Princess on the Glass Hill

Once on a time there was a man who had a meadow, which lay high up on the hill-side, and in the meadow was a barn, which he had built to keep his hay in. Now, I must tell you, there hadn’t been much in the barn for the last year or two, for every St. John’s night, when the grass stood greenest and deepest, the meadow was eaten down to the very ground the next morning, just as if a whole drove of sheep had been there feeding on it over night. This happened once, and it happened twice; so at last the man grew weary of losing his crop of hay, and said to his sons—for he had three of them, and the youngest was nicknamed Boots, of course—that now one of them must just go and sleep in the barn in the outlying field when St. John’s night came, for it was too good a joke that his grass should be eaten, root and blade, this year, as it had been the last two years. So whichever of them went must keep a sharp look-out; that was what their father said.

むかしむかし、一人の男がいて、丘の高いところに草地を持っていた。そしてその草地には、干し草をしまうために建てた納屋があった。さて言っておかねばならないが、この一、二年、その納屋にはあまり干し草が入っていなかった。というのも、聖ヨハネの夜ごとに、草がいちばん緑深く茂っているときに、翌朝には草地が根こそぎ食い尽くされていたのである。まるで羊の群れがまるごと一晩じゅうそこで草を食んでいたかのように。これが一度起こり、二度起こった。そしてとうとう男は干し草の実りを失うのに嫌気がさして、息子たちに——三人いて、末の子はもちろんボーツと綽名されていた——聖ヨハネの夜が来たら、誰か一人が離れた野の納屋で寝ねばならぬと言った。今年も去年一昨年のように草が根も葉も食い尽くされるなど、笑い事が過ぎるというのである。だから行く者はしっかり見張っていなければならぬ。父はそう言った。

Well, the eldest son was ready to go and watch the meadow; trust him for looking after the grass! It shouldn’t be his fault if man or beast, or the fiend himself, got a blade of grass. So, when evening came, he set off to the barn, and lay down to sleep; but a little on in the night came such a clatter, and such an earthquake, that walls and roof shook, and groaned, and creaked; then up jumped the lad, and took to his heels as fast as ever he could; nor dared he once look round till he reached home; and as for the hay, why it was eaten up this year just as it had been twice before.

さて、長男が草地を見張りに行くと言った。草の番なら任せておけ! 人であれ獣であれ、悪魔その人であれ、草の葉一枚取らせはしない、そうなったら自分の落ち度だ、と。そこで夕方になると納屋へ出かけて横になって眠った。ところが夜も少し更けたころ、がたがたという音と地震が起こって、壁も屋根も揺れ、呻き、軋んだ。すると若者は跳び起きて、できるかぎりの速さで脱兎のごとく逃げ出し、家に着くまで一度も振り返る勇気がなかった。そして干し草はといえば、前に二度そうなったのとまったく同じように、今年も食い尽くされていた。

The next St. John’s night, the man said again, it would never do to lose all the grass in the outlying field year after year in this way, so one of his sons must just trudge off to watch it, and watch it well too. Well, the next oldest son was ready to try his luck, so he set off, and lay down to sleep in the barn as his brother had done before him; but as the night wore on, there came on a rumbling and quaking of the earth, worse even than on the last St. John’s night, and when the lad heard it, he got frightened, and took to his heels as though he were running a race.

次の聖ヨハネの夜、男はまた、離れた野の草を毎年こんなふうに失いつづけるわけにはいかぬ、だから息子の誰かが見張りに出かけて、それもしっかり見張らねばならぬと言った。さて、次男が運を試す気になって出かけ、兄がそうしたように納屋で横になって眠った。ところが夜が更けるにつれて、前の聖ヨハネの夜よりさらにひどい轟きと大地の震えが起こった。そして若者はそれを聞くと怖くなって、駆け比べでもしているかのように脱兎のごとく逃げ出した。

Next year the turn came to Boots; but when he made ready to go, the other two began to laugh and to make game of him, saying,

次の年はボーツの番だった。ところが出かける支度をすると、ほかの二人が笑って彼をからかいはじめた。

“You’re just the man to watch the hay, that you are; you, who have done nothing all your life but sit in the ashes and toast yourself by the fire.”

「おまえこそ干し草の番にうってつけの男だよ、まったく。生まれてこのかた灰のなかに坐って火にあたっているだけのおまえがな。」

But Boots did not care a pin for their chattering, and stumped away as evening drew on, up the hill-side to the outlying field. There he went inside the barn and lay down; but in about an hour’s time the barn began to groan and creak, so that it was dreadful to hear.

