Piqua

A great while ago the Shawanos nation took up the war-talk against the Walkullas, who lived on their own lands on the borders of the Great Salt Lake, and near the Burning Water. Part of the nation were not well pleased with the war. The head chief and the counsellors said the Walkullas were very brave and cunning, and the priests said their god was mightier than ours. The old and experienced warriors said the counsellors were wise, and had spoken well; but the Head Buffalo, the young warriors, and all who wished for war, would not listen to their words. They said that our fathers had beaten their fathers in many battles, that the Shawanos were as brave and strong as they ever were, and the Walkullas much weaker and more cowardly. They said the old and timid, the faint heart and the failing knee, might stay at home to take care of the women and children, and sleep and dream of those who had never dared bend a bow or look upon a painted cheek or listen to a war-whoop, while the young warriors went to war and drank much blood. When two moons were gone they said they would come back with many prisoners and scalps, and have a great feast. The arguments of the fiery young men prevailed with all the youthful warriors, but the elder and wiser listened to the priests and counsellors, and remained in their villages to see the leaf fall and the grass grow, and to gather in the nut and follow the trail of the deer.

ずっと昔、ショーニー族は、大いなる塩の湖のほとり、燃える水の近くの自分たちの土地に住むワルクッラ族に対して戦の話を持ち上げた。一族の一部はこの戦を快く思っていなかった。頭の首長と相談役たちは、ワルクッラ族はたいそう勇敢でずる賢いと言い、祭司たちは、彼らの神はわれらの神より強いと言った。年を重ねて経験を積んだ戦士たちは、相談役たちは賢く、よく語ったと言った。けれども頭の野牛と若い戦士たち、そして戦を望む者はみな、その言葉に耳を貸そうとしなかった。彼らは言った。われらの父祖は多くの戦で彼らの父祖を打ち負かした、ショーニー族は昔と変わらず勇敢で強く、ワルクッラ族はずっと弱く臆病になった、と。年寄りや臆病者、気の弱い者や膝の震える者は家に残って女子どもの世話をし、弓を引いたことも化粧した頬を見たことも雄叫びを聞いたこともない者たちの夢でも見て眠っていればいい、そのあいだに若い戦士たちは戦に出て血をたっぷり飲んでくる、と。二か月たったらたくさんの捕虜と頭皮を持って帰ってきて大宴会を開くと言った。血気盛んな若者たちの言い分は若い戦士みなを動かしたが、年長の賢い者たちは祭司と相談役の言うことを聞いて村にとどまり、葉が落ち草が伸びるのを見、木の実を集め、鹿の跡を追った。

Two moons passed, then a third, then came the night enlivened by many stars, but the warriors returned not. As the land of the Walkullas lay but a woman's journey of six suns from the villages of our nation, our people began to fear that our young men had been overcome in battle and were all slain. The head chief, the counsellors, and all the warriors who had remained behind, came together in the great wigwam, and called the priests to tell them where their sons were. Chenos, who was the wisest of them all (as well he might be, for he was older than the oak-tree whose top dies by the hand of Time), answered that they were killed by their enemies, the Walkullas, assisted by men of a strange speech and colour, who lived beyond the Great Salt Lake, fought with thunder and lightning, and came to our enemies on the back of a great bird with many white wings. When he had thus made known to our people the fate of the warriors there was a dreadful shout of horror throughout the village. The women wept aloud, and the men sprang up and seized their bows and arrows to go to war with the Walkullas and the strange warriors who had helped to slay their sons, but Chenos bade them sit down again.

