The Rose-beauty

Once upon a time in the old old days when straws were sieves, and the camel a chapman, and the mouse a barber, and the cuckoo a tailor, and the donkey ran errands, and the tortoise baked bread, and I was only fifteen years old, but my father rocked my cradle, and there was a miller in the land who had a black cat--in those olden times, I say, there was a King who had three daughters, and the first daughter was forty, and the second was thirty, and the third was twenty. One day the youngest daughter wrote this letter to her father: “My lord father! my eldest sister is forty and my second sister is thirty, and still thou hast given neither of them a husband. I have no desire to grow grey in waiting for a husband.”

むかしむかし、大むかし、わらがふるいで、らくだが行商人で、ねずみが床屋で、かっこうが仕立屋で、ろばが使い走りをし、亀がパンを焼き、わたしはまだ十五歳だったのに父がわたしのゆりかごを揺らし、国には黒猫を飼っている粉屋がいたころ——そのむかしに、いいかね、三人の娘を持つ王がいた。一番目の娘は四十で、二番目は三十で、三番目は二十だった。ある日、いちばん下の娘が父にこんな手紙を書いた。「父上さま! いちばん上の姉は四十で、二番目の姉は三十なのに、まだ父上はどちらにも夫を与えておられません。わたしは夫を待って白髪になりたくはありません。」

The King read the letter, sent for his three daughters, and addressed them in these words: “Look now! let each one of you shoot an arrow from a bow and seek her sweetheart wherever her arrow falls!” So the three damsels took their bows. The eldest damsel’s arrow fell into the palace of the Vizier’s son, so the Vizier’s son took her to wife. The second girl’s arrow flew into the palace of the Chief Mufti’s son, so they gave her to him. The third damsel also fired her arrow, and lo! it stuck in the hut of a poor young labourer. “That won’t do, that won’t do!” cried they all. So she fired again, and again the arrow stuck in the hut. She aimed a third time, and a third time the arrow stuck in the hut of the poor young labourer. Then the King was wroth and cried to the damsel: “Look now, thou slut! thou hast got thy deserts. Thy sisters waited patiently, and therefore they have got their hearts’ desires. Thou wast the youngest of all, yet didst thou write me that saucy letter, hence thy punishment. Out of my sight, thou slave-girl, to this husband of thine, and thou shalt have nought but what he can give thee!” So the poor damsel departed to the hut of the labourer, and they gave her to him to wife.

王は手紙を読むと、三人の娘を呼び寄せて、こう言った。「よいか! めいめい弓で矢を射て、その矢の落ちたところで恋人を探すがよい!」そこで三人の娘は弓を取った。いちばん上の娘の矢は大臣の息子の宮殿に落ちたので、大臣の息子がその娘を妻にした。二番目の娘の矢は宗教長官(ムフティー)の息子の宮殿に飛び込んだので、娘はその息子に与えられた。三番目の娘も矢を射ると、なんと! 矢は貧しい若い日雇い人夫の小屋に突き刺さった。「それはだめだ、それはだめだ!」とみんなは叫んだ。そこで娘はもう一度射たが、また矢は小屋に突き刺さった。三度目に狙いをつけると、三度目も矢は貧しい若い人夫の小屋に突き刺さった。すると王は腹を立てて娘に叫んだ。「見ろ、このふしだら娘め! 身から出た錆だ。姉たちは辛抱強く待ったから、心の望みをかなえたのだ。おまえはいちばん年下のくせに、わしにあの生意気な手紙を書いた。だからこの罰だ。わしの前から消えうせろ、この奴隷女め、その夫のところへ行け。おまえは夫がくれるもののほかは何ももらえぬぞ!」そこでかわいそうな娘は人夫の小屋へ去っていき、人夫の妻に与えられた。

