The Lassie and Her Godmother

Once on a time a poor couple lived far, far away in a great wood. The wife was brought to bed, and had a pretty girl, but they were so poor they did not know how to get the babe christened, for they had no money to pay the parson’s fees. So one day the father went out to see if he could find any one who was willing to stand for the child and pay the fees; but though he walked about the whole day from one house to another, and though all said they were willing enough to stand, no one thought himself bound to pay the fees. Now, when he was going home again, a lovely lady met him, dressed so fine, and who looked so thoroughly good and kind; she offered to get the babe christened, but after that, she said, she must keep it for her own. The husband answered, he must first ask his wife what she wished to do; but when he got home and told his story, the wife said, right out, “No!”

むかしむかし、貧しい夫婦が大きな森のはるか遠くに住んでいた。女房は床につき、器量のよい女の子を産んだ。だが二人はあまりに貧しくて、その赤子に洗礼を受けさせる手立てもわからなかった。司祭への礼を払う金がなかったのである。そこである日、父は出かけて、この子の名づけ親になって礼を払ってくれる者がいないか探して回った。ところが一日じゅう家から家へと歩き回り、誰もが喜んで名づけ親になろうと言ったが、礼を払う務めがあると思う者は一人もいなかった。さて家へ帰ろうというとき、美しい婦人に出会った。それは立派な身なりで、心から善良で親切そうに見えた。その婦人は赤子に洗礼を受けさせようと申し出たが、そのあとはその子を自分のものにせねばならぬと言った。亭主は、まず女房がどうしたいかを尋ねねばならぬと答えた。ところが家に帰って話をすると、女房はきっぱり「いやです!」と言った。

Next day the man went out again, but no one would stand if they had to pay the fees; and though he begged and prayed, he could get no help. And again as he went home, towards evening the same lovely lady met him, who looked so sweet and good, and she made him the same offer. So he told his wife again how he had fared, and this time she said, if he couldn’t get any one to stand for his babe next day, they must just let the lady have her way, since she seemed so kind and good.

翌日も男は出かけたが、礼を払わねばならぬのなら名づけ親になろうという者はいなかった。そしてどれほど頼み込んでも、何の助けも得られなかった。そしてまた家へ帰るとき、夕方近くに、あのそれは優しく善良そうな美しい婦人に出会って、同じ申し出をされた。そこでまた女房に事の次第を話すと、このときは女房も、明日も赤子の名づけ親が見つからないなら、あれほど親切で善良そうなのだから、あの婦人の思いどおりにさせるほかないと言った。

The third day, the man went about, but he couldn’t get any one to stand; and so when, towards evening, he met the kind lady again, he gave his word she should have the babe if she would only get it christened at the font. So next morning she came to the place where the man lived, followed by two men to stand godfathers, took the babe and carried it to church, and there it was christened. After that she took it to her own house, and there the little girl lived with her several years, and her foster-mother was always kind and friendly to her.

三日め、男は歩き回ったが名づけ親は見つからなかった。そこで夕方近くにまたあの親切な婦人に出会うと、洗礼盤で洗礼を受けさせてくれさえするなら赤子を差し上げますと約束した。そこで翌朝、婦人は男の住まいへやって来て、名づけ親に立つ男を二人連れて赤子を教会へ運び、そこで洗礼を受けさせた。そのあと婦人はその子を自分の家へ連れていき、小さな娘はそこで何年も暮らし、育ての母はいつも優しく親しくしてくれた。

Now, when the lassie had grown to be big enough to know right and wrong, her foster-mother got ready to go on a journey. “You have my leave”, she said, “to go all over the house, except those rooms which I shew you”; and when she had said that, away she went.

さて娘が善悪のわかるほど大きくなったころ、育ての母が旅に出る支度をした。「家じゅうどこへ行ってもかまいません」と母は言った。「ただし、これから見せる部屋を除いてね。」。そう言うと出かけていった。

But the lassie could not forbear just to open one of the doors a little bit, when—POP! out flew a Star.

ところが娘は、そのうちの一つの戸をほんの少し開けずにはいられなかった。すると——ぽん! 星が一つ飛び出した。

When her foster-mother came back, she was very vexed to find that the star had flown out, and she got very angry with her foster-daughter, and threatened to send her away; but the child cried and begged so hard that she got leave to stay.

育ての母が帰ってきて、星が飛び出してしまったのを知ると、たいそう機嫌を損ね、育て娘にひどく腹を立てて追い出すと脅した。だが娘が泣いて熱心に頼むので、留まる許しを得た。

Now, after a while, the foster-mother had to go on another journey; and, before she went, she forbade the lassie to go into those two rooms into which she had never been. She promised to beware; but when she was left alone, she began to think and to wonder what there could be in the second room, and at last she could not help setting the door a little ajar, just to peep in, when—POP! out flew the Moon.

