The Margosa Tree

In a certain city there is a King, it is said. The King thought of growing a Margosa tree without bitterness [in the fruit], so one day he made proclamation accordingly by beat of tom-toms.

ある都に王がいたという。王は、実に苦みのないマルゴサ(センダン)の木を育てようと思いつき、ある日、太鼓を打ってその旨の触れを出させた。

While two friends of one village were coming to seek a means of subsistence they heard this sound of tom-toms. When they asked at the hand of a tom-tom beater, "What is the sound of tom-toms for?" he said, "What is it? His Majesty our King will give presents to any person who should grow and give him a Margosa tree without bitterness." One of the friends, saying, "I can [do it]," went to the royal palace.

ある村の二人の友が、暮らしの手だてを求めて来る途中、この太鼓の音を聞いた。太鼓打ちに「あの太鼓は何のためか」と尋ねると、太鼓打ちは言った。「何かと言うと、われらが王さまは、苦みのないマルゴサの木を育てて差し上げた者に褒美をくださるのだ」。友の一人は「わたしにはできる」と言って、王宮へ行った。

"Canst thou grow and give me a Margosa tree without bitterness?" the King asked.

「そなたは苦みのないマルゴサの木を育ててわしに差し出せるか」と王が尋ねた。

"Yes, your Majesty," he said.

「はい、陛下」と男は言った。

"What things dost thou want for it?" the King asked.

「そのために何が要る」と王が尋ねた。

"I want monthly a hundred-weight of sugar and a large pot of cow's butter," he said.

「毎月、砂糖を百重量分と、牛の酪を大壺に一つ、いただきたく存じます」と男は言った。

After that, the King asked, "Where wilt thou grow it?"

そのあと王が尋ねた。「どこで育てるのか」

"I must grow it on the edge of a river," he said.

「川のほとりで育てねばなりません」と男は言った。

Having built and given him a house on the edge of the river, he gave him a hundred-weight of sugar and a large pot of butter monthly.

王は川のほとりに家を建てて与え、毎月、砂糖を百重量分と酪を大壺に一つ与えた。

Seven times in succession he planted seven trees. Seven times the seven trees were washed away by the river.

男は続けて七度、七本の木を植えた。七度とも、七本の木は川に流された。

During the time while he was there in that way, the other friend having come, asked, "Where is the tree?"

そうして暮らしているあいだに、もう一人の友が来て尋ねた。「木はどこだ」

Then the friend who had planted the tree says, "Either the King, or I, or the river." [120]

すると木を植えたほうの友が言う。「王か、わたしか、川か、だ」 [120]

The words that he said meant, "Either His Majesty the King will die; if not, I shall die, because of no means of subsistence."

その言葉の意味はこうだった。「王さまが死ぬか、そうでなければ、暮らしの手だてを失ってわたしが死ぬか」

"Having cheated the King I get a living. When it is so, the foolish King has been caught by my trick."

「王をだまして暮らしを立てている。そうしてみると、愚かな王はわたしの計略にかかったわけだ」