They lived together for a time, and on the tenth day of the ninth month the time came that she should bear a child, and her husband, the labourer, hastened away for the midwife. While the husband was thus away his wife had neither a bed to lie down upon nor a fire to warm herself by, though grinding winter was upon them. All at once the walls of the poor hut opened hither and thither, and three beautiful damsels of the Peri race stepped into it. One stood at the damsel’s head, another at her feet, the third by her side, and they all seemed to know their business well. In a moment everything in the poor hut was in order, the princess lay on a beautiful soft couch, and before she could blink her eyes a pretty little new-born baby girl was lying by her side. When everything was finished the three Peris set about going, but first of all they approached the bed one by one, and the first said:

二人はしばらく一緒に暮らし、九か月目の十日目に娘がお産をする時が来たので、夫の人夫は産婆を呼びに急いで出かけた。夫が留守のあいだ、厳しい冬が来ていたのに、妻には横になる寝床も暖まる火もなかった。突然、貧しい小屋の壁があちこちに開いて、ペリの一族の美しい娘が三人入ってきた。一人は娘の頭のほうに、一人は足のほうに、三人目はわきに立ち、三人ともよく仕事を心得ているようだった。たちまち貧しい小屋のなかは何もかも整い、王女は美しいやわらかな寝椅子に横たわっていて、まばたきする間もなく、生まれたばかりのかわいい小さな女の子がそのそばに寝ていた。すっかり終わると三人のペリは帰ろうとしたが、まず一人ずつ寝床に近づいて、一人目が言った。

“Rosa be thy damsel’s name, And she shall weep not tears but pearls!”

「ローザとその娘の名にせよ、娘は涙の代わりに真珠を流すであろう!」

The second Peri approached the bed and said:

二人目のペリが寝床に近づいて言った。

“Rosa be thy damsel’s name, The rose shall blossom when she smiles!”

「ローザとその娘の名にせよ、娘がほほえめば薔薇が咲くであろう!」

And the third Peri wound up with these words:

そして三人目のペリがこう言って締めくくった。

“Rosa be thy damsel’s name, Sweet verdure in her footsteps spring!”

「ローザとその娘の名にせよ、その足跡には甘い若草が芽吹くであろう!」

whereupon they all three disappeared.

すると三人とも消えてしまった。

Now all this time the husband was seeking a midwife, but could find one nowhere. What could he do but go home? But when he got back he was amazed to find everything in the poor hut in beautiful order, and his wife lying on a splendid bed. Then she told him the story of the three Peris, and there was no more spirit left in him, so astounded was he. But the little girl grew more and more lovely from hour to day, and from day to week, so that there was not another like her in the whole world. Whosoever looked upon her lost his heart at once, and pearls fell from her eyes when she wept, roses burst into bloom when she smiled, and a bright riband of fresh green verdure followed her footsteps. Whosoever saw her had no more spirit left in him, and the fame of lovely Rosa went from mouth to mouth.

さて、そのあいだずっと夫は産婆を探していたが、どこにも見つからなかった。家に帰るほかどうしようもなかった。ところが帰ってみると、貧しい小屋のなかが何もかも美しく整っていて、妻が立派な寝床に横たわっていたので、夫は仰天した。そこで妻が三人のペリの話をすると、夫はあまりに驚いて気が抜けてしまった。けれども小さな女の子は刻一刻、一日一日、一週一週とますます愛らしくなり、世界じゅうに並ぶ者がないほどになった。女の子を見た者は誰でもたちまち心を奪われ、女の子が泣けば目から真珠がこぼれ、ほほえめば薔薇が咲き、その足跡には新しい緑の若草の明るいリボンが続いた。女の子を見た者は気が抜けてしまい、愛らしいローザの評判は口から口へと伝わっていった。

At last the King of that land also heard of the damsel, and instantly made up his mind that she and nobody else should be his son’s consort. So he sent for his son, and told him that there was a damsel in the town of so rare a beauty that pearls fell from her eyes when she wept, roses burst into bloom when she smiled, and the earth grew fresh and green beneath her footsteps, and with that he bade him up and woo her.

