The Mistaken Gifts

Tinguian

ティンギアン

When Siagon was about eight years old his parents began looking for a girl who would make a suitable wife. At last when they had decided on a beautiful maiden, who lived some distance from them, they sent a man to her parents to ask if they would like Siagon for a son-in-law.

シアゴンが八歳ほどになったころ、その親はふさわしい嫁になる娘を探し始めた。そしてとうとう、自分たちから少し離れたところに住む美しい乙女に決めると、シアゴンを婿にする気があるかどうか尋ねるために、その親のもとへ男を送った。

Now when the man arrived at the girl's house the people were all sitting on the floor eating periwinkle, and as they sucked the meat out of the shell, they nodded their heads. The man, looking in at the door, saw them nod, and he thought they were nodding at him. So he did not tell them his errand, but returned quickly to the boy's parents and told them that all the people at the girl's house were favorable to the union.

さてこの男が娘の家に着くと、人々はみな床に座って巻貝を食べていた。そして殻から身を吸い出すたびに、頭をうなずかせていた。戸口から覗いていた男は、人々がうなずくのを見て、自分にうなずいているのだと思った。そこで彼は使いの用を告げずに、素早く若者の親のもとへ戻り、そして娘の家の人々はみなこの縁組みに賛成だと告げた。

Siagon's parents were very much pleased that their proposal had been so kindly received, and immediately prepared to go to the girl's house to arrange for the wedding.

シアゴンの親は、自分たちの申し出がこれほど快く受け入れられたのをたいそう喜び、そしてすぐに婚礼の取り決めをするために娘の家へ行く支度をした。

Finally all was ready and they started for her house, carrying with them as presents for her parents two carabao, two horses, two cows, four iron kettles, sixteen jars of basi, two blankets, and two little pigs.

とうとう支度がすべて整い、二人は娘の家へ向かった。そしてその親への贈り物として、カラバオ二頭、馬二頭、牛二頭、鉄の釜四つ、バシの甕十六、毛布二枚、そして小さな豚二頭を携えていった。

The surprise of the girl's people knew no bounds when they saw all this coming to their house, for they had not even thought of Siagon marrying their daughter. [87]

これがみな自分たちの家へ来るのを見た娘の家の人々の驚きは、限りがなかった。シアゴンが娘と夫婦になることなど、考えてもいなかったのである。[87]