The Little Maid Who Was Wise

The Story of a Robber Who was Outwitted

出し抜かれた泥棒の話

Long ago there lived a merchant who had three daughters. Every year at a certain day of a certain month he went away to a distant city to collect money on an account. His wife and daughters remained at home, and all went well until one sad day the wife died. That year the merchant looked forward to his journey with dread for he would have to leave his daughters alone.

むかし、三人の娘を持つ商人がいた。商人は毎年、ある月のある日に、勘定の金を取り立てに遠い町へ出かけていた。妻と娘たちは家に残り、万事うまくいっていたが、ある悲しい日に妻が死んでしまった。その年、商人は旅立ちの日が来るのを恐れた。娘たちだけを残していかなければならないからである。

"I cannot bear to go away," he said to them. "My heart is filled with fear lest some evil may befall you during my absence."

「とても出かける気になれない」と商人は娘たちに言った。「留守のあいだに、お前たちに何か悪いことが起こりはしないかと心配でたまらないのだ」

He worried about the matter night and day. The business was most important and there was no one whom he could send to transact it for him.

商人は昼も夜もこのことに思い悩んだ。用事はたいそう大事なもので、代わりに片づけに行かせられる者は誰もいなかった。

However, the question of leaving three such pretty girls unprotected was a thing not to be regarded lightly.

けれども、あんなにかわいい娘たちを三人も守る者なしに残していくことは、軽く考えてよい問題ではなかった。

"Do not be afraid to leave us, dear father," said his daughters. "Nothing will harm us while you are away."

「わたしたちを残していくのを心配しないで、お父さま」と娘たちは言った。「お父さまのお留守のあいだ、何もわたしたちを傷つけたりしないわ」

"How do you know?" asked their father. "I am older and wiser than you are and I know that there are many evils which might come upon you. There are many bold thieves in this city, for instance, who would be only too ready to take advantage of my absence and rob my home of all I possess."

「どうしてわかるのだ」と父親は尋ねた。「わたしはお前たちより年上で賢いから、お前たちに降りかかるかもしれない悪いことがたくさんあるのを知っている。たとえばこの町には大胆な泥棒がたくさんいて、わたしの留守につけ込んで、わたしの財産をみな家から盗もうと待ちかまえているのだ」

"We can lock ourselves securely in the house and not let any one enter," said the three daughters.

「家にしっかり鍵をかけて閉じこもって、誰もなかに入れないようにするわ」と三人の娘は言った。

"Be sure that you admit no one," commanded the merchant.

「誰も入れてはならんぞ」と商人は命じた。

They gave him their promise and he started on his journey. Nevertheless, he went with an anxious heart.

娘たちは約束し、商人は旅に出た。それでも、商人は心配な気持ちで出かけていった。

Now, outside this city there was a band of bold robbers. The captain of the band had watched the merchant's departure, and when he was safely away the thief dressed himself in the disguise of an old beggar. When it was evening he led his band into a nearby street and in his disguise approached the merchant's house. He knocked at the door.

さて、この町の外には大胆な盗賊の一味がいた。一味のかしらは商人が出かけるのを見ていて、商人が無事に遠くへ行ってしまうと、年寄りの物乞いに変装した。夕方になると、かしらは一味を近くの通りに連れていき、変装したまま商人の家に近づいた。かしらは戸を叩いた。

"Have pity upon a poor unfortunate one!" he called out. "It is raining outside, and no one with mercy in his heart could turn away one who begs shelter from the storm. Let me enter, I pray you, to pass the night under your roof."

「哀れな不運な者にお情けを!」とかしらは叫んだ。「外は雨です。慈悲の心を持つ者なら、嵐から逃れる宿を乞う者を追い返すことはできますまい。どうか入れてください。お宅の屋根の下でひと晩過ごさせてください」

"It's surely a terrible storm outside," said the merchant's eldest daughter, as the wind rattled the tiles of the roof and the rain beat in torrents against the doors and windows. "I think we ought to take pity on a poor beggar a night like this."

「外はほんとうにひどい嵐ね」と、風が屋根瓦をがたがた鳴らし、雨が戸や窓に滝のように打ちつけるなかで、商人のいちばん上の娘が言った。「こんな晩には、かわいそうな物乞いに情けをかけてあげるべきだと思うわ」

The second daughter peeped out of the window at the beggar.

二番目の娘が窓から物乞いをのぞいた。

"He is old as well as poor," she said. "Our father has always taught us to show mercy and kindness to the aged."