とうとうその国の王も娘のことを聞き、すぐさま、ほかの誰でもなくその娘こそ自分の息子の妃にしようと心を決めた。そこで王は息子を呼んで、町に、泣けば目から真珠がこぼれ、ほほえめば薔薇が咲き、足もとの地面が新しく緑になるほどまれに見る美しい娘がいると話し、行って求婚せよと命じた。

Now the Peris had for a long time shown the King’s son the beautiful Rose-damsel in his dreams, and the sweet fire of love already burned within him; but he was ashamed to let his father see this, so he hung back a little. At this his father became more and more pressing, bade him go and woo her at once, and commanded the chief dame of the palace to accompany him to the hut of the labourer.

さて、ペリたちはずっと前から王の息子に夢のなかで美しい薔薇の娘を見せていて、甘い恋の火がもう王子の胸に燃えていた。けれども王子はそれを父に見せるのが恥ずかしかったので、少しためらった。すると父はますますせきたてて、すぐに行って求婚せよと命じ、宮殿の侍女頭に王子のお供をして人夫の小屋へ行くよう言いつけた。

They entered the hut, said on what errand they came, and claimed the damsel for the King’s son in the name of Allah. The poor folks rejoiced at their good luck, promised the girl, and began to make ready.

二人は小屋に入って、何の用で来たかを告げ、アッラーの名にかけて、王の息子のために娘をくださいと願った。貧しい夫婦はこの幸運を喜び、娘をやると約束して、支度を始めた。

Now this palace dame’s daughter was also a beauty, and not unlike Rosa. Terribly distressed was the dame that the King’s son should take to wife a poor labourer’s daughter, instead of her own child; so she made up her mind to deceive them and put her own daughter in Rosa’s place. So on the day of the banquet she made the poor girl eat many salted meats, and then brought a pitcher of water and a large basket, got into the bridal coach with Rosa and her own daughter, and set out for the palace. As they were on the road (and a very long time they were about it) the damsel grew thirsty and asked the palace dame for some water. “Not till thou hast given me one of thine eyes,” said the palace dame. What could the poor damsel do?--she was dying with thirst. So she cut out one of her eyes and gave it for a drink of water.

さて、この宮殿の侍女頭の娘もまた美人で、ローザに似ていないこともなかった。侍女頭は、王の息子が自分の子ではなく貧しい人夫の娘を妻にすることがひどく悔しくてたまらず、みなをだましてローザの代わりに自分の娘を据えようと心を決めた。そこで宴の日、侍女頭はかわいそうな娘に塩漬けの肉をたくさん食べさせ、それから水の入った水差しと大きなかごを持ってきて、ローザと自分の娘と一緒に花嫁の馬車に乗り込み、宮殿へ向かった。道を行くうちに(ずいぶん長い道のりだった)、娘はのどが渇いて、侍女頭に水をくださいと頼んだ。「おまえの目をひとつくれるまではだめだよ」と侍女頭は言った。かわいそうな娘に何ができただろう——のどが渇いて死にそうだったのである。そこで娘は目をひとつえぐり出して、ひと口の水と引き替えに渡した。

They went on and on, further and further, and the damsel again became thirsty and asked for another drink of water. “Thou shalt have it if thou give me thy other eye,” said the palace dame. And the poor damsel was so tormented with thirst that she gave the other eye for a drink of water.

一行はどこまでも、ますます遠くへ進み、娘はまたのどが渇いて、もうひと口水をくださいと頼んだ。「もう片方の目をくれたら飲ませてやるよ」と侍女頭は言った。かわいそうな娘はのどの渇きにひどく苦しんでいたので、もう片方の目もひと口の水と引き替えに渡した。

The old dame took the two eyes, pitched the sightless damsel into the big basket, and left her all alone on the top of a mountain. But the beautiful bridal robe she put upon her own daughter, brought her to the King’s son, and gave her to him with the words: “Behold thy wife!” So they made a great banquet, and when they had brought the damsel to her bridegroom and taken off her veil, he perceived that the damsel who now stood before him was not the damsel of his dreams. As, however, she resembled her a little he said nothing about it to anybody. So they lay down to rest, and when they rose up again early next morning the King’s son was quite undeceived, for the damsel of his dreams had wept pearls, smiled roses, and sweet green herbs had grown up in her footsteps, but this girl had neither roses nor pearls nor green herbs to show for herself. The youth felt there was some trickery at work here. This was not the girl he had meant to have. “How am I to find it all out?” thought he to himself; but not a word did he say to any one.

