Donotknow

Here begins the tale of a grey horse, a chestnut horse and of the wise fallow-bay. On the shore of the ocean, in the isle of Buyán, there stood a roasted ox, and behind pounded garlic: on the one side cut your meat, on the other dip deep and eat.

ここに灰色の馬と栗毛の馬と賢い黄褐色の鹿毛の話がはじまる。大海の岸辺、ブヤーン島には焼いた牡牛が立っていて、そのうしろには搗いた大蒜があった。一方の側で肉を切り、もう一方の側で深く浸して食べるがよい。

Once upon a time there lived a merchant who had a son, and when the son grew up he was taken into the shop. Now, the first wife of the merchant died, and he married a second.

むかしむかし、一人の商人がいて息子があり、息子が大きくなると店に入れられた。さて、商人の最初の妻が死に、彼は後添えを迎えた。

After some months the merchant made ready to sail to foreign lands, and he loaded his ship with goods and he bade his son look after the house well and attend to business duly.

数か月ののち、商人は異国へ船出する支度をし、船に品を積み込んで、息子に家をよく守り、商いを怠りなく務めよと言いつけた。

Then the merchant’s son asked, “Bátyushka,[40] when you go, get me my luck!”

すると商人の息子は尋ねた。「バーチュシュカ [40]、お出かけになるなら、わたしの運を買ってきてください!」

“My beloved son,” answered the old man, “where shall I find it?”

「愛する息子よ」と老人は答えた。「そんなものをどこで見つければよいのだ」

“It is not far to seek, my luck. When you get up to-morrow morning, stand at the gates and buy the first thing that meets you and give it to me.”

「探すのに遠くへ行くことはありません、わたしの運は。明日の朝お起きになったら門のところに立って、最初に出会ったものを買って、わたしにください」

“Very well, my son.”

「よかろう、息子よ」

So next day the father got up very early, stood outside the gates, and the first thing that met him was a peasant who was selling a sorry, scabby foal—mere dog’s meat. So the merchant bargained for it and got it for a silver rouble, took the foal into the courtyard and put it into the stable.

そこで翌日、父はたいそう早く起きて門の外に立った。すると最初に出会ったのは、みすぼらしい疥癬の仔馬を売っている百姓だった——まるで犬の餌である。そこで商人はそれを値切って銀一ルーブリで手に入れ、仔馬を庭へ連れ入れて厩に入れた。

Then the merchant’s son asked him, “Well, bátyushka, what have you found as my luck?”

すると商人の息子が尋ねた。「さてバーチュシュカ、わたしの運として何を見つけてくださいましたか」

“I went out to find it, and it turned into a very poor thing.”

「探しに出ていったら、たいそう粗末なものになってしまった」

“Well, so it really had to be: whatever luck the Lord has given us we must use.”

「では、まことにそうあるべきだったのです。主が与えてくださった運が何であれ、それを使わねばなりません」

Then the father set sail with his goods into foreign lands, and the son sat on the counter and engaged in trade. He grew into the habit, whether he were going into the shop or returning home, always to go and stand in front of his foal.

それから父は品を積んで異国へ船出し、息子は帳場に坐って商いにいそしんだ。そして店へ行くときも家へ帰るときも、いつも仔馬の前に立ちに行くのが習いになった。

Now, his stepmother did not love her stepson, and looked out for fortune-tellers to learn how to get rid of him. At last she found an old wise woman, who gave her a poison and bade her put it under the threshold just when her stepson was coming in. As he came back from the shop, the merchant’s son went into the stable and saw that his foal was standing in tears, and so he stroked him and asked, “Why, my good horse, do you weep? Why your counsel do you keep?”

さて、継母は継子を愛さず、どうすれば厄介払いできるかを知ろうと占い師を探した。とうとう一人の老いた賢女を見つけ、その女は毒を渡して、継子が入ってくるまさにそのときに敷居の下に置けと言いつけた。店から帰ってきた商人の息子は厩へ入り、仔馬が涙を流して立っているのを見て、撫でながら尋ねた。「なぜ泣く、よき馬よ。なぜ言うべきことを黙っている」

Then the foal answered, “Oh, Iván the merchant’s son, my beloved master, why should I not weep? Your stepmother is trying to ruin you. You have a dog: when you go home let it go in front of you, and you will see what will come to it.”

