The Master Thief

Once upon a time there was a poor cottager who had three sons. He had nothing to leave them when he died, and no money with which to put them to any trade, so that he did not know what to make of them. At last he said he would give them leave to take to anything each liked best, and to go whithersoever they pleased, and he would go with them a bit of the way; and so he did. He went with them till they came to a place where three roads met, and there each of them chose a road, and their father bade them good-bye, and went back home. I have never heard tell what became of the two elder; but as for the youngest, he went both far and long, as you shall hear.

むかしむかし、三人の息子を持つ貧しい小屋住みの男がいた。死ぬときに遺してやるものもなく、どこかの職につかせる金もなかったので、息子たちをどうしたものかわからなかった。とうとう彼は、めいめい好きなことをしてよい、好きなところへ行ってよいと言い、途中まで送っていこうと言った。そしてそうした。三つの道が出会うところまでいっしょに行き、そこでめいめいが道を選び、父は別れを告げて家へ帰った。上の二人がどうなったかは聞いたことがない。だが末の息子については、これから聞くとおり、遠くまで長く旅をした。

So it fell out one night as he was going through a great wood that such bad weather overtook him. It blew, and sleeted, and drove so that he could scarce keep his eyes open; and in a trice, before he knew how it was, he got bewildered, and could not find either road or path. But as he went on and on, at last he saw a glimmering of light far far off in the wood. So he thought he would try and get to the light; and after a time he did reach it. There it was in a large house, and the fire was blazing so brightly inside, that he could tell the folk had not yet gone to bed; so he went in and saw an old dame bustling about and minding the house.

さてある夜、大きな森を通っていると、ひどい荒れ模様に襲われた。風が吹き、霙が降り、吹きつけてきて、目を開けているのもやっとだった。そしてたちまち、どうしたわけかもわからぬうちに道に迷い、道も小径も見つけられなくなった。だが歩きに歩くと、とうとう森のはるか遠くにちらちらと明かりが見えた。そこで明かりまで行ってみようと思い、しばらくしてとうとうそこに着いた。それは大きな家の明かりで、なかでは火が明るく燃えていたので、そこの者たちがまだ寝ていないとわかった。そこで入っていくと、老婆が忙しく家の切り回しをしていた。

“Good evening!” said the youth.

「こんばんは!」と若者は言った。

“Good evening!” said the old dame.

「こんばんは!」と老婆は言った。

“Hutetu! it’s such foul weather out of doors to-night”, said he.

「フテトゥ! 今夜は外がひどい荒れ模様で」と彼は言った。

“So it is”, said she.

「そうだね」と老婆は言った。

“Can I get leave to have a bed and shelter here to-night?” asked the youth.

「今夜ここで寝床と宿を貸してもらえませんか」と若者は尋ねた。

“You’ll get no good by sleeping here”, said the old dame; “for if the folk come home and find you here, they’ll kill both me and you.”

「ここで寝てもろくなことはないよ」と老婆は言った。「あの者たちが帰ってきておまえがいるのを見つけたら、わたしもおまえも殺されてしまう。」

“What sort of folk, then, are they who live here?” asked the youth.

「ではここに住んでいるのはどういう者たちです」と若者は尋ねた。

“Oh, robbers! And a bad lot of them too”, said the old dame. “They stole me away when I was little, and have kept me as their housekeeper ever since.”

「ああ、盗賊さ! それもたちの悪いのばかりだよ」と老婆は言った。「わたしが小さいころにさらってきて、それからずっと家政婦にしているんだよ。」

“Well, for all that, I think I’ll just go to bed”, said the youth. “Come what may, I’ll not stir out at night in such weather.”

「なに、それでもわたしは寝させてもらいます」と若者は言った。「何が来ようと、こんな天気の夜に外へは出ません。」

“Very well”, said the old dame; “but if you stay, it will be the worse for you.”

「よろしい」と老婆は言った。「だが留まるなら、身のためにならないよ。」

With that the youth got into a bed which stood there, but he dared not go to sleep, and very soon after in came the robbers; so the old dame told them how a stranger fellow had come in whom she had not been able to get out of the house again.

そう言われて若者はそこにあった寝床に入ったが、眠る勇気はなかった。そしてまもなく盗賊たちが帰ってきた。そこで老婆は、よそ者が入ってきて追い出せなかったと話した。

“Did you see if he had any money?” said the robbers.

「金を持っているか見たか」と盗賊たちは言った。

“Such a one as he money!” said the old dame, “the tramper! Why, if he had clothes to his back, it was as much as he had.”

「あんな者が金だって!」と老婆は言った。「あの浮浪者が! 背中に着るものがあるだけでも上出来なくらいさ。」

Then the robbers began to talk among themselves what they should do with him; if they should kill him outright, or what else they should do. Meantime the youth got up and began to talk to them, and to ask if they didn’t want a servant, for it might be that he would be glad to enter their service.

そこで盗賊たちは、この男をどうするか、すぐに殺してしまうか、それともほかに何かするかと相談しはじめた。そのあいだに若者は起き上がって話しかけ、下男は要らないか、自分は喜んで仕えるかもしれないと尋ねた。

“Oh”, said they, “if you have a mind to follow the trade that we follow, you can very well get a place here.”

「ほう」と盗賊たちは言った。「おれたちの商売をやる気があるなら、ここでよい奉公口が得られるぞ。」

“It’s all one to me what trade I follow”, said the youth; “for when I left home, father gave me leave to take to any trade I chose.”

「どんな商売でもわたしには同じことです」と若者は言った。「家を出るとき、父がどんな商売でも好きなものにつけと言いましたから。」

“Well, have you a mind to steal?” asked the robbers.

「では、盗む気はあるか」と盗賊たちは尋ねた。

“I don’t care”, said the youth, for he thought it would not take long to learn that trade.

「かまいません」と若者は言った。その商売を覚えるのに長くはかかるまいと思ったのである。

Now there lived a man a little way off who had three oxen. One of these he was to take to the town to sell, and the robbers had heard what he was going to do, so they said to the youth, if he were good to steal the ox from the man by the way without his knowing it, and without doing him any harm, they would give him leave to be their serving-man.

さて少し離れたところに牡牛を三頭持つ男が住んでいた。そのうち一頭を町へ売りに行くことになっていて、盗賊たちはそれを聞きつけていた。そこで若者に、その男に気づかれず、害も加えずに道でその牡牛を盗めるなら、下男に置いてやろうと言った。

Well! the youth set off, and took with him a pretty shoe, with a silver buckle on it, which lay about the house; and he put the shoe in the road along which the man was going with his ox; and when he had done that, he went into the wood and hid himself under a bush. So when the man came by he saw the shoe at once.