二か月が過ぎ、それから三か月目が過ぎ、たくさんの星に彩られた夜が来たが、戦士たちは帰ってこなかった。ワルクッラ族の土地は、わが民の村々から女の足で六日の道のりしかなかったので、人々は若者たちが戦に敗れてみな殺されたのではないかと恐れはじめた。頭の首長と相談役たちと、残っていた戦士たちはみな大きな集会小屋に集まり、祭司たちを呼んで息子たちがどこにいるのか告げさせた。祭司のなかでいちばん賢いチェノス(それも当然で、時の手にてっぺんを枯らされた樫の木よりも年を取っていた)は、息子たちは敵のワルクッラ族に殺されたと答えた。ワルクッラ族には、大いなる塩の湖の向こうに住み、雷と稲妻で戦い、たくさんの白い翼を持つ大きな鳥の背に乗って敵のもとへやって来た、見慣れない言葉と肌の色の男たちが加勢していたという。チェノスがこうして戦士たちの運命を人々に知らせると、村じゅうに恐ろしい叫び声があがった。女たちは声をあげて泣き、男たちは飛び上がって弓矢をつかみ、ワルクッラ族と息子たちを殺すのに手を貸した見知らぬ戦士たちに戦を仕掛けに行こうとしたが、チェノスはまた座れと命じた。

"There is one yet living," said he. "He will soon be here. The sound of his footsteps is in my ear as he crosses the hollow hills. He has killed many of his enemies; he has glutted his vengeance fully; he has drunk blood in plenteous draughts. Long he fought with the men of his own race, and many fell before him, but he fled from the men who came to the battle armed with the real lightning, and hurling unseen death. Even now I see him coming; the shallow streams he has forded; the deep rivers he has swum. He is tired and hungry, and his quiver has no arrows, but he brings a prisoner in his arms. Lay the deer's flesh on the fire, and bring hither the pounded corn. Taunt him not, for he is valiant, and has fought like a hungry bear."

「まだ一人生きている者がいる」とチェノスは言った。「その者はまもなくここに来る。うつろな丘を越えるその足音がわたしの耳に聞こえている。その者は敵をたくさん殺し、存分に仇を討ち、血をたっぷり飲んだ。長いあいだ同じ人種の男たちと戦い、多くがその前に倒れた。けれどもほんものの稲妻で武装し、見えない死を投げつけて戦に来た男たちからは逃げた。今もその者がやって来るのが見える。浅い流れを徒歩で渡り、深い川を泳いで渡った。その者は疲れて腹をすかせ、矢筒に矢はないが、腕に捕虜を一人抱えている。鹿の肉を火にかけよ。つぶしたトウモロコシをここへ持ってこい。その者をなじってはならぬ。その者は勇敢で、飢えた熊のように戦ったのだから。」

As the wise Chenos spoke these words to the grey-bearded counsellors and warriors the Head Buffalo walked calm and cool into the midst of them. There he stood, tall and straight as a young pine, but he spoke no word, looking on the head chief and the counsellors. There was blood upon his body, dried on by the sun, and the arm next his heart was bound up with the skin of the deer. His eye was hollow and his body gaunt, as though he had fasted long. His quiver held no arrows.

賢いチェノスが灰色のひげの相談役や戦士たちにこう語っていると、頭の野牛が落ち着きはらって冷静に一同のなかへ歩み入った。頭の野牛は若い松のように背高くまっすぐに立っていたが、ひと言も発さず、頭の首長と相談役たちを見つめていた。体には日に乾いた血がつき、心臓に近いほうの腕は鹿の皮で縛られていた。目は落ちくぼみ、体は長く断食したかのようにやつれていた。矢筒には矢がなかった。

"Where are our sons?" inquired the head chief of the warrior.

「わしらの息子たちはどこだ」と頭の首長は戦士に尋ねた。

"Ask the wolf and the panther," he answered.

「狼とヒョウに聞くがいい」と戦士は答えた。

"Brother! tell us where are our sons!" exclaimed the chief. "Our women ask us for their sons. They want them. Where are they?"

「兄弟よ! わしらの息子たちがどこにいるか教えてくれ!」と首長は叫んだ。「女たちがわしらに息子はどこかと尋ねる。息子たちを欲しがっている。息子たちはどこだ。」

"Where are the snows of last year?" replied the warrior. "Have they not gone down the swelling river into the Great Lake? They have, and even so have your sons descended the stream of Time into the great Lake of Death. The great star sees them as they lie by the water of the Walkulla, but they see him not. The panther and the wolf howl unheeded at their feet, and the eagle screams, but they hear them not. The vulture whets his beak on their bones, the wild-cat rends their flesh, both are unfelt, for your sons are dead."