年とった女は二つの目を受け取ると、目の見えなくなった娘を大きなかごに放り込み、山のてっぺんにひとりぼっちで置き去りにした。そして美しい花嫁衣装を自分の娘に着せて王の息子のところへ連れていき、「ごらんなさい、あなたの妻です!」と言って引き渡した。そこで盛大な宴が開かれ、娘が花婿のもとへ連れていかれて顔のヴェールが取られると、花婿は、今目の前に立っている娘が夢の娘ではないことに気づいた。けれども少し似ていたので、誰にも何も言わなかった。そこで二人は横になって休み、次の朝早く起きたとき、王の息子はすっかり目が覚めた。夢の娘は泣けば真珠を流し、ほほえめば薔薇を咲かせ、その足跡には甘い緑の草が生えたのに、この娘には薔薇も真珠も緑の草も何ひとつなかったからである。若者は、これには何かたくらみがあると感じた。これは自分がめとるつもりだった娘ではなかった。「どうやって何もかも突きとめたらいいだろう」と若者は心のなかで思ったが、誰にもひと言も言わなかった。

While all these things were going on in the palace, poor Rosa was weeping on the mountain top, and such showers of pearls fell from her by dint of her sore weeping that there was scarce room to hold them all in the big basket. Now a mud-carrier happened to be passing by who was carting mud away, and hearing the weeping of the damsel was terribly afraid, and cried: “Who art thou?--A Jinn or a Peri?”--“I am neither a Jinn nor yet a Peri,” replied the damsel, “but the remains of a living child of man.” Whereupon the mud-raker took courage, opened the basket, and there a poor sightless damsel was sobbing, and her tears fell from her in showers of pearls. So he took the damsel by the hand and led her to his hut, and as the old man had nobody about him he adopted the damsel as if she were his own child and took care of her. But the poor girl did nothing but weep for her two eyes, and the old man had all he could do to pick up the pearls, and whenever they were in want of money he would take a pearl and sell it, and they lived on whatever he got for it.

宮殿でこうしたことが起こっているあいだ、かわいそうなローザは山のてっぺんで泣いていて、あまりひどく泣いたので真珠の雨が降り、大きなかごにおさまりきらないほどだった。さて、泥を運び出している泥運びがたまたまそこを通りかかり、娘の泣き声を聞いてひどくおびえ、叫んだ。「おまえは誰だ?——ジンか、ペリか?」——「わたしはジンでもペリでもありません」と娘は答えた。「生きている人の子のなれの果てです。」そこで泥かきは勇気を出してかごを開けた。するとそこでかわいそうな目の見えない娘がすすり泣いていて、その涙は真珠の雨となってこぼれ落ちていた。そこで男は娘の手を取って自分の小屋へ連れていき、年とった男には身寄りがなかったので、娘を自分の子のように養女にして面倒をみた。けれどもかわいそうな娘は二つの目を思って泣いてばかりいたので、年とった男は真珠を拾うのに手いっぱいだった。そしてお金に困るといつも真珠をひとつ持っていって売り、それで得たもので二人は暮らした。

Thus time passed, and there was mirth in the palace, and misery in the hut of the mud-raker. Now it chanced one day as fair Rosa was sitting in the hut, that something made her smile, and immediately a rose bloomed. Then the damsel said to her foster-father, the mud-raker: “Take this rose, papa, and go with it in front of the palace of the King’s son, and cry aloud that thou hast roses for sale that are not to be matched in the wide world. But if the dame of the palace comes out, see that thou dost not give her the rose for money, but say that thou wilt sell it for a human eye.”

