The Princess and the Fisherman

Once upon a time something happened. If it had not happened, it would not be told.

むかしむかし、あることが起こった。もし起こらなかったのなら、語られることもなかっただろう。

There was once a fisherman, neither very well off nor very poor, but he was young, with a mustache that curled fiercely at the ends, you know, and a fine-looking fellow. Whenever he passed the imperial palace, the emperor's daughter sent for him, bought his fish, and gave him ten times as much money as they were worth.

むかし、たいそう暮らし向きがよいわけでも、ひどく貧しいわけでもない一人の漁師がいた。けれども若く、先がぴんと勇ましく巻き上がった口髭をたくわえた、見目のよい男であった。宮殿の前を通るたびに皇帝の娘が彼を呼び寄せ、魚を買って、値打ちの十倍もの金を払った。

Our fisherman was spoiled by this wealth, and whenever he had nice fresh fish he took them to the palace; not a day passed that the princess did not buy fish if the fisherman went by.

漁師はこの実入りにすっかり味をしめ、生きのいい上等な魚が捕れるたびに宮殿へ持っていった。漁師が通りかかれば、王女が魚を買わない日は一日もなかった。

One day, while paying for the fish, the princess pressed his hand, the fisherman blushed as red as a beet, and cast down his eyes, but first gave her one loving glance, for he had understood that she was willing he should do so.

ある日、魚の代金を払いながら、王女は漁師の手を握った。漁師は赤蕪のように真っ赤になって目を伏せたが、その前に一度だけ、愛のこもった視線を王女に送った。王女がそうしてほしいと思っていると悟ったからである。

Then he entered into conversation with her, and took good care not to say any thing stupid.

それから漁師は王女と話をするようになり、間の抜けたことを言わないようによくよく気をつけた。

The next time the princess bought fish he began to talk about them at great length, and made her comprehend that he had understood her feelings, and that the fire of love which was consuming her burned no less hotly in his heart than in her own.

次に王女が魚を買ったとき、漁師は魚について長々と話しはじめ、王女の気持ちを自分が悟ったこと、そして王女を焦がす恋の炎が、王女の胸に劣らず自分の胸でも熱く燃えていることを分からせた。

Another time he spoke still more freely, and the princess learned that he was unmarried; she was, besides, much pleased with his clever answers, and as he was very attractive the royal maiden finally fell in love with him. She gave him a purse filled with money to purchase handsome clothes, and told him to come back afterward and show himself to her.

また別のときにはもっと打ち解けて話し、王女は彼が独り身であることを知った。そのうえ王女は彼の気の利いた受け答えがたいそう気に入り、彼がたいそう魅力的だったので、とうとう王家の乙女は彼に恋をしてしまった。王女は立派な衣を買うようにと金の詰まった財布を彼に与え、買ったらまた来て姿を見せてほしいと言った。

After he had bought garments like those worn by gentlemen, he put them on and returned to the princess. She would scarcely have recognized him, for even his gait and bearing had become as stiff as a noble's.

紳士が着るような衣を買い求めると、漁師はそれを着て王女のもとへ戻った。王女はほとんど見分けがつかないほどであった。歩き方や物腰までもが、貴族のように堅苦しくなっていたからである。

At last, unable to repress the love that glowed in her heart, the emperor's daughter told him that she would marry him.

とうとう、胸に燃える恋を抑えきれなくなって、皇帝の娘は、あなたと結婚すると漁師に告げた。

The fisherman did not know much, but he was aware that such a dainty morsel wasn't meant for his bill, and he could hardly believe what he heard with his ears and saw with his eyes; but when the princess assured him that she wasn't joking, he accepted her hand, though to tell the truth with many doubts and blushes.

漁師はあまり物を知らなかったが、そんな美味しいひと口が自分の嘴に入るようにはできていないことくらいは分かっていた。自分の耳で聞き、自分の目で見たことが、とても信じられなかった。けれども王女が冗談ではないと請け合ったので、実を言えば大いに疑い、大いに顔を赤らめながらも、その手を受け入れた。

The marriage did not exactly suit the emperor, but as he loved his daughter and she was her parents' only child, he yielded to her wishes. The princess gave the fisherman another purse filled with money, and told him to buy himself still handsomer clothes. When he returned, in garments that fairly glittered with gold, the royal maiden presented him to the emperor, and the monarch betrothed them to each other.