すると仔馬は答えた。「おお商人の息子イワン、いとしいご主人さま、どうして泣かずにいられましょう。あなたの継母があなたを滅ぼそうとしています。あなたには犬がいる。家へ帰るとき、その犬を先に入らせてごらんなさい。どうなるか見えるでしょう」

So the merchant’s son listened, and as soon as ever the dog crossed the threshold it was torn into small atoms.

そこで商人の息子はそのとおりにした。すると犬は敷居をまたぐやいなや、細かい塵に引き裂かれた。

Iván the merchant’s son never let his stepmother know that he saw through her spite, and set out next day to the shop, whilst the stepmother went to see the soothsayer. So the old woman got a second poison, and bade her put it into the trough. In the evening, as he went home, the merchant’s son went into the stable; and once more the foal was standing on tip-toes and in tears; and he struck him on the haunches and said, “Why, my good horse, do you weep? Why your counsel do you keep?”

商人の息子イワンは、継母の悪意を見抜いていることを気取らせず、翌日また店へ出かけた。そのあいだに継母は占い師に会いに行った。そこで老女は二つめの毒を出して、飼葉桶に入れよと言いつけた。夕方、家へ帰る途中、商人の息子は厩へ入った。するとまた仔馬が爪先立ちで涙を流して立っていた。そこで彼はその尻を叩いて言った。「なぜ泣く、よき馬よ。なぜ言うべきことを黙っている」

Then the foal answered, “Why should I not weep, my master, Iván the merchant’s son? I hear a very great misfortune—that your stepmother wishes to ruin you. Look when you go into the room and sit down at the table: your mother will bring you a draught in the glass. Do you not drink it, but pour it out of the window: you will yourself see what will happen outside.”

すると仔馬は答えた。「どうして泣かずにいられましょう、ご主人さま、商人の息子イワンよ。たいそう大きな災いを耳にしたのです——継母があなたを滅ぼそうとしていることを。部屋へ入って卓につくとき、よくご覧なさい。お母さまが盃に飲み物を入れて持ってきます。それを飲まず、窓から捨ててごらんなさい。外で何が起こるか、自分の目でご覧になれます」

Iván the merchant’s son did as he was bidden and as soon as ever he had thrown the draught out of the window it began to rend the earth; and again he never said a single word to his stepmother; so she still thought that he was in the dark.

商人の息子イワンは言われたとおりにした。そしてその飲み物を窓から投げ捨てるやいなや、それは大地を裂きはじめた。そしてまた彼は継母にひとことも言わなかった。だから継母はまだ彼が何も知らないと思っていた。

On the third day he went to the shop, and the stepmother again went to the soothsayer. The old woman gave her an enchanted shirt. In the evening, as he was going out of the shop, the merchant’s son went up to the foal, and he saw that there stood his good horse on tip-toes and in tears. So he struck him by the bridle and said, “Why do you weep, my good horse? Why your counsel do you keep?”

三日めに彼は店へ行き、継母はまた占い師のところへ行った。老女は魔法をかけた肌着を渡した。夕方、店を出るとき、商人の息子は仔馬のところへ行った。するとよき馬が爪先立ちで涙を流して立っているのが見えた。そこで彼は轡をつかんで言った。「なぜ泣く、よき馬よ。なぜ言うべきことを黙っている」

Then the foal answered him, “Why should I not weep? Do I not know that your stepmother is wishing to destroy you? Listen to what I say. When you go home your stepmother will send you to the bath, and she will send the boy to you with a shirt. Do not put on the shirt yourself, but put it on the boy, and you will see yourself what will come of it.”