こうして時が過ぎ、宮殿には楽しみが、泥かきの小屋にはみじめさがあった。さて、ある日、美しいローザが小屋に座っていると、何かのはずみでほほえんで、たちまち薔薇が一輪咲いた。そこで娘は養い親の泥かきに言った。「この薔薇を持って、お父さん、王の息子の宮殿の前へ行って、広い世界に並ぶもののない薔薇を売っていますと大声で呼んでください。でも、もし宮殿の侍女頭が出てきたら、お金で薔薇を渡してはいけません。人間の目とならば売りますと言ってください。」

So the man took the rose and stood in front of the palace, and began to cry aloud: “A rose for sale, a rose for sale, the like of which is nowhere to be found.” Now it was not the season for roses, so when the dame of the palace heard the man crying a rose for sale, she thought to herself: “I’ll put it in my daughter’s hair, and thus the King’s son will think that she is his true bride.” So she called the poor man to her, and asked him what he would sell the rose for? “For nothing,” replied the man, “for no money told down, but I’ll give it thee for a human eye.” Then the dame of the palace brought forth one of fair Rosa’s eyes and gave it for the rose. Then she took it to her daughter, plaited it in her hair, and when the King’s son saw the rose, he thought of the Peri of his dreams, but could not understand whither she had gone. Nevertheless he now fancied he was about to find out, so he said not a word to any one.

そこで男は薔薇を持って宮殿の前に立ち、大声で呼びはじめた。「薔薇はいかが、薔薇はいかが、どこにもない薔薇だよ。」さて、薔薇の季節ではなかったので、宮殿の侍女頭は男が薔薇売りの声をあげるのを聞くと、心のなかで思った。「あれを娘の髪にさしてやろう。そうすれば王の息子は、娘がほんとうの花嫁だと思うだろう。」そこで侍女頭はかわいそうな男を呼び寄せて、その薔薇をいくらで売るのかと尋ねた。「ただでも」と男は答えた。「お金を積まれても売りません。でも人間の目となら差し上げます。」そこで宮殿の侍女頭は美しいローザの目をひとつ取り出して、薔薇と引き替えに渡した。それから侍女頭は薔薇を娘のところへ持っていき、髪に編み込んだ。王の息子はその薔薇を見ると、夢のペリのことを思い出したが、そのペリがどこへ行ったのかわからなかった。それでも今は、もうすぐ突きとめられそうな気がしたので、誰にもひと言も言わなかった。

Meanwhile, the old man went home with the eye and gave it to the damsel, fair Rosa. Then she fitted it in its right place, sighed from her heart in prayer to Allah, who can do all things; and behold! she could see right well again with her one eye. The poor girl was so pleased that she could not help smiling, and immediately another rose sprang forth. This also she gave to her father that he might walk in front of the palace and give it for another human eye. The old man took the rose, and scarcely had he begun crying it before the palace when the old dame again heard him. “He has just come at the nick of time,” thought she; “the King’s son has begun to love my rose-bedizened daughter; if I can only get this rose also, he will love her still better, and this serving-wench will go out of his mind altogether.” So she called the mud-raker to her and asked for the rose, but again he would not take money for it, though he was willing to let her have it in exchange for a human eye. Then the old woman gave him the second eye, and the old man hastened home with it and gave it to the damsel. Rosa immediately put it in its proper place, prayed to Allah, and was so rejoiced when her two bright eyes sparkled with living light that she smiled all the day, and roses bloomed on every side of her. Henceforth she was lovelier than ever. Now one day beautiful Rosa went for a walk, and as she smiled continually as she walked along, roses bloomed around her and the ground grew fresh and green beneath her feet. The palace dame saw her and was terrified. What will become of me, she thought, if the affair of this damsel comes to be known? She knew where the poor mud-scraper lived, so she went all alone to his dwelling, and terrified him by telling him that he had an evil witch in his house. The poor man had never seen a witch, so he was terrified to death, and asked the palace dame what he had better do. “Find out, first of all, what her talisman is,” advised the palace dame, “and then I’ll come and do the rest.”