だがボーツは二人のおしゃべりを藁ほども気にせず、夕暮れが近づくと丘を登って離れた野へとことこと歩いていった。そして納屋に入って横になった。ところが一時間ほどすると、納屋が呻き軋みはじめて、聞くも恐ろしいほどだった。

“Well”, said Boots to himself, “if it isn’t worse than this, I can stand it well enough.”

「なに」とボーツはひとりごちた。「これ以上ひどくならないのなら、十分に堪えられる。」

A little while after came another creak and an earthquake, so that the litter in the barn flew about the lad’s ears.

しばらくするともう一度軋みと地震が起こって、納屋の敷き藁が若者の耳のあたりを飛び回った。

“Oh!” said Boots to himself, “if it isn’t worse than this, I daresay I can stand it out.”

「おお!」とボーツはひとりごちた。「これ以上ひどくならないのなら、耐え抜けそうだ。」

But just then came a third rumbling, and a third earthquake, so that the lad thought walls and roof were coming down on his head; but it passed off, and all was still as death about him.

ところがちょうどそのとき三度めの轟きと三度めの地震が起こって、若者は壁も屋根も自分の頭の上に落ちてくると思った。だがそれも過ぎ去り、あたりは死んだように静まり返った。

“It’ll come again, I’ll be bound”, thought Boots; but no, it didn’t come again; still it was, and still it stayed; but after he had lain a little while, he heard a noise as if a horse were standing just outside the barn-door, and cropping the grass. He stole to the door, and peeped through a chink, and there stood a horse feeding away. So big, and fat, and grand a horse, Boots had never set eyes on; by his side on the grass lay a saddle and bridle, and a full set of armour for a knight, all of brass, so bright that the light gleamed from it.

「また来るに違いない」とボーツは思った。ところがそうではなかった。静かなままで、静かなままだった。だがしばらく横になっていると、まるで馬が納屋の戸のすぐ外に立って草を食んでいるような音が聞こえた。彼はそっと戸へ寄って隙間からのぞいた。するとそこには一頭の馬が立って草を食んでいた。これほど大きく、肥えて、堂々とした馬をボーツは見たことがなかった。そのかたわらの草の上には鞍と轡と、勇士のための一そろいの具足が置いてあった。みな真鍮でできていて、あまりに輝いて光がきらめくほどだった。

“Ho, ho!” thought the lad; “it’s you, is it, that eats up our hay? I’ll soon put a spoke in your wheel, just see if I don’t.”

「ほほう!」と若者は思った。「うちの干し草を食っていたのはおまえだったのか。すぐに横槍を入れてやる、見ていろ。」

So he lost no time, but took the steel out of his tinder-box, and threw it over the horse; then it had no power to stir from the spot, and became so tame that the lad could do what he liked with it. So he got on its back, and rode off with it to a place which no one knew of, and there he put up the horse. When he got home, his brothers laughed and asked how he had fared?

そこで彼は間をおかず、火口箱から鋼を取り出して馬の上に投げかけた。すると馬はその場から動く力を失い、若者が好きなようにできるほど大人しくなった。そこでその背にまたがり、誰も知らない場所まで乗っていって、そこに馬をつないだ。家に帰ると兄たちは笑って、どうだったと尋ねた。

“You didn’t lie long in the barn, even if you had the heart to go so far as the field.”

「野まで行く度胸があったとしても、納屋には長くいなかったろう。」

“Well”, said Boots, “all I can say is, I lay in the barn till the sun rose, and neither saw nor heard anything; I can’t think what there was in the barn to make you both so afraid.”

「なに」とボーツは言った。「言えるのは、日が昇るまで納屋に寝ていて、何も見も聞きもしなかったということだけさ。あの納屋の何が二人をそんなに怖がらせたのか、見当もつかないね。」

“A pretty story”, said his brothers; “but we’ll soon see how you have watched the meadow”; so they set off; but when they reached it, there stood the grass as deep and thick as it had been over night.

