along its foot-prints. Having seen that it was tied in the garden near the house of the oil-mill worker, thinking, 'This one breaking loose has come here,' I unfastened it. As I was making ready to bring it away, having scolded me and said that the oil-mill gave birth to the horse, he took it," he said to the judge; and stopped.

裁きを求めて行くと、訴えを審く場所に行き当たった。下男は〔そこへ〕行って、裁き手にことの次第を告げた。「ある金持ちのために連れていく馬を、昨日引いてきたのですが、道中で夜になりました。行くことも帰ることもできないので、この油搾り臼に馬をつないで置いて、眠りました。朝に起きて見ると、連れてきた馬がいないので、その足跡をたどりに見てたどりました。油搾り臼で働く者の家のそばの庭につないであるのを見て、『こいつがほどけてここへ来たのだ』と思ってほどきました。連れ帰ろうとすると、わたしを叱って、油搾り臼が馬を産んだと言って、取り上げたのです」と裁き手に言って、口をつぐんだ。

Then the judge says, "If the oil-mill gave birth to the horse, the horse belongs to the man who owns the oil-mill," the judge said.

すると裁き手は言う。「油搾り臼が馬を産んだのなら、馬は油搾り臼の持ち主のものだ」と裁き手は言った。

The servant having become grieved says, "What am I to do now? Without the masuran which the rich man gave me, and without the horse that I got after giving fifty masuran, having gone to the village what shall I say to the rich man, so that I may escape?" he said with much grief.

下男は嘆いて言う。「いまさらどうしたらいい。金持ちのくれたマスランもなく、五十マスラン渡して手に入れた馬もなく、村へ帰って金持ちに何と言ったら逃れられよう」とひどく嘆いて言った。

Then a Jackal having come there along the same road, and having seen it, asks the servant, "Because of what matter are you going sorrowing in this way?"

すると同じ道を来た豺がそれを見て、下男に尋ねる。「どんなわけでそのように嘆いて行くのだ」

The servant says to the Jackal, "Jackal-artificer, [87] is the trouble that happened to me right to thee, according to what was said?"

下男は豺に言う。「豺の細工人 [87] よ、わたしに起きた厄介が、いま言ったとおりのことで、おまえに正しく伝わるだろうか」

As they were going along, the Jackal, having gone behind him, asks again, "Tell me a little about it, and let us go. More difficult things than that have happened to us--folds [full] of scare-crows tangled together. As we cleared up those with extreme care there is no difficulty in clearing up this also." So the Jackal-artificer said to the servant.

歩いていくうちに、豺はうしろから来てまた尋ねる。「少し話してくれ、いっしょに行こう。われらにはもっと難しいことが起きたものだ——案山子がもつれ合った囲いが〔いっぱいに〕あったこともある。それをたいそう念入りに解きほぐしたのだから、これを解きほぐすのも難しくはない」。そう豺の細工人は下男に言った。

Then the servant told the Jackal the way in which the rich man gave the servant one hundred masuran; the way in which, having given fifty masuran, he got the horse; the way in which, having brought the horse, he tied and placed it at the oil-mill; the way in which the oil-mill owner, unfastening the horse, went and tied it; the way in which, after he went to ask for it he would not give it, saying that the oil-mill gave birth to the horse, and came to scold him; then also what the judge said. The servant told [these] to the Jackal-artificer, making all clear.

そこで下男は豺に、金持ちが下男に百マスランを渡した次第、五十マスランを渡して馬を手に入れた次第、馬を引いてきて油搾り臼につないで置いた次第、油搾り臼の持ち主が馬をほどいて連れていってつないだ次第、返してくれと頼みに行ったのに、油搾り臼が馬を産んだと言って返さず叱りに来た次第、そして裁き手の言ったことを話した。下男は〔これらを〕豺の細工人にすっかり明かして話した。

Then the Jackal-artificer says, "Ane! That's thick work. I'll put that right for you. You must assist me also," he said. "You yourself having gone near the judge again, and made obeisance, you must say, 'The oil-mill did not give birth to the horse. The owner of the oil-mill, unfastening it from the place where I tied it, took it away. I have evidence of it. Having heard the evidence please do what you want,'" so the Jackal taught him.

すると豺の細工人は言う。「アネ! それは厄介な仕事だ。おまえのために正してやろう。おまえもわたしを助けねばならぬ」と言った。「おまえ自身がもう一度裁き手のところへ行って頭を下げ、こう言うのだ。『油搾り臼が馬を産んだのではありません。油搾り臼の持ち主が、わたしのつないだ場所からほどいて連れていったのです。その証人がおります。証言をお聞きになってから、お望みのようになさってください』と」。こう豺は教えた。

So the servant having gone, made obeisance to the judge. "What have you come again for?" the judge asked.

そこで下男は行って、裁き手に頭を下げた。「また何をしに来た」と裁き手は尋ねた。

Then the servant says, "The oil-mill did not give birth to the horse. Unfastening it from the place where I tied it, and having gone, he tied it up. I have evidence of it. Having heard the evidence do what you want, Sir," he said.