すると仔馬は答えた。「どうして泣かずにいられましょう。あなたの継母があなたを滅ぼそうとしているのを知らずにいられましょうか。わたしの言うことをお聞きなさい。家へ帰ると継母はあなたを風呂へ行かせ、小僧に肌着を持たせて寄越します。その肌着をご自分で着ず、小僧に着せてごらんなさい。どうなるか自分の目でご覧になれます」

So the merchant’s son went up to his attic, and his stepmother came and said to him, “Would you not like to have a steam bath? The bath is now ready.”

そこで商人の息子は屋根裏へ上がり、継母が来て言った。「蒸し風呂に入りたくはないかい。風呂の支度ができているよ」

“Very well,” said Iván, and he went into the bath, and very soon after the boy brought him a shirt. As soon as ever the merchant’s son put it on the boy he that very instant closed his eyes and fell on the floor, as though he were dead. And when he took the shirt off him and cast it into the stove, the boy revived, but the stove was split into small pieces.

「よろしい」とイワンは言って風呂へ行った。まもなく小僧が肌着を持ってきた。商人の息子がそれを小僧に着せるやいなや、小僧はその瞬間に目を閉じ、死んだように床に倒れた。そして肌着を脱がせて竈へ投げ込むと、小僧は生き返ったが、竈は粉々に割れた。

The stepmother saw that she was doing no good, so she again went to the old soothsayer and asked and besought her how she should destroy her stepson. The old woman answered, “As long as the horse is alive nothing can be brought about. But you pretend to be ill, and when your husband comes back tell him, ‘I saw in my sleep that the throat of our foal must be cut and the liver extracted, and I must be rubbed with the liver; then my disease will pass away.’”

継母は自分のやり方が役に立たないと見て、また老いた占い師のところへ行き、どうすれば継子を滅ぼせるかと尋ね、乞うた。老女は答えた。「あの馬が生きているかぎり、何ごとも成し遂げられません。ですが病のふりをして、ご主人が帰ってきたらこう言いなさい。『うちの仔馬の喉を切って肝を取り出し、その肝でわたしをこすらねばならぬと夢に見ました。そうすればわたしの病は去るのです』と」

Some time after the merchant came back, and the son went out to meet him.

しばらくして商人が帰ってきて、息子は迎えに出た。

“Hail, my son!” said the father. “Is all well with you at home?”

「よう、息子よ!」と父は言った。「家では何もかも無事か」

“All is well, only mother is ill,” he answered.

「何もかも無事です。ただ母が病んでおります」と息子は答えた。

So the merchant unloaded his wares and went home, and he found his wife lying in the bedclothes groaning, saying, “I can only recover if you will fulfil my dream.”

そこで商人は品を下ろして家へ帰り、妻が寝具のなかで呻いているのを見た。妻は言った。「わたしの夢を叶えてくださらなければ、快復できません」

So the merchant agreed at once, summoned his son and said, “Now, my son, I want to cut the throat of your horse: your mother is ill, and I must cure her.”

そこで商人はすぐさま承知し、息子を呼んで言った。「さて息子よ、おまえの馬の喉を切りたい。おまえの母が病んでいて、癒やさねばならんのだ」

So Iván the merchant’s son wept bitterly and said, “Oh, father, you wish to take away from me my last luck!” Then he went into the stable.

そこで商人の息子イワンは苦い涙を流して言った。「ああ父上、わたしから最後の運を奪おうとなさるのですか!」。そして厩へ行った。

The foal saw him and said, “My beloved master, I have saved you from three deaths—do you now save me from one. Ask your father that you may go out on my back for the last time to fare in the open fields with your companions.”

仔馬は彼を見て言った。「いとしいご主人さま、わたしはあなたを三つの死から救いました——こんどはあなたがわたしを一つの死から救ってください。お父上に、最後にもう一度わたしの背に乗って、仲間たちと広い野へ出かける許しを願ってください」

So the son asked his father for leave to go into the open field for the last time on the horse, and the father agreed. Iván the merchant’s son mounted his horse, leapt into the open field, and went and diverted himself with his friends and companions. Then he sent his father a letter in this wise: “Do you cure my stepmother with a twelve-tongued whip—this is the best means of curing her illness.” He sent this letter with one of his good companions, and himself went into foreign lands.