この縁組みは皇帝の意にかなうものではなかったが、皇帝は娘を愛しており、娘は両親のひとり子であったから、その望みに折れた。王女は金の詰まった財布をもう一つ漁師に与え、もっと立派な衣を買うように言った。金できらきら輝く衣を着て漁師が戻ってくると、王家の乙女は彼を皇帝に引き合わせ、皇帝は二人を婚約させた。

Ere long a magnificent imperial wedding was celebrated. When the company sat down to enjoy the banquet, a soft-boiled egg, which, according to ancient custom, only the bride and bridegroom were permitted to eat, was brought to the wedded pair. When the husband was about to dip a bit of bread into the egg, the princess stopped him, saying: "I must dip first, because I am the daughter of an emperor, and you are a fisherman." The bridegroom made no reply, but rose from the table and vanished. The guests, who did not know what had happened, looked at one another and asked in surprise what this meant, for they had not heard that the emperor's son-in-law had formerly been a fisherman.

ほどなく、壮麗な皇室の婚礼が催された。一同が宴を楽しもうと席につくと、古い習わしにより花嫁と花婿だけが食べることを許される半熟卵が、新婚の二人のもとへ運ばれてきた。夫がパンのかけらを卵に浸そうとすると、王女がそれを止めて言った。「わたしが先に浸さなくてはなりません。わたしは皇帝の娘で、あなたは漁師なのですから。」花婿は何も答えず、食卓から立ち上がって姿を消した。何が起きたのか知らない客たちは顔を見合わせ、これはどういうことかと驚いて尋ね合った。皇帝の婿がかつて漁師であったことを、聞かされていなかったからである。

The bride repented her imprudence, bit her lips, and wrung her hands. She ate what she was compelled to swallow, but she might just as well have thrown it behind her, for not a morsel did her any good.

花嫁は自分の軽率さを悔い、唇を噛み、手をもみしだいた。飲み込まねばならぬものは食べたが、後ろへ放り投げたのと同じことで、ひと口も身にはならなかった。

After the feast she went to her room, but all night long she could not once close her eyes or fall asleep, she was so sorrowful. She thought of her bridegroom so constantly that she was afraid she would fall ill from longing. Her principal grief was that she did not know why he had gone away without saying even one word.

宴のあと、花嫁は自分の部屋へ行ったが、あまりに悲しくて、一晩じゅう一度も目を閉じることも、眠りに落ちることもできなかった。花婿のことを絶えず思い続け、恋しさで病気になってしまうのではないかと恐れた。いちばんの嘆きは、なぜ彼が一言も言わずに去ってしまったのかが分からないことであった。

The next day she went to the emperor and told him she was seized with so great a longing for her husband that she was going to follow him till she found him. The emperor tried to detain her, but she would not listen and set out on her journey.

翌日、花嫁は皇帝のもとへ行き、夫が恋しくてたまらないので、見つけるまで後を追っていくと告げた。皇帝は引き止めようとしたが、娘は聞き入れず、旅に出た。

She searched up and down the whole city, but did not find him anywhere. Then she wandered from place to place till she met him serving in a tavern.

都じゅうを隈なく探したが、どこにも見つからなかった。それからあちこちをさまよい歩き、とうとう居酒屋で働いている彼に出会った。

As soon as she saw him she went up and spoke to him, but he pretended not to know her, turned his head away, made no answer, and went about his business.

彼を見つけるやいなや、王女は近づいて話しかけた。しかし彼は王女を知らないふりをし、顔を背け、何も答えずに自分の仕事を続けた。

The princess followed him everywhere, begging him to say just one word to her, but in vain. When the landlord saw that the stranger was to blame for the interruption in the work, he said: "Why don't you let my servant finish his work in peace? Don't you see he is dumb? Be kind enough to go away from here, if you are a respectable woman."

