The Jackal and the Turtle

At a village there is a large pond. At the margin of the pond two Storks [89] live. When they had been eating the small fishes in that pond in that way for a long time, the pond became dried up by a very great drought. These two Storks having eaten the small fishes in the pond until they were becoming finished, one day a Stork of these two Storks having spoken to the other Stork, says, "Friend, now then, that we have been here is no matter to us. Because of it let us go to another district." Thus he spoke.

ある村に大きな池がある。池のほとりに二羽の鸛 [89] が住んでいる。長いことその池の小魚を食べてきたが、たいそうな日照りで池は涸れてしまった。この二羽の鸛は池の小魚を食べつくしかけて、ある日、この二羽のうち一羽がもう一羽に言う。「友よ、さて、ここにいても何にもならぬ。それゆえ別の土地へ行こう」。こう言った。

Now, a Turtle stayed in the pond. The Turtle having heard the speech of these two Storks, the Turtle says, "Ane! Friends, I also now have been staying in this pond a long time. The pond having now dried up, I also have nothing to eat, nor water to be in, and nowhere to go. Because of it, friends, having taken me to the village to which you two go, put me down there," the Turtle said to the two Storks.

さて、その池に亀が棲んでいた。亀はこの二羽の鸛の話を聞いて、こう言う。「アネ! 友よ、わたしも長いことこの池に棲んできた。池が涸れてしまって、わたしも食べるものも、いる水も、行くところもない。それゆえ友よ、おまえたち二羽の行く村へわたしを連れていって、そこに置いてくれ」と亀は二羽の鸛に言った。

Then one Stork says to the Turtle, "Ane! Bola, foolish Turtles! How wilt thou go with us to another village?"

すると一羽の鸛が亀に言う。「アネ! ボラ、愚かな亀め! どうやってわれらといっしょに別の村へ行くというのだ」

Then the Turtle says, "Ane! Friends, I indeed cannot go flying to the village to which you go. You two somehow or other having gone with me must put me there."

すると亀は言う。「アネ! 友よ、おまえたちの行く村へ、わたしはまことに飛んでは行けぬ。おまえたち二羽が、どうにかしてわたしを連れていって置いてくれねばならぬ」

Then the two Storks say to the Turtle, "If thou, shutting thy mouth, wilt remain without speaking anything, we two having gone to the place where there is water will put thee down there," the two Storks said.

すると二羽の鸛は亀に言う。「口を閉じて何も言わずにいるというなら、われら二羽が水のあるところへ行っておまえを置いてやろう」と二羽の鸛は言った。

Having said this they brought a stick, and said to the Turtle, "Grasp the middle of this stick tightly with the mouth, and hold it tightly."

そう言って、二羽は棒を持ってきて亀に言った。「この棒の真ん中を口でしっかりくわえて、しっかり持っていろ」

Having said this, the two Storks [holding the stick near the ends] took the Turtle. While they were going flying, as they were going above a dried field a Jackal saw the shadow going with the two Storks carrying the Turtle. Having seen it the Jackal says, "Isn't this a troublesome comrade they are taking?"

そう言って、二羽の鸛は〔棒の両端の近くを持って〕亀を運んだ。飛んでいくうちに、涸れた田の上を通ると、豺が、亀を運ぶ二羽の鸛といっしょに行く影を見た。それを見て豺は言う。「あれは厄介な連れを運んでいるのではないか」

Then the Turtle having become angry, says, "The troublesome comrade whom they are taking is for thy mother." So the Turtle's mouth was opened. Then the Turtle fell on the ground. The two Storks left him and went away.

すると亀は腹を立てて言う。「あいつらが運ぶ厄介な連れは、おまえの母親のことだ」。そこで亀の口が開いた。すると亀は地に落ちた。二羽の鸛は亀を置いて去っていった。

The Jackal having come running, after he looked saw the Turtle, and turning and turning it over to eat, when he tried to eat it the Turtle says, "I have now for a long time been staying dried up without water. In that way you cannot eat me. Having gone with me to a place where there is water and put me in it, should I become soaked you will be able to eat me," he said to the Jackal.

