A Story of Saint Nicholas

In a certain city, in a certain state, there once lived a merchant Nicholas with his wife. From the beginning they lived happily and were wealthy. But their chief joy was in this: that the Lord had presented them with a son, and such a beautiful son too! Sensible and wise—and the only prayer which the mother and father addressed to God and to his holy godfather St. Nicholas the Wonder-Worker, was that they should endow him with happiness and long life.

ある町の、ある国に、むかしニコライという商人が妻と住んでいた。はじめのうち二人は幸せに暮らし、豊かだった。だが何よりの喜びはこれだった。主が息子を授けてくださったこと、それもたいそう美しい息子を! 分別があって賢く、母と父が神と、その聖なる名づけ親である奇蹟者聖ニコライに捧げる祈りはただ一つ、この子に幸せと長い命を授けてくださいということだけだった。

But, as old age crept on, they, for some reason, began to become poor; and they became so poor that Nicholas, from a famous merchant, became a mere tradesman, and they only had one little shop, and in the shop there was a chest of tobacco, a few nails, and a little iron. And either from the fact that they were growing poorer, or that they were becoming older, the mother and father of Iván—for this was the name of Nicholas’s son—had become feeble.

ところが老いが忍び寄るにつれ、二人はどういうわけか貧しくなりはじめた。そしてあまりに貧しくなったので、ニコライは名うての商人からただの小商人になり、小さな店が一軒あるきりで、その店には煙草の箱が一つと、釘が少しと、鉄が少しあるだけになった。そして貧しくなったせいか、老いてきたせいか、イワンの——というのがニコライの息子の名だったが——その母と父は弱っていった。

One day the father called Iván to him, and said: “Now, our beloved son, we, it seems, shall soon die; but do you not weep for us, but rather pray God. For we have already lived out our life; and this is as it must be. But you bury us properly, for I have saved up money for you for this purpose. One third of the money you are to spend on the funeral, the second on the Requiem Mass, and with the third buy a shop and go into trade. And I will give you my blessing. Do not give any one false measure or cheat; and if you shall grow rich, do not forget God, and to give alms to the poor, as I did time agone. Now, my son, farewell. May the Divine mercy guard you and our guilty souls.”

ある日、父はイワンを呼んで言った。「さて、愛する息子よ、われらはどうやらまもなく死ぬようだ。だがわれらのために泣かず、むしろ神に祈っておくれ。われらはもう一生を生ききったのだし、これはそうあるべきことなのだ。だがわれらをきちんと葬ってくれ。そのために金を貯めてある。金の三分の一は葬いに、三分の二めは鎮魂のミサに使い、残りの三分の一で店を買って商いをしなさい。そしてわしの祝福を与えよう。誰にも目方をごまかしたり欺いたりしてはならぬ。そして豊かになったら、神を忘れず、わしが昔そうしたように貧しい者に施しをすることを忘れるな。さあ息子よ、さらばだ。神の慈悲がおまえと、われらの罪ある魂を守りたまわんことを」

Seven days passed, and Iván buried his father, and his mother soon afterwards, and began to trade. Soon he began to overlook the stock, and in the corner he found an image of the holy St. Nicholas the Wonder-Worker. So he brought the image into the izbá[27] and he poured water into a vessel, washed it out, cleaned it in front of the image, and soon after went to market, bought a little lamp, and lighted it in front of the image.

七日が過ぎ、イワンは父を葬り、まもなく母も葬って、商いをはじめた。やがて品物を検めていると、隅に奇蹟者聖ニコライの聖像を見つけた。そこで聖像をイズバー [27] へ運び入れ、器に水を注いで洗い、聖像の前を清め、まもなく市へ行って小さな灯明を買い、聖像の前に灯した。

On the first Sunday he called the Pope in, had a Mass said for his parents, chanted a prayer to St. Nicholas the Wonder-Worker, and took the image into the shop, so that he might gaze at it constantly; and thereafter, whenever he went into the shop, he used first of all to pray before the image, and afterwards he began to trade.