さて! 若者は出かけ、家のあたりに転がっていた、銀の留め金のついた器量のよい靴を一足のうち片方だけ持っていった。そしてその男が牛を連れて通る道にその靴を置き、それが済むと森に入って茂みの下に隠れた。そこで男が通りかかると、すぐにその靴を見つけた。

“That’s a nice shoe”, said he. “If I only had the fellow to it, I’d take it home with me, and perhaps I’d put my old dame in a good humour for once.” For you must know he had an old wife, so cross and snappish, it was not long between each time that she boxed his ears. But then he bethought him that he could do nothing with the odd shoe unless he had the fellow to it; so he went on his way and let the shoe lie on the road.

「よい靴だ」と彼は言った。「もう片方さえあれば持って帰るのだが。そうすれば婆さんの機嫌も一度くらいはよくなるかもしれん。」。というのも知っておいてほしいのだが、彼には年老いた女房がいて、ひどく気難しく気短で、殴られるあいだの間隔が短いのだった。だがそれから、片方だけでは何にもならぬと思い直し、靴を道に置いたまま行ってしまった。

Then the youth took up the shoe, and made all the haste he could to get before the man by a short cut through the wood, and laid it down before him in the road again. When the man came along with his ox, he got quite angry with himself for being so dull as to leave the fellow to the shoe lying in the road instead of taking it with him; so he tied the ox to the fence, and said to himself, “I may just as well run back and pick up the other, and then I’ll have a pair of good shoes for my old dame, and so, perhaps, I’ll get a kind word from her for once.”

そこで若者は靴を拾い、森の近道を通ってできるかぎり急いで男の先へ回り、また道に置いた。男が牛を連れてやって来ると、片方の靴を道に置き去りにして持ってこなかった自分の鈍さにすっかり腹が立ってきた。そこで牛を垣につないでひとりごちた。「駆け戻ってもう片方を拾ってきてもよかろう。そうすれば婆さんによい靴が一足できて、一度くらいは優しい言葉がもらえるかもしれん。」

So he set off, and hunted and hunted up and down for the shoe, but no shoe did he find; and at length he had to go back with the one he had. But, meanwhile the youth had taken the ox and gone off with it; and when the man came and saw his ox gone, he began to cry and bewail, for he was afraid his old dame would kill him outright when she came to know that the ox was lost. But just then it came across his mind that he would go home and take the second ox, and drive it to the town, and not let his old dame know anything about the matter. So he did this, and went home and took the ox without his dame’s knowing it, and set off with it to the town. But the robbers knew all about it, and they said to the youth, if he could get this ox too, without the man’s knowing it, and without his doing him any harm, he should be as good as any one of them. If that were all, the youth said, he did not think it a very hard thing.

そこで彼は駆け出して、あちこち靴を探し回ったが、靴は見つからなかった。とうとう持っていた片方だけを持って戻るほかなかった。ところがそのあいだに若者は牛を取って行ってしまっていた。そして男は牛がいなくなったのを見ると、泣き嘆きはじめた。牛をなくしたと知れたら女房に殺されてしまうと恐れたのである。ところがちょうどそのとき、家へ帰って二頭めの牛を取り、町へ引いていって、女房には何も知らせずにおこうという考えが浮かんだ。そこで彼はそうして、家へ帰って女房に知られずに牛を取り、それを連れて町へ出かけた。だが盗賊たちはそれをすっかり知っていて、若者に、この牛も男に気づかれず害も加えずに取れたら、おまえも一人前だと言った。それだけのことなら大して難しくはあるまい、と若者は言った。

This time he took with him a rope, and hung himself up under the arm-pits to a tree right in the man’s way. So the man came along with his ox, and when he saw such a sight hanging there he began to feel a little queer.

こんどは縄を持っていって、男のちょうど通る道の木に、脇の下で吊るして身をぶら下げた。そこで男が牛を連れてやって来て、そこにぶら下がっているものを見ると、少し妙な気持ちになった。

“Well”, said he, “whatever heavy thoughts you had who have hanged yourself up there, it can’t be helped; you may hang for what I care! I can’t breathe life into you again”; and with that he went on his way with his ox. Down slipped the youth from the tree, and ran by a footpath, and got before the man, and hung himself up right in his way again.

「まあ」と彼は言った。「どんな重い思いがあってそこに首を吊ったのかは知らんが、どうしようもない。好きなだけぶら下がっているがいい! わしにはまた息を吹き込んでやることもできん。」。そう言って牛を連れて道を行った。若者は木から滑り下りて小径を駆け、男の先へ回って、また道にぶら下がった。

“Bless me!” said the man, “were you really so heavy at heart that you hanged yourself up there—or is it only a piece of witchcraft that I see before me? Aye, aye! you may hang for all I care, whether you are a ghost or whatever you are.” So he passed on with his ox.

「なんてことだ!」と男は言った。「本当にそんなに心が重くてそこに首を吊ったのか——それともわしの目の前にあるのはただの妖術か。ああ、ああ! 幽霊だろうと何だろうと、好きなだけぶら下がっているがいい。」。そう言って牛を連れて進んだ。

Now the youth did just as he had done twice before; he jumped down from the tree, ran through the wood by a footpath, and hung himself up right in the man’s way again. But when the man saw this sight for the third time, he said to himself:

さて若者は前に二度したのとまったく同じことをした。木から跳び下りて森の小径を駆け、男の先へ回ってまたぶら下がった。ところが男は三度めにこの光景を見ると、ひとりごちた。

“Well! this is an ugly business! Is it likely now that they should have been so heavy at heart as to hang themselves, all these three? No! I cannot think it is anything else than a piece of witchcraft that I see. But now I’ll soon know for certain; if the other two are still hanging there, it must be really so; but if they are not, then it can be nothing but witchcraft that I see.”

「これは厄介なことだ! この三人がみな、そんなに心が重くて首を吊ったなどということがあるものか。いや! わしが見ているのは妖術のほかの何ものでもあるまい。だがいますぐ確かめてやろう。ほかの二人がまだぶら下がっていれば本当のことだ。だがいなければ、わしが見ているのは妖術のほかの何ものでもない。」

So he tied up his ox, and ran back to see if the others were still really hanging there. But while he went and peered up into all the trees, the youth jumped down and took his ox and ran off with it. When the man came back and found his ox gone, he was in a sad plight, and, as any one might know without being told, he began to cry and bemoan; but at last he came to take it easier, and so he thought:

そこで彼は牛をつないで、ほかの二人がまだそこにぶら下がっているか見に駆け戻った。ところが彼が行って木という木を見上げているあいだに、若者は跳び下りて牛を取って駆け去った。男が戻ってきて牛がいなくなったのを知ると、それは情けないありさまで、言わずともわかるとおり泣き嘆きはじめた。だがとうとう気を取り直してこう思った。

“There’s no other help for it than to go home and take the third ox without my dame’s knowing it, and to try and drive a good bargain with it, so that I may get a good sum of money for it.”