そのあいだに、年とった男は目を持って家に帰り、それを娘、美しいローザに渡した。すると娘はそれをもとの場所にはめ込み、何でもおできになるアッラーに心から祈りのため息をついた。すると、なんと! 娘はその片方の目でまたよく見えるようになった。かわいそうな娘はうれしくてほほえまずにいられず、たちまちまた薔薇が一輪咲いた。これも娘は父に渡し、宮殿の前を歩いて、もうひとつの人間の目と引き替えに渡してもらうことにした。年とった男が薔薇を持って宮殿の前で売り声をあげはじめるやいなや、年とった侍女頭はまたそれを聞きつけた。「ちょうどいいときに来たよ」と侍女頭は思った。「王の息子は、薔薇で飾ったわたしの娘を好きになりはじめている。この薔薇も手に入れられたら、もっと好きになって、あの下女のことなどすっかり忘れてしまうだろう。」そこで侍女頭は泥かきを呼び寄せて薔薇をくれと言ったが、またしても男はお金を受け取ろうとせず、人間の目となら引き替えてもいいと言った。そこで年とった女が二つ目の目を渡すと、年とった男はそれを持って急いで家に帰り、娘に渡した。ローザはすぐにそれをもとの場所にはめ込み、アッラーに祈った。そして二つの輝く目が生き生きとした光にきらめくと、うれしくてうれしくて一日じゅうほほえんでいたので、まわりじゅうに薔薇が咲いた。それからというもの、娘は前にもまして愛らしくなった。さて、ある日、美しいローザが散歩に出かけ、歩きながらずっとほほえんでいたので、まわりに薔薇が咲き、足もとの地面は新しく緑になった。宮殿の侍女頭はそれを見てひどくおびえた。この娘のことが知れたら、わたしはどうなるだろう、と侍女頭は思った。侍女頭はかわいそうな泥かきの住まいを知っていたので、ひとりでその家へ行き、おまえの家には悪い魔女がいると言って男を脅した。かわいそうな男は魔女を見たことがなかったので、死ぬほど怖くなって、どうしたらいいかと宮殿の侍女頭に尋ねた。「まず、あの娘の護符が何なのか探り出しなさい」と宮殿の侍女頭は勧めた。「そうしたらわたしが来て、あとはわたしがやるから。」

So the first thing the old man did when the damsel came home was to ask her how she, a mere child of man, had come to have such magic power. The damsel, suspecting no ill, said that she had got her talisman from the three Peris, and that pearls, roses, and fresh sweet verdure would accompany her so long as her talisman was alive.

そこで娘が家に帰ってくると、年とった男がまずしたことは、ただの人の子であるおまえが、どうしてそんな魔法の力を持つようになったのかと尋ねることだった。娘は何も悪いことを疑わずに、自分は三人のペリから護符をもらったのだ、その護符が生きているかぎり、真珠と薔薇と新しい甘い若草が自分につき従うのだと言った。

“What then is thy talisman?” asked the old man.

「それで、おまえの護符とは何なのだ」と年とった男は尋ねた。

“A little deer on the hill-top; If it die, I also dead drop,”

「丘のてっぺんの小さな鹿、それが死ねばわたしも死ぬ」

answered she.

と娘は答えた。

The next day the palace dame came thither in the utmost misery, heard all about it from the mud-scraper, and hastened home with great joy. She told her daughter that on the top of the neighbouring hill was a little deer which she should ask her husband to get for her. That very same day the Sultana told her husband of the little deer on the top of the hill, and begged and implored him to get her its heart to eat. And after not many days the Prince’s men caught the little deer and killed it, and took out its heart and gave it to the Sultana. At the same instant when they killed the little fawn fair Rosa died. The mud-raker sorrowed over her till he could sorrow no more, and then took and buried her.

次の日、宮殿の侍女頭がこの上なくみじめな様子でやって来て、泥かきからすっかり聞き出すと、大喜びで家へ急いで帰った。侍女頭は娘に、隣の丘のてっぺんに小さな鹿がいるから、それを取ってくれと夫に頼みなさいと言った。まさにその日、妃は夫に丘のてっぺんの小さな鹿のことを話し、その心臓を食べさせてくれと頼みに頼んだ。そしていく日もたたないうちに、王子の家来たちが小さな鹿をつかまえて殺し、心臓を取り出して妃に渡した。家来たちが小さな子鹿を殺したまさにその瞬間、美しいローザは死んだ。泥かきはもうこれ以上悲しめないほど娘を悲しみ、それから娘を運んでいって葬った。

Now in the heart of the little fawn there was a little red coral eye which nobody took any notice of. When the Sultana ate the heart, the little red coral eye fell out and rolled down the steps as if it wanted to hide itself.

