Katie Woodencloak

Once on a time there was a King who had become a widower. By his Queen he had one daughter, who was so clever and lovely, there wasn’t a cleverer or lovelier Princess in all the world. So the King went on a long time sorrowing for the Queen, whom he had loved so much, but at last he got weary of living alone, and married another Queen, who was a widow, and had, too, an only daughter; but this daughter was just as bad and ugly as the other was kind, and clever, and lovely, The stepmother and her daughter were jealous of the Princess, because she was so lovely; but so long as the King was at home, they daredn’t do her any harm, he was so fond of her.

むかしむかし、男やもめになった王さまがいた。后とのあいだには娘が一人あり、たいそう賢く愛らしくて、これほど賢く愛らしい姫は世界じゅうのどこにもいなかった。そうして王さまは長いこと、あれほど愛した后を悼んで暮らしたが、ついにひとり身が味気なくなって、新しい后を迎えた。その后は寡婦で、こちらにも一人娘があった。だがこの娘は、姫がやさしく賢く愛らしいのとちょうど同じだけ、性悪で醜かった。継母とその娘は、姫が愛らしいのを妬んだ。だが王さまが家にいるあいだは、王さまが姫をたいそうかわいがっていたので、手出しをする勇気はなかった。

Well, after a time, he fell into war with another King, and went out to battle with his host, and then the stepmother thought she might do as she pleased; and so she both starved and beat the Princess, and was after her in every hole and corner of the house. At last she thought everything too good for her, and turned her out to herd cattle. So there she went about with the cattle, and herded them in the woods and on the fells. As for food, she got little or none, and she grew thin and wan, and was always sobbing and sorrowful. Now in the herd there was a great dun bull, which always kept himself so neat and sleek, and often and often he came up to the Princess, and let her pat him. So one day when she sat there, sad, and sobbing, and sorrowful, he came up to her and asked her outright why she was always in such grief. She answered nothing, but went on weeping.

さてしばらくして、王さまは別の王と戦になり、軍勢を率いて出陣した。すると継母は、これで思うままにできると考えた。そこで姫をひもじがらせ、打ちすえ、家じゅうどこへ逃げても追いまわした。しまいには何もかもが姫にはもったいないと思いはじめ、姫を追い出して家畜の番をさせた。そこで姫は家畜とともに歩きまわり、森や山で番をした。食べものといえばほとんど、いや、まるでもらえず、姫は痩せて青ざめ、いつもすすり泣いて悲しんでいた。さてその群れのなかに大きな鈍色の雄牛が一頭いた。いつも身ぎれいでつやつやとしていて、たびたび姫のそばに来て、なでさせてくれた。そこである日、姫が悲しんですすり泣きながら座っていると、雄牛がそばに来て、なぜいつもそんなに嘆いているのかと単刀直入に尋ねた。姫は何も答えず、泣きつづけた。

“Ah!” said the Bull, “I know all about it quite well, though you won’t tell me; you weep because the Queen is bad to you, and because she is ready to starve you to death. But food you’ve no need to fret about, for in my left ear lies a cloth, and when you take and spread it out, you may have as many dishes as you please.”

「ああ」と雄牛は言った。「おまえが話さなくても、わたしにはすっかり分かっている。おまえが泣くのは、后がおまえにつらく当たり、飢え死にさせようとしているからだ。だが食べもののことなら心配は要らない。わたしの左の耳のなかに布がある。それを取って広げれば、好きなだけごちそうが出てくる」

So she did that, took the cloth and spread it out on the grass, and lo! it served up the nicest dishes one could wish to have; there was wine too, and mead, and sweet cake. Well, she soon got up her flesh again, and grew so plump, and rosy, and white, that the Queen and her scrawny chip of a daughter turned blue and yellow for spite. The Queen couldn’t at all make out how her stepdaughter got to look so well on such bad fare, so she told one of her maids to go after her in the wood, and watch and see how it all was, for she thought some of the servants in the house must give her food. So the maid went after her, and watched in the wood, and then she saw how the stepdaughter took the cloth out of the Bull’s ear, and spread it out, and how it served up the nicest dishes, which the stepdaughter ate and made good cheer over. All this the maid told the Queen when she went home.

そこで姫はそうした。布を取って草の上に広げると、なんと、望みうるかぎりのおいしいごちそうが並んだ。葡萄酒も蜂蜜酒も甘い菓子もあった。さて姫はまもなく肉づきを取り戻し、ふっくらと血色よく白くなったので、后とその痩せこけた娘は妬みのあまり青くなり黄色くなった。后は、あんなひどい食事でどうして継娘がこれほど元気になるのかまるで分からず、侍女のひとりに、森まであとをつけて見張り、様子を見てくるように言いつけた。家の召使いの誰かが食べものをやっているにちがいないと思ったのだ。そこで侍女はあとをつけ、森で見張っていた。すると継娘が雄牛の耳から布を取り出して広げ、そこにおいしいごちそうが並び、継娘がそれを食べて楽しんでいるのを見た。これを全部、侍女は帰って后に話した。

And now the King came home from war, and had won the fight against the other king with whom he went out to battle. So there was great joy throughout the palace, and no one was gladder than the King’s daughter. But the Queen shammed sick, and took to her bed, and paid the doctor a great fee to get him to say she could never be well again unless she had some of the Dun Bull’s flesh to eat. Both the king’s daughter and the folk in the palace asked the doctor if nothing else would help her, and prayed hard for the Bull, for every one was fond of him, and they all said there wasn’t that Bull’s match in all the land. But, no; he must and should be slaughtered, nothing else would do. When the king’s daughter heard that, she got very sorrowful, and went down into the byre to the Bull. There, too, he stood and hung down his head, and looked so downcast that she began to weep over him.