そこで息子は父に、最後にもう一度その馬で広い野へ出る許しを願い、父は承知した。商人の息子イワンは馬にまたがって広い野へ跳び出し、友や仲間たちと楽しんだ。それから父にこんな手紙を送った。「継母は十二本尾の鞭でお癒やしください——それが病を癒やす何よりの手立てです」。この手紙をよき仲間の一人に託し、自分は異国へ向かった。

The merchant read the letter, and began curing his wife with a twelve-tongued whip: and she very soon recovered.

商人は手紙を読み、十二本尾の鞭で妻を癒やしはじめた。すると妻はたちまち快復した。

The merchant’s son went out into the open field, into the wide plains, and he saw horned cattle grazing in front of him.

商人の息子は広い野へ、広い平原へ出て、目の前に角のある家畜が草を食んでいるのを見た。

So the good horse said, “Iván the merchant’s son, let me go free at will, and do you pull three little hairs out of my tail: whenever I can be of service to you burn a single hair, and I shall appear at once in front of you, like a leaf in front of the grass. But you, good youth, go to the herd, buy a bull and cut its throat; dress yourself in the bull’s hide, put a bladder on your head, and wherever you go, whatever you are asked about, answer only this one word, ‘Idonotknow.’”

そこでよき馬は言った。「商人の息子イワンよ、わたしを自由に放してください。そしてわたしの尾から毛を三本抜いてください。わたしがお役に立てるときにはいつでも、毛を一本燃やしてください。そうすればたちまち、草の前の一葉のようにあなたの前に現れます。そしてあなた、よき若者よ、あの群れへ行って牡牛を一頭買い、その喉を切りなさい。その牛の皮をまとい、頭に膀胱をかぶって、どこへ行こうと、何を尋ねられようと、ただこのひとことだけ答えるのです。『シラナイ』と」

Iván the merchant’s son let his horse go free, dressed himself in the bull’s hide, put a bladder on his head, and went beyond the seas. On the blue sea there was a ship a-sailing. The ship’s crew saw this marvel—an animal which was not an animal, a man that was not a man, with a bladder on his head and with fur all round him. So they sailed up to the shore in a light boat and began to ask him and to inquire of him. Iván the merchant’s son only returned one answer, “Idonotknow.”

商人の息子イワンは馬を自由に放し、牡牛の皮をまとい、頭に膀胱をかぶって、海の彼方へ向かった。青い海には一艘の船が帆走していた。船乗りたちはこの奇観を見た——獣ならぬ獣、人ならぬ人が、頭に膀胱をかぶり、身を毛皮で覆っている。そこで小舟で岸へ漕ぎ寄せ、彼に尋ね、問いただしはじめた。商人の息子イワンはただ一つの答えしか返さなかった。「シラナイ」

“If it be so, then your name must be ‘Donotknow.’” Then the ship’s crew took him, carried him on board the boat, and they sailed to their King.

「それならおまえの名は『シラナイ』に違いない」。そこで船乗りたちは彼を捕らえて舟に乗せ、自分たちの王のもとへ帆走した。

May-be long, may-be short, they at last reached a capital city, went to the King with gifts, and informed him of Donotknow. So the King bade the portent be presented before his eyes. So they brought Donotknow into the palace, and the people came up from all parts, seen and unseen, to gaze on him.

長かったか短かったか、一行はとうとう都に着き、贈り物を持って王のもとへ行き、シラナイのことを知らせた。そこで王はこの奇観を目の前に見せよと命じた。そこでシラナイを宮殿へ連れてきた。すると人々が四方から、目に見えるのも見えぬのも合わせて、彼を見ようと押し寄せてきた。

Then the King began to ask him, “What sort of a man are you?”

そこで王は尋ねはじめた。「おまえはどういう人間だ」

“Idonotknow.”

