The Soldier and the Tsar in the Forest

In a certain kingdom, in a certain State, lived a peasant who had two sons. The recruiting-sergeant came round and took the elder brother. So the elder brother served the Tsar with faith and loyalty, and was so fortunate in his service that in a few years he attained a general’s rank.

あるところの王国、あるところの国に、一人の百姓が住んでいて、息子が二人あった。徴兵の下士官が回ってきて、兄のほうを取っていった。そこで兄は信と忠をもってツァーリに仕え、その務めでたいそう幸運に恵まれ、数年のうちに将軍の位に達した。

Now at this same time there was a new enlistment, and the lot fell on his younger brother, and they shaved his brow. And it so happened that he was made to serve in the very same regiment in which his brother was a general. The soldier recognised the general, but it was no good, because the general would not acknowledge him at all: “I do not know you, and you must not claim acquaintance with me!”

さてこの同じころ、新たな徴兵があって、くじが弟に当たり、弟は額を剃られた。そしてどういうわけか、兄が将軍を務めるまさにその連隊で勤めることになった。兵隊は将軍が誰かわかったが、無駄だった。将軍のほうがまるで認めようとしなかったのである。「おまえなど知らぬ。わしと知り合いだなどと申し立ててはならぬ!」

One day the soldier was standing on sentry-go at the ammunition-wagons just outside the general’s quarters, and the general was giving a great dinner, and a multitude of officers and gentlemen were going to him. The soldier saw that it was jollity within, but that he himself had nothing at all, and he began to weep bitter tears.

ある日、兵隊は将軍の宿舎のすぐ外で弾薬車の歩哨に立っていた。将軍は大がかりな晩餐を催していて、大勢の士官や紳士が訪れていた。兵隊はなかが陽気なのに、自分には何ひとつないのを見て、苦い涙を流しはじめた。

Then the guests began to ask him, “Tell us, soldier, why are you crying?”

すると客たちが尋ねはじめた。「言ってみろ、兵隊よ、なぜ泣いている」

“Why should I not cry? There is my own brother faring abroad and making merry, but he forgets me!”

「なぜ泣かずにいられましょう。実の兄が外国暮らしで楽しんでいるのに、わたしを忘れているのです!」

Then the guests told the general of this; but the general was angry: “Do not believe him, he is an utter liar.” So he ordered him to be taken away from sentry-go, and to be given thirty blows with the cat, so that he should not dare to claim kinship.

そこで客たちがこれを将軍に告げた。だが将軍は怒った。「あんな者の言うことを信じてはなりません。まったくの嘘つきです」。そして兵隊を歩哨から外し、九尾の鞭で三十打を加えよ、二度と縁者だなどと申し立てられぬようにと命じた。

This offended the soldier, so he put on undress uniform and decamped.

これに傷ついた兵隊は、略装をまとって逃げ去った。

In some time, maybe long, maybe short, he found himself in a wood so wild, so dreamy, that he could not get out of it anywhere, and he began killing time and feeding on berries and roots.

しばらくして、長かったか短かったか、彼はあまりに荒れた、あまりに夢のような森のなかにいて、どこからも出られなくなり、木の実や根を食べて時をつぶしはじめた。

Just about this time the Tsar was setting out, and made a mighty hunt with a splendid suite. They galloped into the open fields, let loose the hounds, and sounded trumpets, and began to press in. Suddenly from somewhere or other a beautiful stag leapt out straight in front of the Tsar, dived into the river, and swam across to the other side right into the wood. The Tsar followed after him, swam over the river, leapt and leapt and looked; but the stag had vanished from view, and he had left the hunters far behind, and all around him was the thick dark forest. Where should he go? He did not know: he could not see a single path. So until the fall of the evening he ambled about and tired himself out.