「女房に知られずに三頭めの牛を取ってきて、よい値で売って、たっぷり金をもらうほかない。」

So he went home and set off with the ox, and his old dame knew never a word about the matter. But the robbers, they knew all about it, and they said to the youth, that if he could steal this ox as he had stolen the other two, then he should be master over the whole band. Well, the youth set off, and ran into the wood; and as the man came by with his ox he set up a dreadful bellowing, just like a great ox in the wood. When the man heard that, you can’t think how glad he was, for it seemed to him that he knew the voice of his big bullock, and he thought that now he should find both of them again; so he tied up the third ox, and ran off from the road to look for them in the wood; but meantime the youth went off with the third ox. Now, when the man came back and found he had lost this ox too, he was so wild that there was no end to his grief. He cried and roared and beat his breast, and, to tell the truth, it was many days before he dared go home; for he was afraid lest his old dame should kill him outright on the spot.

そこで家へ帰って牛を連れて出かけたが、女房はそのことをひとことも知らなかった。だが盗賊たちはそれをすっかり知っていて、若者に、ほかの二頭を盗んだようにこの牛も盗めたら、一味みなの頭にしてやろうと言った。さて若者は出かけて森へ駆け込んだ。そして男が牛を連れて通りかかると、森の大きな牡牛そっくりの恐ろしい鳴き声を上げた。男はそれを聞いて、どれほど喜んだか想像もつくまい。自分の大きな牡牛の声だと思って、これで二頭とも見つかると思ったのである。そこで三頭めの牛をつないで、道を外れて森へ探しに駆け込んだ。だがそのあいだに若者は三頭めの牛を連れて行ってしまった。さて男が戻ってきてこの牛も失ったと知ると、あまりに荒れ狂って、その嘆きには際限がなかった。泣き、吠え、胸を打った。そして正直に言えば、家へ帰る勇気が出るまで何日もかかった。女房にその場で殺されてしまうのではないかと恐れたのである。

As for the robbers, they were not very well pleased either, when they had to own that the youth was master over the whole band. So one day they thought they would try their hands at something which he was not man enough to do; and they set off all together, every man Jack of them, and left him alone at home. Now, the first thing that he did when they were all well clear of the house, was to drive the oxen out to the road, so that they might run back to the man from whom he had stolen them; and right glad he was to see them, as you may fancy. Next he took all the horses which the robbers had, and loaded them with the best things he could lay his hands on-gold and silver, and clothes and other fine things; and then he bade the old dame to greet the robbers when they came back, and to thank them for him, and to say that now he was setting off on his travels, and they would have hard work to find him again; and with that, off he started.

盗賊たちはといえば、若者が一味みなの頭だと認めねばならなくなって、あまり面白くなかった。そこである日、彼にはできまいと思うことを一つ試してみようと考え、一人残らずそろって出かけ、彼を一人家に残した。さて、みながすっかり行ってしまうと、彼が最初にしたのは牛を道へ追い出すことだった。盗んだ相手の男のところへ帰れるようにである。そして男がそれを見てどれほど喜んだかはお察しのとおりである。次に彼は盗賊たちの馬をすっかり取って、手に入るかぎりのいちばんよい物を積んだ——金銀も着物もそのほかの立派な品もである。それから老婆に、盗賊たちが帰ってきたらよろしく伝えてくれ、そして礼を言って、自分はこれから旅に出る、二度と見つけるのは骨だろうと伝えてくれと言った。そう言って出かけた。

After a good bit he came to the road along which he was going when he fell among the robbers, and when he got near home, and could see his father’s cottage, he put on a uniform which he had found among the clothes he had taken from the robbers, and which was made just like a general’s. So he drove up to the door as if he were any other great man. After that he went in and asked if he could have a lodging? No; that he couldn’t at any price.

だいぶ行くと、盗賊のもとに落ちる前に歩いていた道に出た。そして家の近くまで来て父の小屋が見えるようになると、盗賊たちから取った着物のなかにあった、将軍のような仕立ての軍服を着た。そうして、どこかの偉い人であるかのように戸口へ乗りつけた。それから中へ入って、宿を貸してもらえるかと尋ねた。いいえ、とんでもない。

“How ever should I be able”, said the man, “to make room in my house for such a fine gentleman—I who scarce have a rag to lie upon, and miserable rags too?”

「どうしてわしにできましょう」と男は言った。「こんな立派な殿方に泊まっていただく場所など。わしなど横になるぼろきれもろくにない、それもみじめなぼろばかりで。」

“You always were a stingy old hunks”, said the youth, “and so you are still, when you won’t take your own son in.”

「あんたは昔からけちな守銭奴だった」と若者は言った。「そしていまも同じだ。自分の息子を入れようともしないとは。」

“What, you my son!” said the man.

「なに、おまえがわしの息子だと!」と男は言った。

“Don’t you know me again?” said the youth. Well, after a little while he did know him again.

「わからないのか」と若者は言った。さてしばらくして、男はやっと息子だとわかった。

“But what have you been turning your hand to, that you have made yourself so great a man in such haste?” asked the man.

「だがいったい何をして、こんなに早くこれほど偉い人になったのだ」と男は尋ねた。

“Oh! I’ll soon tell you”, said the youth. “You said I might take to any trade I chose, and so I bound myself apprentice to a pack of thieves and robbers, and now I’ve served my time out, and am become a Master Thief.”

「ああ! すぐに話すよ」と若者は言った。「父さんは好きな商売につけと言った。それでおれは盗賊の一味に弟子入りして、いまは年季を勤め上げて盗みの親方になったのさ。」

Now there lived a Squire close by to his father’s cottage, and he had such a great house, and such heaps of money, he could not tell how much he had. He had a daughter too, and a smart and pretty girl she was. So the Master Thief set his heart upon having her to wife, and he told his father to go to the Squire and ask for his daughter for him.

さて父の小屋のすぐそばに郷士が住んでいて、たいそう大きな屋敷と、どれほどあるかもわからぬほどの金の山を持っていた。そして娘も一人いて、利発で器量のよい娘だった。そこで盗みの親方はその娘を妻にしようと心を決め、父に、郷士のところへ行って娘をくれと頼んでこいと言った。

“If he asks by what trade I get my living, you can say I’m a Master Thief.”

「どんな商売で暮らしているかと訊かれたら、盗みの親方だと言えばいい。」

“I think you’ve lost your wits”, said the man, “for you can’t be in your right mind when you think of such stuff.”

「気でも狂ったか」と男は言った。「そんなことを考えるとは、正気ではあるまい。」

No! he had not lost his wits, his father must and should go to the Squire, and ask for his daughter.

いや、気は狂っていない、父はどうしても郷士のところへ行って娘をくれと頼まねばならぬ。

“Nay, but I tell you, I daren’t go to the Squire and be your spokesman; he who is so rich, and has so much money”, said the man.