王女はどこへでも彼の後をついていき、一言だけでも話してほしいと懇願したが、無駄であった。仕事が滞るのはこの見知らぬ女のせいだと見て取った居酒屋の主人は言った。「どうしてうちの使用人に静かに仕事をさせてくれないのです。この男が口のきけない者だと分からないのですか。まっとうな女なら、どうかここから立ち去ってください。」

"He isn't dumb," she cried, "this is my husband, who deserted and fled from me on account of a fault of mine."

「口がきけないなんてことはありません」と王女は叫んだ。「この人はわたしの夫です。わたしの過ちのせいで、わたしを捨てて逃げ出したのです。」

All the people in the tavern stood still in astonishment when they heard her words, for she was not joking; but the landlord could not believe it, he thought it would be impossible for a man who could speak to live a whole week without saying even one word, and every body really knew him as a dumb man, made him understand by signs, and liked him for his industry.

その言葉を聞いて、居酒屋の人々はみな驚いて立ちすくんだ。王女は冗談を言っているのではなかったからである。しかし主人には信じられなかった。口のきける男がまる一週間、一言も口をきかずに暮らすなどありえないと思ったし、実際、誰もが彼を口のきけない男として知っていて、身振りで用を分からせ、その働きぶりを気に入っていたからである。

The princess then entered into an agreement with them all, that she would induce him to speak within three days if they would only allow her to stay with him, but if she did not succeed she would be hung. This agreement was put in writing and shown to the magistrates for their sanction. When the contract was concluded, the three days' trial was arranged to begin the next morning.

そこで王女は一同と取り決めを結んだ。彼のそばにいることを許してくれるなら、三日のうちに彼に口をきかせてみせる。もしできなければ、自分は絞首刑になる、と。この取り決めは書面にされ、承認を得るために役人に示された。契約が結ばれると、三日間の試しは翌朝から始まることになった。

The fisherman at first knew nothing about this agreement, though he heard of it afterward, but the emperor's daughter never left his side.

漁師ははじめ、この取り決めについて何も知らなかったが、あとでそれを聞いた。皇帝の娘は、片時も彼のそばを離れなかった。

"My beloved husband," she said, "you know I am to blame. I chose you because I loved you; I swear that I will never commit such a blunder again; have pity on me, speak one word to me, save me from the disgrace that is killing me. I know you have a right to be angry, but for the sake of my love, forgive me."

「愛しいあなた」と王女は言った。「悪いのはわたしだと分かっています。わたしはあなたを愛したから、あなたを選んだのです。二度とあんな過ちは犯さないと誓います。どうか憐れんでください、一言だけ話してください、わたしを殺そうとしているこの恥辱から救ってください。あなたが怒るのはもっともだと分かっています。でもわたしの愛に免じて、赦してください。」

The fisherman turned his head toward her, shrugged his shoulders, and pretended that he did not know her, and did not understand what she was talking about. One day, two days passed, and he did not even say boo. When the third came the princess was terribly frightened, and wherever the dumb man went she followed, beseeching him to say one word to her.

漁師は王女のほうへ顔を向け、肩をすくめて、王女を知らないふり、何を言っているのか分からないふりをした。一日、二日と過ぎたが、彼は「うん」とも言わなかった。三日目が来ると、王女は恐ろしさに震え上がり、口のきけない男がどこへ行ってもついていって、一言だけ話してほしいと懇願した。

But the fisherman, feeling that she was softening him by her entreaties, fled like a savage that she might not assail him with tears, and pretended his heart was a lump of ice; but she did not cease imploring him a thousand times, so tenderly that it would have softened even a wild beast.

しかし漁師は、王女の懇願に心が和らいでいくのを感じて、涙で責め立てられないように、野生の獣のように逃げまわり、自分の心は氷の塊だというふりをした。けれども王女は、野の獣でさえ心を和らげそうなほど優しく、千度も懇願するのをやめなかった。

At last the third day also passed, and the fisherman had not even said baa.

とうとう三日目も過ぎ、漁師は「めえ」とさえ言わなかった。

Every body wondered over these things. Nothing was talked of in the whole city, except the mute servant at the tavern and the beautiful, charming girl, who, it was supposed, had mistaken the dumb man for some one else, and had now brought herself into trouble.