「結構な話だ」と兄たちは言った。「だがおまえがどう草地を見張ったか、すぐにわかるさ。」。そう言って出かけたが、着いてみると草は前の晩と同じく深く厚く茂っていた。

Well, the next St. John’s eve it was the same story over again; neither of the elder brothers dared to go out to the outlying field to watch the crop; but Boots, he had the heart to go, and everything happened just as it had happened the year before. First a clatter and an earthquake, then a greater clatter and another earthquake, and so on a third time; only this year the earthquakes were far worse than the year before. Then all at once everything was as still as death, and the lad heard how something was cropping the grass outside the barn-door, so he stole to the door, and peeped through a chink; and what do you think he saw? why, another horse standing right up against the wall, and chewing and champing with might and main. It was far finer and fatter than that which came the year before, and it had a saddle on its back, and a bridle on its neck, and a full suit of mail for a knight lay by its side, all of silver, and as grand as you would wish to see.

さて、次の聖ヨハネの前夜も同じことの繰り返しだった。上の二人の兄はどちらも離れた野へ実りを見張りに行く勇気がなかった。だがボーツには行く度胸があり、何もかも前の年に起こったとおりに起こった。まずがたがたという音と地震、次にもっと大きな音ともう一度の地震、そして三度めも同じだった。ただし今年の地震は去年よりはるかにひどかった。それから突然すべてが死んだように静まり返り、若者は納屋の戸の外で何かが草を食んでいるのを聞いた。そこでそっと戸へ寄って隙間からのぞいた。すると何が見えたと思う。もう一頭の馬が壁にぴたりと寄って立ち、力いっぱい噛み砕いていたのである。それは前の年に来たのよりはるかに立派で肥えていて、背には鞍、首には轡があり、かたわらには勇士のための一そろいの鎖帷子が置いてあった。みな銀でできていて、これ以上望めぬほど見事だった。

“Ho ho!” said Boots to himself; “it’s you that gobbles up our hay, is it? I’ll soon put a spoke in your wheel”; and with that he took the steel out of his tinder-box, and threw it over the horse’s crest, which stood as still as a lamb. Well, the lad rode this horse, too, to the hiding-place where he kept the other one, and after that he went home.

「ほほう!」とボーツはひとりごちた。「うちの干し草を平らげていたのはおまえか。すぐに横槍を入れてやる。」。そう言って火口箱から鋼を取り出し、馬のたてがみの上に投げかけた。すると馬は仔羊のようにじっと立った。さて、若者はこの馬も、前の馬を隠しておいた隠し場所まで乗っていって、それから家へ帰った。

“I suppose you’ll tell us”, said one of his brothers, “there’s a fine crop this year too, up in the hayfield.”

「どうせこう言うのだろう」と兄の一人が言った。「今年も干し草の野は見事な実りだ、とな。」

“Well, so there is”, said Boots; and off ran the others to see, and there stood the grass thick and deep, as it was the year before; but they didn’t give Boots softer words for all that.

「そう、そのとおりさ」とボーツは言った。そこでほかの二人が見に走っていくと、草は前の年と同じく厚く深く茂っていた。だがそれでも二人はボーツに優しい言葉をかけたりはしなかった。

Now, when the third St. John’s eve came, the two elder still hadn’t the heart to lie out in the barn and watch the grass, for they had got so scared at heart the night they lay there before, that they couldn’t get over the fright; but Boots, he dared to go; and, to make a long story short, the very same thing happened this time as had happened twice before. Three earthquakes came, one after the other, each worse than the one which went before, and when the last came, the lad danced about with the shock from one barn wall to the other; and after that, all at once, it was still as death. Now when he had lain a little while, he heard something tugging away at the grass outside the barn, so he stole again to the door-chink, and peeped out, and there stood a horse close outside—far, far bigger and fatter than the two he had taken before.

さて三度めの聖ヨハネの前夜が来ると、上の二人はやはり納屋に寝て草を見張る度胸がなかった。前にそこで寝た夜にすっかり心底怯えてしまって、その恐ろしさから抜け出せなかったのである。だがボーツには行く度胸があった。そして手短に言えば、前に二度起こったのとまったく同じことが今度も起こった。地震が三度、次々に、それぞれ前のよりひどく起こり、最後のが来たときには、若者はその揺れで納屋の壁から壁へと踊るように振り回された。そしてそのあと、突然すべてが死んだように静まり返った。さてしばらく横になっていると、納屋の外で何かが草を引きちぎっているのが聞こえた。そこでまたそっと戸の隙間へ寄ってのぞくと、すぐ外に一頭の馬が立っていた——前に取った二頭よりはるかに、はるかに大きく肥えていた。

“Ho, ho!” said the lad to himself, “it’s you, is it, that comes here eating up our hay? I’ll soon stop that—I’ll soon put a spoke in your wheel.” So he caught up his steel and threw it over the horse’s neck, and in a trice it stood as if it were nailed to the ground, and Boots could do as he pleased with it. Then he rode off with it to the hiding-place where he kept the other two, and then went home. When he got home, his two brothers made game of him as they had done before, saying, they could see he had watched the grass well, for he looked for all the world as if he were walking in his sleep, and many other spiteful things they said, but Boots gave no heed to them, only asking them to go and see for themselves; and when they went, there stood the grass as fine and deep this time as it had been twice before.