さてしばらくして、育ての母はまた旅に出ることになった。そして出かける前に、まだ一度も入ったことのないあの二つの部屋には入るなと娘に禁じた。娘は気をつけますと約束した。だが一人残されると、二つめの部屋には何があるのだろうと思いはじめ、とうとう堪えきれずに、ほんのちょっとのぞくだけと戸を少し開けた。すると——ぽん! 月が飛び出した。

When her foster-mother came home and found the Moon let out, she was very downcast, and said to the lassie she must go away, she could not stay with her any longer. But the lassie wept so bitterly, and prayed so heartily for forgiveness, that this time, too, she got leave to stay.

育ての母が帰ってきて月が逃げ出したのを知ると、ひどく気を落として、娘に、出ていってもらわねばならない、もういっしょにはいられないと言った。だが娘があまりに激しく泣いて、心から許しを乞うので、このときもまた留まる許しを得た。

Some time after, the foster-mother had to go away again, and she charged the lassie, who by this time was half grown up, most earnestly that she mustn’t try to go into, or to peep into, the third room. But when her foster-mother had been gone some time, and the lassie was weary of walking about alone, all at once she thought, “Dear me, what fun it would be just to peep a little into that third room.” Then she thought she mustn’t do it for her foster-mother’s sake; but when the bad thought came the second time she could hold out no longer; come what might, she must and would look into the room; so she just opened the door a tiny bit, when—POP! out flew the Sun.

しばらくして育ての母はまた出かけることになり、このときにはもう半ば大人になっていた娘に、三つめの部屋には入ることも、のぞくことも決してしてはならぬと、それはそれは厳しく言いつけた。ところが育ての母が出かけてしばらくして、娘は一人で歩き回るのに飽きてきて、ふとこう思った。「まあ、あの三つめの部屋をちょっとのぞくだけでも、どんなに面白いことか。」。それから育ての母のためにそんなことをしてはならないと思った。だが二度めに悪い考えが浮かんだときにはもう堪えきれなかった。どうなろうとどうしても部屋をのぞかねばならない、のぞきたい。そこでほんの少しだけ戸を開けた。すると——ぽん! 太陽が飛び出した。

But when her foster-mother came back and saw that the sun had flown away, she was cut to the heart, and said, “Now, there was no help for it, the lassie must and should go away; she couldn’t hear of her staying any longer.” Now the lassie cried her eyes out, and begged and prayed so prettily; but it was all no good.

ところが育ての母が帰ってきて太陽が飛び去ったのを知ると、胸を切り裂かれる思いでこう言った。「もうどうしようもありません。この子はどうしても出ていかねばなりません。これ以上留まることなど聞き入れられません。」。そこで娘は目が腫れるほど泣き、それは可愛らしく頼み込んだ。だがまったく無駄だった。

“Nay! but I must punish you!” said her foster-mother; “but you may have your choice, either to be the loveliest woman in the world, and not to be able to speak, or to keep your speech, and be the ugliest of all women; but away from me you must go.”

「いいえ、罰を与えねばなりません!」と育ての母は言った。「けれど選ばせてあげましょう。この世でいちばん美しい女になって、ものが言えなくなるか、それとも口はきけるけれどこの世でいちばん醜い女になるか。けれどわたしのもとを去らねばなりません。」

And the lassie said, “I would sooner be lovely.” So she became all at once wondrous fair; but from that day forth she was dumb.

そこで娘は「美しいほうがよいです」と言った。すると娘はたちまち驚くほど美しくなったが、その日から口がきけなくなった。

So, when she went away from her foster-mother, she walked and wandered through a great, great wood; but the farther she went, the farther off the end seemed to be. So, when the evening came on, she clomb up into a tall tree, which grew over a spring, and there she made herself up to sleep that night. Close by lay a castle, and from that castle came early every morning a maid to draw water to make the Prince’s tea, from the spring over which the lassie was sitting. So the maid looked down into the spring, saw the lovely face in the water, and thought it was her own; then she flung away the pitcher, and ran home; and, when she got there, she tossed up her head and said, “If I’m so pretty, I’m far too good to go and fetch water.”

そうして育ての母のもとを去ると、娘は大きな大きな森を歩きさまよった。だが行けば行くほど、果てが遠のくように思われた。そこで夕方になると、泉の上に伸びた高い木に登り、その夜はそこで眠ることにした。すぐそばに城があり、その城からは毎朝早く、女中が王子の茶をいれる水を汲みに来た。娘の坐っている上の泉から汲むのである。そこで女中は泉をのぞき込み、水のなかの美しい顔を見て、それが自分の顔だと思った。そして水差しを放り投げて家へ駆け戻り、着くと頭をつんと上げてこう言った。「わたしがこんなに美しいなら、水汲みなんかにはもったいなさすぎるわ。」

So another maid had to go for the water, but the same thing happened to her; she went back and said she was far too pretty and too good to fetch water from the spring for the Prince. Then the Prince went himself, for he had a mind to see what all this could mean. So, when he reached the spring, he too saw the image in the water; but he looked up at once, and became aware of the lovely lassie who sate there up in the tree. Then he coaxed her down and took her home; and at last made up his mind to have her for his queen, because she was so lovely; but his mother, who was still alive, was against it.