さて王さまが戦から帰ってきた。出陣した相手の王との戦に勝ったのだ。そこで宮殿じゅう大喜びだったが、誰よりも喜んだのは王さまの娘だった。だが后は病気をよそおって床につき、医者に大金を払って、鈍色の雄牛の肉を食べないかぎり二度と治らない、と言わせた。王さまの娘も宮殿の者たちも、ほかに効くものはないのかと医者に尋ね、雄牛の助命をしきりに願った。みなその牛が好きで、国じゅうにあれほどの牛はいないと口をそろえた。だがだめだった。どうしても屠らねばならぬ、ほかに手はない、というのだ。それを聞いた王さまの娘はたいそう悲しんで、牛小屋の雄牛のところへ下りていった。雄牛もそこで頭を垂れ、ひどく沈んだ様子で立っていたので、姫はその上に泣き伏した。

“What are you weeping for?” asked the Bull.

「何を泣いているのだ」と雄牛は尋ねた。

So she told him how the King had come home again, and how the Queen had shammed sick and got the doctor to say she could never be well and sound again unless she got some of the Dun Bull’s flesh to eat, and so now he was to be slaughtered.

そこで姫は、王さまが帰ってきたこと、后が病気をよそおい、鈍色の雄牛の肉を食べないかぎり二度と元気にならないと医者に言わせたこと、そのために雄牛が屠られることになったのを話した。

“If they get me killed first”, said the Bull, “they’ll soon take your life too. Now, if you’re of my mind, we’ll just start off, and go away to-night.”

「わたしが先に殺されれば」と雄牛は言った。「やつらはすぐにおまえの命も取るだろう。さあ、おまえがわたしと同じ考えなら、今夜すぐにここを発って逃げよう」

Well, the Princess thought it bad, you may be sure, to go and leave her father, but she thought it still worse to be in the house with the Queen; and so she gave her word to the Bull to come to him.

さて姫は、父を置いて去るのはつらいと思った。だが后と同じ家にいるのはもっとつらいと思った。そこで雄牛のところへ行くと約束した。

At night, when all had gone to bed, the Princess stole down to the byre to the Bull, and so he took her on his back, and set off from the homestead as fast as ever he could. And when the folk got up at cockcrow next morning to slaughter the Bull, why, he was gone; and when the King got up and asked for his daughter, she was gone too. He sent out messengers on all sides to hunt for them, and gave them out in all the parish churches; but there was no one who had caught a glimpse of them. Meanwhile, the Bull went through many lands with the King’s daughter on his back, and so one day they came to a great copper-wood, where both the trees, and branches, and leaves, and flowers, and everything, were nothing but copper.

夜、みなが床についてから、姫はこっそり牛小屋の雄牛のところへ下りていった。すると雄牛は姫を背に乗せ、できるかぎりの速さで屋敷を離れた。そして翌朝、鶏の鳴くころに人々が雄牛を屠ろうと起きてみると、牛はいなかった。王さまが起きて娘を呼ぶと、娘もいなかった。王さまは四方八方に使いを出して探させ、教区という教区の教会でも触れを出させた。だが二人の姿を見かけた者はひとりもいなかった。そのあいだ雄牛は王さまの娘を背に乗せて多くの国を通り抜け、そしてある日、大きな銅の森に着いた。木も枝も葉も花も、何もかもがことごとく銅でできている森だった。

But before they went into the wood, the Bull said to the King’s daughter:

だが森に入る前に、雄牛は王さまの娘に言った。

“Now, when we get into this wood, mind you take care not to touch even a leaf of it, else it’s all over both with me and you, for here dwells a Troll with three heads who owns this wood.”

「いいか、この森に入ったら、葉一枚にも触れないように気をつけるのだ。さもないとわたしもおまえもおしまいだ。ここには頭が三つあるトロルが住んでいて、この森の主なのだから」

No, bless her, she’d be sure to take care not to touch anything. Well, she was very careful, and leant this way and that to miss the boughs, and put them gently aside with her hands; but it was such a thick wood, ’twas scarce possible to get through; and so, with all her pains, somehow or other she tore off a leaf, which she held in her hand.

いいえ、大丈夫、何にも触れないように気をつけますとも。さて姫はたいそう気をつけて、枝を避けようとあちらへこちらへ体を傾け、そっと手でよけていった。だがあまりに茂った森で、通り抜けるのがやっとだった。そうしてどれほど気をつけても、どういうわけか葉を一枚もぎ取ってしまい、それが手に残った。

“AU! AU! what have you done now?” said the Bull; “there’s nothing for it now but to fight for life or death; but mind you keep the leaf safe.”

「ああ、ああ、なんということをしたのだ」と雄牛は言った。「もう命がけで戦うほかない。だがその葉は大事に持っていろ」

Soon after they got to the end of the wood, and a Troll with three heads came running up:

まもなく二人は森の端に着き、頭が三つあるトロルが走り寄ってきた。

“Who is this that touches my wood?” said the Troll.

「わしの森に触れたのは誰だ」とトロルは言った。

“It’s just as much mine as yours”, said the Bull.

「この森はおまえのものであるのと同じだけ、わたしのものだ」と雄牛は言った。

“Ah!” roared the Troll, “we’ll try a fall about that.”

「ほう」とトロルはうなった。「それなら一番勝負といこう」

“As you choose”, said the Bull.