「ほほう!」と若者はひとりごちた。「ここへ来てうちの干し草を食っていたのはおまえか。すぐにやめさせてやる——すぐに横槍を入れてやる。」。そう言って鋼をつかんで馬の首の上に投げかけると、たちまち馬は地に釘づけにされたように立ち、ボーツは好きなようにできるようになった。それから前の二頭を隠しておいた隠し場所まで乗っていき、それから家へ帰った。家に着くと、二人の兄は前と同じように彼をからかい、さぞよく草を見張ったのだろう、まるで寝ながら歩いているように見えるからな、などと言い、そのほかにも意地の悪いことを言った。だがボーツは気にも留めず、自分の目で見てこいと言うだけだった。そして二人が行ってみると、草は前に二度そうだったのと同じく、今度も見事に深く茂っていた。

Now, you must know that the king of the country where Boots lived had a daughter, whom he would only give to the man who could ride up over the hill of glass, for there was a high, high hill, all of glass, as smooth and slippery as ice, close by the king’s palace. Upon the tip top of the hill the king’s daughter was to sit, with three golden apples in her lap, and the man who could ride up and carry off the three golden apples, was to have half the kingdom, and the Princess to wife. This the king had stuck up on all the church-doors in his realm, and had given it out in many other kingdoms besides. Now, this Princess was so lovely, that all who set eyes on her, fell over head and ears in love with her whether they would or no. So I needn’t tell you how all the princes and knights who heard of her were eager to win her to wife, and half the kingdom beside; and how they came riding from all parts of the world on high prancing horses, and clad in the grandest clothes, for there wasn’t one of them who hadn’t made up his mind that he, and he alone, was to win the Princess.

さて知っておいてほしいのだが、ボーツの住む国の王には一人の娘があり、王は硝子の山を馬で登れる者にだけ娘を与えると言っていた。というのも、王の宮殿のすぐそばに、高い高い、すべて硝子でできた、氷のように滑らかで滑りやすい山があったのである。その山のてっぺんに王の娘が黄金の林檎を三つ膝に載せて坐ることになっていて、そこまで馬で登って三つの黄金の林檎を奪い取れた者が、王国の半ばと姫を妻として得ることになっていた。王はこれを国じゅうの教会の戸に貼り出し、そのうえほかの多くの王国にも触れ出していた。さてこの姫はたいそう美しかったので、その姿を見た者はみな、否も応もなく首ったけになってしまうのだった。だからそのことを聞いた公も勇士もみな、姫とそのうえ王国の半ばを手に入れたくてたまらなかったこと、そして高く跳ねる馬に乗り、このうえなく立派な衣裳をまとって世界じゅうから駆けつけてきたことは、言うまでもあるまい。誰一人として、自分こそが、自分だけが姫を勝ち取るのだと心に決めていない者はいなかった。

So when the day of trial came, which the king had fixed, there was such a crowd of princes and knights under the glass hill, that it made one’s head whirl to look at them; and every one in the country who could even crawl along was off to the hill, for they all were eager to see the man who was to win the Princess. So the two elder brothers set off with the rest; but as for Boots, they said outright he shouldn’t go with them, for if they were seen with such a dirty, changeling, all begrimed with smut from cleaning their shoes and sifting cinders in the dust-hole, they said folk would make game of them.

そこで王の定めた試しの日が来ると、硝子の山の下には公と勇士が群れをなしていて、それを眺めると頭がくらくらするほどだった。そして這うことのできる者はみな、国じゅうから山へ出かけていった。誰もが姫を勝ち取る男を見たくてたまらなかったのである。そこで二人の兄もほかの者たちといっしょに出かけた。だがボーツについては、いっしょに来てはならぬときっぱり言った。こんな汚らしい、靴磨きと灰ふるいの煤にまみれた出来損ないといっしょのところを見られたら、世間に笑われる、と言うのである。

“Very well”, said Boots, “it’s all one to me. I can go alone, and stand or fall by myself.”

