The Snake Princess

A Cossack was going on his road and way, and he arrived in the sleepy forest, and in that forest, in a glade, stood a hayrick. So the Cossack stood in front just to have a little rest, lay down in front of the hayrick and smoked his pipe, went on smoking, smoking, and never saw that a spark had fallen into the hay. After his rest he again mounted his horse and went on his road.

一人のコサックが道を、旅路を行き、眠たげな森に着いた。そしてその森の空き地に干し草の山が立っていた。そこでコサックは少し休もうとその前に立ち、干し草の山の前に横になってパイプを吹かした。吹かして吹かしているうちに、火の粉が干し草に落ちたのに気づかなかった。休んだあと、また馬にまたがって道を進んだ。

But he had gone only some dozen paces, when a flame blazed out and lit up the wood. Then the Cossack looked back steadily, and saw the hayrick burning, and in the middle of the flame a fair maiden standing, saying in a threatening voice, “Cossack, good man, save me from death!”

ところが十数歩も行かぬうちに炎が燃え上がり、森を照らした。そこでコサックがじっと振り返ると、干し草の山が燃えていて、その炎の真ん中に美しい娘が立って、切迫した声でこう言っていた。「コサックよ、善き人よ、わたしを死から救って!」

“How shall I save you? I see flames all around and cannot get up to you.”

「どうやって救えばよい。あたりは炎ばかりで、そこまで行けぬ」

“Thrust your pike into the flame: I will jump out on to it.”

「あなたの槍を炎のなかへ突き出して。それに跳び移るから」

So the Cossack thrust his pike into the flame and leapt to avoid the great heat. Then the fair maiden turned into a snake, crept on to the pike, crawled round the Cossack’s neck, coiled herself round his neck three times and put her tail between her mouth. The Cossack was frightened and had no notion what he should do or what should come to him.

そこでコサックは槍を炎のなかへ突き出し、ひどい熱を避けて跳びのいた。すると美しい娘は蛇に変わり、槍を這い上がり、コサックの首に這い寄って、三度その首に巻きつき、尾を口にくわえた。コサックは怯えて、どうすればよいのか、自分がどうなるのか、まるで見当がつかなかった。

Then the snake spoke to him in a human voice: “Do not be frightened, good youth; bear me on your neck for seven years, and go to seek the Kingdom of Tin: when you arrive in that kingdom stay there and live there seven years more, and do not ever leave it: if you serve this service you shall be happy.”

すると蛇が人の声で言った。「怖がらないで、善き若者よ。七年のあいだわたしを首に載せて、錫の王国を探しに行きなさい。その王国に着いたらそこに留まって、さらに七年住み、決してそこを離れてはいけません。この務めを果たせば、あなたは幸せになれます」

So the Cossack went to look for the Kingdom of Tin; much time went by, much water flowed in the river, and at the end of the seventh year he at last reached a steep mountain, and on that mountain stood a castle of tin, and around the castle was a lofty white stone wall. So he climbed up the mountain, and the wall opened in front of him, and he arrived at a broad courtyard. At that same instant the snake disentangled herself from his neck, struck the grey earth, and turned into the maiden of his soul, vanished from his eyes as though she had never been there.

そこでコサックは錫の王国を探しに出かけた。多くの時が過ぎ、川には多くの水が流れ、七年めの終わりにとうとう急な山に着いた。そしてその山の上には錫の城が建ち、城のまわりには高い白い石の壁があった。そこで彼が山を登ると、壁が目の前で開き、広い庭に着いた。その同じ瞬間、蛇は首からほどけて灰色の大地を打ち、彼の心に焼きついたあの娘に変わり、まるでそこにいなかったかのように目の前から消えた。

The Cossack stabled his horse, went into the palace, and began looking at the rooms: there were looking-glasses all about, silver and velvet, but never a soul of a man to be seen. “Ah!” thought the Cossack, “Wherever have I got to? Who will give me food and drink? I must here die of thirst and hunger.” And whilst he was thinking this, lo and behold! in front of him stood a covered table, and on the table was food and drink, enough for all. So he tasted what he would, drank what he would, strengthened his body, and thought of mounting on his horse to survey. He went into the stable, and the horse was standing in the stall and was eagerly devouring oats.

コサックは馬を厩に入れ、館に入って部屋を見て回った。いたるところに鏡があり、銀とびろうどがあったが、人の魂ひとつ見当たらない。「ああ!」とコサックは思った。「いったいどこへ来てしまったのだ。誰が食べ物と飲み物をくれる。ここで渇きと飢えで死ぬほかない」。そう思っていると、なんと! 目の前に卓が調えられ、その卓には誰にでも足りるほどの食べ物と飲み物があった。そこで彼は好きなものを味わい、好きなだけ飲んで、体を強くし、馬に乗って見回ろうと思った。厩へ行くと、馬は馬房に立って燕麦をむさぼり食っていた。

Well, this affair had turned out very well after all; possibly he might go on living without any suffering. So the Cossack stayed for a very, very long time in the tin castle, until he became wearied unto death: it might be a joke, but he was always alone and could never exchange as much as a whisper with anybody. So, from sheer grief, he drank himself drunk and thought he would go out into the free world. But wherever he ventured forth there were lofty walls, with neither an entrance nor an exit. So he grew very angry, and the doughty youth took his cudgel, went into the palace and began knocking about the looking-glasses and mirrors, tearing up the velvet, breaking the chairs, shattering the silver. Possibly, he thought, the owner might come and let him free. But no, never a soul appeared!