「望むところだ」と雄牛は言った。

So they rushed at one another, and fought; and the Bull he butted, and gored, and kicked with all his might and main; but the Troll gave him as good as he brought, and it lasted the whole day before the Bull got the mastery; and then he was so full of wounds, and so worn out, he could scarce lift a leg. Then they were forced to stay there a day to rest, and then the Bull bade the King’s daughter to take the horn of ointment which hung at the Troll’s belt, and rub him with it. Then he came to himself again, and the day after they trudged on again. So they travelled many, many days, until, after a long long time, they came to a silver wood, where both the trees, and branches, and leaves, and flowers, and everything, were silvern.

そこで二人は互いに突進して戦った。雄牛は力のかぎり突き、角で刺し、蹴った。だがトロルも負けずに応じ、雄牛が勝ちを収めるまでまる一日かかった。そのとき雄牛は傷だらけで疲れ果て、脚一本上げるのもやっとだった。そこで二人は一日そこに留まって休むほかなかった。それから雄牛は王さまの娘に、トロルの帯に下がっている軟膏の角を取って自分に塗ってくれと言った。すると雄牛は元気を取り戻し、翌日また二人はとぼとぼと旅を続けた。そうして幾日も幾日も旅をして、長い長いのちに、銀の森に着いた。木も枝も葉も花も、何もかもが銀でできている森だった。

Before the Bull went into the wood, he said to the King’s daughter:

雄牛は森に入る前に、王さまの娘に言った。

“Now, when we get into this wood, for heaven’s sake mind you take good care; you mustn’t touch anything, and not pluck off so much as one leaf, else it is all over both with me and you; for here is a Troll with six heads who owns it, and him I don’t think I should be able to master.”

「いいか、この森に入ったら、後生だからよくよく気をつけるのだ。何にも触れてはならず、葉一枚もぎ取ってもならない。さもないとわたしもおまえもおしまいだ。ここには頭が六つあるトロルがいて、この森の主なのだ。わたしにはとても勝てそうにない」

“No”, said the King’s daughter; “I’ll take good care and not touch anything you don’t wish me to touch.”

「はい」と王さまの娘は言った。「よく気をつけて、触れてはいけないものには触れません」

But when they got into the wood, it was so close and thick, they could scarce get along. She was as careful as careful could be, and leant to this side and that to miss the boughs, and put them on one side with her hands, but every minute the branches struck her across the eyes, and in spite of all her pains, it so happened she tore off a leaf.

だが森に入ると、あまりに深く茂っていて、進むのもやっとだった。姫はこれ以上ないほど気をつけ、枝を避けようとあちらへこちらへ体を傾け、手でよけていった。だが枝は絶えず目のあたりを打ち、どれほど気をつけても、やはり葉を一枚もぎ取ってしまった。

“AU! AU! what have you done now?” said the Bull. “There’s nothing for it now but to fight for life and death, for this Troll has six heads, and is twice as strong as the other, but mind you keep the leaf safe, and don’t lose it.”

「ああ、ああ、なんということをしたのだ」と雄牛は言った。「もう命がけで戦うほかない。このトロルは頭が六つあって、さきのやつの倍の力がある。だがその葉は大事に持って、なくすな」

Just as he said that, up came the Troll:

そう言ったちょうどそのとき、トロルが現れた。

“Who is this”, he said, “that touches my wood?”

「わしの森に触れたのは誰だ」とトロルは言った。

“It’s as much mine as yours”, said the Bull.

「この森はおまえのものであるのと同じだけ、わたしのものだ」と雄牛は言った。

“That we’ll try a fall about”, roared the Troll.

「それなら一番勝負といこう」とトロルはうなった。

“As you choose”, said the Bull, and rushed at the Troll, and gored out his eyes, and drove his horns right through his body, so that the entrails gushed out; but the Troll was almost a match for him, and it lasted three whole days before the Bull got the life gored out of him. But then he, too, was so weak and wretched, it was as much as he could do to stir a limb, and so full of wounds, that the blood streamed from him. So he said to the King’s daughter she must take the horn of ointment that hung at the Troll’s belt, and rub him with it. Then she did that, and he came to himself; but they were forced to stay there a week to rest before the Bull had strength enough to go on.

「望むところだ」と雄牛は言い、トロルに突進して目を突き出し、角を体に貫き通したので、はらわたがこぼれ出た。だがトロルもほとんど互角で、雄牛がその命を突き出すまでまる三日かかった。だがそのとき雄牛もまた弱りきってみじめな姿になり、手足を動かすのがやっとで、傷だらけで血が流れ出ていた。そこで彼は王さまの娘に、トロルの帯に下がっている軟膏の角を取って塗ってくれと言った。姫がそうすると雄牛は元気を取り戻したが、二人は雄牛が進めるだけの力を得るまで一週間そこで休まねばならなかった。

At last they set off again, but the Bull was still poorly, and they went rather slowly at first. So, to spare time, the King’s daughter said, as she was young and light of foot, she could very well walk, but she couldn’t get leave to do that. No; she must seat herself up on his back again. So on they travelled through many lands a long time, and the King’s daughter did not know in the least whither they went; but after a long, long time they came to a gold wood. It was so grand, the gold dropped from every twig, and all the trees, and boughs, and flowers, and leaves, were of pure gold. Here, too, the same thing happened as had happened in the silver wood and copper wood. The Bull told the King’s daughter she mustn’t touch it for anything, for there was a Troll with nine heads who owned it, and he was much bigger and stouter than both the others put together; and he didn’t think he could get the better of him. No; she’d be sure to take heed not to touch it; that he might know very well. But when they got into the wood, it was far thicker and closer than the silver wood, and the deeper they went into it, the worse it got. The wood went on, getting thicker and thicker, and closer and closer; and at last she thought there was no way at all to get through it. She was in such an awful fright of plucking off anything, that she sat, and twisted, and turned herself this way and that, and hither and thither, to keep clear of the boughs, and she put them on one side with her hands; but every moment the branches struck her across the eyes, so that she couldn’t see what she was clutching at; and lo! before she knew how it came about, she had a gold apple in her hand. Then she was so bitterly sorry, she burst into tears, and wanted to throw it away; but the Bull said, she must keep it safe and watch it well, and comforted her as well as he could; but he thought it would be a hard tussle, and he doubted how it would go.