「いや、だが言っておくが、わしには郷士のところへ行っておまえの口上を述べる勇気はない。あれほど金持ちで、あれほど金を持っている人に」と男は言った。

Yes, there was no help for it, said the Master Thief; he should go whether he would or no; and if he did not go by fair means, he would soon make him go by foul. But the man was still loath to go; so he stepped after him, and rubbed him down with a good birch cudgel, and kept on till the man came crying and sobbing inside the Squire’s door.

そうだ、どうしようもない、と盗みの親方は言った。行きたかろうと行きたくなかろうと行かねばならぬ。穏便に行かぬなら、すぐに手荒に行かせてやる、と。だが男はなお行くのを渋った。そこで若者は父のあとについて白樺の棍棒でさんざんに打ちすえ、男が泣きじゃくりながら郷士の戸口に入るまでそれをやめなかった。

“How now, my man! what ails you?” said the Squire. So he told him the whole story; how he had three sons who set off one day, and how he had given them leave to go whithersoever they would, and to follow whatever calling they chose. “And here now is the youngest come home, and has thrashed me till he has made me come to you and ask for your daughter for him to wife; and he bids me say, besides, that he’s a Master Thief.” And so he fell to crying and sobbing again.

「これはどうした、おまえ! 何ごとだ」と郷士は言った。そこで男は一部始終を話した。息子が三人あって、ある日出かけていったこと、どこへでも行ってよい、どんな稼業についてもよいと許したこと。「そしてこのたび末の子が帰ってきて、あなたの娘さんを嫁にくれと頼みに行かせようと、わしを打ちすえたのです。そしてそのうえ、自分は盗みの親方だと伝えろと言うのです。」。そしてまた泣きじゃくりはじめた。

“Never mind, my man”, said the Squire, laughing; “just go back and tell him from me, he must prove his skill first. If he can steal the roast from the spit in the kitchen on Sunday, while all the household are looking after it, he shall have my daughter. Just go and tell him that.”

「案ずるな、おまえ」と郷士は笑って言った。「戻ってわしからこう伝えてくれ。まず腕前を示さねばならぬ。日曜日に、家じゅうの者がみな見張っているなかで台所の串から焼き肉を盗めたら、娘をやろう、と。行ってそう伝えてくれ。」

So he went back and told the youth, who thought it would be an easy job. So he set about and caught three hares alive, and put them into a bag, and dressed himself in some old rags, until he looked so poor and filthy that it made one’s heart bleed to see; and then he stole into the passage at the back-door of the Squire’s house on the Sunday forenoon, with his bag, just like any other beggar-boy. But the Squire himself and all his household were in the kitchen watching the roast. Just as they were doing this, the youth let one hare go, and it set off and ran round and round the yard in front of the house.

そこで男は戻って若者に伝えた。若者はたやすい仕事だと思った。そこで取りかかって兎を三羽生け捕りにして袋に入れ、見るも哀れなほど貧しく汚らしく見えるまで古いぼろをまとった。そして日曜日の午前、袋を持って、ほかの物乞いの少年と同じように郷士の屋敷の裏口の通路にこっそり入り込んだ。だが郷士自身も家の者もみな台所で焼き肉を見張っていた。そうしているちょうどそのとき、若者は兎を一羽放った。すると兎は駆け出して屋敷の前の庭をぐるぐる走り回った。

“Oh, just look at that hare!” said the folk in the kitchen, and were all for running out to catch it.

「まあ、あの兎をごらんなさい!」と台所の者たちは言い、みな捕まえに駆け出そうとした。

Yes, the Squire saw it running too. “Oh, let it run”, said he; “there’s no use in thinking to catch a hare on the spring.”

そうだ、郷士にもそれが走るのが見えた。「まあ、走らせておけ」と彼は言った。「跳ねている兎を捕まえようなどと思っても無駄だ。」

A little while after, the youth let the second hare go, and they saw it in the kitchen, and thought it was the same they had seen before, and still wanted to run out and catch it; but the Squire said again it was no use. It was not long before the youth let the third hare go, and it set off and ran round and round the yard as the others before it. Now, they saw it from the kitchen, and still thought it was the same hare that kept on running about, and were all eager to be out after it.

しばらくして若者は二羽めの兎を放った。台所からそれが見えて、みなは前に見たのと同じ兎だと思い、やはり駆け出して捕まえたがった。だが郷士はまた無駄だと言った。まもなく若者は三羽めの兎を放ち、それも前の二羽と同じように庭をぐるぐる走り回った。さて台所からそれが見えて、みなはまだ同じ兎が走り回っているのだと思い、こぞって追いかけたくてたまらなくなった。

“Well, it is a fine hare”, said the Squire; “come let’s see if we can’t lay our hands on it.”

「なるほど、よい兎だ」と郷士は言った。「さあ、捕まえられるか見てみよう。」

So out he ran, and the rest with him—away they all went, the hare before, and they after; so that it was rare fun to see. But meantime the youth took the roast and ran off with it; and where the Squire got a roast for his dinner that day I don’t know; but one thing I know, and that is, that he had no roast hare, though he ran after it till he was both warm and weary.

そう言って駆け出し、ほかの者もみなあとに続いた——みなが駆けていった。兎が先、みながあと。それは見ものだった。だがそのあいだに若者は焼き肉を取って駆け去った。その日、郷士が昼餉の焼き肉をどこで手に入れたかは知らない。だが一つ知っていることがある。それは、体が熱くなって疲れ果てるまで追いかけたのに、兎の焼き肉は手に入らなかったということだ。

Now it chanced that the Priest came to dinner that day, and when the Squire told him what a trick the Master Thief had played him, he made such game of him that there was no end of it.

さてその日、たまたま司祭が食事に来ていた。そして郷士が盗みの親方にどんな悪戯をされたかを話すと、司祭はそれを際限もなく笑いものにした。

“For my part”, said the Priest, “I can’t think how it could ever happen to me to be made such a fool of by a fellow like that.”

「わたしなら」と司祭は言った。「あんな者にそんな馬鹿を見せられるなど、どうして起こりうるか思いもつきませんな。」

“Very well—only keep a sharp look-out”, said the Squire; “maybe he’ll come to see you before you know a word of it.” But the Priest stuck to his text—that he did, and made game of the Squire because he had been so taken in.

「よろしい——だがしっかり見張っておくことだ」と郷士は言った。「知らぬまにあなたのところへも来るかもしれんぞ。」。だが司祭は自分の言い分を曲げず、そのとおり曲げず、あんな者に手玉に取られたといって郷士を笑いものにした。

Later in the afternoon came the Master Thief, and wanted to have the Squire’s daughter, as he had given his word. But the Squire began to talk him over, and said, “Oh, you must first prove your skill a little more; for what you did to-day was no great thing, after all. Couldn’t you now play off a good trick on the Priest, who is sitting in there, and making game of me for letting such a fellow as you twist me round his thumb.”