最初の日曜日、彼は司祭を呼んで両親のためにミサを唱えてもらい、奇蹟者聖ニコライへの祈りを唱え、いつも眺められるように聖像を店へ持っていった。それからは店へ入るたびに、まず聖像の前で祈り、そのあと商いをはじめるのだった。

And his trade went so well that it seemed as if the Lord Himself had been sending customers. Later on he built a second shop, and every day he gave much money in alms, and amongst others, to one old man who every day repaired to him. Iván was very fond of him, and when a new clerk had to be engaged for the new shop, he said to this old man: “Grandfather, I do not know thy hallowed name; I do not know, father, how to call thee; only do not be angry with me, for I have built a new shop, and I have no clerk. Come with me as my clerk, and I will obey you as I would have obeyed my own father. Do be kind and do not refuse.”

すると商いはたいそう順調に運び、まるで主ご自身が客を送ってくださっているかのようだった。やがて二軒めの店を建て、毎日たくさんの金を施しに出した。そのなかに、毎日訪ねてくる一人の老人がいた。イワンはこの老人がたいそう気に入っていて、新しい店に新しい番頭を雇わねばならなくなったとき、この老人に言った。「お爺さん、あなたの聖なる名を存じません。何とお呼びすればよいかもわかりません。ただ、どうかお怒りにならないでください。新しい店を建てたのですが、番頭がおりません。わたしの番頭として来てください。実の父に従うように、あなたに従います。どうかお願いです、断らないでください」

The old man at the beginning would very gladly have refused; but afterwards they agreed, and began to live and dwell together, and Iván, in all things, obeyed the old man, and called him Bátyushka.

老人ははじめ喜んで断ろうとしたが、そのあと話がまとまり、二人はともに暮らしはじめた。そしてイワンは何ごとにも老人に従い、バーチュシュカと呼んだ。

The old man carried on trade prosperously and profitably; and one day he said: “Ivánushka, your trade does not altogether suit me; for you trade in tobacco, and God loves not smoking, nor does He love tobacconists. So buy some small goods, and you will have more purchasers, and will not incur sin.”

老人は商いを順調に、利のあがるように切り回した。そしてある日こう言った。「イワーヌシュカ、おまえの商いはどうもわたしの気に染まぬ。おまえは煙草を商っているが、神は喫煙を好まれぬし、煙草商いも好まれぬ。もっと小さな品を仕入れなさい。そのほうが客も増えるし、罪も犯さずにすむ」

Iván obeyed, and purchased many goods of all sorts, and set up shop anew. When all the goods were sold out, Iván went into the counting-house, and he saw threefold his money wherever he looked. Iván was extremely joyous at so big a profit, and he called in the Pope, and he recited the prayer to Nicholas the Wonder-Worker. And as to the old man, he was so happy, and he prayed so heartily to God.

イワンは従って、ありとあらゆる品をたくさん仕入れ、店を新しくした。品がすっかり売れたとき、イワンは帳場に入って見ると、どこを見ても金が三倍になっていた。イワンはこれほどの儲けにたいそう喜んで司祭を呼び、奇蹟者ニコライへの祈りを唱えてもらった。そして老人はといえば、たいそう幸せそうで、心を込めて神に祈った。

So they traded on for three years more, and Iván became so rich that the old man advised him to sell out and cross the seas with his goods. And Iván obeyed the old man, bought a ship, loaded it with wares, and gave his house to the poor, setting one of them in as the master until he should come back himself. And they prayed to God, and he and the old man set sail.