ちょうどそのころ、ツァーリが出かけて、立派な供を連れて大がかりな狩りを催していた。一行は広い野へ駆け出し、猟犬を放ち、角笛を鳴らして、追い立てはじめた。すると突然どこからともなく美しい牡鹿がツァーリのまっすぐ前に躍り出て、川へ跳び込み、向こう岸へ泳ぎ渡って森へ入った。ツァーリはあとを追って川を泳ぎ渡り、跳ねに跳ねて見回したが、鹿は視界から消えていて、狩人たちははるか後方に置き去りにしており、あたりは深く暗い森ばかりだった。どこへ行けばよいのか。ツァーリにはわからなかった。道一本見えないのである。そうして日が暮れるまでさまよい、疲れ果てた。

On his way the runaway soldier met him. “Hail, good man, where are you going?”

その道すがら、脱走した兵隊が出会った。「よう、善き人よ、どこへ行かれる」

“Oh, I was out on a hunt and I lost my way in the wood; will you lead me to the right path, brother?”

「ああ、狩りに出て森で道に迷ったのだ。正しい道へ案内してくれぬか、兄弟」

“Who are you?”

「あんたは何者だ」

“A servant of the Tsar.”

「ツァーリの召使いだ」

“Well, it is dark now; we had better take shelter somewhere in the thickets, and to-morrow I will show you the way.”

「では、もう暗い。どこか茂みで身を寄せるほうがよかろう。明日、道を教えてやる」

So they went to look where they might pass the night, went on and on, and they saw a little hut. “Oho! God has sent us a bed for the night; let us go there,” said the soldier. So they went into the little hut.

そこで二人は夜を明かせる場所を探しに行き、歩きに歩いて、小さな小屋を見つけた。「おお! 神が一夜の寝床を下さった。行こう」と兵隊は言った。そこで二人は小さな小屋に入った。

There an old woman sat. “Hail, bábushka!”

そこには老婆が坐っていた。「よう、バーブシュカ!」

“Hail, soldier!”

「よう、兵隊さん!」

“Give us something to eat and drink.”

「何か食う物と飲む物をくれ」

“I have eaten it all up myself, and there is not anything to be had.”

「自分でみな食べてしまって、何もありませんよ」

“You are lying, old devil!” said the soldier, and began rummaging about in the stove and on the shelves. And he found plenty in the old woman’s hut: wine and food, and all ready. So they sat down at the table, feasted to their fill, and went to lie down in the attic.

「嘘をつけ、婆の悪魔め!」と兵隊は言って、竈のなかや棚をひっかき回しはじめた。すると老婆の小屋にはたっぷりあった。葡萄酒も食べ物も、すっかり支度ができていた。そこで二人は卓について腹いっぱい食べ、屋根裏へ寝に行った。

Then the soldier said to the Tsar, “God guards him who guards himself; let one of us rest and the other stand guard.” So they cast lots, and the Tsar had to take the first watch. Then the soldier gave him his sharp cutlass, put him at the door, bade him not go to sleep, and arouse him if anything should happen. Then he himself lay down to sleep. But he thought, “Will my comrade be able to stand sentry-go? Possibly he is unaccustomed to it; I will take watch over him.” Then the Tsar stood there and stood, and soon began to nod.

そこで兵隊はツァーリに言った。「神は自ら守る者を守りたもう。どちらかが休んで、どちらかが見張ろう」。そこでくじを引くと、ツァーリが先に見張ることになった。そこで兵隊は自分の鋭い剣を渡し、ツァーリを戸口に立たせ、眠るなと言い、何か起きたら起こせと言った。そして自分は横になって眠った。だが心のうちでは思っていた。「この相棒に歩哨が務まるだろうか。慣れていないかもしれぬ。見張っていてやろう」。そしてツァーリは立ちに立って、まもなくこっくりしはじめた。

“What are you nodding for?” asked the soldier: “are you going to sleep?”

「何をこっくりしている」と兵隊が尋ねた。「眠るつもりか」

“No!” said the Tsar.

「いや!」とツァーリは言った。

“Well, then, keep a good look-out!”

「では、しっかり見張れ!」

So the Tsar stood a quarter of an hour, and again dozed off.

そこでツァーリは十五分立っていて、またうとうとした。

“Ho, friend, you are not dozing?”

「おい相棒、うとうとしていないか」

“No, I don’t think so.” And he again dozed off.

「いや、していないと思う」。そしてまたうとうとした。

“Ho, friend, you are not dozing?”

「おい相棒、うとうとしていないか」

“I don’t think so: if you go to sleep do not blame me.”