豺は駆けてきて、見ると亀がいたので、食べようとひっくり返しひっくり返しして、食べようとすると、亀は言う。「わたしは長いこと水なしで干からびていた。そのままでは食べられぬぞ。水のあるところへ連れていって入れて、ふやけたら食べられよう」と豺に言った。

Then the Jackal having taken hold of the Turtle with his mouth, and placed it in a pond containing water, when he had been treading on it [to prevent it from escaping] for a little time, the Turtle says, "Now every place is soaked. Under the sole of your foot, Sir, I have not got wet. Should you raise the sole of your foot a little it would be good," it said. So the Jackal raised the foot a little. Then the Turtle crept to the bottom of the mud. The Jackal quickly seized the Turtle [by its leg] again.

すると豺は亀を口でくわえて、水のある池に入れ、〔逃げないように〕しばらく踏んでいると、亀は言う。「もうどこもかしこもふやけた。旦那の足の裏の下だけが濡れていない。少し足の裏を上げてくださればよいのだが」と言った。そこで豺は足を少し上げた。すると亀は泥の底へ潜った。豺はすばやく亀を〔脚を〕また捕らえた。

After he had caught it the Turtle says, "The Jackal-elder-brother being cheated has got hold of the Ketala [plant] root." The Jackal-elder-brother quickly having let go the Turtle, speedily got hold of the Ketala root that was near by. Then the Jackal being unable [to go deeper], the Turtle going yet a little further in the water, says, "Bola! Even to-day you are Jackals! When didst thou eat us?"

捕らえられてから亀は言う。「豺の兄さんはだまされて、ケタラ〔草〕の根をつかんだぞ」。豺の兄さんはすばやく亀を放して、近くにあったケタラの根を急いでつかんだ。すると豺はそれ以上〔深く行けず〕、亀はもう少し水のなかへ進んで言う。「ボラ! 今日もおまえは豺だな! いつわれらを食ったことがある?」

Many Jackals prated to the Jackal about the Turtle. On account of the Jackal's being unable to eat the Turtle or to seize it, he became much ashamed. While he was there, having contrived and contrived a trick, saying he must somehow or other kill the Turtle, another Jackal came there to drink water. Having drunk water, he asks the other Jackal, "What, friend, are you thinking of and clenching your nails about?"

多くの豺が、亀のことでこの豺をあげつらった。豺が亀を食うことも捕らえることもできなかったので、たいそう恥ずかしくなった。そこで策を練りに練り、どうにかして亀を殺さねばと言っていると、別の豺が水を飲みにそこへ来た。水を飲んでから、その豺はもう一方の豺に尋ねる。「友よ、何を考えて爪を握りしめているのだ」

Then the Jackal who was unable to seize the Turtle, says, "Friend, a Turtle cheated me, and went into this pond. Having become angry on account of that, I am looking for it in order to kill that one should that one come onto the land," he said to the other Jackal.

すると亀を捕らえられなかった豺は言う。「友よ、亀がわたしをだましてこの池に入った。それに腹を立てて、あいつが陸へ上がってきたら殺そうと見張っているのだ」ともう一方の豺に言った。

That Jackal says, "Ae, Bola! Fool! How many Turtles are there yet in the pond? How canst thou seek out the one that cheated thee?" the Jackal that came to drink water said.

その豺は言う。「アエ、ボラ! 馬鹿な! 池にはまだ何匹亀がいると思う? おまえをだました一匹をどうやって見分ける?」と、水を飲みに来た豺は言った。

Every day in that manner this Jackal comes to the pond to drink water. One day when he came to drink water, having seen that a crowd of Turtles are grimacing on the lotus, the Jackal says, "If ye and we be friends, how much advantage we can gain by it!" Having spoken thus on that day the Jackal went away.

毎日そのようにこの豺は水を飲みに池へ来る。ある日、水を飲みに来ると、亀の群れが蓮の上で顔をしかめているのを見て、豺は言う。「おまえたちとわれらが友になれば、どれほどの得があることか!」 その日はそう言って豺は去っていった。

Having gone, when he met the Jackal whom the Turtle cheated he said, "Friend, having met with a crowd of Turtles while they were in the pond to-day, I spoke words [to them]. We must devise together a trick to kill them." Having said this the two Jackals talked together.

去って、亀にだまされた豺に出会うと、こう言った。「友よ、今日、池にいる亀の群れに出会って、言葉をかけてやった。あれらを殺す策を二人で考えねばならぬ」。そう言って二匹の豺は語り合った。

Again, on a day when the Jackal went to the pond to drink water, having seen in the [same] way as on that day the Turtles grimacing on the lotus, the Jackal says, "How can ye and we remain in this manner? Should ye and we, both parties, take wives [from each other] wouldn't it be good?" the Jackal asked the Turtles.