さて、この一件は結局たいそううまく運んだ。苦しむこともなく暮らしていけるかもしれない。そこでコサックはたいそう、たいそう長いこと錫の城に留まったが、とうとう死ぬほど退屈してきた。冗談のようだが、彼はいつも独りきりで、誰かとささやきひとつ交わすこともできなかったのである。そこでまったくの嘆きから彼は酔うまで飲み、自由な世界へ出ていこうと思った。ところがどこへ踏み出しても高い壁があり、入口も出口もない。そこで彼はひどく腹を立て、この勇ましい若者は棍棒を取って館へ入り、鏡という鏡を叩き壊し、びろうどを引き裂き、椅子を壊し、銀を粉々にしはじめた。そうすれば主が現れて自分を解き放ってくれるかもしれないと思ったのである。だがだめだった。人の魂ひとつ現れなかった!

Then the Cossack lay down to sleep. Next day he woke up, went for a walk and a saunter, and he thought he would like to have some food, and he looked around: there was nothing to be had. “Ah!” he thought, “The slave rains on herself the blows if unfaithfully she mows. I smoked to death yesterday, and to-day I must starve.” He had despaired. And that very instant food and drink stood ready for him.

そこでコサックは横になって眠った。翌日目を覚まして歩き回り、ぶらついて、何か食べたくなって見回すと、何も手に入らなかった。「ああ!」と彼は思った。「怠けて刈れば、鞭は我が身に降る。昨日は煙に任せて壊し、今日は飢えねばならぬ」。彼は諦めた。するとその瞬間、食べ物と飲み物が目の前に調えられた。

Three days went by: the Cossack slept in the morning, and then looked out of the window, and his good horse stood saddled at the steps. What did that mean? So he washed and dressed, prayed to God, took his long pike and went into the open courtyard.

三日が過ぎた。コサックは朝まで眠り、それから窓の外を見ると、よき馬が鞍を置いて階段のところに立っていた。どういうことか。そこで身を洗って装い、神に祈り、長い槍を取って広い庭へ出た。

Suddenly, from somewhere or other, the fair maiden appeared and said, “Health to you, good youth: the seven years are over. You saved me from my perdition and my end. Now, listen to me: I am a king’s daughter; Koshchéy the Deathless fell in love with me, took me away from my father and from my mother, wished to marry me, but I always laughed at him. Then he grew angry, and he turned me into a wild snake: I thank you for your long service. We will fare forth to my father’s court; he will wish to reward you with gold from his treasury and with precious stones: but do you take nothing of them. Simply ask for the keg which is lying in his cellar.”

すると突然、どこからともなくあの美しい娘が現れて言った。「ご健やかに、善き若者よ。七年が終わりました。あなたはわたしを滅びと最期から救ってくれました。さあ、わたしの言うことを聞いてください。わたしは王の娘です。不死身のコシチェイがわたしに恋をして、父と母のもとから連れ去り、結婚したがりましたが、わたしはいつも笑い飛ばしました。するとコシチェイは怒って、わたしを野の蛇に変えたのです。長いお務めに感謝します。父の宮廷へ参りましょう。父はあなたに宝物庫の黄金と宝石で報いようとするでしょう。けれど何一つ受け取ってはいけません。ただ、地下室に置いてある樽だけを求めてください」

“But what is the use of that?”

「だが、それが何の役に立つ」

“If you turn that keg to the right a palace appears forthwith, if you turn it to the left, it vanishes.”

「その樽を右へ回せばたちまち館が現れ、左へ回せば消えるのです」

“Very well,” said the Cossack.

「よろしい」とコサックは言った。

So he mounted his steed, set himself and the fair princess on it, and the lofty walls moved away from before him, and they set out on their road and way. May be long, may be short, at last they arrived at the kingdom named: the king saw his daughter and was overjoyed, began expressing his thanks and gave the Cossack sacks full of gold and pearls: but the doughty youth answered him, “I desire neither gold nor pearls, give me as a remembrance of you simply the keg which is lying in your cellar.”

そこで彼は馬にまたがり、自分と美しい姫を乗せた。すると高い壁が目の前から退き、二人は道と旅路についた。長かったか短かったか、とうとう例の王国に着いた。王は娘を見て大喜びし、感謝の言葉を述べはじめ、コサックに黄金と真珠でいっぱいの袋を与えた。だが勇ましい若者は答えた。「黄金も真珠も望みません。ただ、あなたの思い出として、地下室に置いてある樽をください」

“You ask for a great gift, brother; but I must do what you say, for my daughter is dearer to me than all else that I have here. I do not regret the barrel; take it and go with God.”