そうしてさらに三年商いを続け、イワンはたいそう豊かになったので、老人は店を売り払って品を積んで海を渡れと勧めた。イワンは老人に従い、船を買い、品を積み込み、自分の家を貧しい者たちに与えて、そのうちの一人を自分が帰るまでの主人に据えた。そして二人は神に祈り、老人とともに船出した。

Soon they arrived: it may be near, it may be far—the tale is soon told, but the deed is not soon done—and suddenly robbers came upon them and plundered them of all their goods: and only left themselves alive and unscathed. It was a bitter shock to Iván. But the old man quieted him, and said that all of this was for the best. So they sailed on for three days after this; and on the third day they landed on an island, and they saw a great mass of bricks. The old man said to Iván: “Get ready, Ivánushka, and load these bricks on your ship.” Iván said: “What shall I do with these bricks? I would sooner die than do trade in them.” But the old man answered and said: “Oh, Ivánushka, Ivánushka, you have had little experience; and I tell you that any single one of these bricks is worth more than all the wares of which the robbers plundered you!” And he threw one of the bricks on the ground, and under the clay there was a splendid jewel.

まもなく二人は着いた。近かったか遠かったか——話すのはたやすいが事を成すのはたやすくない——すると突然、盗賊が襲ってきて品をことごとく奪い、命だけは無事に残していった。イワンには苦い衝撃だった。だが老人は彼をなだめ、これも何もかもよきためだと言った。そこで二人はそののち三日航海した。三日めに島に上陸すると、煉瓦が山と積まれているのが見えた。老人はイワンに言った。「支度をしなさい、イワーヌシュカ。この煉瓦を船に積み込むのだ」。イワンは言った。「こんな煉瓦をどうするのです。これを商うくらいなら死んだほうがましです」。だが老人は答えて言った。「おお、イワーヌシュカ、イワーヌシュカ、おまえは経験が足りぬ。言っておくが、この煉瓦のどの一つも、盗賊に奪われた品のすべてより値打ちがあるのだ!」。そして煉瓦を一つ地面に投げつけた。すると粘土の下から見事な宝石が出てきた。

So Iván was glad, and began loading the ship with the bricks. And when they had loaded it to the full, the old man said: “Now, Ivánushka, you must also make some plain bricks in order that buccaneers may not steal the valuable ones.” So they loaded plain bricks as well. But on their way the wind arose and they sailed farther, and the robbers fell on them again and began to search for the goods. So the old man said to them: “Have mercy, good folk! Leave us alive; for robbers some time ago took away all we had, and now we only carry bricks, such bricks as we made on the island.” The pirates looked and were persuaded and sailed farther on, and so did Iván and the old man, and very soon arrived at a haven and stayed there.

そこでイワンは喜んで、煉瓦を船に積み込みはじめた。そしていっぱいに積み終えると、老人は言った。「さあイワーヌシュカ、ただの煉瓦もいくらか作っておきなさい。海賊が値打ちのあるほうを盗まぬようにな」。そこでただの煉瓦も積み込んだ。ところが航海の途中で風が起こり、さらに先へ進むと、盗賊たちがまた襲ってきて品を探しはじめた。そこで老人は彼らに言った。「慈悲を、善き衆よ! 命だけはお助けを。少し前に盗賊がわれらの持ち物をすっかり奪ってしまい、いまは煉瓦しか積んでおりません。島で自分たちで作った煉瓦だけです」。海賊たちは見て納得し、さらに先へ帆走していった。イワンと老人もまた先へ進み、まもなく港に着いてそこに留まった。

In that kingdom there was a custom that all merchants who arrived should bring some of all their wares as a homage to the king. So the old man said to Iván: “Ivánushka, pray to the Lord God, and go and buy a golden vessel and a fatá, and to-morrow go and make your homage to the king.” Iván obeyed the old man, and the next day went to make his homage to the king. They told the king that a merchant had come to do allegiance, and the king sat on his throne and gave audience to Iván.

その王国には、着いた商人はみな品のそれぞれを王への貢ぎ物として持参するという習わしがあった。そこで老人はイワンに言った。「イワーヌシュカ、主なる神に祈って、黄金の器とファター(覆い布)を買ってきなさい。そして明日、王に謁見して貢ぎを捧げるのだ」。イワンは老人に従い、翌日、王に謁見しに行った。人々が王に、商人が忠誠を誓いに来たと告げると、王は玉座に坐ってイワンに謁見を許した。

Iván came up to the king, and in his hands there was a golden vessel covered by a fatá, and in the golden vessel there was a brick. So the king asked Iván from what realm he came, and how his father and mother were named. And then he uncovered the fatá, and when he saw the brick he was very wroth, and said: “I suppose you think I have very few bricks, and you have come to trade in them in my kingdom!” And then he rushed at Iván. But Iván turned aside and the brick fell to the ground and split in two.