「去年の雪はどこにある」と戦士は答えた。「ふくれた川を下って大いなる湖へ行ってしまったではないか。そのとおりだ。そしてあなたがたの息子たちも、時の流れを下って死の大いなる湖へ行ってしまったのだ。大いなる星はワルクッラの水のほとりに横たわる息子たちを見ているが、息子たちにはその星が見えない。ヒョウと狼がその足もとで吠えても気づかれず、鷲が鋭く鳴いても息子たちには聞こえない。ハゲワシが息子たちの骨でくちばしを研ぎ、ヤマネコがその肉を引き裂いても、どちらも感じられない。あなたがたの息子たちは死んだのだから。」

When the warrior told these things to our people, they set up their loud death-howl. The women wept; but the men sprang up and seized their weapons, to go to meet the Walkullas, the slayers of their sons. The chief warrior rose again--

戦士がこのことを人々に話すと、人々は大声で死の嘆きの叫びをあげた。女たちは泣いたが、男たちは飛び上がって武器をつかみ、息子たちを殺したワルクッラ族を迎え撃ちに行こうとした。戦士の頭はまた立ち上がった——

"Fathers and warriors," said he, "hear me and believe my words, for I will tell you the truth. Who ever heard the Head Buffalo lie, and who ever saw him afraid of his enemies? Never, since the time that he chewed the bitter root and put on the new moccasins, has he lied or fled from his foes. He has neither a forked tongue nor a faint heart. Fathers, the Walkullas are weaker than us. Their arms are not so strong, their hearts are not so big, as ours. As well might the timid deer make war upon the hungry wolf, as the Walkullas upon the Shawanos. We could slay them as easily as a hawk pounces into a dove's nest and steals away her unfeathered little ones. The Head Buffalo alone could have taken the scalps of half the nation. But a strange tribe has come among them--men whose skin is white as the folds of the cloud, and whose hair shines like the great star of day. They do not fight as we fight, with bows and arrows and with war-axes, but with spears which thunder and lighten, and send unseen death. The Shawanos fall before it as the berries and acorns fall when the forest is shaken by the wind in the beaver-moon. Look at the arm nearest my heart. It was stricken by a bolt from the strangers' thunder; but he fell by the hands of the Head Buffalo, who fears nothing but shame, and his scalp lies at the feet of the head chief.

「父たちよ、戦士たちよ」と頭の野牛は言った。「わたしの言うことを聞いて信じてくれ。本当のことを話すのだから。頭の野牛が嘘をつくのを誰が聞いたことがある。頭の野牛が敵を恐れるのを誰が見たことがある。苦い根を噛んで新しいモカシンをはいてからというもの、頭の野牛は一度も嘘をついたことも敵から逃げたこともない。割れた舌も弱い心も持っていない。父たちよ、ワルクッラ族はわれらより弱い。その腕はわれらほど強くなく、その心はわれらほど大きくない。ワルクッラ族がショーニー族に戦を仕掛けるのは、臆病な鹿が飢えた狼に戦を仕掛けるようなものだ。われらは、鷹が鳩の巣に襲いかかって羽も生えていない雛をさらうように、たやすく彼らを殺せた。頭の野牛一人でも、その一族の半分の頭皮を取れただろう。けれども見慣れない一族が彼らのなかにやって来ていた——肌は雲のひだのように白く、髪は昼の大いなる星のように輝く男たちだ。その者たちはわれらのように弓矢や戦斧で戦うのではなく、雷をとどろかせ稲妻をひらめかせて見えない死を送る槍で戦う。ショーニー族はその前に、ビーバーの月に森が風に揺さぶられて木の実やどんぐりが落ちるように倒れる。わたしの心臓に近いほうの腕を見てくれ。それはよそ者の雷の矢に打たれたのだ。だがその男は恥のほかは何も恐れない頭の野牛の手で倒れ、その頭皮は頭の首長の足もとにある。