ついに二人はまた出発したが、雄牛はまだ本調子でなく、はじめのうちはかなりゆっくり進んだ。そこで時を稼ごうと、王さまの娘は、自分は若くて足も軽いから歩けますと言った。だがそれは許してもらえなかった。だめだ、また背に乗るのだ、というのである。そうして二人は多くの国を通って長いこと旅をし、王さまの娘にはどこへ向かっているのかまるで分からなかった。だが長い長いのちに、二人は金の森に着いた。それはたいそう見事で、枝という枝から金がしたたり、木も枝も花も葉も、みな純金だった。ここでも、銀の森や銅の森で起きたのと同じことが起きた。雄牛は王さまの娘に、何があっても触れてはならぬ、ここには頭が九つあるトロルがいて主であり、そいつはほかの二匹を合わせたよりずっと大きく強い、自分に勝てるとは思えないと言った。はい、けっして触れないように気をつけます、それはよくよく分かっています、と姫は言った。だが森に入ってみると、銀の森よりはるかに深く茂っていて、奥へ行くほどひどくなった。森はますます茂り、ますます密になり、ついに姫は通り抜ける道などまるでないと思った。何かをもぎ取ってしまうのがおそろしくてたまらず、枝を避けようと身をよじり、あちらへこちらへ、ここへそこへと体を向け、手でよけていった。だが枝は絶えず目のあたりを打ち、何をつかんでいるのかも見えなかった。すると、なんと、どうしてそうなったのか分からぬうちに、金の林檎が手のなかにあった。姫はひどく悲しんで泣き出し、それを投げ捨てようとした。だが雄牛は、それは大事に持ってよく見ていろと言い、できるかぎり慰めた。だが雄牛は、これは苦しい戦いになる、どうなることかと思っていた。

Just then up came the Troll with the nine heads, and he was so ugly, the King’s daughter scarcely dared to look at him.

ちょうどそのとき、頭が九つあるトロルが現れた。あまりに醜くて、王さまの娘は目を向けるのもやっとだった。

“WHO IS THIS THAT TOUCHES MY WOOD?” he roared.

「わしの森に触れたのは誰だ」とトロルはうなった。

“It’s just as much mine as yours”, said the Bull.

「この森はおまえのものであるのと同じだけ、わたしのものだ」と雄牛は言った。

“That we’ll try a fall about”, roared the Troll again.

「それなら一番勝負といこう」とトロルはまたうなった。

“Just as you choose”, said the Bull; and so they rushed at one another, and fought, and it was such a dreadful sight, the King’s daughter was ready to swoon away. The Bull gored out the Troll’s eyes, and drove his horns through and through his body, till the entrails came tumbling out; but the Troll fought bravely; and when the Bull got one head gored to death, the rest breathed life into it again, and so it lasted a whole week before the Bull was able to get the life out of them all. But then he was utterly worn out and wretched. He couldn’t stir a foot, and his body was all one wound. He couldn’t so much as ask the King’s daughter to take the horn of ointment which hung at the Troll’s belt, and rub it over him. But she did it all the same, and then he came to himself by little and little; but they had to lie there and rest three weeks before he was fit to go on again.

「望むところだ」と雄牛は言った。そこで二人は互いに突進して戦った。そのおそろしさに王さまの娘は気を失いそうになった。雄牛はトロルの目を突き出し、角を体に何度も貫き通して、はらわたがこぼれ落ちた。だがトロルは勇ましく戦い、雄牛が一つの頭を突き殺すと、残りの頭がそれに息を吹き込んで生き返らせた。そうして雄牛がすべての頭から命を奪うまで、まる一週間かかった。だがそのとき雄牛はすっかり疲れ果て、みじめな姿になっていた。足一本動かせず、体は一面の傷だった。トロルの帯に下がっている軟膏の角を取って塗ってくれと王さまの娘に頼むことすらできなかった。だが姫はそれでもそうしてやり、雄牛は少しずつ元気を取り戻した。だが二人は、雄牛がまた進めるようになるまで三週間そこに横たわって休まねばならなかった。

Then they set off at a snail’s pace, for the Bull said they had still a little further to go, and so they crossed over many high hills and thick woods. So after awhile they got upon the fells.

それから二人は蝸牛のような歩みで出発した。雄牛が、まだもう少し行かねばならないと言ったからである。そうして二人は高い山々と深い森をいくつも越えた。しばらくすると山の上に出た。

“Do you see anything?” asked the Bull.

「何か見えるか」と雄牛は尋ねた。

“No, I see nothing but the sky, and the wild fell”, said the King’s daughter.

「いいえ、空と荒れた山のほか何も見えません」と王さまの娘は言った。

So when they clomb higher up, the fell got smoother, and they could see further off.

そこでさらに高く登ると、山はなだらかになり、遠くまで見渡せるようになった。

“Do you see anything now?” asked the Bull.