その日の午後遅く、盗みの親方が来て、約束どおり郷士の娘をもらいたいと言った。だが郷士は言いくるめにかかってこう言った。「まずもう少し腕前を示してもらわねばならん。今日やったことは、結局のところ大したことではない。あそこに坐って、おまえのような者に手玉に取られたとわしを笑いものにしている司祭に、ひとつうまい悪戯を仕掛けられぬか。」

“Well, as for that, it wouldn’t be hard”, said the Master Thief. So he dressed himself up like a bird, threw a great white sheet over his body, took the wings of a goose and tied them to his back, and so climbed up into a great maple which stood in the Priest’s garden. And when the Priest came home in the evening, the youth began to bawl out:

「なに、それなら難しくはありません」と盗みの親方は言った。そこで彼は鳥のような身なりをして、体に大きな白い布をかぶり、鵞鳥の翼を背中に結びつけ、司祭の庭に立っている大きな楓の木に登った。そして夕方に司祭が帰ってくると、若者は喚きはじめた。

“Father Laurence! Father Laurence!”—for that was the Priest’s name.

「ラウレンス神父! ラウレンス神父!」。それが司祭の名前だったのである。

“Who is that calling me?” said the Priest.

「わたしを呼ぶのは誰だ」と司祭は言った。

“I am an angel”, said the Master Thief, “sent from God to let you know that you shall be taken up alive into heaven for your piety’s sake. Next Monday night you must hold yourself ready for the journey, for I shall come then to fetch you in a sack; and all your gold and your silver, and all that you have of this world’s goods, you must lay together in a heap in your dining-room.”

「わたしは天使です」と盗みの親方は言った。「神から遣わされて、あなたの敬虔さゆえに生きたまま天に上げられることをお知らせに来ました。次の月曜の夜に旅の支度をしておいてください。そのとき袋を持って迎えに来ます。そしてあなたの金銀と、この世の財をすべて食堂に一山に積んでおいてください。」

Well, Father Laurence fell on his knees before the angel, and thanked him; and the very next day he preached a farewell sermon, and gave it out how there had come down an angel unto the big maple in his garden, who had told him that he was to be taken up alive into heaven for his piety’s sake; and he preached and made such a touching discourse, that all who were at church wept, both young and old.

さて、ラウレンス神父は天使の前に跪いて礼を言った。そして次の日には別れの説教をして、庭の大きな楓に天使が下ってきて、敬虔さゆえに生きたまま天に上げられると告げたと話した。そしてそれはそれは心を打つ説教をしたので、教会にいた者は老いも若きもみな泣いた。

So the next Monday night came the Master Thief like an angel again, and the Priest fell on his knees and thanked him before he was put into the sack; but when he had got him well in, the Master Thief drew and dragged him over stocks and stones.

そこで次の月曜の夜、盗みの親方はまた天使としてやって来た。そして司祭は袋に入れられる前にその前に跪いて礼を言った。ところがすっかり入ってしまうと、盗みの親方は司祭を切り株や石の上を引きずり回した。

“OW! OW!” groaned the Priest inside the sack, “wherever are we going?”

「あう! あう!」と袋のなかで司祭は呻いた。「いったいどこへ行くのですか。」

“This is the narrow way which leadeth unto the kingdom of heaven”, said the Master Thief, who went on dragging him along till he had nearly broken every bone in his body. At last he tumbled him into a goose-house that belonged to the Squire, and the geese began pecking and pinching him with their bills, so that he was more dead than alive.

「これは天の国へ通じる狭き道です」と盗みの親方は言い、司祭の骨という骨をあやうく折らんばかりに引きずりつづけた。とうとう郷士の持ち物の鵞鳥小屋へ放り込むと、鵞鳥たちが嘴でつつき、つねりはじめたので、司祭は生きているより死んでいるほうに近いありさまになった。

“Now you are in the flames of purgatory, to be cleansed and purified for life everlasting”, said the Master Thief; and with that he went his way, and took all the gold which the Priest had laid together in his dining-room. The next morning, when the goose-girl came to let the geese out, she heard how the Priest lay in the sack, and bemoaned himself in the goose-house.

「さあ、あなたはいま煉獄の炎のなかにいます。永遠の命のために清められ浄められるのです」と盗みの親方は言った。そう言って立ち去り、司祭が食堂に積んでおいた黄金をすっかり持ち去った。翌朝、鵞鳥番の娘が鵞鳥を出しに来ると、司祭が袋に入って鵞鳥小屋で嘆いているのが聞こえた。

“In heaven’s name, who’s there, and what ails you?” she cried.

「まあ、どなたです。どうなさったのです」と娘は叫んだ。

“Oh!” said the Priest, “if you are an angel from heaven, do let me out, and let me return again to earth, for it is worse here than in hell. The little fiends keep on pinching me with tongs.”

「ああ!」と司祭は言った。「あなたが天の天使なら、どうかわたしを出して地上へ帰らせてください。ここは地獄よりひどい。小さな鬼どもが火挾みでつねりつづけるのです。」

“Heaven help us, I am no angel at all”, said the girl, as she helped the Priest out of the sack; “I only look after the Squire’s geese, and like enough they are the little fiends which have pinched your reverence.”

「まあ、天よお助けを。わたしは天使なんかじゃありませんよ」と娘は司祭を袋から助け出しながら言った。「わたしは郷士さまの鵞鳥の世話をしているだけです。神父さまをつねっていた小さな鬼というのは、たぶんこの鵞鳥でしょう。」

“Oh!” groaned the Priest, “this is all that Master Thief’s doing. Ah! my gold and my silver, and my fine clothes.” And he beat his breast, and hobbled home at such a rate that the girl thought he had lost his wits all at once.

「ああ!」と司祭は呻いた。「みなあの盗みの親方の仕業だ。ああ! わたしの金と銀と立派な着物が。」。そして胸を打ち、足を引きずって家へ急いだので、娘は司祭が急に正気を失ったのだと思った。

Now when the Squire came to hear how it had gone with the Priest, and how he had been along the narrow way, and into purgatory, he laughed till he well-nigh split his sides. But when the Master Thief came and asked for his daughter as he had promised, the Squire put him off again, and said:

さて郷士が司祭がどうなったか、どう狭き道を通って煉獄へ行ったかを聞くと、脇腹が裂けんばかりに笑った。だが盗みの親方が来て約束どおり娘をくれと言うと、郷士はまた先延ばしにしてこう言った。

“You must do one masterpiece better still, that I may see plainly what you are fit for. Now, I have twelve horses in my stable, and on them I will put twelve grooms, one on each. If you are so good a thief as to steal the horses from under them, I’ll see what I can do for you.”

「もう一つ、さらに見事な仕事をしてもらわねばならん。おまえが何をできるのかはっきり見るためにな。さて、わしの厩には馬が十二頭いる。そこに馬丁を十二人、一頭に一人ずつ乗せておく。おまえがその下から馬を盗めるほどの盗人なら、何とかしてやろう。」

“Very well, I daresay I can do it”, said the Master Thief; “but shall I really have your daughter if I can?”