"Fathers, this was our battle. We came upon the Walkullas, I and my brothers, when they were unprepared. They were just going to hold the dance of the green corn. The whole nation had come to the dance; there were none left behind save the sick and the very old. None were painted; they were all for peace, and were as women. We crept close to them, and hid in the thick bushes which grew upon the edge of their camp, for the Shawanos are the cunning adder and not the foolish rattlesnake. We saw them preparing to offer a sacrifice to the Great Spirit. We saw them clean the deer, and hang his head, horns, and entrails upon the great white pole with a forked top, which stood over the roof of the council wigwam. They did not know that the Master of Life had sent the Shawanos to mix blood with the sacrifices. We saw them take the new corn and rub it upon their hands, breasts, and faces. Then the head chief, having first thanked the Master of Life for his goodness to the Walkullas, got up and gave his brethren a talk. He told them that the Great Spirit loved them, and had made them victorious over all their enemies; that he had sent a great many fat bears, deer, and moose to their hunting-ground, and had given them fish, whose heads were very small and bodies very big; that he had made their corn grow tall and sweet, and had ordered his suns to ripen it in the beginning of the harvest moon, that they might make a great feast for the strangers who had come from a far country on the wings of a great bird to warm themselves at the Walkullas' fire. He told them they must love the Great Spirit, take care of the old men, tell no lies, and never break the faith of the pipe of peace; that they must not harm the strangers, for they were their brothers, but must live in peace with them, and give them lands and wives from among their women. If they did these things the Great Spirit, he said, would make their corn grow taller than ever, and direct them to hunting-grounds where the moose should be as thick as the stars.

「父たちよ、これがわれらの戦だった。わたしと兄弟たちは、ワルクッラ族が備えをしていないときに襲いかかった。彼らはちょうど青いトウモロコシの踊りを開こうとしていた。一族みなが踊りに来ていて、病人とたいそうな年寄りのほかは誰も残っていなかった。誰も化粧をしていなかった。みな和やかで、女のようだった。われらは彼らのすぐそばまで忍び寄り、野営地のへりに茂る深い藪に隠れた。ショーニー族はずる賢いマムシであって、愚かなガラガラヘビではないからだ。われらは彼らが偉大な霊に生贄を捧げる支度をしているのを見た。鹿をさばき、その頭と角とはらわたを、集会小屋の屋根の上に立つ先の二つに割れた大きな白い柱に掛けるのを見た。彼らは、命の主がショーニー族を遣わして生贄に血を混ぜさせようとしているとは知らなかった。われらは彼らが新しいトウモロコシを取って手や胸や顔にこすりつけるのを見た。それから頭の首長が、まず命の主にワルクッラ族への恵みを感謝してから、立ち上がって兄弟たちに話をした。首長は言った。偉大な霊はわれらを愛し、あらゆる敵に打ち勝たせてくださった。われらの狩り場に太った熊や鹿やヘラジカをたくさん送り、頭はたいそう小さく体はたいそう大きい魚をくださった。トウモロコシを高く甘く育て、収穫の月のはじめに日の光に熟させるよう命じてくださった。大きな鳥の翼に乗って遠い国から来てワルクッラ族の火で暖まっている見知らぬ者たちのために、大宴会を開けるように、と。首長は言った。偉大な霊を愛し、年寄りを大事にし、嘘をつかず、平和のきせるの誓いを決して破ってはならない。見知らぬ者たちは兄弟だから傷つけてはならず、仲よく暮らし、土地を与え、われらの女のなかから妻を与えなければならない。そうすれば偉大な霊はトウモロコシをこれまでより高く育て、ヘラジカが星のようにひしめく狩り場へ導いてくださるだろう、と。

"Fathers and warriors, we heard these words; but we knew not what to do. We feared not the Walkullas; the God of War, we saw, had given them into our hands. But who were the strange tribe? Were they armed as we were, and was their Great Medicine (Great Spirit) like ours? Warriors, you all knew the Young Eagle, the son of the Old Eagle, who is here with us; but his wings are feeble, he flies no more to the field of blood. The Young Eagle feared nothing but shame, and he said--