イワンは王の前へ進み出た。その手には黄金の器があり、ファターで覆われ、黄金の器のなかには煉瓦が一つ入っていた。そこで王はイワンに、どこの国から来たのか、父と母は何という名かと尋ねた。それからファターを取り払い、煉瓦を見るとひどく怒って言った。「わしには煉瓦がほとんどないとでも思って、わが王国でそれを商いに来たのか!」。そしてイワンに躍りかかった。だがイワンが身をかわしたので、煉瓦は地に落ちて二つに割れた。

Then the king saw that he had behaved unseemlywise, and began to ask Iván for forgiveness. And he forthwith bought the entire ship off Iván. And when Iván saw this, he said: “You may take all my goods, but I will not sell my vessel, for therein do I have an old man who is my clerk, and we should not be able to live in the town.” “Oh,” said the king, “are there two of you?” And the king, on hearing this, became very angry, and said: “I will not let you go, but I must have the ship.” And Iván went down on his knees and besought him that he would let them go. Then the king said: “If one of you will read some psalms for three nights to my daughter who is now in the church, you may keep the ship.” For his daughter was a witch, and every night turned into a human being.

すると王は自分がふさわしからぬ振る舞いをしたと悟り、イワンに許しを乞いはじめた。そしてすぐさま船ごとイワンから買い取った。イワンはそれを見て言った。「品はすっかりお取りください。ですが船は売りません。そこにはわたしの番頭である老人がおりますし、わたしたちは町では暮らせません」。「おお」と王は言った。「そなたたちは二人なのか」。そしてそれを聞いた王はひどく怒って言った。「そなたたちを帰しはせぬ。だが船はもらわねばならぬ」。そこでイワンは膝をついて、帰してくださいと願った。すると王は言った。「そなたたちのどちらかが、いま教会にいるわが娘のために三晩、詩篇を読んでくれるなら、船は取っておいてよい」。というのも王の娘は魔女で、毎夜、人間に変わるのだった。

Iván returned to his ship, and he was sad and disheartened. He did not wish to go himself, for he did not wish to die; and if he dismissed the old man, it was very hard to part.

イワンは船に戻ったが、悲しく気が塞いでいた。自分で行きたくはなかった。死にたくなかったからである。だが老人を行かせるとなれば、別れるのはあまりに辛かった。

The old man said to Iván: “Why, Ivánushka, why are you so miserable and hang your head?” And Iván told him all that had happened, and what the king had said. So the old man answered him: “Never mind, Ivánushka, cheer up! Pray to the Saviour, and lie down and sleep, and I will think out some means of getting out of the danger.”

老人はイワンに言った。「これイワーヌシュカ、なぜそんなにみじめな顔をして、頭を垂れている」。そこでイワンは何が起こったか、王が何と言ったかをすっかり話した。すると老人は答えた。「案ずるな、イワーヌシュカ、元気を出しなさい! 救い主に祈って、横になって眠りなさい。危難を切り抜ける手立てはわたしが考えよう」

Soon it began to grow dark, and the old man roused Iván and said: “Here are three tapers. As long as the first burns, pray to God; when the second is burnt out, light the third, and then enter by the right-hand side of the Holy Gates by the altar-screen and say nothing; only mutter a prayer all the time. Go, and God bless you.”

まもなく暗くなりはじめ、老人はイワンを起こして言った。「ここに蠟燭が三本ある。一本めが燃えているあいだは神に祈りなさい。二本めが燃え尽きたら三本めを灯し、それから聖障の脇の聖なる門の右側から入って、何も言わずにいなさい。ただ絶えず祈りを唱えているのだ。行きなさい、神の祝福があるように」

So Iván landed, and the king’s attendants took Iván into the church and locked it, and he began to read the Psalter. One candle went out and then another, and he lighted the third, and lay down at the right-hand side of the Holy Gates. Then the flooring suddenly jumped up, and the witch began to search for Iván: “Where are you? I want to eat you.” And she looked, and she looked, and she could not find him, and then the cock crew, and she went once more into the grave. Then Iván got up, covered up the grave, and began to read once more.