そこでもう一人の女中が水を汲みに行かねばならなくなったが、その女中にも同じことが起こった。戻ってきて、自分は王子のために泉から水を汲むにはあまりに美しく立派すぎると言った。そこで王子が自分で出かけた。これはいったいどういうことかと見たくなったのである。そこで泉に着くと、彼もまた水のなかの姿を見た。だがすぐに顔を上げて、そこの木の上に坐っている美しい娘に気づいた。そこで彼は娘をなだめすかして下ろし、家へ連れ帰って、とうとうあまりに美しいので妃に迎えようと心を決めた。だが彼の母はまだ生きていて、それに反対した。

“She can’t speak”, she said, “and maybe she’s a wicked witch.”

「あの娘は口がきけません」と母は言った。「それに邪な魔女かもしれませんよ。」

But the Prince could not be content till he got her. So after they had lived together a while, the lassie was to have a child, and when the child came to be born, the Prince set a strong watch round her; but at the birth one and all fell into a deep sleep, and her foster-mother came, cut the babe on its little finger, and smeared the queen’s mouth with the blood; and said:

だが王子は娘を得なければ満足できなかった。そこでしばらくいっしょに暮らしたあと、娘は子を宿し、その子が生まれる時が来ると、王子は娘のまわりに厳しい見張りを置いた。ところが出産のとき誰も彼もが深い眠りに落ちてしまい、育ての母が来て赤子の小指を切り、その血を妃の口のまわりに塗りつけて、こう言った。

“Now you shall be as grieved as I was when you let out the star”; and with these words she carried off the babe.

「さあ、おまえが星を逃がしたときのわたしと同じだけ嘆くがよい。」。そしてその言葉とともに赤子を連れ去った。

But when those who were on the watch woke, they thought the queen had eaten her own child, and the old queen was all for burning her alive, but the Prince was so fond of her that at last he begged her off, but he had hard work to set her free.

ところが見張りの者たちが目を覚ますと、妃が自分の子を食べてしまったと思い込んだ。そして年老いた妃は生きたまま焼けと言い張ったが、王子が妃をあまりに愛していたので、とうとう命乞いをした。だが自由にしてやるのには大変な骨折りが要った。

So the next time the young queen was to have a child, twice as strong a watch was set as the first time, but the same thing happened over again, only this time her foster-mother said:

そこで次に若い妃が子を産むときには、最初の倍も厳しい見張りが置かれたが、また同じことが起こった。ただしこのときは育ての母がこう言った。

“Now you shall be as grieved as I was when you let the moon out.”

「さあ、おまえが月を逃がしたときのわたしと同じだけ嘆くがよい。」

And the queen begged and prayed, and wept; for when her foster-mother was there, she could speak—but it was all no good.

そして妃は頼み、祈り、泣いた。というのも育ての母がそこにいるときには口がきけたのである。だがまったく無駄だった。

And now the old queen said she must be burnt, but the Prince found means to beg her off. But when the third child was to be born, a watch was set three times as strong as the first, but just the same thing happened. Her foster-mother came while the watch slept, took the babe, and cut its little finger, and smeared the queen’s mouth with the blood, telling her now she should be as grieved as she had been when the lassie let out the sun.

そしてこんどは年老いた妃が、この者は焼かねばならぬと言った。だが王子はまた命乞いの手立てを見つけた。ところが三人めの子が生まれるときには最初の三倍も厳しい見張りが置かれたが、やはり同じことが起こった。育ての母は見張りが眠っているあいだに来て赤子を取り、その小指を切って、その血を妃の口のまわりに塗りつけ、さあおまえが太陽を逃がしたときのわたしと同じだけ嘆くがよいと言った。

And now the Prince could not save her any longer. She must and should be burnt. But just as they were leading her to the stake, all at once they saw her foster-mother, who came with all three children—two she led by the hand, and the third she had on her arm; and so she went up to the young queen and said:

そしてこんどは王子ももう妃を救えなかった。どうしても焼かれねばならなかった。ところが妃を火刑の柱へ引いていこうとしたちょうどそのとき、みなはあの育ての母が三人の子どもを連れてくるのを見た——二人は手を引き、一人は腕に抱いていた。そして若い妃のところへ来てこう言った。

“Here are your children; now you shall have them again. I am the Virgin Mary, and so grieved as you have been, so grieved was I when you let out sun, and moon, and star. Now you have been punished for what you did, and henceforth you shall have your speech.”

「これがおまえの子どもたちです。さあ、また取り戻すがよい。わたしは聖母マリアです。そしておまえが嘆いたのと同じだけ、おまえが太陽と月と星を逃がしたときにわたしも嘆いたのです。おまえはしたことの罰を受けました。これからは口がきけるようになります。」

How glad the Queen and Prince now were, all may easily think, but no one can tell. After that they were always happy; and from that day even the Prince’s mother was very fond of the young queen.

妃と王子がどれほど喜んだかは誰にも容易に想像がつくが、誰にも語ることはできまい。そのあと二人はいつまでも幸せに暮らした。そしてその日から、王子の母までも若い妃をたいそう可愛がるようになった。