「父たちよ、戦士たちよ、われらはこの言葉を聞いたが、どうすればよいかわからなかった。ワルクッラ族は恐れなかった。戦の神が彼らをわれらの手に渡してくださったのがわかった。けれども見知らぬ一族とは何者だったのか。われらと同じように武装していたのか、その大いなる薬(偉大な霊)はわれらのと同じだったのか。戦士たちよ、あなたがたはみな、ここにいる年老いた鷲の息子の若い鷲を知っていた。だが年老いた鷲の翼は弱り、もう血の戦場へ飛んでいくことはない。若い鷲は恥のほかは何も恐れず、こう言った——

"'I see many men sit round a fire, I will go and see who they are!'

「『火のまわりにたくさんの男が座っているのが見える。行って何者か見てこよう!』

"He went. The Old Eagle looks at me as if he would say, 'Why went not the chief warrior himself?' I will tell you. The Head Buffalo is a head taller than the tallest man of his tribe. Can the moose crawl into the fox's hole? Can the swan hide himself under a little leaf? The Young Eagle was little, save in his soul. He was not full-grown, save in his heart. He could go and not be seen or heard. He was the cunning black-snake which creeps silently in the grass, and none thinks him near till he strikes.

「若い鷲は行った。年老いた鷲が、『どうして戦士の頭が自分で行かなかったのだ』と言いたげにわたしを見ている。話そう。頭の野牛は部族でいちばん背の高い男より頭ひとつ高い。ヘラジカが狐の穴に這い込めるか。白鳥が小さな葉の下に隠れられるか。若い鷲は魂のほかは小さかった。心のほかは大人になりきっていなかった。若い鷲は見られも聞かれもせずに行くことができた。草のなかを音もなく這い、打ちかかるまで誰にも近くにいると思わせない、ずる賢い黒ヘビだった。

"He came back and told us there were many strange men a little way before us whose faces were white, and who wore no skins, whose cabins were white as the snow upon the Backbone of the Great Spirit (the Alleghany Mountains), flat at the top, and moving with the wind like the reeds on the bank of a river; that they did not talk like the Walkullas, but spoke a strange tongue, the like of which he had never heard before. Many of our warriors would have turned back to our own lands. The Flying Squirrel said it was not cowardice to do so; but the Head Buffalo never turns till he has tasted the blood of his foes. The Young Eagle said he had eaten the bitter root and put on the new moccasins, and had been made a man, and his father and the warriors would cry shame on him if he took no scalp. Both he and the Head Buffalo said they would go and attack the Walkullas and their friends alone. The young warriors then said they would also go to the battle, and with a great heart, as their fathers had done. Then the Shawanos rushed upon their foes.

「若い鷲は戻ってきて、少し先に見慣れない男たちがたくさんいると言った。顔は白く、皮を着ておらず、小屋は偉大な霊の背骨(アレゲーニー山脈)に積もる雪のように白く、てっぺんは平らで、川岸の葦のように風に揺れている、と。彼らはワルクッラ族のようには話さず、これまで聞いたことのない見慣れない言葉を話している、と。戦士の多くは自分たちの土地へ引き返そうとした。飛ぶリスは、そうするのは臆病ではないと言った。だが頭の野牛は敵の血を味わうまで決して引き返さない。若い鷲は、自分は苦い根を食べて新しいモカシンをはき、男にされたのだから、頭皮を取らなければ父も戦士たちも自分を恥知らずと叫ぶだろうと言った。若い鷲も頭の野牛も、二人だけでもワルクッラ族とその友を攻めに行くと言った。すると若い戦士たちも、父祖たちがしたように大きな心で戦に行くと言った。それからショーニー族は敵に襲いかかった。

"The Walkullas fell before us like rain in the summer months. We were as a fire among rushes. We went upon them when they were unprepared, when they were as children; and for a while the Great Spirit gave them into our hands. But a power rose up against us that we could not withstand. The strange men came upon us armed with thunder and lightning. Why delays my tongue to tell its story? Fathers, your sons have fallen like the leaves of a forest-tree in a high wind, like the flowers of spring after a frost, like drops of rain in the sturgeon moon! Warriors, the sprouts which sprang up from the withered oaks have perished, the young braves of our nation lie food for the eagle and the wild-cat by the arm of the Great Lake!