「結構だとも」とボーツは言った。「わたしはどちらでもかまわない。一人で行って、一人で立つなり倒れるなりするさ。」

Now when the two brothers came to the hill of glass, the knights and princes were all hard at it, riding their horses till they were all in a foam; but it was no good, by my troth; for as soon as ever the horses set foot on the hill, down they slipped, and there wasn’t one who could get a yard or two up; and no wonder, for the hill was as smooth as a sheet of glass, and as steep as a house-wall. But all were eager to have the Princess and half the kingdom. So they rode and slipped, and slipped and rode, and still it was the same story over again. At last all their horses were so weary that they could scarce lift a leg, and in such a sweat that the lather dripped from them, and so the knights had to give up trying any more. So the king was just thinking that he would proclaim a new trial for the next day, to see if they would have better luck, when all at once a knight came riding up on so brave a steed, that no one had ever seen the like of it in his born days, and the knight had mail of brass, and the horse a brass bit in his mouth, so bright that the sunbeams shone from it. Then all the others called out to him he might just as well spare himself the trouble of riding at the hill, for it would lead to no good; but he gave no heed to them, and put his horse at the hill, and went up it like nothing for a good way, about a third of the height; and when he had got so far, he turned his horse round and rode down again. So lovely a knight the Princess thought she had never yet seen; and while he was riding, she sat and thought to herself: “Would to heaven he might only come up and down the other side.”

さて二人の兄が硝子の山に着くと、勇士も公もみな懸命に馬を駆って、馬は泡だらけになっていた。だが無駄だった、まったく無駄だった。馬が山に足をかけるやいなや滑り落ちて、一ヤードか二ヤードでも登れる者は一人もいなかった。それも道理で、山は一枚の硝子のように滑らかで、家の壁のように切り立っていたのである。だがみな姫と王国の半ばを手に入れたくてたまらなかった。そこでみな乗っては滑り、滑っては乗り、それでも同じことの繰り返しだった。とうとう馬はみな疲れ果てて脚を上げることさえできなくなり、汗まみれで泡が滴り落ちるほどになって、勇士たちはこれ以上試すのを諦めねばならなかった。そこで王は、明日もう一度試しを行うと触れを出して、みなの運が向くかどうか見てみようかと思案していた。すると突然、誰も生まれてこのかた見たことがないほど見事な馬に乗った勇士が駆けてきた。その勇士は真鍮の鎖帷子をまとい、馬の口には真鍮の轡がはまっていて、あまりに輝いて日の光が照り返すほどだった。すると一同は彼に、山へ乗り入れる手間は省いたほうがよい、何にもならぬからと叫びかけた。だが彼は気にも留めず、馬を山へ向けて、何でもないことのように山をかなり登った。高さの三分の一ほどである。そしてそこまで来ると、馬の向きを変えてまた下りてきた。これほど美しい勇士を、姫はまだ見たことがないと思った。そして彼が登っているあいだ、姫は坐ってこう思っていた。「あの方が向こう側まで登り切って下りていってくださればよいのに。」

And when she saw him turning back, she threw down one of the golden apples after him, and it rolled down into his shoe. But when he got to the bottom of the hill he rode off so fast that no one could tell what had become of him. That evening all the knights and princes were to go before the king, that he who had ridden so far up the hill might show the apple which the princess had thrown, but there was no one who had anything to show. One after the other they all came, but not a man of them could show the apple.

そして彼が引き返すのを見ると、姫は黄金の林檎の一つを彼のあとに投げた。すると林檎は転がって彼の靴のなかに入った。ところが彼は山のふもとに着くとあまりに速く駆け去ったので、どうなったか誰にもわからなかった。その晩、勇士も公もみな王の前に出て、あれほど山を登った者が姫の投げた林檎を見せることになった。だが見せるものを持っている者は一人もいなかった。次から次へとみなが来たが、誰一人林檎を見せられる者はいなかった。

At even the brothers of Boots came home too, and had such a long story to tell about the riding up the hill.

夕方、ボーツの兄たちも家に帰ってきて、山を登る競べについて長々と話して聞かせた。

“First of all”, they said, “there was not one of the whole lot who could get so much as a stride up; but at last came one who had a suit of brass mail, and a brass bridle and saddle, all so bright that the sun shone from them a mile off. He was a chap to ride, just! He rode a third of the way up the hill of glass, and he could easily have ridden the whole way up, if he chose; but he turned round and rode down, thinking, maybe, that was enough for once.”

