The Old Chippeway

The old man Chippeway, the first of men, when he first landed on the earth, near where the present Dogribs have their hunting-grounds, found the world a beautiful world, well stocked with food, and abounding with pleasant things. He found no man, woman, or child upon it; but in time, being lonely, he created children, to whom he gave two kinds of fruit, the black and the white, but he forbade them to eat the black. Having given his commands for the government and guidance of his family, he took leave of them for a time, to go into a far country where the sun dwelt, for the purpose of bringing it to the earth.

最初の人間である老人チッペウェイは、今のドグリブ族が狩り場にしているあたりの近くに初めて大地に降り立ったとき、世界が美しい世界で、食べ物が豊かにあり、楽しいものに満ちているのを見た。そこには男も女も子どももいなかった。けれどもやがて寂しくなったので、老人は子どもたちを造り、二種類の実、黒い実と白い実を与えたが、黒い実は食べてはならないと禁じた。家族を治め導くための命令を与えると、老人はしばらく子どもたちに別れを告げて、太陽の住む遠い国へ出かけた。太陽を大地へ持ってくるためである。

After a very long journey, and a long absence, he returned, bringing with him the sun, and he was delighted to find that his children had remained obedient, and had eaten only of the white food.

たいそう長い旅と長い留守ののち、老人は太陽を連れて帰ってきた。そして子どもたちが言いつけを守って白い食べ物だけを食べていたのを見て喜んだ。

Again he left them to go on another expedition. The sun he had brought lighted up the earth for only a short time, and in the land from which he had brought it he had noticed another body, which served as a lamp in the dark hours. He resolved therefore to journey and bring back with him the moon; so, bidding adieu to his children and his dwelling, he set forth once more.

老人はまた別の遠征に出るために子どもたちのもとを離れた。持ってきた太陽は大地をほんの短いあいだしか照らさず、それを持ってきた国で、老人は暗い時刻にランプの役をするもうひとつのものに気づいていた。そこで老人は旅をして月を持ち帰ろうと決め、子どもたちと住まいに別れを告げて、もう一度出発した。

While he had been absent on his first expedition, his children had eaten up all the white food, and now, when he set out, he forgot to provide them with a fresh supply. For a long time they resisted the craving for food, but at last they could hold out no longer, and satisfied their hunger with the black fruit.

老人が最初の遠征で留守にしていたあいだに、子どもたちは白い食べ物をみな食べ尽くしていたのに、今度出かけるとき、老人は新しい蓄えを用意してやるのを忘れた。長いあいだ子どもたちは食べ物への渇望に逆らっていたが、とうとうそれ以上こらえきれなくなって、黒い実で飢えを満たした。

The old Chippeway soon returned, bringing with him the moon. He soon discovered that his children had transgressed his command, and had eaten the food of disease and death. He told them what was the consequence of their act--that in future the earth would produce bad fruits, that sickness would come amongst men, that pain would rack them, and their lives be lives of fatigue and danger.

老チッペウェイはまもなく月を連れて帰ってきた。そしてすぐに、子どもたちが言いつけにそむいて病と死の食べ物を食べたことに気づいた。老人は子どもたちに、その行いの結果を告げた——これからは大地は悪い実を生み、人のあいだに病が来て、痛みが人を責めさいなみ、人の生は疲れと危険の生になるだろう、と。

Having brought the sun and moon to the earth, the old man Chippeway rested, and made no more expeditions. He lived an immense number of years, and saw all the troubles he declared would follow the eating of the black food. At last he became tired of life, and his sole desire was to be freed from it.

太陽と月を大地にもたらしたので、老人チッペウェイは休み、もう遠征には出なかった。老人はとてつもなく長い年月を生き、黒い食べ物を食べたあとに来ると告げたあらゆる苦しみを見た。とうとう老人は生きることに疲れ、ただそこから解き放たれることだけを願った。

"Go," said he, to one of his sons, "to the river of the Bear Lake, and fetch me a man of the little wise people (the beavers). Let it be one with a brown ring round the end of the tail, and a white spot on the tip of the nose. Let him be just two seasons old upon the first day of the coming frog-moon, and see that his teeth be sharp."

「行け」と老人は息子の一人に言った。「熊の湖の川へ行って、小さな賢い人々(ビーバー)の男を一人連れてこい。尾の先に茶色の輪があり、鼻の先に白い斑点のある者にせよ。来たるカエルの月の最初の日にちょうど二つの季節を経た者で、歯が鋭いのを確かめよ。」

The man did as he was directed. He went to the river of the Bear Lake, and brought a man of the little wise people. He had a brown ring round the end of his tail, and a white spot on the tip of his nose. He was just two seasons old upon the first day of the frog-moon, and his teeth were very sharp.

男は言われたとおりにした。熊の湖の川へ行って、小さな賢い人々の男を一人連れてきた。その者は尾の先に茶色の輪があり、鼻の先に白い斑点があった。カエルの月の最初の日にちょうど二つの季節を経ていて、歯はたいそう鋭かった。

"Take the wise four-legged man," said the old Chippeway, "and pull from his jaws seven of his teeth."

「その賢い四つ足の男を連れていって」と老チッペウェイは言った。「そのあごから歯を七本抜いてこい。」

The man did as he was directed, and brought the teeth to the old man. Then he bade him call all his people together, and when they were come the old man thus addressed them--

男は言われたとおりにして、歯を老人のところへ持ってきた。すると老人は、民をみな呼び集めるよう命じ、みなが集まると、老人はこう語りかけた——

"I am old, and am tired of life, and wish to sleep the sleep of death. I will go hence. Take the seven teeth of the wise little four-legged man and drive them into my body."

「わしは年老いて、生きることに疲れ、死の眠りを眠りたい。わしはここを去る。賢い小さな四つ足の男の七本の歯を取って、わしの体に打ち込め。」

They did so, and as the last tooth entered him the old man died.

みながそうすると、最後の歯が入ったとき、老人は死んだ。