「よろしい、たぶんできます」と盗みの親方は言った。「ですができたら、本当に娘さんをいただけますか。」

“Yes, if you can, I’ll do my best for you”, said the Squire. So the Master Thief set off to a shop, and bought brandy enough to fill two pocket-flasks, and into one of them he put a sleepy drink, but into the other only brandy. After that he hired eleven men to lie in wait at night, behind the Squire’s stable-yard; and last of all, for fair words and a good bit of money, he borrowed a ragged gown and cloak from an old woman; and so, with a staff in his hand, and a bundle at his back, he limped off, as evening drew on, towards the Squire’s stable. Just as he got there they were watering the horses for the night, and had their hands full of work. “What the devil do you want?” said one of the grooms to the old woman.

「ああ、できたら、精一杯おまえのために取り計らおう」と郷士は言った。そこで盗みの親方は店へ行って懐の瓶二つに入るだけの火酒を買い、一方には眠り薬を入れ、もう一方にはただの火酒を入れた。そのあと夜に郷士の厩の庭のうしろに潜ませる男を十一人雇った。そして最後に、丁重な言葉とたっぷりの金で老婆からぼろの上着と外套を借りた。そうして手に杖を持ち、背に包みを負って、夕方が近づくころ足を引きずって郷士の厩へ向かった。ちょうどそこに着くと、みなは夜のために馬に水をやっていて、仕事で手いっぱいだった。「いったい何の用だ」と馬丁の一人が老婆に言った。

“Oh, oh! hutetu! it is so bitter cold”, said she, and shivered and shook, and made wry faces. “Hutetu! it is so cold, a poor wretch may easily freeze to death”; and with that she fell to shivering and shaking again.

「ああ、ああ! フテトゥ! ひどく身を切るような寒さで」と老婆は言い、震えて身を揺すって渋い顔をしてみせた。「フテトゥ! ひどく寒くて、哀れな者は凍え死んでしまいそうです。」。そしてまた震えて身を揺すりはじめた。

“Oh! for the love of heaven, can I get leave to stay here a while, and sit inside the stable door?”

「ああ! 後生ですから、しばらくここにいて、厩の戸の内側に坐らせてもらえませんか。」

“To the devil with your leave”, said one. “Pack yourself off this minute, for if the Squire sets his eye on you, he’ll lead us a pretty dance.”

「そんな許しは悪魔にでもくれてやれ」と一人が言った。「いますぐ出ていけ。郷士さまの目に留まったら、こちらがひどい目に遭う。」

“Oh! the poor old bag-of-bones”, said another, whose heart took pity on her, “the old hag may sit inside and welcome; such a one as she can do no harm.”

「ああ! かわいそうな骨と皮の婆さんだ」と、心に憐れみを覚えた別の一人が言った。「なかに坐らせてやればいい。あんな者に何ができるものか。」

And the rest said, some she should stay, and some she shouldn’t; but while they were quarrelling and minding the horses, she crept further and further into the stable, till at last she sat herself down behind the door; and when she had got so far, no one gave any more heed to her.

そしてほかの者は、置いてやれと言う者もあれば、いかんと言う者もあった。だがみなが言い争って馬の世話をしているあいだに、老婆は厩の奥へ奥へと這い込んで、とうとう戸の内側に坐り込んだ。そしてそこまで来ると、もう誰も気に留めなくなった。

As the night wore on, the men found it rather cold work to sit so still and quiet on horseback.

夜が更けるにつれて、男たちは馬の上でじっと静かに坐っているのがいささか寒い仕事だと感じはじめた。

“Hutetu! it is so devilish cold”, said one, and beat his arms crosswise.

「フテトゥ! ひどく寒い」と一人が言って、両腕を胸の前で打ち合わせた。

“That it is”, said another; “I freeze so, that my teeth chatter.”

「まったくだ」と別の一人が言った。「凍えて歯が鳴る。」

“If one only had a quid to chew”, said a third.

「噛み煙草でもあればなあ」と三人めが言った。

Well! there was one who had an ounce or two; so they shared it between them, though it wasn’t much, after all, that each got; and so they chewed and spat, and spat and chewed. This helped them somewhat; but in a little while they were just as bad as ever.

さて! 一オンスか二オンス持っている者がいた。そこでみなで分け合ったが、結局めいめいの取り分は大したものではなかった。そうして噛んでは吐き、吐いては噛んだ。これでいくらか助かったが、しばらくするとまた前と同じくらいひどくなった。

“Hutetu!” said one, and shivered and shook.

「フテトゥ!」と一人が言って震え、身を揺すった。

“Hutetu!” said the old woman, and shivered so, that every tooth in her head chattered. Then she pulled out the flask with brandy in it, and her hand shook so that the spirit splashed about in the flask, and then she took such a gulp, that it went “bop” in her throat.

「フテトゥ!」と老婆が言って、頭のなかの歯という歯が鳴るほど震えた。それから火酒の入った瓶を取り出したが、手がひどく震えて瓶のなかで酒がぱしゃぱしゃ揺れた。そしてぐいと飲んだので、喉で「ごくり」と音がした。

“What’s that you’ve got in your flask, old girl?” said one of the grooms.

「その瓶に何が入っているんだ、婆さん」と馬丁の一人が言った。

“Oh! it’s only a drop of brandy, old man”, said she.

「ああ、ほんのひと垂らしの火酒ですよ、旦那」と老婆は言った。

“Brandy! Well, I never! Do let me have a drop”, screamed the whole twelve, one after another.

「火酒! そりゃいい! ひと口くれ」と十二人が次々に叫んだ。

“Oh! but it is such a little drop”, mumbled the old woman, “it will not even wet your mouths round.” But they must and would have it; there was no help for it; and so she pulled out the flask with the sleepy drink in it, and put it to the first man’s lips; then she shook no more, but guided the flask so that each of them got what he wanted, and the twelfth had not done drinking before the first sat and snored. Then the Master Thief threw off his beggar’s rags, and took one groom after the other so softly off their horses, and set them astride on the beams between the stalls; and so he called his eleven men, and rode off with the Squire’s twelve horses. But when the Squire got up in the morning, and went to look after his grooms, they had just begun to come to; and some of them fell to spurring the beams with their spurs, till the splinters flew again, and some fell off, and some still hung on and sat there looking like fools.