さて、小さな子鹿の心臓のなかには、小さな赤い珊瑚の目があって、誰もそれに気づかなかった。妃が心臓を食べると、小さな赤い珊瑚の目がこぼれ落ちて、隠れたがっているかのように階段を転がり落ちていった。

Time went on, and in not more than nine months and ten days the Prince’s consort was brought to bed of a little daughter, who wept pearls when she cried, dropt roses when she smiled, and sweet green herbs sprang up in her footsteps.

時が過ぎ、九か月と十日とたたないうちに、王子の妃は小さな娘を産んだ。その娘は泣けば真珠を流し、ほほえめば薔薇をこぼし、その足跡には甘い緑の草が生えた。

When the Prince saw it he mused and mused over it, the little girl was the very image of fair Rosa, and not a bit like the mother who had borne her. So his sleep was no repose to him, till one night fair Rosa appeared to him in his dreams and spoke these words to him: “Oh, my prince! oh, my betrothed! my soul is beneath thy palace steps, my body is in the tomb, thy little girl is my little girl, my talisman is the little coral eye.”

王子はそれを見ると考えに考えた。小さな女の子は美しいローザに生き写しで、自分を産んだ母親にはちっとも似ていなかったのである。それで王子は眠っても安らぎが得られなかったが、ある夜、美しいローザが夢に現れて、こう言った。「おお、わが王子さま! おお、わがいいなずけ! わたしの魂はあなたの宮殿の階段の下に、わたしの体は墓のなかにあります。あなたの小さな娘はわたしの小さな娘です。わたしの護符は小さな珊瑚の目です。」

The Prince had no sooner awakened than he went to the staircase and searched about, and lo! there was the little coral eye. He picked it up, took it into his chamber, and laid it on the table. Meanwhile, the little girl entered the room, saw the red coral, and scarcely had she laid hold of it than she vanished as if she had never been. The three Peris had carried off the child and taken her to her mother’s tomb, and scarcely had she placed the coral eye in the dead woman’s mouth than she awoke up to a new life.

王子は目を覚ますやいなや、階段のところへ行ってあちこち探した。すると、なんと! 小さな珊瑚の目があった。王子はそれを拾い上げて自分の部屋へ持っていき、机の上に置いた。そのあいだに小さな女の子が部屋に入ってきて、赤い珊瑚を見つけ、それをつかむやいなや、もともといなかったかのように消えてしまった。三人のペリが子どもを連れ去って母親の墓へ運んでいったのである。そして子どもが珊瑚の目を死んだ母親の口に入れるやいなや、母親は新しい命に目覚めた。

But the King’s son was not easy in his mind. He went to the cemetery, had the tomb opened, and there in her coffin lay the Rose-beauty of his dreams, with her little girl in her arms and the coral talisman in her mouth. They arose from the tomb and embraced him, and pearls fell from the eyes of both of them as they wept, and roses from their mouths as they smiled, and sweet green herbs grew up in their footsteps.

けれども王の息子の心は落ち着かなかった。王子は墓地へ行って墓を開けさせた。すると棺のなかに夢の薔薇の美しい人が、小さな娘を腕に抱き、口に珊瑚の護符をくわえて横たわっていた。二人は墓から起き上がって王子を抱きしめ、二人とも泣けば目から真珠がこぼれ、ほほえめば口から薔薇がこぼれ、その足跡には甘い緑の草が生えた。

The palace dame and her daughter paid for their crimes, but beautiful Rosa and her father and her mother, the Sultan’s daughter, were all re-united, and for forty days and forty nights they held high revel amidst the beating of drums and the tinkling of cymbals.

宮殿の侍女頭とその娘は罪の報いを受けたが、美しいローザと、その父と、その母であるスルタンの娘はみな再び一緒になり、四十日四十夜、太鼓を打ち鳴らしシンバルを響かせて盛大な祝宴を開いた。