誰もがこの成り行きを不思議がった。都じゅうでは、居酒屋の口のきけない使用人と、口のきけない男を誰かと取り違えて、いまや自ら窮地に陥ったと思われている、美しく愛らしい娘のことばかりが話題になった。

The next day the gallows was ready, and the whole population gathered around it to witness the end of the affair.

翌日には絞首台の支度が整い、事の結末を見届けようと、町じゅうの人々がそのまわりに集まった。

The magistrates were summoned to the place, and, against their will, compelled to execute what was in the agreement.

役人たちがその場に呼び出され、心ならずも、取り決めにあることを執行せざるをえなかった。

The executioner came, and called upon the princess to submit to the penalty, since she had not succeeded in fulfilling the obligations she had imposed upon herself; the girl turned once more to the fisherman, and, sobbing bitterly, tried to soften his heart, but in vain. When she saw and understood that no escape was possible, she loosed her hair and let it fall over her shoulders, wailing so piteously that it was enough to make even wood and stone weep for her, and so walked toward the place of execution. All the people, old and young, were weeping around her, yet could not help her.

処刑人がやってきて、自ら課した務めを果たせなかったのだから刑に服すよう王女に命じた。娘はもう一度漁師のほうを向き、激しく泣きじゃくりながらその心を和らげようとしたが、無駄であった。逃れる道がないと見て取ると、娘は髪をほどいて肩に垂らし、木や石さえ泣かせるほど痛ましく嘆きながら、処刑の場へと歩いていった。老いも若きも、まわりの人々はみな泣いていたが、助けることはできなかった。

On reaching the gallows, she once more gazed hopefully at the dumb man, who had come with the crowd, but stood as if he were perfectly unmoved, and said to him:

絞首台に着くと、王女はもう一度、望みをこめて、群衆とともに来てまるで何も感じないように立っている口のきけない男を見つめ、こう言った。

"My dear husband, save me from death; you know my love for you, do not let me perish so ignominiously. Speak but one word and I shall be delivered." But the man only shrugged his shoulders and glanced backward across the fields.

「愛しいあなた、わたしを死から救ってください。わたしの愛をご存じでしょう。こんな恥ずかしい死に方をさせないでください。一言だけ話してくれれば、わたしは救われるのです。」しかし男は肩をすくめ、野の向こうを振り返って見やるばかりであった。

The executioner stood with the noose in his hand; two assistants led her up the ladder, and the hangman slipped the rope around her neck. One moment more, and the princess would have been a corpse! But just at the instant the executioner was going to let her swing out into the empty air, the fisherman raised his hand, shouting: "Hi! hi! stop!"

処刑人は輪縄を手に立っていた。二人の助手が王女を梯子の上へ連れていき、絞首人が彼女の首に縄をかけた。あと一瞬で、王女は亡骸になっていたであろう! ところがまさに処刑人が彼女を虚空へ吊り下げようとしたその瞬間、漁師が手を上げて叫んだ。「おい! おい! 待て!」

They all stood motionless, tears of joy streamed from every eye as the hangman took the noose from the prisoner's neck. Then the fisherman, looking at the royal maiden, said three times:

一同は身じろぎもせず立ちつくし、絞首人が囚われ人の首から輪縄を外すと、どの目からも喜びの涙がほとばしった。それから漁師は王家の乙女を見つめて、三度言った。

"Will you say fisherman to me again?"

「また俺を漁師と呼ぶか。」

"Forgive me, my dear husband," the princess hastened to reply, "I have only said it once, and that was by mistake. I promise you not to do so again."

「赦してください、愛しいあなた」と王女は急いで答えた。「一度言っただけです、それも間違いで。二度と言わないと約束します。」

"Let her come down, she is my wife."

「降ろしてやれ。わたしの妻だ。」

He took her by the hand, and they went home together.

彼は王女の手を取り、二人はいっしょに家へ帰った。

Afterward they lived in peace and happiness, and if they haven't died, they are living still.

それから二人は平和に幸せに暮らした。もし死んでいなければ、いまも生きている。

Into the saddle then I sprung, This tale to tell to old and young.

そこでわたしは鞍に飛び乗り、この話を老いも若きも聞かせに来たというわけさ。