「していないと思う。眠ってもわたしを責めるな」

Then the Tsar stood a quarter of an hour longer, and his legs bowed in, he fell on the ground and went to sleep.

そこでツァーリはもう十五分立っていたが、脚が折れて地面に倒れ、眠り込んでしまった。

The soldier jumped up, took the cutlass and went to recall him and to have a talk: “Why do you keep guard in this way? I have served for ten years, and my colonel never forgave me a single sleep: evidently they have not taught you anything. I forgave you once before; a third guilt is unpardonable. Well, now go to sleep; I will stand and watch.”

兵隊は跳び起き、剣を取って、相棒を呼び戻し、談判した。「なぜこんな見張りの仕方をする。おれは十年勤めたが、大佐は一度の居眠りも許してくれなかった。どうやらあんたは何も教わっていないらしい。一度は許した。三度めの過ちは許されぬ。まあ寝ろ。おれが立って見張る」

So the Tsar went and lay down to sleep, and the soldier went sentry-guard and did not close his eyes.

そこでツァーリは横になって眠り、兵隊は歩哨に立って目を閉じなかった。

Very soon there was a whistling and a knocking, and robbers came into that hut. The old woman met them and told them, “Guests have come in to spend the night.”

まもなく口笛と物音がして、盗賊たちがその小屋に入ってきた。老婆が迎えて言った。「お客さんが泊まりに来ていてね」

“That is very well, bábushka; we have been rambling the woods in vain all night, and our luck has come into the hut; give us supper.”

「そりゃ結構だ、バーブシュカ。おれたちは一晩じゅう森を空しく歩き回っていたが、運のほうが小屋に来ていたわけだ。夕飯をくれ」

“But our guests have eaten and drunk everything up.”

「でもお客さんが飲み食いしてみんな平らげてしまったよ」

“What bold fellows they must be: where are they?”

「なんと大胆なやつらだ。どこにいる」

“They have gone to sleep in the garret.”

「屋根裏へ寝に行ったよ」

“Very well; I will go and settle them!”

「よし。おれが行って片づけてやる!」

So a robber took a big knife and crept up into the garret; but as soon as ever he had poked his head into the door, the soldier swept his cutlass round, and off came his head.

そこで盗賊の一人が大きな刃物を持って屋根裏へ這い上がった。だが戸口から頭を突っ込むやいなや、兵隊が剣をひと振りして、その首が飛んだ。

Then the soldier took a drink and stood and waited on eventualities. So the robbers waited and waited and waited. “What a long time he has been!” So they sent a man to look after him and the soldier killed him also, and in a short time he had chopped off the heads of all the robbers.

それから兵隊は一杯やって、次に何が起こるかと立って待った。盗賊たちは待ちに待ちに待った。「えらく長いな!」。そこで様子を見に一人を寄越したが、兵隊はそいつも殺し、まもなく盗賊全員の首を斬り落としてしまった。

At dawn the Tsar awoke, saw the corpses, and asked, “Ho, soldier, into what danger have we fallen?”

夜明けにツァーリが目を覚まし、屍を見て尋ねた。「おい兵隊、われらはどんな危難に陥っていたのだ」

So the soldier told him all that had happened. Then they came down from the attic. When the soldier saw the old woman he cried out to her, “Here, stop, you old devil! I must have some business with you. Why are you acting as a receiver for robbers? Give us all the money now.” So the old woman opened a box full of gold, and the soldier filled his knapsack with gold and all of his pockets. He then said to his companion: “You also take some.”

そこで兵隊は何が起こったかをすっかり話した。それから二人は屋根裏から下りた。兵隊は老婆を見ると怒鳴りつけた。「おい、待て、婆の悪魔め! おまえに用がある。なぜ盗賊の贓物買いをしている。いますぐ金をすっかり出せ」。そこで老婆は黄金でいっぱいの箱を開け、兵隊は背嚢と隠しという隠しに黄金を詰め込んだ。そして連れに言った。「あんたも取れ」

So the Tsar answered, “No, brother, I need not; our Tsar has money enough without this; and if he has it, we shall also have it.”