「ああ、でもほんのひと垂らししかありませんよ」と老婆はもごもご言った。「みなさんの口を湿らせることもできませんよ。」。だがみなはどうしても寄越せと言った。どうしようもなかった。そこで老婆は眠り薬の入ったほうの瓶を取り出して、最初の男の唇に当てた。そのときにはもう震えず、みなが欲しいだけ飲めるように瓶を支えてやった。そして十二人めが飲み終える前に、最初の男は坐ったまま鼾をかいていた。そこで盗みの親方は物乞いのぼろを脱ぎ捨て、馬丁を一人ずつそっと馬から下ろして、馬房のあいだの梁にまたがらせた。そして十一人の手下を呼んで、郷士の馬十二頭を連れて駆け去った。ところが朝になって郷士が起きて馬丁たちを見に行くと、みなちょうど正気に戻りかけたところだった。そして拍車で梁に蹴りをくれて木屑を飛ばす者もあれば、落ちる者もあり、まだしがみついて間抜け面で坐っている者もあった。

“Ho! ho!” said the Squire; “I see very well who has been here; but as for you, a pretty set of blockheads you must be to sit here and let the Master Thief steal the horses from between your legs.”

「ほう、ほう!」と郷士は言った。「ここに誰が来たかはよくわかる。だがおまえたちときたら、ここに坐ったまま股のあいだから盗みの親方に馬を盗まれるとは、とんだ間抜けどもだ。」

So they all got a good leathering because they had not kept a sharper look-out.

そこでみなは、もっとしっかり見張っていなかったといってこっぴどく鞭で打たれた。

Further on in the day came the Master Thief again, and told how he had managed the matter, and asked for the Squire’s daughter, as he had promised; but the Squire gave him one hundred dollars down, and said he must do something better still.

その日のうちに盗みの親方がまた来て、どうやってやり遂げたかを話し、約束どおり郷士の娘をくれと言った。だが郷士は百ドルを即金で払って、もっとよいことをせねばならぬと言った。

“Do you think now”, said he, “you can steal the horse from under me while I am out riding on his back?” “O, yes! I daresay I could”, said the Master Thief, “if I were really sure of getting your daughter.”

「どうだ」と彼は言った。「わしが乗っているその下から馬を盗めると思うか。」。「ああ、たぶんできます」と盗みの親方は言った。「本当に娘さんがいただけると確かなら。」

Well, well, the Squire would see what he could do; and he told the Master Thief a day when he would be taking a ride on a great common where they drilled the troops. So the Master Thief soon got hold of an old worn-out jade of a mare, and set to work, and made traces and collar of withies and broom-twigs, and bought an old beggarly cart and a great cask. After that he told an old beggar woman, he would give her ten dollars if she would get inside the cask, and keep her mouth agape over the taphole, into which he was going to stick his finger. No harm should happen to her; she should only be driven about a little; and if he took his finger out more than once, she was to have ten dollars more. Then he threw a few rags and tatters over himself, and stuffed himself out, and put on a wig and a great beard of goat’s hair, so that no one could know him again, and set off for the common, where the Squire had already been riding about a good bit. When he reached the place, he went along so softly and slowly that he scarce made an inch of way. “Gee up! Gee up!” and so he went on a little; then he stood stock still, and so on a little again; and altogether the pace was so poor it never once came into the Squire’s head that this could be the Master Thief.

まあまあ、郷士は何とかしようと言い、兵を調練する広い野で馬に乗る日を盗みの親方に告げた。そこで盗みの親方はまもなく老いぼれてくたびれた牝馬を手に入れ、仕事にかかって柳と箒の小枝で引き綱と首輪を作り、みすぼらしい古い荷車と大きな樽を買った。そのあと年老いた物乞いの女に、樽のなかに入って、自分が指を突っ込む栓穴に口を開けたままにしていてくれるなら十ドルやると言った。危害は加えない、少し引き回されるだけだ。そして自分が一度以上指を抜いたら、さらに十ドルやろう、と。それから彼はぼろをまとって体を膨らませ、鬘と山羊の毛の大きな髭をつけて、誰にも見分けがつかぬようにして、郷士がもうだいぶ乗り回している広い野へ出かけた。そしてその場に着くと、たいそう静かにゆっくり歩いたので、一寸も進まぬほどだった。「はいどう! はいどう!」。そして少し進んでは、ぴたりと止まり、また少し進んだ。そして全体としてあまりに歩みが遅かったので、これが盗みの親方だなどとは郷士の頭に一度も浮かばなかった。

At last the Squire rode right up to him, and asked if he had seen any one lurking about in the wood thereabouts. “No”, said the man, “I haven’t seen a soul.”

とうとう郷士は彼のすぐそばまで乗りつけて、このあたりの森で誰かうろついているのを見なかったかと尋ねた。「いいえ」と男は言った。「人っ子ひとり見ておりません。」

“Harkye, now”, said the Squire, “if you have a mind to ride into the wood, and hunt about and see if you can fall upon any one lurking about there, you shall have the loan of my horse, and a shilling into the bargain, to drink my health, for your pains.”

「よいか」と郷士は言った。「森へ乗り入れて、そこに誰かうろついていないか探し回る気があるなら、わしの馬を貸してやろう。そのうえ骨折り賃に、わしの健康を祝して一杯やるための一シリングもやろう。」

“I don’t see how I can go”, said the man, “for I am going to a wedding with this cask of mead, which I have been to town to fetch, and here the tap has fallen out by the way, and so I must go along, holding my finger in the taphole.”

「行けるとは思えません」と男は言った。「この蜂蜜酒の樽を持って婚礼へ行くところでして、町まで取りに行ってきたのです。ところが道中で栓が抜けてしまって、こうして指を栓穴に突っ込んだまま行かねばならんのです。」

“Ride off”, said the Squire; “I’ll look after your horse and cask.”

「乗っていけ」と郷士は言った。「おまえの馬と樽はわしが見ていてやる。」

Well, on these terms the man was willing to go; but he begged the Squire to be quick in putting his finger into the taphole when he took his own out, and to mind and keep it there till he came back. At last the Squire grew weary of standing there with his finger in the taphole, so he took it out.

さて、その条件なら行ってもよいと男は言った。だが自分が指を抜いたら急いで栓穴に指を入れて、自分が戻るまでそこに入れておいてくださいと頼んだ。とうとう郷士は栓穴に指を突っ込んで立っているのに飽きて、指を抜いた。

“Now I shall have ten dollars more!” screamed the old woman inside the cask; and then the Squire saw at once how the land lay, and took himself off home; but he had not gone far before they met him with a fresh horse, for the Master Thief had already been to his house, and told them to send one. The day after, he came to the Squire and would have his daughter, as he had given his word; but the Squire put him off again with fine words, and gave him two hundred dollars, and said he must do one more masterpiece. If he could do that, he should have her. Well, well, the Master Thief thought he could do it, if he only knew what it was to be.