「今は何か見えるか」と雄牛は尋ねた。

“Yes, I see a little castle far, far away”, said the Princess.

「はい、小さな城がはるかはるか向こうに見えます」と姫は言った。

“That’s not so little though”, said the Bull.

「あれはそう小さくはないのだ」と雄牛は言った。

After a long, long time, they came to a great cairn, where there was a spur of the fell that stood sheer across the way.

長い長いのちに、二人は大きな石塚のあるところに着いた。そこには山の突端が道を遮ってそそり立っていた。

“Do you see anything now?” asked the Bull.

「今は何か見えるか」と雄牛は尋ねた。

“Yes, now I see the castle close by”, said the King’s daughter, “and now it is much, much bigger.”

「はい、今は城がすぐそばに見えます」と王さまの娘は言った。「そして、ずっとずっと大きくなりました」

“Thither you’re to go”, said the Bull. “Right underneath the castle is a pig-sty, where you are to dwell. When you come thither you’ll find a wooden cloak, all made of strips of lath; that you must put on, and go up to the castle and say your name is ‘Katie Woodencloak’, and ask for a place. But before you go, you must take your penknife and cut my head off, and then you must flay me, and roll up the hide, and lay it under the wall of rock yonder, and under the hide you must lay the copper leaf, and the silver leaf, and the golden apple. Yonder, up against the rock, stands a stick; and when you want anything, you’ve only got to knock on the wall of rock with that stick.”

「おまえはそこへ行くのだ」と雄牛は言った。「城のすぐ下に豚小屋がある。おまえはそこに住むのだ。そこへ行けば木の衣が見つかる。薄板をつないでこしらえた衣だ。それを着て城へ上がり、自分の名は『木の衣のカティ』だと言って、奉公口を求めよ。だが行く前に、小刀でわたしの首を切り落とし、皮を剥いで、その皮を巻いて向こうの岩壁の下に置け。そして皮の下に銅の葉と銀の葉と金の林檎を置くのだ。向こうの岩壁に一本の杖が立てかけてある。何か入り用になったら、その杖で岩壁を叩くだけでよい」

At first she wouldn’t do anything of the kind; but when the Bull said it was the only thanks he would have for what he had done for her, she couldn’t help herself. So, however much it grieved her heart, she hacked and cut away with her knife at the big beast till she got both his head and his hide off, and then she laid the hide up under the wall of rock, and put the copper leaf, and the silvern leaf, and the golden apple inside it.

はじめ姫はそんなことはけっしてしないと言った。だが雄牛が、これまでしてやったことへの礼として自分が受け取れるのはそれだけなのだと言うので、姫もどうしようもなかった。そこで、どれほど胸が痛んでも、姫は小刀でこの大きな獣を斬り刻み、首も皮も取り去った。そして皮を岩壁の下に置き、そのなかに銅の葉と銀の葉と金の林檎を入れた。

So when she had done that, she went over to the pig-sty, but all the while she went she sobbed and wept. There she put on the wooden cloak, and so went up to the palace. When she came into the kitchen she begged for a place, and told them her name was Katie Woodencloak. Yes, the cook said she might have a place—she might have leave to be there in the scullery, and wash up, for the lassie who did that work before had just gone away.

それを済ませると、姫は豚小屋のほうへ行ったが、その道すがらずっとすすり泣いて涙を流していた。そこで木の衣を着て、宮殿へ上がっていった。台所に入ると奉公口を乞い、名は木の衣のカティだと告げた。ええ、口ならありますよ、と料理番は言った。洗い場にいて皿を洗うならかまわない、その仕事をしていた娘がちょうど出ていったばかりだから、と。

“But as soon as you get weary of being here, you’ll go your way too, I’ll be bound.”

「でも、ここが嫌になったら、おまえもすぐ出ていくんだろうさ」

No; she was sure she wouldn’t do that.

いいえ、けっしてそんなことはいたしません、と姫は言った。

So there she was, behaving so well, and washing up so handily. The Sunday after there were to be strange guests at the palace, so Katie asked if she might have leave to carry up water for the Prince’s bath; but all the rest laughed at her, and said:

そうして姫はそこで行儀よくふるまい、手際よく皿を洗った。次の日曜には宮殿に見知らぬ客が来ることになっていたので、カティは王子の湯浴みの水を運ばせてくださいと頼んだ。だがほかの者はみな彼女を笑って言った。

“What should you do there? Do you think the Prince will care to look at you, you who are such a fright!”

「おまえがそんなところで何をするというの。おまえみたいな見苦しい者を、王子さまが目に留めてくださると思うのかい」

But she wouldn’t give it up, and kept on begging and praying; and at last she got leave. So when she went up the stairs, her wooden cloak made such a clatter, the Prince came out and asked:

だが彼女はあきらめず、頼み願いつづけ、ついに許しを得た。そこで階段を上がっていくと、木の衣ががたがたと大きな音を立てたので、王子が出てきて尋ねた。

“Pray who are you?”

「いったい、おまえは誰だ」

“Oh! I was just going to bring up water for your Royal Highness’s bath”, said Katie.

「ああ、殿下の湯浴みの水をお持ちするところです」とカティは言った。

“Do you think now”, said the Prince, “I’d have anything to do with the water you bring?” and with that he threw the water over her.