「シラナイ」

“From what lands have you come?”

「どの国から来た」

“Idonotknow.”

「シラナイ」

“From what race and from what place?”

「どの氏族の、どの土地の者だ」

“Idonotknow.”

「シラナイ」

Then the King put Donotknow into the garden as a scarecrow, to frighten the birds from the apple trees, and he bade him be fed from his royal kitchen.

そこで王はシラナイを庭に案山子として置き、林檎の木から鳥を追い払わせることにして、王の台所から食べさせよと命じた。

Now this king had three daughters: the elder ones were beautiful, but the younger fairer still. Very soon the son of the King of the Arabs began asking for the hand of the youngest daughter, and he wrote to the King with threats such as this, “If you do not give her to me of your good will, I will take her by force.”

さてこの王には三人の娘があった。上の二人も美しかったが、末の娘はさらに美しかった。まもなくアラビアの王の息子が末の娘の手を求めはじめ、こう脅す書状を王に送った。「進んで寄越さぬなら、力ずくで奪う」

This did not suit the King at all, so he answered the Arab prince in this wise, “Do you begin the war, and it shall go as God shall will.”

これは王にはまるで気に染まなかったので、アラビアの王子にこう返事をした。「戦を始めるがよい。神の御心のままになろう」

So the Prince assembled a countless multitude and laid siege.

そこで王子は数え切れぬ大軍を集め、囲みを敷いた。

Donotknow shook off his oxhide, took off his bladder, went into the open fields, burnt one of the hairs, and cried out in a grim voice with a knightly whistle. From some source or other a wondrous horse appeared in front of him, and the steed galloped up, and the earth trembled. “Hail, doughty youth, why do you want me so speedily?”

シラナイは牛の皮を振り落とし、膀胱を外して広い野へ出て、毛を一本燃やし、勇士の口笛とともに厳しい声で叫んだ。するとどこからともなく見事な馬が彼の前に現れ、その駿馬が駆け寄ってくると大地が震えた。「よう、勇ましい若者よ、なぜそんなに急にわたしを呼ぶのだ」

“Go and prepare for war!”

「行って戦の支度をせよ!」

So Donotknow sat on his good horse, and the horse asked him, “Where shall I carry you—aloft, under the trees, or over the standing woods?”

そこでシラナイはよき馬にまたがり、馬は尋ねた。「どこへお運びしましょう——高く、木々の下を、それとも立ち並ぶ森の上を」

“Carry me over the standing woods.”

「立ち並ぶ森の上を運んでくれ」

So the horse raised himself from the earth and flew over the hostile host. Then Donotknow leapt upon the enemies, seized a warlike sword from one of them, tore a golden helmet from another of them, and put them on himself; covered his face with the visor, and set to slaying the Arab host. Wherever he turned, heads flew: it was like mowing hay. The King and the Princess looked on in amazement from the city wall: “What a mighty hero it must be! Whence has he come? Is it Egóri the Brave who has come to help us?”

そこで馬は地から身を起こし、敵の軍勢の上を飛んだ。するとシラナイは敵の上に躍りかかり、一人から戦さ用の剣を奪い、もう一人から黄金の兜をもぎ取って身につけ、面頬で顔を覆い、アラビアの軍勢を斬りはじめた。向きを変えるたびに首が飛んだ。まるで草を刈るようだった。王と姫は町の城壁から驚いて眺めていた。「なんという力強い英雄だろう! どこから来たのか。勇者エゴーリがわれらを助けに来たのか」

But they never imagined that it was Donotknow whom the King had set in the garden as a scarecrow. Donotknow slew many of that host, and even more than he slew his horse trampled down, and he left only the Arab Prince alive and ten men as a suite to see him home. After this great combat he rode back to the town wall and said, “Your kingly Majesty, has my service pleased you?” Then the King thanked him and asked him in as a guest. But Donotknow would not come. He leapt into the open field, sent away his good horse, turned back home, put on the bladder and the bull’s hide, and began to walk about in the garden, as before, just like a scarecrow.