そこでイワンは上陸し、王の従者たちがイワンを教会へ入れて鍵をかけ、彼は詩篇を読みはじめた。蠟燭が一本消え、それから二本めも消えたので三本めを灯し、聖なる門の右側に横たわった。すると突然、床板が跳ね上がり、魔女がイワンを探しはじめた。「どこにいる。おまえを食ってやる」。そして探しに探したが見つけられず、やがて鶏が鳴いて、魔女はまた墓のなかへ入っていった。そこでイワンは起き上がって墓に蓋をし、また読みはじめた。

In the morning they went there to collect his bones; but there Iván was, as large as life. And they went and told the king. And he bade him for the second time go and read prayers.

朝になって人々が彼の骨を集めに来た。ところがイワンはぴんぴんしていた。そこで人々は行って王に告げた。すると王は二度めの祈りの読誦を命じた。

And Iván went to the old man and told him what had happened in the church by night.

そしてイワンは老人のところへ行き、夜に教会で起こったことを話した。

Next night the old man told Iván to lie down on the left-hand side of the Holy Gates. And once more the witch could not find him.

翌夜、老人はイワンに、聖なる門の左側に横たわれと言った。そしてまた魔女は彼を見つけられなかった。

On the third night the old man gave him three tapers and a ball of pitch; and the pitch was rolled round with hair. He said: “To-night, Ivánushka, is the last night. When you have burned out the last taper, lie down beside the grave, and when the witch rises out of it, go and lie in the grave in her place, and do not let her in until she shall read out the prayers ‘Maiden Mother of God, rejoice!’ and ‘Our Father Which art in Heaven.’”

三日めの夜、老人は蠟燭三本と瀝青の玉を渡した。その瀝青には髪が巻きつけてあった。老人は言った。「今夜が最後の夜だ、イワーヌシュカ。最後の蠟燭を燃やし尽くしたら、墓のかたわらに横たわりなさい。そして魔女がそこから起き上がったら、その代わりに墓のなかへ入って横たわり、魔女が『処女なる神の母よ、喜びたまえ!』と『天にましますわれらの父よ』の祈りを唱えるまで入れてはならぬ」

Iván went into the church and began to read the Psalter, and after lighting the third candle, lay down on the right-hand side of the grave. The witch broke out of the coffin and passed over Iván and began to look for him all over the church. When the time came for her to lie down, there was Iván in her place. “Ah! there art thou!” the witch cried. “For thrice twenty-four hours I have been hungry. Come out; I want to eat you.” And Iván threw the ball covered with hair at her, and she nibbled and gnawed at it. And she at last said: “Let me go!” “No,” said Iván, “I will not let you go.” “Let me go!” the witch repeated. “Then do you,” said Iván, “recite the prayer ‘Maiden Mother of God, rejoice!’ after me, and then I will let you go.” And the witch read out the prayer and then said: “Let me go!” And Iván said: “Now read the Our Father, then I will let you go.” And the witch read it out. Then Iván came out and said: “Lie down.” But the witch said: “Now I cannot lie down.” Then she and Iván began to pray.