「これでもう十ドルもらえる!」と樽のなかの老婆が叫んだ。すると郷士はたちまち事の次第を見て取って家へ帰った。だが遠くへ行かぬうちに、みなが新しい馬を連れて迎えに来た。盗みの親方がすでに屋敷へ行って、一頭寄越すように言っておいたのである。翌日、彼は郷士のところへ来て、約束どおり娘をくれと言った。だが郷士はまたうまい言葉で先延ばしにして二百ドルを与え、もう一つ見事な仕事をせねばならぬと言った。それができれば娘をやろう、と。まあまあ、盗みの親方は、それが何かさえわかればできると思うと言った。

“Do you think, now”, said the Squire, “you can steal the sheet off our bed, and the shift off my wife’s back. Do you think you could do that?”

「どうだ」と郷士は言った。「わしらの寝床から敷布を、そして女房の背中から肌着を盗めると思うか。それができるか。」

“It shall be done”, said the Master Thief. “I only wish I was as sure of getting your daughter.”

「やってみせます」と盗みの親方は言った。「娘さんがいただけると同じくらい確かならよいのですが。」

So when night began to fall, the Master Thief went out and cut down a thief who hung on the gallows, and threw him across his shoulders, and carried him off. Then he got a long ladder and set it up against the Squire’s bedroom window, and so climbed up, and kept bobbing the dead man up and down, just for all the world like one that was peeping in at the window.

そこで夜が更けはじめると、盗みの親方は出かけて絞首台に吊るされていた盗人を切り下ろし、肩に担いで運んでいった。それから長い梯子を手に入れて郷士の寝室の窓に立てかけ、それを登って、死人を上げたり下げたりしつづけた。まるで誰かが窓からのぞき込んでいるかのようにである。

“That’s the Master Thief, old lass!” said the Squire, and gave his wife a nudge on the side. “Now see if I don’t shoot him, that’s all.”

「あれが盗みの親方だ、婆さん!」と郷士は言って、女房の脇を肘で突いた。「さあ、撃ってやるから見ていろ。」

So saying he took up a rifle which he had laid at his bedside.

そう言って寝床のそばに置いてあった銃を取り上げた。

“No! no! pray don’t shoot him after telling him he might come and try”, said his wife.

「いけません、いけません! 来て試してよいと言っておいて撃つなんて」と女房は言った。

“Don’t talk to me, for shoot him I will”, said he; and so he lay there and aimed and aimed; but as soon as the head came up before the window, and he saw a little of it, so soon was it down again. At last he thought he had a good aim; “bang” went the gun, down fell the dead body to the ground with a heavy thump, and down went the Master Thief too as fast as he could.

「わしに言うな。撃つと言ったら撃つ」と彼は言った。そしてそこに横になって狙いに狙った。ところが頭が窓の前に上がってきて少し見えるやいなや、またすぐ下がってしまうのだった。とうとうよい狙いがつけられたと思った。「ばん」と銃が鳴り、死体がどすんと重い音を立てて地に落ちた。そして盗みの親方もできるかぎり急いで下りた。

“Well”, said the Squire, “it is quite true that I am the chief magistrate in these parts; but people are fond of talking, and it would be a bore if they came to see this dead man’s body. I think the best thing to be done is that I should go down and bury him.”

「さて」と郷士は言った。「わしがこのあたりの筆頭の役人であるのは確かだが、人はとかく噂をしたがるものだし、この死人の体を見に来られては面倒だ。わしが下りていって埋めるのがいちばんよかろう。」

“You must do as you think best, dear”, said his wife. So the Squire got out of bed and went downstairs, and he had scarce put his foot out of the door before the Master Thief stole in, and went straight upstairs to his wife.

「よいと思うようになさいませ、あなた」と女房は言った。そこで郷士は寝床から出て階下へ下りていった。そして戸口に足を出すか出さないかのうちに、盗みの親方が忍び込んで、まっすぐ二階の女房のところへ上がっていった。

“Why, dear, back already!” said she, for she thought it was her husband.

「まあ、あなた、もうお帰りですか!」と女房は言った。夫だと思ったのである。

“O yes, I only just put him into a hole, and threw a little earth over him. It is enough that he is out of sight, for it is such a bad night out of doors; by-and-by I’ll do it better. But just let me have the sheet to wipe myself with—he was so bloody—and I have made myself in such a mess with him.”

「ああ、穴に放り込んで土を少しかけてきただけだ。見えなくなればそれで十分だ。外はひどい夜だからな。そのうちもっとちゃんとやろう。だがちょっと敷布を貸してくれ、拭くのに——あいつは血だらけで、わしもすっかり汚れてしまった。」

So he got the sheet.

そこで彼は敷布を手に入れた。

After a while he said:

しばらくして彼はこう言った。

“Do you know I am afraid you must let me have your nightshift too, for the sheet won’t do by itself; that I can see.”

「どうやらおまえの寝間着も貸してもらわねばならんようだ。敷布だけでは足りん、それがわかった。」

So she gave him the shift also. But just then it came across his mind that he had forgotten to lock the house-door, so he must step down and look to that before he came back to bed, and away he went with both shift and sheet.

そこで女房は肌着も渡した。ところがちょうどそのとき、家の戸に錠を下ろすのを忘れていたことを思い出したので、寝床に戻る前にそれを見てこねばならぬと言って、肌着と敷布の両方を持って出ていった。

A little while after came the true Squire.

しばらくして本物の郷士が来た。

“Why! what a time you’ve taken to lock the door, dear!” said his wife; “and what have you done with the sheet and shift?”

「まあ! 戸に錠を下ろすのにずいぶんかかりましたね、あなた!」と女房は言った。「それに敷布と肌着はどうなさったの。」

“What do you say?” said the Squire.

「何だと」と郷士は言った。

“Why, I am asking what you have done with the sheet and shift that you had to wipe off the blood”, said she.

「ですから、血を拭くのに持っていった敷布と肌着をどうなさったのかと訊いているのですよ」と女房は言った。

“What, in the Deil’s name!” said the Squire, “has he taken me in this time too?”

「なんと、悪魔の名にかけて!」と郷士は言った。「こんども一杯食わされたのか。」

Next day came the Master Thief and asked for the Squire’s daughter, as he had given his word; and then the Squire dared not do anything else than give her to him, and a good lump of money into the bargain; for, to tell the truth, he was afraid lest the Master Thief should steal the eyes out of his head, and that the people would begin to say spiteful things of him if he broke his word. So the Master Thief lived well and happily from that time forward. I don’t know whether he stole any more; but if he did, I am quite sure it was only for the sake of a bit of fun.

翌日、盗みの親方が来て約束どおり郷士の娘をくれと言った。そして郷士はもう娘を与えるほかなく、そのうえたっぷりの金もつけた。というのも正直なところ、盗みの親方に頭から目玉を盗まれはしまいかと恐れたし、約束を破れば人々が自分について意地の悪いことを言いはじめるだろうと思ったからである。そこで盗みの親方はその時から豊かに幸せに暮らした。それからも盗みを働いたかどうかは知らない。だがもし働いたとしても、それはただの慰みのためだったと、わたしは確かに思う。