「貧しいうえに年寄りよ」と二番目の娘は言った。「お父さまはいつも、お年寄りには情けとやさしさを示しなさいと教えてくださったわ」

"Remember our promise to our father!" cried the youngest one. "We gave him our word that we would admit no one. We can give this poor beggar some alms and send him away with a blessing."

「お父さまとの約束を忘れないで!」と末の娘が叫んだ。「誰も入れないって、お父さまに約束したのよ。このかわいそうな物乞いには施しをあげて、祝福を言って帰ってもらえばいいわ」

The eldest daughter frowned. "It is not for the youngest and most childish one of us to make the plans," she said.

いちばん上の娘は顔をしかめた。「いちばん年下のいちばん子どもっぽい人が決めることじゃないわ」と上の娘は言った。

The second daughter added. "We two are older and wiser than you are. It is for us to determine what shall be done. If we decide to show mercy to this poor beggar it is not for you to oppose it."

二番目の娘がつけ加えた。「わたしたち二人のほうがあなたより年上で賢いのよ。どうするかを決めるのはわたしたちよ。わたしたちがこのかわいそうな物乞いに情けをかけると決めたら、あなたが逆らうことじゃないわ」

"Bui we should not forget our promise to our father!" cried the youngest daughter.

「でも、お父さまとの約束を忘れてはいけないわ!」と末の娘は叫んだ。

However, in spite of all she could say, the elder sisters opened the door and admitted the beggar. They led him into the kitchen to dry his clothes. Then they made ready a bed for him to sleep upon. They gave him his supper in the kitchen and then they ate their own.

けれども、末の娘がいくら言っても、姉たちは戸を開けて物乞いをなかに入れた。姉たちは物乞いの服を乾かすために台所へ連れていった。それから物乞いの寝る寝床を用意した。姉たちは台所で物乞いに夕食を出し、それから自分たちの夕食をとった。

"It is a fearful night to send away a beggar," said the eldest sister while they were eating.

「こんな恐ろしい晩に物乞いを追い返すなんてできないわ」と、食べながらいちばん上の姉が言った。

"I am glad we have made him comfortable for the night," remarked the middle sister.

「今夜はあの人を気持ちよく休ませてあげられてよかったわ」と真ん中の姉が言った。

"I am thinking that our dear father would be anxious if he knew that we had broken our promise so easily," said the youngest sister.

「わたしたちがこんなにたやすく約束を破ったと知ったら、大好きなお父さまは心配なさるだろうと思うの」と末の妹が言った。

"For shame!" cried the eldest.

「なんてことを言うの!」といちばん上の姉が叫んだ。

"I don't think it was breaking our promise to show kindness to a poor old beggar," said the middle one.

「かわいそうな年寄りの物乞いにやさしくするのが、約束を破ったことになるとは思わないわ」と真ん中の姉が言った。

"A promise is a promise, nevertheless," said the youngest.

「それでも、約束は約束よ」と末の妹は言った。

While they were talking, the beggar had taken the apples which the girls were to eat for dessert and had sprinkled a sleeping powder over them. The two eldest ate their apples, but the youngest could not eat that night. She threw the apple away.

娘たちが話しているあいだに、物乞いは娘たちがデザートに食べるはずのリンゴを取って、眠り薬をふりかけた。上の二人は自分のリンゴを食べたが、末の娘はその夜は食べられなかった。末の娘はリンゴを捨ててしまった。

As soon as they had eaten, the girls went to their room, and the two eldest were overcome with sleep almost before they had time to get into bed. The youngest one was so frightened that she could not sleep a single wink.

食べ終わるとすぐに娘たちは自分たちの部屋へ行き、上の二人は寝床に入る暇もないほどすぐに眠り込んでしまった。末の娘はあまりに怖くて、ひと晩じゅう少しも眠れなかった。

Soon she heard footsteps. The beggar entered the room. The youngest one pretended that she, too, was asleep. The man went to the bed of the eldest sister and stuck a pin into her foot to see if she were completely unconscious. She did not stir and he knew that the sleeping powder had thoroughly done its work. Then he went to the bed of the second sister and did the same. She was as completely unconscious as her sister. It hurt terribly when he stuck the pin into the foot of the youngest, but she did not stir. The robber thought that she was as completely overcome by the sleeping powder as the others.