「まず何より」と二人は言った。「あれだけの人数のなかに、一またぎでも登れる者は一人もいなかった。ところが最後に一人来て、真鍮の鎖帷子と、真鍮の轡と鞍をつけていて、みな一マイル先からでも日が照り返すほど輝いていた。あれこそ馬の乗り手だ、まったく! あの男は硝子の山を三分の一まで登った。その気になれば楽々と全部登れただろうに、向きを変えて下りてきたのだ。たぶん、一度はそれで十分だと思ったのだろう。」

“Oh! I should so like to have seen him, that I should”, said Boots, who sat by the fireside, and stuck his feet into the cinders, as was his wont.

「ああ! ぼくもその人を見たかったなあ、本当に」と、いつものように炉端に坐って灰に足を突っ込んでいたボーツが言った。

“Oh!” said his brothers, “you would, would you? You; look fit to keep company with such high lords, nasty beast that you are, sitting there amongst the ashes.”

「ほう!」と兄たちは言った。「見たかっただと。おまえがか。灰のなかに坐っている汚らしい獣のくせに、そんな高貴な殿方と肩を並べようというのか。」

Next day the brothers were all for setting off again, and Boots begged them this time, too, to let him go with them and see the riding; but no, they wouldn’t have him at any price, he was too ugly and nasty, they said.

翌日、兄たちはまた出かける支度をした。そしてボーツはこの日も、いっしょに行って競べを見せてくれと頼んだ。だがだめだった。どんなことがあっても連れていく気はない、おまえは醜くて汚らしすぎると言うのである。

“Well, well!” said Boots;” if I go at all, I must go by myself. I’m not afraid.”

「なに、かまわないさ!」とボーツは言った。「行くとしたら一人で行くまでだ。怖くはない。」

So when the brothers got to the hill of glass, all the princes and knights began to ride again, and you may fancy they had taken care to shoe their horses sharp; but it was no good—they rode and slipped, and slipped and rode, just as they had done the day before, and there was not one who could get so far as a yard up the hill. And when they had worn out their horses, so that they could not stir a leg, they were all forced to give it up as a bad job. So the king thought he might as well proclaim that the riding should take place the day after for the last time, just to give them one chance more; but all at once it came across his mind that he might as well wait a little longer, to see if the knight in brass mail would come this day too. Well! they saw nothing of him; but all at once came one riding on a steed, far, far, braver and finer than that on which the knight in brass had ridden, and he had silver mail, and a silver saddle and bridle, all so bright that the sun-beams gleamed and glanced from them far away. Then the others shouted out to him again, saying, he might as well hold hard, and not try to ride up the hill, for all his trouble would be thrown away; but the knight paid no heed to them, and rode straight at the hill, and right up it, till he had gone two-thirds of the way, and then he wheeled his horse round and rode down again. To tell the truth, the Princess liked him still better than the knight in brass, and she sat and wished he might only be able to come right up to the top, and down the other side; but when she saw him turning back, she threw the second apple after him, and it rolled down and fell into his shoe. But, as soon as ever he had come down from the hill of glass, he rode off so fast that no one could see what became of him.

そこで兄たちが硝子の山に着くと、公も勇士もみなまた馬を駆りはじめた。そして馬に鋭い蹄鉄を打たせるのを怠らなかったことは、お察しのとおりである。だが無駄だった——みな前の日と同じく、乗っては滑り、滑っては乗り、一ヤードでも山を登れる者は一人もいなかった。そして馬を脚が動かなくなるまで疲れ果てさせると、みな諦めるほかなかった。そこで王は、明日もう一度だけ最後の競べを行うと触れ出そうかと思った。もう一度だけ機会を与えようというのである。ところが突然、真鍮の鎖帷子の勇士が今日も来るかどうか、もう少し待ってみてもよいのではないかと思い至った。さて、その勇士の姿は見えなかった。だが突然、真鍮の鎧の勇士が乗っていたのよりはるかに、はるかに勇ましく立派な馬に乗った者が現れた。その者は銀の鎖帷子をまとい、銀の鞍と轡をつけていて、みな遠くからでも日の光がきらめき照り返すほど輝いていた。そこで一同はまた彼に叫びかけて、やめておいたほうがよい、山へ乗り入れようとしても骨折り損だと言った。だが勇士は気にも留めず、まっすぐ山へ乗り入れ、そのまま登って三分の二まで行き、それから馬の向きを変えてまた下りてきた。正直なところ、姫は真鍮の勇士よりこちらのほうがいっそう気に入って、坐ったまま、あの方がてっぺんまで登り切って向こう側へ下りていってくださればよいのにと願っていた。だが彼が引き返すのを見ると、二つめの林檎を彼のあとに投げた。すると林檎は転がって彼の靴のなかに落ちた。ところが硝子の山を下りるやいなや、彼はあまりに速く駆け去ったので、どうなったか誰にも見えなかった。

