The Story of Benito

Tagalog

タガログ

Benito was an only son who lived with his father and mother in a little village. They were very poor, and as the boy grew older and saw how hard his parents struggled for their scanty living he often dreamed of a time when he might be a help to them.

ベニトは一人息子で、小さな村で父と母とともに住んでいた。三人はたいそう貧しく、そしてこの子が育って、親がわずかな暮らしのためにどれほど懸命にもがいているかを見ると、たびたび自分が助けになれる時のことを夢に見た。

One evening when they sat eating their frugal meal of rice the father told about a young king who lived in a beautiful palace some distance from their village, and the boy became very much interested. That night when the house was dark and quiet and Benito lay on his mat trying to sleep, thoughts of the young king repeatedly came to his mind, and he wished he were a king that he and his parents might spend the rest of their lives in a beautiful palace.

ある夕方、三人がわずかな米の食事を食べて座っていると、父が、村から少し離れたところの美しい宮に住む若い王のことを話し、そしてこの子はたいそう心を引かれた。その夜、家が暗く静かになって、ベニトが蓆に横になって眠ろうとしていると、若い王のことが繰り返し心に浮かび、そして自分が王で、自分と親が残りの生涯を美しい宮で過ごせればよいと願った。

The next morning he awoke with a new idea. He would go to the king and ask for work, that he might in that way be able to help his father and mother. He was a long time in persuading his parents to allow him to go, however, for it was a long journey, and they feared that the king might not be gracious. But at last they gave their consent, and the boy started out The journey proved tiresome. After he reached the palace, he was not at first permitted to see the king. But the boy being very earnest at last secured a place as a servant.

次の朝、彼は新しい考えとともに目を覚ました。王のもとへ行って仕事を求めよう。そうすればそのやり方で父と母を助けられるだろう。けれども行かせてくれと親を説くのには長くかかった。長い旅であり、そして王が寛くないかもしれないと親は恐れたからである。けれどもとうとう二人は承知し、そしてこの子は出かけた。旅は疲れるものとなった。宮に着いてからも、初めは王に会うことを許されなかった。けれどもこの子がたいそう熱心だったので、とうとう召使としての場を得た。

It was a new and strange world to Benito who had known only the life of a little village. The work was hard, but he was happy in thinking that now he could help his father and mother. One day the king sent for him and said:

小さな村の暮らししか知らなかったベニトにとって、それは新しく奇妙な世だった。仕事は辛かったけれども、いまは父と母を助けられると思って彼は幸せだった。ある日、王は彼を呼んでこう言った。

"I want you to bring to me a beautiful princess who lives in a land across the sea. Go at once, and if you fail you shall be punished severely,"

「海の向こうの地に住む美しい姫を、わたしのもとへ連れてきてほしい。すぐに行け。そしてもし果たせなければ、厳しく罰せられるだろう。」

The boy's heart sank within him, for he did not know what to do. But he answered as bravely as possible, "I will, my lord," and left the king's chamber. He at once set about preparing things for a long journey, for he was determined to try at least to fulfil the command.

この子の胸は沈んだ。どうしたらよいか分からなかったからである。けれども彼はできるだけ勇ましく「かしこまりました、わが君」と答えて、王の部屋を出た。彼はすぐに長い旅の支度を始めた。せめてこの命を果たそうと努めることに心を決めていたからである。

When all was ready Benito started. He had not gone far before he came to a thick forest, where he saw a large bird bound tightly with strings.

支度がすべて整うと、ベニトは出かけた。遠くまで行かないうちに厚い森に着き、そこで紐で固く縛られた大きな鳥を見た。

"Oh, my friend," pleaded the bird, "please free me from these bonds, and I will help you whenever you call on me."

「ああ友よ」と鳥は願った。「どうかわたしをこの縛りから解いてくれ。そうすればあなたが呼ぶときにはいつでも助けよう。」

Benito quickly released the bird, and it flew away calling back to him that its name was Sparrow-hawk.