まもなく足音が聞こえた。物乞いが部屋に入ってきたのである。末の娘も眠っているふりをした。男はいちばん上の姉の寝床へ行き、すっかり正体をなくしているかどうか確かめるために、足にピンを刺した。姉は身動きひとつせず、男は眠り薬がすっかり効いたことを知った。それから男は二番目の姉の寝床へ行って、同じことをした。二番目の姉も、上の姉と同じようにすっかり正体をなくしていた。男が末の娘の足にピンを刺したときはひどく痛かったが、末の娘は身動きひとつしなかった。泥棒は、末の娘もほかの二人と同じように眠り薬ですっかり眠り込んでいると思った。

The youngest sister peeped through her long heavy eyelashes and watched the beggar. She saw to her surprise that he had laid aside the heavy ragged old coat which he had kept wrapped about him even while he ate. Underneath he was dressed like a robber with a sword, pistols and dagger. She was so terribly frightened that it was all she could do to keep her teeth from chattering.

末の妹は長く濃いまつげのあいだから物乞いをのぞき見た。驚いたことに、物乞いは食事のあいだもずっと体に巻きつけていた重いぼろぼろの古い外套を脱ぎ捨てていた。その下には、剣とピストルと短剣を身につけた盗賊の身なりをしていた。末の娘はあまりに恐ろしくて、歯ががちがち鳴らないようにするのがやっとだった。

She heard the robber go about the house picking out the valuables which he wanted to steal. Then she heard him go down the stairway and unbolt the heavy doors which led into the store. She quietly got up and crept out of the room to hear him more distinctly.

末の娘は、泥棒が家じゅうを歩きまわって盗みたい金目のものを選び出しているのを聞いた。それから泥棒が階段を降りて、店に通じる重い戸の閂を外す音を聞いた。末の娘はそっと起き上がって、もっとはっきり聞こうと部屋から忍び出た。

On a chair in the dining room she saw the sword which he had taken off. He had evidently thought that, with all three girls so sound asleep, he'd not need to use his weapons.

食堂の椅子の上に、泥棒が外した剣があった。三人の娘がみなぐっすり眠っているのだから武器を使う必要はないと、泥棒は思ったにちがいない。

Soon she heard the heavy outer doors of the store unbolted. The robber had gone outside to call the rest of the band. The little girl flew down the stairs and closed the doors of the store securely. They were big and heavy, but her great fear gave her strength.

まもなく、店の外側の重い戸の閂が外される音が聞こえた。泥棒は一味のほかの者たちを呼びに外へ出ていったのである。小さな娘は階段を飛ぶように駆け降りて、店の戸をしっかり閉めた。戸は大きくて重かったが、ひどく恐ろしかったので力が湧いたのである。

"He'll find it difficult to get into our house again," she said to herself as she waited to see if the robber returned.

「これであいつはうちに入るのに苦労するわ」と末の娘は、泥棒が戻ってくるかどうか待ちながら独りごとを言った。

Soon she heard footsteps outside. She knew that the thief had brought back others with him.

まもなく外で足音が聞こえた。泥棒がほかの者たちを連れて戻ってきたのだとわかった。

There were frightful words said when they found that the door was shut.

戸が閉まっているのを知ると、恐ろしい言葉が飛び交った。

"It was the youngest one who deceived me!" cried the robber chieftain. "I knew all the time that she did not want to let me in. I was suspicious of her from the first."

「おれをだましたのは末娘だ!」と盗賊のかしらは叫んだ。「あいつがおれを入れたがらないのは、ずっとわかっていた。初めからあいつは怪しいと思っていたんだ」

"Perhaps you can outwit her yet!" cried another. "She may not be so wise as she appears. You never can tell."

「まだあいつを出し抜けるかもしれませんぜ!」と別の一人が叫んだ。「見かけほど賢くないかもしれない。わかりゃしませんよ」

The leader of the band of thieves went up close to the keyhole and whispered: "Kind lady of the house, have pity on me."

盗賊の一味のかしらは鍵穴に口を近づけてささやいた。「親切な家のお嬢さん、どうかお情けを」

The merchant's daughter at first did not answer; but, as he kept on calling to her, she finally asked him what it was that he wanted.

商人の娘は初めは答えなかった。けれども男があまりに呼び続けるので、とうとう何の用かと尋ねた。

"I have left my charm behind!" he cried. "Pray let me enter to get it. I promise you I will do you no harm."

「お守りを置き忘れてしまったんです!」と男は叫んだ。「どうか取りに入れてください。何も悪いことはしないと約束します」

"I do not trust your promises," replied the little maid. "You shall not come into my father's house."