At even, when all were to go in before the king and the Princess, that he who had the golden apple might show it, in they went, one after the other, but there was no one who had any apple to show, and the two brothers, as they had done on the former day, went home and told how things had gone, and how all had ridden at the hill, and none got up.

夕方、黄金の林檎を持っている者がそれを見せるために、みなが王と姫の前に出ることになった。そこで次から次へと入っていったが、見せる林檎を持っている者は一人もいなかった。そして二人の兄は、前の日にそうしたように家へ帰って、事の次第を話した。みなが山へ乗り入れたが誰も登れなかったと。

“But, last of all”, they said, “came one in a silver suit, and his horse had a silver saddle and a silver bridle. He was just a chap to ride; and he got two-thirds up the hill, and then turned back. He was a fine fellow, and no mistake; and the Princess threw the second gold apple to him.”

「だが最後に」と二人は言った。「銀の衣裳をつけた者が一人来て、その馬には銀の鞍と銀の轡がついていた。あれこそ馬の乗り手だ。そして山を三分の二まで登って、それから引き返した。立派な男だった、間違いない。そして姫は二つめの黄金の林檎をその男に投げたのだ。」

“Oh!” said Boots, “I should so like to have seen him too, that I should.”

「ああ!」とボーツは言った。「ぼくもその人を見たかったなあ、本当に。」

“A pretty story”, they said. “Perhaps you think his coat of mail was as bright as the ashes you are always poking about, and sifting, you nasty dirty beast.”

「結構な話だ」と二人は言った。「あの男の鎖帷子が、おまえがいつもつつき回してふるっている灰ほどに輝いていたとでも思っているのか、この汚らしい獣め。」

The third day everything happened as it had happened the two days before. Boots begged to go and see the sight, but the two wouldn’t hear of his going with them. When they got to the hill there was no one who could get so much as a yard up it; and now all waited for the knight in silver mail, but they neither saw nor heard of him. At last came one riding on a steed, so brave that no one had ever seen his match; and the knight had a suit of golden mail, and a golden saddle and bridle, so wondrous bright that the sunbeams gleamed from them a mile off. The other knights and princes could not find time to call out to him not to try his luck, for they were amazed to see how grand he was. So he rode right at the hill, and tore up it like nothing, so that the Princess hadn’t even time to wish that he might get up the whole way. As soon as ever he reached the top, he took the third golden apple from the Princess’ lap, and then turned his horse and rode down again. As soon as he got down, he rode off at full speed, and was out of sight in no time.

三日めも、前の二日に起こったのと何もかも同じように起こった。ボーツは見に行かせてくれと頼んだが、二人はいっしょに行くなど聞こうともしなかった。山に着くと、一ヤードでも登れる者は一人もいなかった。そしてみなが銀の鎖帷子の勇士を待ったが、その姿も噂も届かなかった。とうとう一人が、誰も見たことがないほど勇ましい馬に乗って現れた。そしてその勇士は黄金の鎖帷子をまとい、黄金の鞍と轡をつけていて、あまりに驚くほど輝いていて一マイル先からでも日の光がきらめいた。ほかの勇士も公も、運試しはやめておけと叫ぶ暇もなかった。その堂々たる姿に見とれてしまったのである。そこで彼はまっすぐ山へ乗り入れ、何でもないことのように駆け上がったので、姫はてっぺんまで登り切ってほしいと願う暇さえなかった。そしててっぺんに着くやいなや、姫の膝から三つめの黄金の林檎を取り、それから馬の向きを変えて下りてきた。下り着くやいなや全速力で駆け去り、たちまち見えなくなった。

Now, when the brothers got home at even, you may fancy what long stories they told, how the riding had gone off that day; and amongst other things, they had a deal to say about the knight in golden mail.