ベニトは素早く鳥を放し、そして鳥は自分の名はハイタカだと呼び返しながら飛び去った。

Benito continued his journey till he came to the sea. Unable to find a way of crossing, he stopped and gazed sadly out over the waters, thinking of the king's threat if he failed. Suddenly he saw swimming toward him the King of the Fishes who asked:

ベニトは旅を続け、そして海に着いた。渡る道を見つけられず、彼は足を止めて、もし果たせなければという王の脅しを思いながら、悲しげに水の上を眺めた。不意に、魚の王が自分のほうへ泳いでくるのを見た。王は尋ねた。

"Why are you so sad?"

「なぜそれほど悲しいのか。」

"I wish to cross the sea to find the beautiful Princess," answered the boy.

「わたしは美しい姫を探すために海を渡りたいのです」とこの子は答えた。

"Well, get on my back," said the Fish, "and I will carry you across."

「よろしい、わたしの背に乗れ」と魚は言った。「渡してやろう。」

So Benito stepped on his back and was carried to the other shore.

そこでベニトはその背に乗り、向こう岸へ運ばれた。

Soon he met a strange woman who inquired what it was he sought, and when he had told her she said:

ほどなく彼は奇妙な女に出会い、女は何を求めているのかと尋ねた。そして彼が告げると、女は言った。

"The Princess is kept in a castle guarded by giants. Take this magic sword, for it will kill instantly whatever it touches." And she handed him the weapon.

「その姫は巨人に守られた城に置かれている。この不思議な剣を取れ。触れたものは何でもたちまち殺すからだ。」そして女はその武器を渡した。

Benito was more than grateful for her kindness and went on full of hope. As he approached the castle he could see that it was surrounded by many giants, and as soon as they saw him they ran out to seize him, but they went unarmed for they saw that he was a mere boy. As they approached he touched those in front with his sword, and one by one they fell dead. Then the others ran away in a panic, and left the castle unguarded. Benito entered, and when he had told the Princess of his errand, she was only too glad to escape from her captivity and she set out at once with him for the palace of the king.

ベニトはその親切に感謝しきれず、望みに満ちて進んでいった。城に近づくと、数多くの巨人に囲まれているのが見えた。そして巨人たちは彼を見るとすぐに摑まえに走り出てきたけれども、武器を持たずに来た。彼がただの子どもだと見たからである。近づいてくると彼は前にいる者に剣で触れ、そして一人ずつ死んで倒れた。それからほかの者は慌てて逃げ去り、城は守りのないまま残された。ベニトは入り、そして姫に自分の用向きを告げると、姫は囚われから逃れられることをたいそう喜んで、すぐに彼とともに王の宮へ向けて出かけた。

At the seashore the King of the Fishes was waiting for them, and they had no difficulty in crossing the sea and then in journeying through the thick forest to the palace, where they were received with great rejoicing. After a time the King asked the Princess to become his wife, and she replied:

海辺では魚の王が二人を待っていた。そして二人は難なく海を渡り、それから厚い森を通って宮へ旅し、そこで大きな喜びのうちに迎えられた。しばらくして王は姫に妻になってくれと頼み、そして姫は答えた。

"I will, O King, if you will get the ring I lost in the sea as I was crossing it"

「なりましょう、おお王よ。もしわたしが海を渡るときに失くした指輪を取ってきてくださるなら。」

The King immediately thought of Benito, and sending for him he commanded him to find the ring which had been lost on the journey from the land of the giants.

王はすぐにベニトのことを思い、彼を呼びにやって、巨人の地からの旅で失くされた指輪を見つけるよう命じた。

It seemed a hopeless task to the boy, but, anxious to obey his master, he started out. At the seaside he stopped and gazed over the waters until, to his great delight, he saw his friend, the King of the Fishes, swimming toward him. When he had been told of the boy's troubles, the great fish said: "I will see if I can help you," and he summoned all his subjects to him. When they came he found that one was missing, and he sent the others in search of it. They found it under a stone so full that it could not swim, and the larger ones took it by the tail and dragged it to the King.