するとツァーリは答えた。「いや兄弟、わたしには要らない。われらのツァーリはこれがなくとも金は十分ある。ツァーリにあれば、われらにもあるのだ」

“Well, I suppose you ought to know!” said the soldier, and he took him out of the wood into the broad road. “Go,” he said, “on this road, and in an hour you will reach the town.”

「まあ、あんたのほうがよくご存じだろう!」と兵隊は言って、彼を森から広い道へ連れ出した。「行きなさい」と兵隊は言った。「この道を行けば、一時間で町に着く」

“Farewell,” said the Tsar. “Thank you for the service you have done me; come and see me, and I will make you a happy man.”

「さらばだ」とツァーリは言った。「よくしてくれて礼を言う。わたしを訪ねてこい。幸せな身の上にしてやろう」

“Very well; but that’s a fine tale! I am a runaway soldier: if I show my head in the town I shall be seized on the spot.”

「よろしい。だがそれは結構な話だ! おれは脱走兵だぞ。町で顔を出せばその場で捕まる」

“Have no fear, soldier: the Tsar is very fond of me; and, if I ask him for a favour on your behalf and tell him of your bravery, he will forgive you and have pity on you.”

「案ずるな、兵隊よ。ツァーリはわたしをたいそう可愛がっておられる。おまえのために取りなして、その勇敢さを申し上げれば、ツァーリは許して憐れんでくださる」

“Where can I find you?”

「どこであんたを見つければいい」

“Go into the palace.”

「宮殿へ来い」

“Very well; I will go there to-morrow.”

「よろしい。明日そこへ行こう」

So the Tsar and the soldier said good-bye. And the Tsar went on the broad road into his capital, and without delay he ordered all the staffs and the watches and the sentries to keep their eyes open, and as soon as a certain soldier came to give him the honour due to a general.

そうしてツァーリと兵隊は別れを告げた。ツァーリは広い道を通って都へ入り、遅滞なく、参謀にも衛兵にも歩哨にもことごとく目を光らせておけ、しかじかの兵隊が来たら将軍にふさわしい礼を尽くせと命じた。

Next day, as soon as ever the soldier had appeared at the barriers, a sentry ran out and gave him a generous honour. So the soldier wondered, “What does this mean?” And he asked, “To whom are you showing these honours?”

翌日、兵隊が関門に姿を見せるやいなや、歩哨が駆け出してきて丁重な礼を尽くした。そこで兵隊は不思議に思った。「これはどういうことだ」。そして尋ねた。「誰に礼をしているのだ」

“To you, soldier.”

「あなたにです、兵隊どの」

So he took a handful of gold out of his wallet and gave it to the sentry as a tip. Then he entered the town. Wherever he went all the sentries gave him honours, and he always paid them back in tips. “What a wretched dolt was this servant of the Tsar’s: he has given a hint to everybody that I have plenty of money on me!” So he came up to the palace, and the entire army was assembled there, and the Tsar met him in the same dress in which he had gone hunting.

そこで彼は袋から黄金をひとつかみ取り出し、心づけとして歩哨にやった。それから町へ入った。どこへ行っても歩哨という歩哨が礼を尽くし、彼はそのたびに心づけで返した。「なんと情けない間抜けなツァーリの召使いだ。おれが金をたんまり持っていると、みなに触れ回ったのだ!」。そうして宮殿に着くと、軍勢がそこに勢ぞろいしていて、ツァーリが狩りに出たときと同じ身なりで出迎えた。

Then the soldier at last saw with whom he had passed the night in the wood, and he was terribly frightened. “This was the Tsar,” he said, “and I threatened him with my cutlass, just as though he had been my brother!” But the Tsar took him by the hand and rewarded him with a generalship, and degraded the brother into the ranks, telling him he must not disown his own kin.

そこで兵隊はとうとう、森で誰と一夜を過ごしたのかを知って、恐ろしさに震え上がった。「あれがツァーリだったのか」と彼は言った。「それなのに、まるで実の兄弟のように剣で脅しつけてしまった!」。だがツァーリは彼の手を取って将軍の位を与え、兄のほうは兵卒に落として、自分の身内を認めぬなどということがあってはならぬと言い渡した。