「大きな賜り物を求めるものだな、兄弟よ。だがそなたの言うとおりにせねばなるまい。わが娘はここにあるほかの何より大切なのだ。樽は惜しくない。持って、神とともに行くがよい」

So the Cossack took the royal gift and set out to roam through the white world. He went on and on, and he met an ancient old man on the way: the old man answered him, “Give me food and drink, good youth!”

そこでコサックは王の賜り物を受け取り、白い世をめぐる旅に出た。歩きに歩いて、道でたいそう年老いた老人に出会った。老人は言った。「食べ物と飲み物をくれ、善き若者よ!」

So the Cossack leapt from his horse, undid the keg, turned it to the right, and a miraculous palace appeared on the spot: both of them went into the painted rooms and sat on covered chairs. “Ho, ye my faithful servants!” cried out the Cossack, “give food and drink to this guest.” Before ever the words were uttered, the servants brought an entire ox and three casks of beer.

そこでコサックは馬から跳び下り、樽をほどいて右へ回した。するとその場に奇蹟のような館が現れた。二人は彩られた部屋に入り、布を掛けた椅子に坐った。「おおい、わたしの忠実な下僕たちよ!」とコサックは叫んだ。「この客に食べ物と飲み物を出せ」。その言葉が終わらぬうちに、下僕たちが牡牛を丸ごと一頭とビールの樽三つを運んできた。

The old man set to and gourmandised, making the best of it. He ate the entire ox, and he drank the three casks of beer, croaked and said, “That was a small gift: still I cannot help it. I thank you for the bread and salt.” Then they went out of the palace, and the Cossack turned his keg to the left, and there was no sign of the palace.

老人は取りかかってがつがつと平らげ、存分に味わった。牡牛を丸ごと食べ、ビールの樽三つを飲み干し、げっぷをして言った。「たいした賜り物ではなかったが、まあ仕方があるまい。パンと塩に感謝する」。それから二人は館を出て、コサックが樽を左へ回すと、館の影も形もなくなった。

“Let us exchange,” said the old man to the Cossack. “I will give you a sword, and you give me the keg: what is the use of the keg to you? This is a sword which slays of itself: you need only wave it, and however incalculable the force may be it will slay them all in front of it. You see that forest? Shall I show you what it can do?” Then the old man drew his sword and said to it, “Set to work, self-slaying sword, and despoil all the dreamy forest.” So the sword flew out of his hands, cut down the trees, and laid them all down in regular boards. Then, after it had cut them down, it came back to its master.

「交換しよう」と老人はコサックに言った。「わしが剣をやるから、おまえは樽をよこせ。樽など何の役に立つ。これはひとりでに斬る剣だ。振りさえすれば、どれほど数え切れぬ軍勢であろうと、目の前のものをことごとく斬り倒す。あの森が見えるか。何ができるか見せてやろうか」。そう言って老人は剣を抜き、剣に言った。「仕事にかかれ、ひとりでに斬る剣よ、あの眠たげな森をすっかり薙ぎ払え」。すると剣は手から飛び出して木を切り倒し、きちんと板のように並べた。そして切り終えると主人のもとへ戻ってきた。

So the Cossack did not long bethink him, but gave the old man his keg and took the self-slaying sword, waved the sword, and killed the old man. Then he tied the keg to his saddle, mounted his horse, and thought he would go back to the King. But just then a terrible enemy was besieging the capital city of that King, and the Cossack saw an incalculable host and array, waved his sword and said, “Self-slaying sword, serve me a service and spill the hostile host.” And then there was a fine sight—heads flying about, blood flowing freely—and within one hour all the field was covered with corpses.

そこでコサックは長く思案することなく、老人に樽を渡してひとりでに斬る剣を受け取り、その剣を振って老人を斬り殺した。それから樽を鞍に結びつけ、馬にまたがって、あの王のところへ帰ろうと思った。ところがちょうどそのとき、恐ろしい敵がその王の都を囲んでいた。そしてコサックは数え切れぬ軍勢と陣容を見て、剣を振ってこう言った。「ひとりでに斬る剣よ、わたしに仕えて敵の軍勢を屠れ」。するとそれは見事な眺めだった——首が飛び交い、血が流れ放題に流れ——そして一時間のうちに野いちめんが屍で覆われた。

Then the King came out, kissed him, and decided to give him the fair princess to wife.

そこで王が出てきて彼に口づけし、美しい姫を妻に与えることに決めた。

It was a gorgeous wedding. I was there at the wedding. I drank mead and wine: it flowed up to my whiskers, but it never entered my mouth.

それは豪奢な婚礼だった。わたしもその婚礼にいた。蜂蜜酒と葡萄酒を飲んだ。それは口髭までは流れてきたが、口には決して入らなかった。