「おまえの運んだ水などに、わたしが手を触れると思うのか」と王子は言い、そう言いながら水を彼女に浴びせかけた。

So she had to put up with that, but then she asked leave to go to church; well, she got that leave too, for the church lay close by. But, first of all, she went to the rock, and knocked on its face with the stick which stood there, just as the Bull had said. And straightway out came a man, who said:

そこで姫はそれを我慢するほかなかった。だがそのあと、教会へ行かせてくださいと頼んだ。教会はすぐ近くにあったので、その許しも得られた。だがまず彼女は岩へ行き、雄牛の言ったとおり、そこに立てかけてあった杖で岩壁を叩いた。するとすぐに男が出てきて言った。

“What’s your will?”

「何が望みだ」

So the Princess said she had got leave to go to church and hear the priest preach, but she had no clothes to go in. So he brought out a kirtle, which was as bright as the copper wood, and she got a horse and saddle beside. Now, when she got to the church she was so lovely and grand, all wondered who she could be, and scarce one of them listened to what the priest said, for they looked too much at her. As for the Prince, he fell so deep in love with her, he didn’t take his eyes off her for a single moment.

そこで姫は、教会へ行って司祭の説教を聴く許しを得たけれど、着ていく衣がないのだと言った。すると男は、銅の森のように輝く上着を出してくれ、おまけに馬と鞍もくれた。さて教会に着くと、姫があまりに美しく立派なので、みなあれは誰だろうと不思議がり、司祭の言葉を聴く者はほとんどいなかった。みな姫ばかり見ていたのだ。王子はといえば、深く恋に落ちて、ひとときも姫から目を離さなかった。

So, as she went out of church, the Prince ran after her, and held the church door open for her; and so he got hold of one of her gloves, which was caught in the door. When she went away and mounted her horse, the Prince went up to her again, and asked whence she came.

そこで姫が教会を出るとき、王子は駆け寄って教会の戸を押さえてやった。そうして、戸に挟まった姫の手袋の片方を手に入れた。姫が立ち去って馬にまたがると、王子はまた近寄って、どこから来たのかと尋ねた。

“Oh! I’m from Bath”, said Katie; and while the Prince took out the glove to give it to her, she said:

「ああ、湯の国から来ました」とカティは言った。そして王子が手袋を取り出して渡そうとすると、姫は言った。

Bright before and dark behind, Clouds come rolling on the wind; That this Prince may never see Where my good steed goes with me.

前は明るく後ろは暗く、雲は風に乗って湧き起これ。この王子にけっして見えませぬよう、わたしの駿馬がどこへ行くのかを。

The Prince had never seen the like of that glove, and went about far and wide asking after the land whence the proud lady, who rode off without her glove, said she came; but there was no one who could tell where “Bath” lay.

王子はあのような手袋を見たことがなく、手袋を置いて去った誇り高い女人が名乗った国はどこかと、あちこち尋ねてまわった。だが「湯の国」がどこにあるか言える者はひとりもいなかった。

Next Sunday some one had to go up to the Prince with a towel.

次の日曜には、誰かが王子に手拭いを届けなければならなかった。

“Oh! may I have leave to go up with it?” said Katie.

「ああ、わたしが持っていってもいいでしょうか」とカティは言った。

“What’s the good of your going?” said the others; “you saw how it fared with you last time.”

「おまえが行って何になるの」とほかの者は言った。「この前どんな目に遭ったか見たでしょう」

But Katie wouldn’t give in; she kept on begging and praying, till she got leave; and then she ran up the stairs, so that her wooden cloak made a great clatter. Out came the Prince, and when he saw it was Katie, he tore the towel out of her hand, and threw it into her face.

だがカティは引き下がらず、頼み願いつづけて、ついに許しを得た。そして階段を駆け上がったので、木の衣ががたがたと大きな音を立てた。王子が出てきて、それがカティだと分かると、手拭いを彼女の手からひったくり、顔に投げつけた。

“Pack yourself off, you ugly Troll”, he cried; “do you think I’d have a towel which you have touched with your smutty fingers?”

「失せろ、この醜いトロルめ」と王子は叫んだ。「おまえの煤けた指で触れた手拭いなど、わたしが使うと思うのか」

After that the Prince set off to church, and Katie begged for leave to go too. They all asked what business she had at church—she who had nothing to put on but that wooden cloak, which was so black and ugly. But Katie said the priest was such a brave man to preach, what he said did her so much good; and so she at last got leave. Now she went again to the rock and knocked, and so out came the man, and gave her a kirtle far finer than the first one; it was all covered with silver, and it shone like the silver wood; and she got besides a noble steed, with a saddle-cloth broidered with silver, and a silver bit.

そのあと王子は教会へ出かけ、カティも行かせてくださいと頼んだ。みなは、あんなに黒く醜い木の衣のほか着るものもないおまえが、教会に何の用があるのかと言った。だがカティは、あの司祭はたいそう立派な説教をなさる、その言葉が自分にはとてもありがたいのだと言った。そうしてついに許しを得た。さて彼女はまた岩へ行って叩いた。すると男が出てきて、最初のよりはるかに美しい上着をくれた。それは一面が銀に覆われ、銀の森のように輝いていた。おまけに、銀で刺繍した鞍覆いと銀の轡をつけた立派な馬ももらった。

So when the King’s daughter got to the church, the folk were still standing about in the churchyard. And all wondered and wondered who she could be, and the Prince was soon on the spot, and came and wished to hold her horse for her while she got off. But she jumped down, and said there was no need, for her horse was so well broke, it stood still when she bid it, and came when she called it. So they all went into church; but there was scarce a soul that listened to what the priest said, for they looked at her a deal too much; and the Prince fell still deeper in love than the first time.