またある日、豺が水を飲みに池へ行くと、あの日と〔同じ〕ように亀たちが蓮の上で顔をしかめているのを見て、豺は言う。「おまえたちとわれらが、こんなふうにしていてどうする。おまえたちとわれら、両方が〔たがいに〕嫁を取り合えばよいではないか」と豺は亀たちに尋ねた。

Then the Turtles say, "If so, indeed how good it would be!"

すると亀たちは言う。「それなら、まことにどんなによいことか!」

"Then one day we will come and speak with ye [about] the wedding." Having said this the Jackal went away.

「では、いつか婚礼のことを話しに来よう」。そう言って豺は去っていった。

Having gone he says to the Jackals, "[After] speaking words with the Turtles who are in that pond regarding taking and giving wives I have come away."

去って、豺は豺たちに言う。「あの池にいる亀たちと、嫁を取り合うことについて話をつけてきた」

Then the other Jackals said, "It is very good. Some day let us all go." So they spoke.

するとほかの豺たちは言った。「たいそうよいことだ。いつかみなで行こう」。そう言い合った。

Again on a day, after the Jackal had gone to the pond to drink water, on that day, having seen that Turtles more than on the other day were [there], he says, "Friends, to-day about all of you are [here]. Because of it, on what day will it be good to come and summon [our wives]?" he asked.

またある日、豺が水を飲みに池へ行くと、その日は先日よりも多くの亀が〔そこに〕いるのを見て、こう言う。「友らよ、今日はおまえたちみながそろっているようだ。それゆえ、何日に〔嫁を〕迎えに来るのがよかろうか」と尋ねた。

"We will say in a day or two days," they said.

「一日か二日のうちに申しましょう」と亀たちは言った。

The Jackal having drunk water and having gone, said to the other Jackals, "They said they will say in a day or two days [on which day we are to go to summon our wives]."

豺は水を飲んで帰り、ほかの豺たちに言った。「一日か二日のうちに〔どの日に嫁を迎えに行くか〕言うそうだ」

Then the Jackal whom the Turtle cheated said, "In some way or other we must completely destroy them. Friends, somehow or other having gone and spoken about this wedding, make ready quickly," he said.

すると亀にだまされた豺が言った。「どうにかしてあれらをすっかり滅ぼさねばならぬ。友らよ、どうにかして行ってこの婚礼の話をつけて、早く支度をしてくれ」と言った。

On the following day this Jackal went to drink water, and to speak about the wedding. Having drunk water the Jackal asked the Turtles, "When will it be good to come?"

翌日、この豺は水を飲みに、そして婚礼の話をしに行った。水を飲んでから豺は亀たちに尋ねた。「いつ来るのがよかろうか」

"To-morrow will be good," the Turtles said.

「明日がよろしゅうございます」と亀たちは言った。

Then the Jackal says, "We shall all come. All ye also having got ready be present."

すると豺は言う。「われらみなで参る。おまえたちもみな支度をして待っていろ」

Having said this, the Jackal quickly came running, and after all the Jackals had collected together, said, "Let nobody of ye go anywhere to-morrow. We must all go to call the Turtles for the wedding, and return."

そう言って、豺は急いで駆け戻り、豺たちがみな集まってから言った。「明日は誰もどこへも行くな。みなで婚礼のために亀たちを迎えに行って、帰ってこねばならぬ」

The Jackal whom the Turtle cheated said, "Somehow or other having sought out the Turtle that cheated me and called it to the wedding, I must torture it and kill it," he said.

亀にだまされた豺は言った。「どうにかして、わたしをだましたあの亀を探し出して婚礼に呼び、なぶり殺しにしてやらねばならぬ」と言った。

After that, all the Jackals having collected together, started to go to call the Turtles for the wedding. Having set off, the Jackal who drank water at the pond having gone in front to invite the Turtles [to be ready], said, "They are coming to summon you to the wedding. All ye having prepared for it be pleased to be quite ready," he said.

そのあと豺はみな集まって、婚礼のために亀たちを迎えに行こうと出発した。出発して、池で水を飲んだ豺が先に行って亀たちに〔支度をしておけと〕告げた。「婚礼におまえたちを迎えに来るぞ。みな支度をして、すっかり整えておいてくれ」と言った。

Then all the Turtles having come and climbed onto the branches of trees fallen in the pond, were looking out.