さて、兄たちが夕方に帰ってくると、その日の競べがどう運んだか、どれほど長々と話して聞かせたかはお察しのとおりである。そしてなかでも、黄金の鎖帷子の勇士については語ることがたっぷりあった。

“He just was a chap to ride!” they said; “so grand a knight isn’t to be found in the wide world.”

「あれこそ馬の乗り手だ!」と二人は言った。「あれほど立派な勇士は広い世界にもいるまい。」

“Oh!” said Boots, “I should so like to have seen him, that I should.”

「ああ!」とボーツは言った。「ぼくもその人を見たかったなあ、本当に。」

“Ah! “said his brothers, “his mail shone a deal brighter than the glowing coals which you are always poking and digging at; nasty dirty beast that you are.”

「ふん!」と兄たちは言った。「あの男の鎖帷子は、おまえがいつもつつき回して掘り返している熾火よりはるかに輝いていたぞ。この汚らしい獣め。」

Next day all the knights and princes were to pass before the king and the Princess—it was too late to do so the night before, I suppose—that he who had the gold apple might bring it forth; but one came after another, first the princes, and then the knights, and still no one could show the gold apple.

翌日、勇士も公もみな王と姫の前を通ることになった——前の晩ではもう遅すぎたのだろう——そして黄金の林檎を持つ者がそれを差し出すことになった。だが次から次へと、まず公たち、それから勇士たちが来たが、それでも黄金の林檎を見せられる者はいなかった。

“Well”, said the king, “some one must have it, for it was something that we all saw with our own eyes, how a man came and rode up and bore it off.”

「さて」と王は言った。「誰かが持っているはずだ。われらみなが自分の目で見たのだからな。一人の男が来て登って、それを奪っていったのを。」

So he commanded that every one who was in the kingdom should come up to the palace and see if they could show the apple. Well, they all came one after another, but no one had the golden apple, and after a long time the two brothers of Boots came. They were the last of all, so the king asked them if there was no one else in the kingdom who hadn’t come.

そこで王は、この国にいる者はみな宮殿へ来て林檎を見せられるかどうか試すようにと命じた。さて、みなが次から次へと来たが、黄金の林檎を持つ者はいなかった。そして長いことかかって、ボーツの二人の兄が来た。二人はいちばん最後だったので、王はこの国にまだ来ていない者はいないかと尋ねた。

“Oh, yes”, said they; “we have a brother, but he never carried off the golden apple. He hasn’t stirred out of the dusthole on any of the three days.”

「ああ、おります」と二人は言った。「われらには弟が一人おりますが、黄金の林檎など奪ってはおりません。三日のあいだ、灰置き場から動いたこともないのですから。」

“Never mind that”, said the king; “he may as well come up to the palace like the rest.”

「それはかまわぬ」と王は言った。「ほかの者と同じように宮殿へ来ればよい。」

So Boots had to go up to the palace.

そこでボーツは宮殿へ上がらねばならなくなった。

“How, now”, said the king; “have you got the golden apple? Speak out!”

「どうだ」と王は言った。「黄金の林檎を持っておるか。はっきり申せ!」

“Yes, I have”, said Boots; “here is the first, and here is the second, and here is the third too”; and with that he pulled all three golden apples out of his pocket, and at the same time threw off his sooty rags, and stood before them in his gleaming golden mail.

「はい、持っております」とボーツは言った。「これが一つめ、これが二つめ、そしてこれが三つめです。」。そう言って三つの黄金の林檎をみな隠しから引っぱり出し、同時に煤けたぼろを脱ぎ捨てて、輝く黄金の鎖帷子姿で一同の前に立った。

“Yes!” said the king; “you shall have my daughter, and half my kingdom, for you well deserve both her and it.”

「よし!」と王は言った。「そなたにわが娘と王国の半ばを与えよう。そなたはその両方にふさわしい。」

So they got ready for the wedding, and Boots got the Princess to wife, and there was great merry-making at the bridal-feast, you may fancy, for they could all be merry though they couldn’t ride up the hill of glass; and all I can say is, if they haven’t left off their merry-making yet, why, they’re still at it.

そこで婚礼の支度が整えられ、ボーツは姫を妻に迎えた。そして婚礼の宴では大変な賑わいがあった。それはお察しのとおりで、硝子の山を登れなくとも、みな楽しむことはできたのである。そしてわたしに言えるのはこれだけだ。もし彼らがまだ賑わいをやめていないなら、いまでも続けているということだ。