The Seven Robbers

In a country there are seven robbers. Among them, in the same gang, there is a fool. One day they went to commit robbery. While they were there, they got a devil-dancer's box, containing his mask and ornaments. Having brought it, the seven persons went into a rock cave to sleep.

ある国に盗賊が七人いた。そのなかの、同じ一味に、愚か者が一人いた。ある日、一味は盗みに出かけた。そこにいるあいだに、悪魔踊りの踊り手の箱を手に入れた。なかには仮面と飾りが入っていた。それを持ってきて、七人は岩屋に入って眠った。

When they had gone there that foolish man became hungry. After the others went to sleep that fool took out the devil-dancer's clothes, and having looked at them put them on.

そこへ行くと、その愚かな男は腹が減ってきた。ほかの者が眠ってしまうと、その愚か者は悪魔踊りの衣装を取り出して、眺めているうちに着てしまった。

After he had put them on, one of those men opened his eyes. Then on account of the noise of the bells [of the devil-dancer] the others opened their eyes also. When they saw the man dressed in the devil-dancer's clothes they were frightened, and saying, "Ade! The Kohomba deity is coming," the other six persons ran away.

着てしまうと、一人が目を開けた。すると〔悪魔踊りの〕鈴の音で、ほかの者も目を開けた。そして悪魔踊りの衣装を着た男を見ると怯えて、「アデ! コホンバ神が来るぞ」と言って、ほかの六人は逃げ出した。

As they were running, that man who had the clothes ran after them, saying, "Stay there, stay there." While they were running those six persons leaped over a well [in the path]. This one also jumped, but being held back by the clothes he fell into the mouth of the well.

六人が逃げていくと、その衣装を着た男は「待て、待て」と言いながらあとを追った。六人は逃げながら〔道にある〕井戸を跳び越した。この男も跳んだが、衣装に引かれて井戸の口に落ちてしまった。

After he had fallen into the well, a woman came to draw water. Then he placed his weight in the bucket when she lowered it. After the woman had got to know of the weight, striving and striving she got the bucket near the mouth of the well. The man who had fallen, and was in it, said, "A little more, my mother." Then the woman hearing this [and seeing what she thought was a demon in the well], let go, and bounded away.

井戸に落ちてから、女が水を汲みに来た。女が釣瓶を下ろすと、男はその釣瓶に体を預けた。女は重さに気づいて、力のかぎり引いて、釣瓶を井戸の口近くまで上げた。落ちて釣瓶に乗っていた男は言った。「もう少しだよ、おっかさん」。それを聞いた女は〔井戸にいるのを魔物と思って〕手を放し、跳ねるように逃げ去った。