さて王さまの娘が教会に着くと、人々はまだ教会の庭に立っていた。そしてみな、あれは誰だろうと不思議がった。王子はすぐにその場に来て、姫が下りるあいだ馬を押さえていようと申し出た。だが姫は飛び下りて、その必要はありません、この馬はよく仕込んであって、言いつければじっと立っているし、呼べば来るのです、と言った。そうして一同は教会に入った。だが司祭の言葉を聴く者はほとんどなく、みな姫ばかり見ていた。そして王子は最初のときよりもさらに深く恋に落ちた。

When the sermon was over, and she went out of church and was going to mount her horse, up came the Prince again, and asked her whence she came.

説教が終わり、姫が教会を出て馬にまたがろうとすると、王子がまたやって来て、どこから来たのかと尋ねた。

“Oh! I’m from Towelland”, said the King’s daughter; and as she said that, she dropped her riding-whip, and when the Prince stooped to pick it up, she said:

「ああ、手拭いの国から来ました」と王さまの娘は言った。そう言いながら乗馬用の鞭を落とし、王子がそれを拾おうと身をかがめると、姫は言った。

Bright before and dark behind, Clouds come rolling on the wind; That this Prince may never see Where my good steed goes with me.

前は明るく後ろは暗く、雲は風に乗って湧き起これ。この王子にけっして見えませぬよう、わたしの駿馬がどこへ行くのかを。

So away she was again; and the Prince couldn’t tell what had become of her. He went about far and wide asking after the land whence she said she came, but there was no one who could tell him where it lay; and so the Prince had to make the best he could of it.

そうして姫はまた去っていき、王子には彼女がどこへ行ったのか分からなかった。彼女が名乗った国はどこかと、彼はあちこち尋ねてまわったが、どこにあるか言える者はひとりもいなかった。そこで王子はどうにかこらえるほかなかった。

Next Sunday some one had to go up to the Prince with a comb. Katie begged for leave to go up with it, but the others put her in mind how she had fared the last time, and scolded her for wishing to go before the Prince—such a black and ugly fright as she was in her wooden cloak. But she wouldn’t leave off asking till they let her go up to the Prince with his comb. So, when she came clattering up the stairs again, out came the Prince, and took the comb, and threw it at her, and bade her be off as fast as she could. After that the Prince went to church, and Katie begged for leave to go too. They asked again what business she had there, she who was so foul and black, and who had no clothes to show herself in. Might be the Prince or some one else would see her, and then both she and all the others would smart for it; but Katie said they had something else to do than to look at her; and she wouldn’t leave off begging and praying till they gave her leave to go.

次の日曜には、誰かが王子に櫛を届けなければならなかった。カティは自分が持っていかせてくださいと頼んだが、ほかの者は、この前どんな目に遭ったかを思い出させ、木の衣を着たあんなに黒く醜い姿で王子の前に出たがるとは何ごとかと叱った。だが彼女は頼むのをやめず、ついに王子のところへ櫛を持っていかせてもらった。そうしてまたがたがたと階段を上がっていくと、王子が出てきて櫛を取り、彼女に投げつけて、さっさと失せろと言った。そのあと王子は教会へ出かけ、カティも行かせてくださいと頼んだ。みなはまた、こんなに汚くて黒く、人前に出る衣もないおまえが、そこに何の用があるのかと言った。王子か誰かに見られでもしたら、おまえもほかの者もみな痛い目に遭うぞ、と。だがカティは、みなさんには私を見るよりほかにすることがありますよ、と言い、許しをもらうまで頼み願うのをやめなかった。

So the same thing happened now as had happened twice before. She went to the rock and knocked with the stick, and then the man came out and gave her a kirtle which was far grander than either of the others. It was almost all pure gold, and studded with diamonds; and she got besides a noble steed, with a gold broidered saddle-cloth and a golden bit.

そこで、これまで二度起きたのと同じことが起きた。彼女は岩へ行って杖で叩き、すると男が出てきて、ほかのどちらよりはるかに見事な上着をくれた。それはほとんどすべてが純金で、ダイヤモンドがちりばめられていた。おまけに、金で刺繍した鞍覆いと金の轡をつけた立派な馬ももらった。

Now when the King’s daughter got to the church, there stood the priest and all the people in the churchyard waiting for her. Up came the Prince running, and wanted to hold her horse, but she jumped off, and said:

さて王さまの娘が教会に着くと、司祭も人々もみな教会の庭に立って彼女を待っていた。王子が駆け寄ってきて馬を押さえようとしたが、彼女は飛び下りて言った。

“No; thanks—there’s no need, for my horse is so well broke, it stands still when I bid him.”

「いいえ、ありがとうございます。その必要はありません。この馬はよく仕込んであって、言いつければじっと立っているのです」

So they all hastened into church, and the priest got into the pulpit, but no one listened to a word he said; for they all looked too much at her, and wondered whence she came; and the Prince, he was far deeper in love than either of the former times. He had no eyes, or ears, or sense for anything, but just to sit and stare at her.

そこで一同は急いで教会に入り、司祭は説教台に上がったが、その言葉をひと言でも聴く者はいなかった。みな姫ばかり見つめて、どこから来たのだろうと不思議がっていたからだ。そして王子は前のどちらのときよりもはるかに深く恋に落ちていた。彼には目も耳も心も、ただ座って姫を見つめることのほかには働かなかった。

So when the sermon was over, and the King’s daughter was to go out of the church, the Prince had got a firkin of pitch poured out in the porch, that he might come and help her over it; but she didn’t care a bit—she just put her foot right down into the midst of the pitch, and jumped across it; but then one of her golden shoes stuck fast in it, and as she got on her horse, up came the Prince running out of the church, and asked whence she came.