イワンは教会へ入って詩篇を読みはじめ、三本めの蠟燭を灯してから墓の右側に横たわった。魔女は棺から躍り出てイワンの上を通り過ぎ、教会じゅうを探し回りはじめた。そして横たわる時分になると、その場所にはイワンがいた。「ああ! そこにいたか!」と魔女は叫んだ。「わたしは三日三晩、腹を空かせてきたのだ。出てこい、おまえを食ってやる」。そこでイワンは髪を巻いた玉を魔女に投げつけ、魔女はそれをかじり、齧った。そしてとうとう言った。「行かせておくれ!」。「いや」とイワンは言った。「行かせはしない」。「行かせておくれ!」と魔女は繰り返した。「では」とイワンは言った。「わたしのあとについて『処女なる神の母よ、喜びたまえ!』の祈りを唱えよ。そうすれば行かせてやる」。そして魔女はその祈りを唱えてから言った。「行かせておくれ!」。するとイワンは言った。「では『われらの父よ』を唱えよ。そうすれば行かせてやる」。そして魔女はそれを唱えた。そこでイワンは出てきて言った。「横たわれ」。だが魔女は言った。「もう横たわれません」。それから魔女とイワンは祈りはじめた。

In the morning two men came in, and they not only saw Iván, but also Olyóna, the king’s daughter—for this was the witch’s name. And they went to the king, and recounted all they had beheld.

朝になって二人の男が入ってきた。そしてイワンだけでなく、王の娘オリョーナも見た——これが魔女の名だったのである。そして二人は王のもとへ行き、見たことをすべて語った。

And the king assembled all the spiritual hierarchy and went into the church. And he thought it must be that Iván had turned into a wizard, but when he saw how things really were, he embraced Iván and called him his son. And the witch said to Iván: “Now, Iván, the merchant’s son, if you have been able to pray to God and to bring me to life again, now learn how to master me, and I will never depart one step from you.”

そして王は聖職の位階をみな集めて教会へ行った。そしてイワンが魔法使いに変わったに違いないと思っていたが、事の実際を見ると、イワンを抱きしめてわが息子と呼んだ。そして魔女はイワンに言った。「さあイワン、商人の息子よ、あなたが神に祈ってわたしを生き返らせることができたのなら、いまはわたしを御することを学んでください。わたしはあなたから一歩も離れません」

So Iván went to the ship, and he told the old man all that had happened, and the old man said: “Ivánushka, fear nothing, take Olyóna Korólyevna[28] as your wife, only for the first three nights do not go to sleep until the cock has crowed three times, and then she will never more oppress you.”

そこでイワンは船へ行き、老人に何が起こったかをすっかり話した。すると老人は言った。「イワーヌシュカ、何も恐れることはない。オリョーナ・コロリェーヴナ [28] を妻に迎えなさい。ただ最初の三晩だけは、鶏が三度鳴くまで眠ってはならぬ。そうすれば妻は二度とおまえを苦しめぬ」

There was no loitering at the king’s court; very soon all was got ready, and Iván was affianced to Princess Olyóna. And for two weeks he lived quite happily. Then he said to his father-in-law: “Good father, let me go home and have a Mass said for my father and mother, and once more see my home.” And the king said: “My beloved son, Iván, the merchant’s son, I will not withstand your wish, but do return hither. You see yourself I am no longer young, and I have no heir. When you return I will give you my kingdom, and you will live happily and merrily.”

王の宮廷でぐずぐずすることはなかった。まもなく何もかも整い、イワンはオリョーナ姫と婚約した。そして二週間、たいそう幸せに暮らした。それから舅に言った。「よき父上、家へ帰って父と母のためにミサを唱えてもらい、もういちど故郷を見させてください」。すると王は言った。「愛する息子よ、商人の息子イワンよ、そなたの望みに逆らいはせぬ。だが必ずここへ戻ってきておくれ。見てのとおりわしはもう若くないし、跡継ぎもおらぬ。そなたが帰ってきたらわが王国を与えよう。そして幸せに、陽気に暮らすがよい」

So they set out on their journey, and arrived at their own kingdom, to their native land. And Iván took Olyóna with him. When they arrived at the island of the bricks, they loaded all the vessels, and there were many ships, and they excavated the entire island.