だが二人は、それが王が案山子として庭に置いたシラナイだとは思いもよらなかった。シラナイはその軍勢の多くを斬り、斬ったよりさらに多くを馬が踏みつぶし、アラビアの王子と、その供として送り届ける十人だけを生かしておいた。この大きな戦いののち、彼は町の城壁まで馬を返して言った。「王陛下、わたしの奉公はお気に召しましたか」。そこで王は礼を言って客に招いた。だがシラナイは来ようとしなかった。広い野へ跳び出してよき馬を帰し、家へ戻って膀胱と牡牛の皮をまとい、前と同じように案山子のように庭を歩き回りはじめた。

Some time went by, not too much, not too little, and the Arab Prince again wrote to the King, “If you do not give me your youngest daughter’s hand I will burn up all your kingdom and will take her prisoner.”

しばらく時が過ぎた。長くもなく短くもなく。そしてアラビアの王子がまた王に書き送った。「末の姫の手をよこさぬなら、そなたの王国をことごとく焼き払い、姫を虜にする」

This also did not please the King, and so he wrote in answer that he would await him with his host. Once again the Arab Prince collected a countless host, larger than before, and he besieged the King from all sides, having three mighty knights standing in front.

これもまた王の気には染まず、そこで軍勢とともに待つと返事を書いた。またしてもアラビアの王子は前より大きな数え切れぬ大軍を集め、四方から王を囲み、三人の力強い勇士を先頭に立てた。

Donotknow learned of this, shook off the bull’s hide, took off the bladder, summoned his good horse, and leapt to the field. One knight came to meet him. They met in combat, greeted each other and set at each other with their lances. The knight struck Donotknow so doughtily that he could hardly hold on by one stirrup. Then he got up, flew like a youth, struck off the knight’s head, seized him, and threw him over, saying, “This is how all of your heads shall fly.” Then another knight came out, and it happened likewise with him; and a third came, and Donotknow fought with him for one whole hour. The knight cut his hand and drew blood, but Donotknow cut off his head and threw it with the rest. Then all of the Arab host trembled and turned back. Just then the King, with the Princesses, was standing on the town wall; and the youngest Princess saw that blood was flowing from the valiant champion’s hand, took a kerchief off her neck and bound up the wound herself; and the King summoned him as a guest. “I will come one day,” said Donotknow, “but not this time.” So he leapt into the open field, dismissed his horse, dressed himself in his oxhide, put the bladder on his head, and began walking up and down the garden like a scarecrow.

シラナイはこれを知って牡牛の皮を振り落とし、膀胱を外し、よき馬を呼んで野へ跳び出した。一人の勇士が向かってきた。二人は戦いに相まみえ、たがいに挨拶して槍を突き合わせた。勇士があまりに勇ましく打ちつけたので、シラナイはかろうじて片方の鐙にしがみつくのがやっとだった。だが彼は身を起こし、若者らしく飛んで、勇士の首を斬り落とし、それをつかんで投げ捨てて言った。「おまえたちの首はみなこうやって飛ぶのだ」。それから二人めの勇士が出てきて、同じことが起こった。そして三人めが来て、シラナイはまる一時間戦った。勇士は彼の手を斬って血を流させたが、シラナイはその首を斬り落として、ほかのとともに投げ捨てた。するとアラビアの軍勢はみな震え上がって引き返した。ちょうどそのとき、王は姫たちとともに町の城壁に立っていた。そして末の姫は、その勇武なる勇士の手から血が流れているのを見て、首から布を取って自分で傷を巻いた。そして王は彼を客に招いた。「いつか参りましょう」とシラナイは言った。「ですが今日ではありません」。そして広い野へ跳び出して馬を帰し、牛の皮をまとい、頭に膀胱をかぶって、案山子のように庭を行ったり来たりしはじめた。

Some time went by, not much, not little, and the King gave his two elder daughters away to famous Tsarévichi. He was making ready for a great celebration, and the guests came to walk in the garden; and they saw Donotknow and asked, “What sort of a monster is this?”