「ワルクッラ族は夏の月の雨のようにわれらの前に倒れた。われらは葦のなかの火のようだった。われらは備えのない彼らに、子どものような彼らに襲いかかり、しばらくのあいだ偉大な霊は彼らをわれらの手に渡してくださった。けれども、われらには手向かえない力が立ち上がった。見知らぬ男たちが雷と稲妻で武装してわれらに襲いかかってきた。なぜわたしの舌は話すのをためらうのか。父たちよ、あなたがたの息子たちは、強い風に吹かれる森の木の葉のように、霜にあった春の花のように、チョウザメの月の雨粒のように倒れた! 戦士たちよ、枯れた樫から芽生えた若枝は滅び、わが一族の若い勇士たちは、大いなる湖の入り江のほとりで鷲とヤマネコの餌になって横たわっている!

"Fathers, the bolt from the strangers' thunder entered my flesh, yet I did not fly. These six scalps I tore from the Walkullas, but this has yellow hair. Have I done well?"

「父たちよ、よそ者の雷の矢はわたしの肉に入ったが、わたしは逃げなかった。この六つの頭皮はワルクッラ族からはぎ取ったものだが、これは黄色い髪をしている。わたしはよくやっただろうか。」

The head chief and the counsellors answered he had done very well, but Chenos answered--

頭の首長と相談役たちは、たいそうよくやったと答えた。けれどもチェノスは答えた——

"No. You went into the Walkullas' camp when the tribe were feasting to the Great Spirit, and you disturbed the sacrifice, and mixed human blood with it. Therefore has this evil come upon us, for the Great Spirit is very angry."

「いや。お前は、一族が偉大な霊に宴を捧げているときにワルクッラ族の野営地に入り、生贄を乱し、人の血をそれに混ぜた。それゆえこの災いがわれらにふりかかったのだ。偉大な霊はたいそうお怒りなのだから。」

Then the head chief and the counsellors asked Chenos what must be done to appease the Master of Breath.

そこで頭の首長と相談役たちは、息の主をなだめるには何をしなければならないかとチェノスに尋ねた。

Chenos answered--

チェノスは答えた——

"The Head Buffalo, with the morning, will offer to him that which he holds dearest."

「頭の野牛が、朝に、自分のいちばん大切にしているものを捧げるのだ。」

The Head Buffalo looked upon the priests, and said--

頭の野牛は祭司たちを見つめて言った——

"The Head Buffalo fears the Great Spirit. He will kill a deer, and, in the morning, it shall be burned to the Great Spirit."

「頭の野牛は偉大な霊を恐れる。鹿を一頭殺そう。そして朝、それを偉大な霊に焼いて捧げよう。」

Chenos said to him--

チェノスは頭の野牛に言った——

"You have told the council how the battle was fought and who fell; you have shown the spent quiver and the scalps, but you have not spoken of your prisoner. The Great Spirit keeps nothing hid from his priests, of whom Chenos is one. He has told me you have a prisoner, one with tender feet and a trembling heart."

「お前は会議に、戦がどう戦われ誰が倒れたかを話した。空の矢筒と頭皮を見せた。だがお前は捕虜のことを話していない。偉大な霊はその祭司たちに何ひとつ隠さない。チェノスはその祭司の一人だ。偉大な霊は、お前が捕虜を、柔らかな足と震える心を持つ者を一人連れているとわたしに告げた。」

"Let any one say the Head Buffalo ever lied," replied the warrior. "He never spoke but truth. He has a prisoner, a woman taken from the strange camp, a daughter of the sun, a maiden from the happy islands which no Shawano has ever seen, and she shall live with me, and become the mother of my children."

「頭の野牛が嘘をついたことがあると言える者がいるなら言ってみよ」と戦士は答えた。「頭の野牛は本当のことしか話したことはない。頭の野牛には捕虜がいる。見慣れない野営地から連れてきた女、太陽の娘、どのショーニー族も見たことのない幸せな島々から来た乙女だ。その女はわたしと暮らし、わたしの子らの母になるのだ。」

"Where is she?" asked the head chief.