それはこの子には望みのない務めのように思えた。けれども主に従いたくて、彼は出かけた。海辺で足を止めて水の上を眺めていると、たいそう嬉しいことに、友である魚の王が自分のほうへ泳いでくるのを見た。この子の困りごとを告げられると、この大きな魚は言った。「助けられるかどうか見てみよう。」そして自分の民をみな呼び集めた。集まってみると一匹足りないのが分かり、そして王はほかの者に探させに送った。魚たちは、石の下にあまりに満ち足りて泳げなくなっているのを見つけ、そして大きな者がその尾を摑んで王のもとへ引いてきた。

"Why did you not come when you were called?" inquired the King Fish.

「なぜ呼ばれたときに来なかったのだ」と魚の王は尋ねた。

"I have eaten so much that I cannot swim," replied the poor fish.

「あまりに食べすぎて泳げないのです」と哀れな魚は答えた。

Then the King Fish, suspecting the truth, ordered it cut open, and inside they found the lost ring. Benito was overjoyed at this, and expressing his great thanks, hastened with the precious ring to his master.

それから魚の王は真相を疑って、それを切り開かせた。そして中にあの失くされた指輪を見つけた。ベニトはこれに喜びに溢れ、そして大きな感謝を述べて、その大切な指輪を持って主のもとへ急いだ。

The King, greatly pleased, carried the ring to the Princess and said:

王はたいそう喜んで、その指輪を姫のもとへ運んでこう言った。

"Now that I have your ring will you become my wife?"

「いまあなたの指輪を手にした。わが妻になってくれるか。」

"I will be your wife," replied the Princess, "if you will find my earring that I lost in the forest as I was journeying with Benito."

「あなたの妻になりましょう」と姫は答えた。「もしわたしがベニトと旅をしていたときに森で失くした耳飾りを見つけてくださるなら。」

Again the King sent for Benito, and this time he commanded him to find the earring. The boy was very weary from his long journeys, but with no complaint he started out once more. Along the road through the thick forest he searched carefully, but with no reward. At last, tired and discouraged, he sat down under a tree to rest.

また王はベニトを呼びにやり、そしてこのときはその耳飾りを見つけるよう命じた。この子は長い旅にたいそう疲れていたけれども、不満ひとつ言わずにもう一度出かけた。厚い森を通る道沿いを彼は注意深く探したけれども、報いはなかった。とうとう疲れて気を落とし、彼は休むために木の下に腰を下ろした。

Suddenly there appeared before him a mouse of great size, and he was surprised to find that it was the King of Mice.

不意に目の前に大きな鼠が現れ、そしてそれが鼠の王だと知って彼は驚いた。

"Why are you so sad?" asked the King Mouse.

「なぜそれほど悲しいのか」と鼠の王は尋ねた。

"Because," answered the boy, "I cannot find an earring which the Princess lost as we were going through the forest together."

「それは」とこの子は答えた。「一緒に森を通っていたときに姫が失くした耳飾りを、わたしが見つけられないからです。」

"I will help you," said the Mouse, and he summoned all his subjects.

「助けてやろう」と鼠は言い、そして自分の民をみな呼び集めた。

When they assembled it was found that one little mouse was missing, and the King sent the others to look for him. In a small hole among the bamboo trees they found him, and he begged to be left alone, for, he said, he was so full that he could not walk. Nevertheless they pulled him along to their master, who, upon finding that there was something hard inside the mouse, ordered him cut open; and inside they found the missing earring.

集まってみると小さな鼠が一匹足りないのが分かり、そして王はほかの者に探しに行かせた。竹の木のあいだの小さな穴で鼠たちはその者を見つけ、そしてその者は放っておいてくれと願った。あまりに満ち足りて歩けないのだと言うのである。それでも鼠たちはその者を主のもとへ引いていき、そして主は鼠のなかに何か固いものがあるのを見つけて、切り開かせた。そして中にあの失われた耳飾りを見つけた。

Benito at once forgot his weariness, and after expressing his great thanks to the King Mouse he hastened to the palace with the prize. The King eagerly seized the earring and presented it to the Princess, again asking her to be his wife.

ベニトはすぐに疲れを忘れ、そして鼠の王に大きな感謝を述べたあと、その手柄を持って宮へ急いだ。王は夢中で耳飾りを摑んで姫に渡し、またも妻になってくれと頼んだ。

"Oh, my King," replied the Princess, "I have one more request to make. Only grant it and I will be your wife forever."