「あなたの約束なんか信じません」と小さな娘は答えた。「父の家には入れません」

"Pass the charm out to me, then," said the robber.

「では、お守りを外へ渡してくれ」と盗賊は言った。

"It's in the fire," replied the girl.

「火のなかにあるわ」と娘は答えた。

"Go throw vinegar on the fire and put it out," said the captain of the thieves. "Then you can pull my charm out in safety."

「火に酢をかけて消してくれ」と泥棒のかしらは言った。「そうすれば無事にお守りを取り出せる」

Now it happened that there was a little hole in the door just large enough for a man's hand to enter. It is the hole through which beggars often thrust outstretched hands, asking for alms.

さて、たまたま戸には、ちょうど男の手が入るくらいの小さな穴があった。物乞いたちがよく施しを乞うて手を差し入れる穴である。

"Put your hand through the hole in the door," replied the little maid. "Then I'll give you your charm."

「戸の穴から手を入れて」と小さな娘は答えた。「そうしたらお守りを渡してあげる」

She quickly ran upstairs and got the robber's sword which he had left on a chair in the dining room. When she returned, his hand was sticking through the hole in the door. She struck it with all her might with the great sword and cut it off.

娘は急いで階段を駆け上がり、泥棒が食堂の椅子に置いていった剣を取ってきた。娘が戻ってくると、泥棒の手が戸の穴から突き出ていた。娘は大きな剣でありったけの力をこめてその手に斬りつけ、切り落とした。

The cries and curses of the robbers filled the air. They tried in vain to break down the great doors. The doors were strong and held securely. At last it was daylight and the band of thieves had to flee.

盗賊たちの叫び声とののしり声があたりに満ちた。盗賊たちは大きな戸を打ち破ろうとしたが、無駄だった。戸は頑丈で、しっかり持ちこたえた。とうとう夜が明けて、泥棒の一味は逃げなければならなかった。

In the morning the effect of the sleeping powder wore off and the two elder sisters awoke. When they heard their sister's story they were filled with amazement.

朝になって眠り薬が切れると、上の二人の姉が目を覚ました。妹の話を聞くと、二人はすっかり驚いた。

"I don't believe a word of it!" cried the oldest. "You are making it up."

「ひと言だって信じないわ!」といちばん上の姉は叫んだ。「作り話でしょう」

"You had a bad dream," said the second. "I had such a nightmare myself that I have a headache this morning."

「悪い夢を見たのよ」と二番目の姉が言った。「わたしもひどい悪夢を見て、今朝は頭が痛いもの」

It was not until their little sister had shown them the robber's hand and the great sword that they were convinced that she had told them the truth.

小さな妹が盗賊の手と大きな剣を見せて、ようやく二人は妹がほんとうのことを話していると納得した。

"Oh, why did we ever let the man into our house!" cried the eldest.

「ああ、どうしてあの男を家に入れてしまったのかしら!」といちばん上の姉は叫んだ。

"Oh, why didn't we keep our promise to our father!" cried the middle one.

「ああ、どうしてお父さまとの約束を守らなかったのかしら!」と真ん中の姉は叫んだ。

When at last the merchant returned from the distant city where he had been to collect money he was delighted to find his house and his three daughters safe.

とうとう商人が金を取り立てに行った遠い町から帰ってくると、家も三人の娘も無事なのを見て大喜びした。

"I see that no harm befell you in my absence," he said as he embraced them fondly. "All my worries about you were foolish."

「わたしの留守に何も悪いことは起こらなかったようだな」と商人は娘たちをいとおしそうに抱きしめながら言った。「お前たちのことをあれこれ心配したのは、ばかげていたな」

The eldest daughter blushed and hung her head. "Great danger threatened us while you were away," she said. "Thanks to our youngest sister, we are safe."

いちばん上の娘は頬を赤らめてうなだれた。「お父さまのお留守に、大きな危険がわたしたちに迫ったのです」と上の娘は言った。「末の妹のおかげで、わたしたちは無事だったのです」

"Our little sister was wiser than we were," said the middle daughter.

「小さな妹はわたしたちより賢かったのです」と真ん中の娘が言った。

When the merchant had heard the whole story, he said: "After this we must all give ear to the wisdom of this little maid. She is wise beyond her years."

話をすっかり聞くと、商人は言った。「これからは、みなでこの小さな娘の知恵に耳を傾けなければならないな。この子は年に似合わず賢いのだから」