すると下男は言う。「油搾り臼が馬を産んだのではありません。わたしのつないだ場所からほどいて、連れていってつないだのです。その証人がおります。証言をお聞きになってから、お望みのようになさってください、旦那さま」と言った。

The judge says, "It is good. Who is your witness?"

裁き手は言う。「よろしい。おまえの証人は誰だ」

"The Jackal-artificer," he said. So the judge sent a message to the Jackal to come. That day the Jackal did not come. On the following day, also, he sent a message. He did not come. Next day he sent a message. That day the Jackal, having thoroughly prepared himself, came to the judgment court.

「豺の細工人です」と言った。そこで裁き手は豺に来るよう使いをやった。その日、豺は来なかった。翌日もまた使いをやった。来なかった。次の日も使いをやった。その日、豺はすっかり身支度を整えて、裁きの庭へ来た。

After the judge asked, "Dost thou know about this lawsuit?" "Yes, Sir," the Jackal-artificer said.

裁き手が「おまえはこの訴えについて知っているか」と尋ねると、「はい、旦那さま」と豺の細工人は言った。

"Why didst thou not come yesterday," the judge asked the Jackal.

「なぜ昨日は来なかった」と裁き手は豺に尋ねた。

"Yesterday I did not come; I saw the sky," he said. While saying it the Jackal was sleepy.

「昨日は来ませんでした。空を見ておりました」と豺は言った。そう言いながら豺は眠たげだった。

Again he asked, "Why didst thou not come on the first day?"

また尋ねた。「なぜ初めの日に来なかった」

"On that day I saw the earth," he said. While saying it the Jackal was sleepy.

「その日は地を見ておりました」と豺は言った。そう言いながら豺は眠たげだった。

"Why hast thou come to-day?" he asked.

「なぜ今日は来た」と尋ねた。

"To-day I saw the fire," he said.

「今日は火を見ました」と豺は言った。

"Having seen the sky why didst thou not come?" the judge asked.

「空を見て、なぜ来なかった」と裁き手は尋ねた。

Then the Jackal says, "O Lord, the sky cannot be trusted. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it clears up. Because of that I did not come." Having said it he was sleepy.

すると豺は言う。「旦那さま、空は当てになりません。あるときは雨が降り、あるときは晴れます。それで来なかったのです」。そう言いながら眠たげだった。

"Having seen the earth why didst thou not come?" he asked.

「地を見て、なぜ来なかった」と尋ねた。

"That also cannot be trusted," he said. "In some places there are mounds, in some places it is flat; in some places there is water, in some places there is not water," he said. Having said it he was sleepy.

「それも当てになりません」と豺は言った。「あるところには塚があり、あるところは平ら。あるところには水があり、あるところには水がありません」と言った。そう言いながら眠たげだった。

"What hast thou come to-day for?" the judge asked.

「今日は何をしに来た」と裁き手は尋ねた。

"To-day I saw the fire," he said. "Because of that I came," he said. Then the Jackal says, "After the fire has blazed up you do not look after your cold hut. I do not look after my palace also." [88] Having said it the Jackal was sleepy.

「今日は火を見ました」と豺は言った。「それで来たのです」と言った。そして豺は言う。「火が燃え上がったら、あなたさまは冷えた小屋の面倒を見ませんな。わたしも自分の宮殿の面倒を見ません」 [88]。そう言いながら豺は眠たげだった。

On account of that saying the judge having become angry, "Being here what art thou sleeping for?" he asked.

その言葉に裁き手は腹を立てて、「ここにいながら何を眠っているのだ」と尋ねた。

"Ane! O Lord who will become a thousand Buddhas [in future existences], I am very sleepy indeed," he said.

「アネ! 〔後の世で〕千の仏となられる御方さま、まことにたいそう眠いのでございます」と言った。

"Why, Bola?" he asked.

「なぜだ、ボラ」と尋ねた。

"Last night I went to look at the fishes sporting on the land. Because of that I am sleepy," he said.

「ゆうべ、陸で戯れる魚を見に行っておりました。それで眠いのです」と言った。

Then the judge having become angry with the Jackal, says very severely, "Having beaten him, cast ye him out."

すると裁き手は豺に腹を立てて、たいそう厳しく言う。「打って、あれを放り出せ」

This rascally Jackal having prayed with closed paws, saying, "O Lord, who will become a thousand Buddhas," fell down and made obeisance.

この食わせ者の豺は前足を合わせて祈り、「千の仏となられる御方さま」と言って、ひれ伏して頭を下げた。

"In what country, Bola, Jackal, do the fish who are in the water sport on the land?" the judge asked the Jackal.

「ボラ、豺よ、どこの国で水にいる魚が陸で戯れるのだ」と裁き手は豺に尋ねた。

The Jackal said, "I must receive permission [to ask also a question], O Lord. How does an oil-mill which expresses the kinds of oils give birth to horses?"

豺は言った。「〔わたくしからも問う〕お許しをいただかねばなりません、御方さま。油という油を搾る油搾り臼が、どうやって馬を産むのでございますか」

Then the judge, having become ashamed and his anger having gone, told the rich man's servant to take away the horse.

すると裁き手は恥じ入って怒りも去り、金持ちの下男に馬を連れていけと言った。