「ああ、わが王よ」と姫は答えた。「もう一つお願いがあります。それだけ認めてくださるなら、わたしはいつまでもあなたの妻になりましょう。」

The King, believing that now with the aid of Benito he could grant anything, inquired what it was she wished, and she replied:

王は、いまベニトの助けがあれば何でも認められると思って、何を望むのかと尋ね、そして姫は答えた。

"Get me some water from heaven and some from the lower world, and I shall ask nothing more."

「天からの水と、下の世からの水を持ってきてください。そうすればもう何もお願いしません。」

Once more the King called Benito and sent him on the hardest errand of all.

もう一度王はベニトを呼んで、すべてのうちで最も難しい使いに送った。

The boy went out not knowing which way to turn, and while he was in a deep study his weary feet led him to the forest. Suddenly he thought of the bird who had promised to help him, and he called, "Sparrowhawk!" There was a rustle of wings, and the bird swooped down. He told it of his troubles and it said:

この子はどちらへ向かえばよいか分からずに出かけ、そして深く考え込んでいるうちに、その疲れた足は森へ導いた。不意に、助けると約束したあの鳥のことを思い出して、彼は「ハイタカよ!」と呼んだ。翼の音がして、鳥が舞い下りてきた。彼は困りごとを告げ、そして鳥は言った。

"I will get the water for you."

「あなたのために水を取ってこよう。」

Then Benito made two light cups of bamboo which he fastened to the bird's legs, and it flew away. All day the boy waited in the forest, and just as night was coming on the bird returned with both cups full. The one on his right foot, he told Benito, was from heaven, and that on his left was from the lower world. The boy unfastened the cups, and then, as he was thanking the bird, he noticed that the journey had been too much for it and that it was dying. Filled with sorrow for his winged friend, he waited and carefully buried it, and then he hastened to the palace with the precious water.

それからベニトは竹で軽い杯を二つ作ってそれを鳥の脚に結び、そして鳥は飛び去った。一日じゅうこの子は森で待ち、そしてまさに夜が来るころ、鳥は両方の杯を満たして帰ってきた。右足のは天からのもの、左足のは下の世からのものだと鳥は告げた。この子は杯を外し、そしてそれから鳥に感謝しているうちに、この旅が鳥には過ぎたものであり、鳥が死にかけているのに気づいた。翼ある友への悲しみに満たされて、彼は待って気をつけてそれを葬り、そしてそれからその大切な水を持って宮へ急いだ。

When the Princess saw that her wish had been fulfilled she asked the King to cut her in two and pour over her the water from heaven. The King was not able to do this, so she cut herself, and then as he poured the water over her he beheld her grow into the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

姫は自分の願いが果たされたのを見ると、王に、自分を二つに切って天からの水を注いでくれと頼んだ。王はそれができなかったので、姫は自分で切った。そしてそれから王がその上に水を注ぐと、姫がこれまで見たこともないほど最も美しい女に育つのを見た。

Eager to become handsome himself, the King then begged her to pour over him the water from the other cup. He cut himself, and she did as he requested, but immediately there arose a creature most ugly and horrible to look upon, which soon vanished out of sight. Then the Princess called Benito and told him that because he had been so faithful to his master and so kind to her, she chose him for her husband.

自分も見目よくなりたくて、王はそれからもう一つの杯の水を自分の上に注いでくれと願った。彼は自分を切り、そして姫は頼まれたとおりにした。けれどもたちまち、見るのも最も醜く恐ろしい者が現れ、そしてほどなく目の前から消えた。それから姫はベニトを呼んで、彼が主にたいそう忠実で自分にたいそう優しかったので、彼を夫に選ぶと告げた。

They were married amid great festivities and became king and queen of that broad and fertile land. During all the great rejoicing, however, Benito never forgot his parents. One of the finest portions of his kingdom he gave to them, and from that time they all lived in great happiness. [156]

二人は大きな祝いのうちに夫婦になり、あの広く肥えた地の王と后になった。けれども大きな喜びのあいだずっと、ベニトは親を忘れなかった。その国の最も良い部分の一つを親に与え、そしてそのときから、みなは大きな幸いのうちに暮らした。[156]