Of the Pretty Stranger who Killed the King

Mbotu was a very famous king of Old Town, Calabar. He was frequently at war, and was always successful, as he was a most skilful leader. All the prisoners he took were made slaves. He therefore became very rich, but, on the other hand, he had many enemies. The people of Itu in particular were very angry with him and wanted to kill him, but they were not strong enough to beat Mbotu in a pitched battle, so they had to resort to craft. The Itu people had an old woman who was a witch and could turn herself into whatever she pleased, and when she offered to kill Mbotu, the people were very glad, and promised her plenty of money and cloth if she succeeded in ridding them of their worst enemy. The witch then turned herself into a young and pretty girl, and having armed herself with a very sharp knife, which she concealed in her bosom, she went to Old Town, Calabar, to seek the king.

ムボトゥはカラバルのオールド・タウンのたいそう名高い王だった。たびたび戦をしたが、このうえなく巧みな指揮官だったので、いつも勝った。捕らえた捕虜はみな奴隷にされた。そのため王はたいそう豊かになったが、一方で敵も多かった。とりわけイトゥの人々は王をひどく恨んで殺したがっていたが、正面からの戦いでムボトゥを打ち破れるほど強くなかったので、策略に訴えるほかなかった。イトゥの人々のところに、魔女で、好きなものに姿を変えられる年寄りの女がいた。その女がムボトゥを殺そうと申し出ると、人々はたいそう喜んで、最悪の敵を取り除いてくれたら金と布をたっぷりやると約束した。そこで魔女は若くかわいい娘に姿を変え、たいそう鋭いナイフを懐に隠して、王を探しにカラバルのオールド・タウンへ行った。

It happened that when she arrived there was a big play being held in the town, and all the people from the surrounding country had come in to dance and feast. Oyaikan, the witch, went to the play, and walked about so that every one could see her. Directly she appeared the people all marvelled at her beauty, and said that she was as beautiful as the setting sun when all the sky was red. Word was quickly brought to king Mbotu, who, it was well known, was fond of pretty girls, and he sent for her at once, all the people agreeing that she was quite worthy of being the king's wife. When she appeared before him he fancied her so much, that he told her he would marry her that very day. Oyaikan was very pleased at this, as she had never expected to get her opportunity so quickly. She therefore prepared a dainty meal for the king, into which she placed a strong medicine to make the king sleep, and then went down to the river to wash.

女が着いたとき、たまたま町では大きな祝いが催されていて、まわりじゅうの土地から人々が踊りと宴に集まっていた。魔女のオヤイカンは祝いに行って、誰からも見えるように歩きまわった。姿を見せたとたん、人々はみなその美しさに驚いて、空が一面赤くなるときの沈む夕日のように美しいと言った。きれいな娘が好きだとよく知られていたムボトゥ王のもとへすぐに知らせが届き、王はただちに女を呼び寄せた。人々はみな、この女こそ王の妃にふさわしいと言った。女が王の前に現れると、王はたいそう気に入って、まさにその日に結婚しようと言った。オヤイカンはこれにたいそう喜んだ。こんなに早く機会が来るとは思っていなかったからである。そこで女は王のためにおいしい食事をこしらえ、そのなかに王を眠らせる強い薬を入れて、それから体を洗いに川へ降りていった。

When she had finished it was getting dark, so she went to the king's compound, carrying her dish on her head, and was at once shown in to the king, who embraced her affectionately. She then offered him the food, which she said, quite truly, she had prepared with her own hands. The king ate the whole dish, and immediately began to feel very sleepy, as the medicine was strong and took effect quickly.

洗い終わると暗くなりかけていたので、女は皿を頭に載せて王の屋敷へ行き、すぐに王のもとへ通された。王は女をいとしげに抱きしめた。それから女は食事を差し出し、これは自分の手でこしらえたのだと言った。それはまったく本当のことだった。王は皿のものをすっかり食べて、たちまちひどく眠くなってきた。薬が強くて、すぐに効いたのである。

They retired to the king's chamber, and the king went to sleep at once. About midnight, when all the town was quiet, Oyaikan drew her knife from her bosom and cut the king's head off. She put the head in a bag and went out very softly, shutting and barring the door behind her. Then she walked through the town without any one observing her, and went straight to Itu, where she placed king Mbotu's head before her own king.

二人は王の寝室に引き取り、王はたちまち眠り込んだ。真夜中ごろ、町じゅうが静まり返ると、オヤイカンは懐からナイフを取り出して、王の首を切り落とした。女は首を袋に入れ、後ろの戸を閉めて閂をかけると、たいそう静かに出ていった。それから誰にも見られずに町を歩き抜け、まっすぐイトゥへ行って、ムボトゥ王の首を自分たちの王の前に置いた。

When the people heard that the witch had been successful and that their enemy was dead, there was great rejoicing, and the king of Itu at once made up his mind to attack Old Town, Calabar. He therefore got his fighting men together and took them in canoes by the creeks to Old Town, taking care that no one carried word to Calabar that he was coming.

魔女が成功して敵が死んだと聞くと、人々は大いに喜び、イトゥの王はただちにカラバルのオールド・タウンを攻めることに決めた。そこで王は戦う者たちを集め、自分が向かっていることが誰からもカラバルに伝わらないよう気をつけながら、入り江を通って丸木舟でオールド・タウンへ連れていった。

The morning following the murder of Mbotu his people were rather surprised that he did not appear at his usual time, so his head wife knocked at his door. Not receiving any answer she called the household together, and they broke open the door. When they entered the room they found the king lying dead on his bed covered in blood, but his head was missing. At this a great shout went up, and the whole town mourned. Although they missed the pretty stranger, they never connected her in their minds with the death of their king, and were quite unsuspicious of any danger, and were unprepared for fighting. In the middle of the mourning, while they were all dancing, crying, and drinking palm wine, the king of Itu with all his soldiers attacked Old Town, taking them quite by surprise, and as their leader was dead, the Calabar people were very soon defeated, and many killed and taken prisoners.

ムボトゥが殺された次の朝、人々は王がいつもの時刻に姿を見せないのをいささか不思議に思い、正妃が戸を叩いた。返事がないので正妃は家の者たちを呼び集め、みなで戸を破った。部屋に入ると、王が血にまみれて寝台に死んで横たわっていたが、首がなかった。これに大きな叫び声が上がり、町じゅうが嘆き悲しんだ。人々はあのきれいなよそ者がいないのに気づいてはいたが、王の死と結びつけて考えることはまったくなく、危険を少しも疑わず、戦いの備えもしていなかった。喪の最中、人々がみな踊り、泣き、椰子酒を飲んでいるところへ、イトゥの王が兵をみな率いてオールド・タウンを襲った。まったくの不意打ちで、指導者が死んでいたので、カラバルの人々はたちまち打ち負かされ、多くの者が殺され、捕虜にされた。

MORAL.--Never marry a stranger, no matter how pretty she may be.

教訓——どんなに美しくても、よそ者と結婚してはならない。