そうして説教が終わり、王さまの娘が教会を出ようとすると、王子は玄関に樽一杯の瀝青をまかせておいた。そこを越えるのを手伝おうというのだ。だが姫は少しも構わず、瀝青のまんなかにそのまま足を下ろして飛び越えた。だがそのとき金の靴の片方がそこにはまって残った。そして姫が馬にまたがると、王子が教会から駆け出してきて、どこから来たのかと尋ねた。

“I’m from Combland”, said Katie. But when the Prince wanted to reach her the gold shoe, she said,

「櫛の国から来ました」とカティは言った。だが王子が金の靴を渡そうとすると、姫は言った。

Bright before and dark behind, Clouds come rolling on the wind; That this Prince may never see Where my good steed goes with me.

前は明るく後ろは暗く、雲は風に乗って湧き起これ。この王子にけっして見えませぬよう、わたしの駿馬がどこへ行くのかを。

So the Prince couldn’t tell still what had become of her, and he went about a weary time all over the world asking for “Combland”; but when no one could tell him where it lay, he ordered it to be given out everywhere that he would wed the woman whose foot could fit the gold shoe.

そこで王子には、やはり彼女がどこへ行ったのか分からなかった。彼は長いあいだ世界じゅうを歩きまわって「櫛の国」を尋ねたが、どこにあるか言える者がいなかったので、あの金の靴に足の合う女を妻にすると、あらゆるところに触れ出させた。

So many came of all sorts from all sides, fair and ugly alike; but there was no one who had so small a foot as to be able to get on the gold shoe. And after a long, long time, who should come but Katie’s wicked stepmother, and her daughter, too, and her the gold shoe fitted; but ugly she was, and so loathly she looked, the Prince only kept his word sore against his will. Still they got ready the wedding-feast, and she was dressed up and decked out as a bride; but as they rode to church, a little bird sat upon a tree and sang:

そこで美しい者も醜い者も、あらゆる身分の者が四方から大勢やってきた。だが金の靴が履けるほど小さな足の者はひとりもいなかった。そして長い長いのちに、やって来たのは誰あろう、カティの意地悪な継母とその娘だった。そしてその娘に金の靴は合った。だが娘は醜く、見るからにおぞましかったので、王子はまったく意に染まぬまま約束を守るだけだった。それでも婚礼の宴の支度はととのえられ、娘は花嫁として着飾らせられた。だが一行が馬で教会へ向かうと、小鳥が一羽木にとまって歌った。

A bit off her heel, And a bit off her toe; Katie Woodencloak’s tiny shoe Is full of blood—that’s all I know.

踵を少し削り、爪先を少し削り。木の衣のカティの小さな靴は血でいっぱい——知っているのはそれだけ。

And, sure enough, when they looked to it the bird told the truth, for blood gushed out of the shoe.

そして、たしかに、調べてみると小鳥は本当のことを言っていた。靴から血が噴き出したのだ。

Then all the maids and women who were about the palace had to go up to try on the shoe, but there was none of them whom it would fit at all.

そこで宮殿にいる侍女も女たちもみな、靴を履いてみることになった。だが合う者はひとりもいなかった。

“But where’s Katie Woodencloak?” asked the Prince, when all the rest had tried the shoe, for he understood the song of birds very well, and bore in mind what the little bird had said.

「ところで木の衣のカティはどこだ」と、ほかの者がみな靴を履いたあとで王子は尋ねた。王子は鳥の言葉がよく分かり、小鳥の言ったことを心に留めていたのだ。

“Oh! she think of that!” said the rest; “it’s no good her coming forward. Why, she’s legs like a horse.”

「まあ、あの子のことなど」とほかの者は言った。「出てきたところで無駄です。あの子の脚ときたら馬のようですもの」

“Very true, I daresay”, said the Prince; “but since all the others have tried, Katie may as well try too.”

「なるほど、そうかもしれない」と王子は言った。「だがほかの者がみな履いてみたのだから、カティも履いてみてよかろう」

“Katie”, he bawled out through the door; and Katie came trampling upstairs, and her wooden cloak clattered as if a whole regiment of dragoons were charging up.

「カティ」と王子は戸口から呼ばわった。するとカティがどしどしと階段を上がってきて、竜騎兵の一隊が駆け上がってくるかのように木の衣ががたがた鳴った。

“Now, you must try the shoe on, and be a Princess, you too,” said the other maids, and laughed and made game of her.

「さあ、靴を履いてごらん。おまえも姫さまにおなり」とほかの侍女たちは言い、笑って彼女をからかった。

So Katie took up the shoe, and put her foot into it like nothing, and threw off her wooden cloak; and so there she stood in her gold kirtle, and it shone so that the sunbeams glistened from her; and, lo! on her other foot she had the fellow to the gold shoe.

そこでカティは靴を取り上げ、なんなく足を入れて、木の衣を脱ぎ捨てた。すると彼女は金の上着姿でそこに立っていて、その輝きに日の光がきらめいた。そして、なんと、もう一方の足にはあの金の靴の片割れを履いていた。

So when the Prince knew her again, he grew so glad, he ran up to her and threw his arms round her, and gave her a kiss; and when he heard she was a King’s daughter, he got gladder still, and then came the wedding feast; and so,

そうして王子は彼女だと分かってたいそう喜び、駆け寄って抱きしめ、口づけした。そして彼女が王さまの娘だと聞くと、いっそう喜んだ。それから婚礼の宴になった。そうして、

Snip, snip, snover, This story’s over.

ちょきん、ちょきん、ちょっきり、お話はこれでおしまい。