Why the Flies Bother the Cows

When Adiaha Umo was Queen of Calabar, being very rich and hospitable, she used to give big feasts to all the domestic animals, but never invited the wild beasts, as she was afraid of them.

アディアハ・ウモがカラバルの女王だったころ、女王はたいそう裕福でもてなし好きだったので、家畜たちのためによく大きな宴を開いたが、野の獣は恐ろしかったので決して招かなかった。

At one feast she gave there were three large tables, and she told the cow to sit at the head of the table, as she was the biggest animal present, and share out the food. The cow was quite ready to do this, and the first course was passed, which the cow shared out amongst the people, but forgot the fly, because he was so small.

ある宴のとき、大きな食卓が三つあって、女王は、牛がその場でいちばん大きな動物なので食卓の上座につき、料理を取り分けるように言った。牛は喜んで引き受け、最初の料理が回ってくると、牛はそれを皆に取り分けたが、蠅はあまりに小さかったので忘れてしまった。

When the fly saw this, he called out to the cow to give him his share, but the cow said: "Be quiet, my friend, you must have patience."

それを見た蠅は、自分の分をくれと牛に呼びかけたが、牛は言った。「静かにしなさい、きみ。辛抱が肝心だよ」

When the second course arrived, the fly again called out to the cow, but the cow merely pointed to her eye, and told the fly to look there, and he would get food later.

二番目の料理が来ると、蠅はまた牛に呼びかけたが、牛はただ自分の目を指さして、ここを見ていなさい、あとで食べ物をあげるからと蠅に言った。

At last all the dishes were finished, and the fly, having been given no food by the cow, went supperless to bed.

とうとう料理はすべてなくなり、牛から何ももらえなかった蠅は、夕飯抜きで寝床についた。

The next day the fly complained to the queen, who decided that, as the cow had presided at the feast, and had not given the fly his share, but had pointed to her eye, for the future the fly could always get his food from the cow's eyes wherever she went; and even at the present time, wherever the cows are, the flies can always be seen feeding off their eyes in accordance with the queen's orders.

翌日、蠅は女王に訴え出た。女王は、牛が宴を取りしきっておきながら蠅に分け前を与えず、自分の目を指さしたのだから、以後蠅は牛がどこへ行こうと、いつでも牛の目から食べ物を取ってよいと裁いた。そういうわけで今でも、牛のいるところではどこでも、女王の命令どおり、蠅が牛の目にたかって食べているのが見られるのである。