しばらく時が過ぎた。長くもなく短くもなく。そして王は上の二人の娘を名高いツァレーヴィチたちに嫁がせた。大きな祝いの支度をして、客たちが庭を歩きに来た。そして客たちはシラナイを見て尋ねた。「これはどういう化け物ですか」

So the King said, “This is Donotknow: I am using him as a scarecrow: he keeps the birds off my apple trees.”

そこで王は言った。「これはシラナイだ。案山子として使っている。林檎の木から鳥を追い払ってくれるのだ」

But the youngest daughter looked at Donotknow’s hand and observed her kerchief on it, blushed and never said a word. From that time she began to walk into the garden and to gaze on Donotknow, and became thoughtful, never giving heed to the festivals and to the merriment.

だが末の娘はシラナイの手を見て、そこに自分の布があるのに気づき、顔を赤らめてひとことも言わなかった。そのときから娘は庭へ歩きに行ってシラナイを見つめるようになり、物思いに沈んで、祝いにも楽しみにも心を向けなくなった。

“Where are you always going, my daughter?” asked her father.

「いつもどこへ行っているのだ、娘よ」と父は尋ねた。

“Oh, father, I have lived so many years with you, I have so often walked in the garden, and I have never seen such a delightful bird as I saw there just now!”

「ああ父上、こんなに長年あなたと暮らして、こんなに何度も庭を歩いてきましたのに、たったいま見たような心地よい鳥を、わたしは一度も見たことがありません!」

Then she began to ask her father to give her his blessing and to wed her to Donotknow. And for all the father might do to convince her, she insisted. “If you will not give me to him, I will remain unmarried all my life and will seek no other man.” So the father agreed and he betrothed them.

それから娘は、祝福を与えてシラナイに嫁がせてくださいと父に願いはじめた。そして父がどれほど説き伏せようとしても、娘は言い張った。「あの人に嫁がせてくださらないなら、わたしは一生嫁がず、ほかの誰も求めません」。そこで父は承知し、二人を婚約させた。

Soon afterwards the Arab Prince wrote to him for the third time and asked for the hand of his youngest daughter. “If you will not consent, I will consume all of your kingdom with fire, and I will take her by main force.”

まもなくアラビアの王子が三度めに書き送り、末の姫の手を求めた。「承知せぬなら、そなたの王国をことごとく火で焼き尽くし、姫を力ずくで奪う」

Then the King answered, “My daughter is already promised: if you wish, come yourself and you will see.” So the Prince came, and when he saw what a monster was betrothed to the fair Princess he thought he would slay Donotknow, and he summoned him to mortal combat.

そこで王は答えた。「わが娘はすでに約束済みだ。望むなら自分で来て見るがよい」。そこで王子はやって来た。そしてこの美しい姫と婚約しているのがどんな化け物かを見ると、シラナイを討ち取ろうと思い、死を賭けた戦いに呼び出した。

Donotknow shook off his oxhide, took the bladder from his head, summoned his good horse and rode out, so fair a youth as no tale can tell and no pen can write.

シラナイは牛の皮を振り落とし、頭から膀胱を外し、よき馬を呼んで乗り出した。それ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美しい若者だった。

They met in the open field, in the wide plains, and the list lasted long. Iván the merchant’s son killed the Arab Prince. Then at last the King recognised that Donotknow was not a monster but a splendid and handsome knight, and he made him his heir. Iván the merchant’s son lived on in his kingdom for good and lived all for happiness, took his own father to stay with him, but consigned his stepmother to punishment.

二人は広い野で、広い平原で相まみえ、勝負は長く続いた。商人の息子イワンはアラビアの王子を討った。そしてとうとう王は、シラナイが化け物ではなく見事で美しい勇士だと悟り、彼を跡継ぎにした。商人の息子イワンはその王国で末長く暮らし、ひたすら幸せに生き、自分の父を迎えて同居させたが、継母は罰に処した。