Why the Sun and the Moon live in the Sky

Many years ago the sun and water were great friends, and both lived on the earth together. The sun very often used to visit the water, but the water never returned his visits. At last the sun asked the water why it was that he never came to see him in his house, the water replied that the sun's house was not big enough, and that if he came with his people he would drive the sun out.

何年も昔、太陽と水は仲のよい友だちで、二人とも一緒に地上に住んでいた。太陽はたびたび水を訪ねたが、水はその訪問を返したことがなかった。とうとう太陽は水に、どうして一度も自分の家に来てくれないのかと尋ねた。すると水は、太陽の家は十分な大きさがなく、自分が一族を連れていったら太陽を追い出してしまうだろうと答えた。

He then said, "If you wish me to visit you, you must build a very large compound; but I warn you that it will have to be a tremendous place, as my people are very numerous, and take up a lot of room."

それから水は言った。「わたしに来てほしいのなら、たいそう広い屋敷を建てなければなりません。けれども言っておきますが、それはとてつもなく広い場所でなければなりませんよ。わたしの一族はたいそう数が多くて、たくさんの場所を取りますから」

The sun promised to build a very big compound, and soon afterwards he returned home to his wife, the moon, who greeted him with a broad smile when he opened the door. The sun told the moon what he had promised the water, and the next day commenced building a huge compound in which to entertain his friend.

太陽はたいそう大きな屋敷を建てると約束し、まもなく家へ帰った。妻の月は、太陽が戸を開けると満面の笑みで迎えた。太陽は月に、水に約束したことを話し、次の日から、友をもてなすための巨大な屋敷を建てはじめた。

When it was completed, he asked the water to come and visit him the next day.

それができあがると、太陽は水に、翌日訪ねてきてほしいと頼んだ。

When the water arrived, he called out to the sun, and asked him whether it would be safe for him to enter, and the sun answered, "Yes, come in, my friend."

水が着くと、水は太陽に呼びかけて、入っても大丈夫かと尋ねた。太陽は答えた。「ああ、お入り、友よ」

The water then began to flow in, accompanied by the fish and all the water animals.

すると水は、魚やあらゆる水の生きものを連れて、流れ込みはじめた。

Very soon the water was knee-deep, so he asked the sun if it was still safe, and the sun again said, "Yes," so more water came in.

まもなく水は膝の深さになったので、水は太陽に、まだ大丈夫かと尋ねた。太陽はまた「ああ」と言ったので、もっと水が入ってきた。

When the water was level with the top of a man's head, the water said to the sun, "Do you want more of my people to come?" and the sun and moon both answered, "Yes," not knowing any better, so the water flowed on, until the sun and moon had to perch themselves on the top of the roof.

水が人の頭のてっぺんの高さになると、水は太陽に言った。「もっとわたしの一族に来てほしいですか」太陽も月も、何もわからずに「ああ」と答えたので、水は流れ込み続け、とうとう太陽と月は屋根のてっぺんによじ登らなければならなくなった。

Again the water addressed the sun, but receiving the same answer, and more of his people rushing in, the water very soon overflowed the top of the roof, and the sun and moon were forced to go up into the sky, where they have remained ever since.

水はまた太陽に呼びかけたが、同じ答えが返ってきて、水の一族がもっと押し寄せてきたので、水はまもなく屋根のてっぺんを越えてあふれ、太陽と月は空へ上っていくほかなくなった。そして二人はそれ以来ずっと空にいるのである。