そこで一行は旅に出て、自分たちの王国、故郷の地に着いた。そしてイワンはオリョーナを連れていった。煉瓦の島に着くと、船という船に積み込んだ。船はたくさんあり、一同は島をすっかり掘り尽くした。

One day the old man began to cut firewood, took them to the opposite side of the island and said: “Ivánushka, my well-doer, I must now speak with you.” And he bade them come where the firewood was stacked. He lit the firewood; and when it was in flame he took Olyóna, threw her down, trod on one leg, and pulled her apart into two halves, taking hold of the other leg. Iván did not know what to say! And the old man put both halves on the fire, and out of the fire there then crept snakes, frogs, and all sorts of reptiles. Then he took the two parts out of the fire, rinsed them thoroughly in the sea, sprinkled them over with water, made the sign of the cross, and Olyóna arose such a beauty as no tale can tell and no pen can write. Then he said: “Now, my well-doer, Ivánushka, you are to be a mighty king; Iván, the merchant’s son, you are now rich and famous and happy, so see to it that you do not forget God and the poor. I shall see you no more.”

ある日、老人は薪を切りはじめ、それを島の反対側へ運んで言った。「イワーヌシュカ、わたしの恩人よ、いまこそおまえと話さねばならぬ」。そして薪を積んだところへ来るように言った。老人は薪に火をつけた。そして炎が上がると、オリョーナを取って投げ倒し、片脚を踏んで、もう一方の脚をつかんで二つに引き裂いた。イワンは何と言ってよいかわからなかった! そして老人は両の半身を火にくべた。すると火のなかから蛇や蛙やありとあらゆる這うものが這い出してきた。それから老人は二つの部分を火から取り出し、海でよくすすぎ、水を振りかけ、十字を切った。するとオリョーナは、どんな話も語り尽くせず、どんな筆も書き尽くせぬほどの美しさで起き上がった。それから老人は言った。「さあ、わたしの恩人イワーヌシュカよ、おまえは力ある王となる。商人の息子イワンよ、おまえはいま富み、名高く、幸せだ。だから神と貧しい者を忘れぬようにしなさい。わたしはもうおまえに会うことはない」

Iván and Olyóna knelt down and began to beseech him, but the old man said: “Beg no more of me, but rather thank God for sending me to you. I loved you and your father, Iván, and you even more, because you kindly gave me alms; and now you are rich and famous, do not forget to give alms to the poor.” Then he vanished.

イワンとオリョーナは跪いて願いはじめたが、老人は言った。「わたしにこれ以上乞うてはならぬ。むしろ、わたしをおまえのもとへ遣わしてくださった神に感謝しなさい。イワンよ、わたしはおまえとおまえの父を愛した。そしておまえをいっそう愛した。おまえが親切に施しをくれたからだ。いまおまえは富み、名高い。貧しい者に施しをすることを忘れるな」。そして老人は消えた。

Iván and Olyóna praised God, went back to the ships, and sailed farther on.

イワンとオリョーナは神を讃え、船へ戻って、さらに先へ帆走した。

When the poor saw that Iván had arrived with untold wealth, they crowded to the shore and began to kiss Iván’s hands, his feet, and the hem of his garment; and all present were so joyous that the tears flowed from their eyes.

貧しい人々は、イワンが計り知れぬ富とともに帰ってきたのを見ると、岸に群がってイワンの手に、足に、衣の裾に口づけしはじめた。そしてそこにいた者はみな喜びのあまり、目から涙を流した。

Iván put up crosses on his parents’ grave, clothed the poor, gave them his house, and returned to his father-in-law, and for many years governed his kingdom. And he lived so long that he saw in his old age his sons, his grandsons, and his great-grandsons. And he ever prayed and blessed God and Nicholas the Wonder-Worker for the mercy they had manifested to him.

イワンは両親の墓に十字架を立て、貧しい者に衣を与え、自分の家を与え、そして舅のもとへ帰り、長年その王国を治めた。そして長く生きて、老いてから息子たち、孫たち、曾孫たちを見た。そして自分に示された慈悲について、絶えず祈り、神と奇蹟者ニコライを讃えた。

In that kingdom where he was king, to this very day King Iván and his wife Olyóna the Fair are remembered.[29]

彼が王であったその王国では、今日にいたるまでイワン王とその妻、麗しのオリョーナが憶えられている。 [29]