すると亀たちはみな来て、池に倒れ込んだ木の枝によじ登って、外を見ていた。

The Jackal who came with the message having gone back near the Jackals, said, "All the Turtles having climbed on the trees and the branches, are present looking out till we come."

知らせを持ってきた豺は豺たちのそばへ戻って言った。「亀たちはみな木と枝によじ登って、われらが来るのを見ながら待っている」

Well then, all the Jackals having started, while they were going with the tom-tom beaters, the Jackal who drank water at the pond said, "You stay here. I will go and look if the Turtles are coming or what."

さて豺はみな出発し、太鼓打ちを連れて行く途中、池で水を飲んだ豺が言った。「おまえたちはここにいろ。わたしが行って、亀たちが来るかどうか見てこよう」

Having gone, after he looked [he saw that] all the Turtles in the trees, more than the Jackals, all having climbed onto the branches, were looking out. Having seen [this] the Jackal says, "Haven't you tom-toms, drums, kettle-drums?" the Jackal asked the Turtles. "There! we indeed are coming beating well the tom-toms, kettle-drums, drums, and [blowing] trumpets," he said.

行って見ると、木の上の亀はみな、豺よりも多く、みな枝によじ登って外を見ていた。〔それを〕見て豺は言う。「おまえたちには太鼓も、鼓も、釜太鼓もないのか」と豺は亀たちに尋ねた。「それ! われらはまことに太鼓も釜太鼓も鼓もよく打ち、喇叭も〔吹き〕ながら来るのだぞ」と言った。

Then the Turtle Chief said, "Beat our tom-toms," he said.

すると亀の長が言った。「われらの太鼓を打て」と言った。

Then all the Turtles began to beat tom-toms by singing, "Gaja, Gaja; Gora, Gora; Baka, Baka," enough to destroy the ears.

すると亀たちはみな、「ガジャ、ガジャ。ゴラ、ゴラ。バカ、バカ」と歌って、耳も潰れんばかりに太鼓を打ちはじめた。

Then the Jackal having come running to the front of the Jackals, said, "All the Turtles having climbed completely along the branches of the trees are there. We all having gone near the Turtles must go along the trees that we can mount onto, and seize the Turtles," he said.

すると豺は豺たちの先頭へ駆け戻って言った。「亀たちはみな木の枝じゅうにすっかり登っている。われらみなで亀たちのそばへ行って、登れる木を伝って亀たちを捕らえねばならぬ」と言った。

Then the Jackal Chief said, "Not so. As we come very near the Turtles beat this tom-tom verse," he said. Then all at a leap having jumped onto the trees where the Turtles are he told them to seize them. The very tom-tom verse that he told the tom-tom beaters to beat on the tom-toms is, "Ehe; Kata, kata, kata. Ehe; Kata, kata, kata."

すると豺の長が言った。「そうではない。亀たちのごく近くまで来たら、この太鼓の節を打て」と言った。そして亀たちのいる木へひと跳びで跳び乗って捕らえよと言った。太鼓打ちに太鼓で打てと言ったその節はこうである。「エヘ。カタ、カタ、カタ。エヘ。カタ、カタ、カタ」

Then when they were far off, the Turtles having seen the Jackals coming, said, "There they are, Bola. Now then, get ready."

すると、まだ遠くにいるうちに、亀たちは豺が来るのを見て言った。「あそこに来たぞ、ボラ。さあ、支度をしろ」

As they were coming near, beating the tom-toms, "Ehe; Kata, kata, kata. Ehe; Kata, kata, kata," the Turtles having heard all this, all the Turtles began to cry out, "Baka, Baka," as they came near.

近づきながら「エヘ。カタ、カタ、カタ。エヘ。カタ、カタ、カタ」と太鼓を打つのを、亀たちはみな聞いて、近づいてくるにつれて「バカ、バカ」と叫びはじめた。

Then, as they came very near, singing "Baka, Baka," all the Turtles sprang into the pond [and disappeared].

そしてごく近くまで来ると、「バカ、バカ」と歌いながら、亀たちはみな池へ跳び込ん〔で消え〕た。

On account of this thing that they did, the Jackals became still more ashamed. "These Cattle-Turtles have cheated us," they said; and having become angry, went away.

この仕業のせいで、豺たちはいっそう恥をかいた。「この牛亀どもがわれらをだました」と言って、腹を立てて去っていった。

The way the Jackal-artificers called the Turtles to the wedding is good.

豺の細工人たちが亀を婚礼に招いたやり方は、見事なものである。