「その女はどこにいる」と頭の首長は尋ねた。

"She sits on the bank of the river at the bend where we dug up the bones of the great beast, beneath the tree which the Master of Breath shivered with his lightnings. I placed her there because the spot is sacred, and none dare disturb her. I will go and fetch her to the council fire, but let no one touch her or show anger, for she is fearful as a young deer, and weeps like a child for its mother."

「わしらが大きな獣の骨を掘り出した川の曲がり目の岸に、息の主が稲妻で打ち砕いた木の下に座っている。そこは神聖な場所で、誰もあえて女を乱そうとしないから、そこに置いてきたのだ。会議の火のところへ連れてこよう。だが誰も女に触れたり怒りを見せたりしないでくれ。女は若い鹿のように怯えていて、母を求める子どものように泣くのだから。」

Soon he returned, and brought with him a woman. She shook like a reed in the winter's wind, and many tears ran down her cheeks. The men sat as though their tongues were frozen. Was she beautiful? Go forth to the forest when it is clothed with the flowers of spring, look at the tall maize when it waves in the wind, and ask if they are beautiful. Her skin was white as the snow which falls upon the mountains beyond our lands, save upon her cheeks, where it was red,--not such red as the Indian paints when he goes to war, but such as the Master of Life gives to the flower which grows among thorns. Her eyes shone like the star which never moves. Her step was like that of the deer when it is a little scared.

まもなく頭の野牛は戻ってきて、一人の女を連れてきた。女は冬の風に吹かれる葦のように震え、頬にはたくさんの涙が流れていた。男たちは舌が凍りついたかのように座っていた。女は美しかったか。春の花をまとった森へ行き、風に揺れる背の高いトウモロコシを見て、それが美しいかと問うてみるがいい。女の肌は、われらの土地の向こうの山々に降る雪のように白かったが、頬だけは赤かった——インディアンが戦に行くときに塗る赤ではなく、命の主が茨のあいだに咲く花に与えるような赤だった。女の目は決して動かない星のように輝いていた。その足取りは、少し驚いたときの鹿のようだった。

The Head Buffalo said to the council--

頭の野牛は会議に言った——

"This is my prisoner. I fought hard for her. Three warriors, tall, strong, and painted, three pale men, armed with red lightning, stood at her side. Where are they now? I bore her away in my arms, for fear had overcome her. When night came on I wrapped skins around her, and laid her under the leafy branches of the tree to keep off the cold, and kindled a fire, and watched by her till the sun rose. Who will say she shall not live with the Head Buffalo, and be the mother of his children?"

「これがわたしの捕虜だ。わたしはこの女のために激しく戦った。背が高く強く化粧をした三人の戦士と、赤い稲妻で武装した三人の青白い男が女のそばに立っていた。その者たちは今どこにいる。女は恐ろしさに打ちのめされていたので、わたしは女を腕に抱えて連れてきた。夜になると女を皮で包み、寒さを防ぐために木の葉の茂る枝の下に寝かせ、火をおこして、日が昇るまで女のそばで見張った。この女が頭の野牛と暮らし、その子らの母になってはならないと誰が言うか。」

Then the Old Eagle got up, but he could not walk strong, for he was the oldest warrior of his tribe, and had seen the flowers bloom many times, the infant trees of the forest die of old age, and the friends of his boyhood laid in the dust. He went to the woman, laid his hands on her head, and wept. The other warriors, who had lost their kindred and sons in the war with the Walkullas, shouted and lamented. The woman also wept.

すると年老いた鷲が立ち上がったが、しっかり歩けなかった。部族でいちばん年老いた戦士で、花が咲くのを何度も見、森の若木が老いて枯れるのを見、少年のころの友が土に横たえられるのを見てきたからである。年老いた鷲は女のところへ行き、女の頭に両手を置いて泣いた。ワルクッラ族との戦で身内や息子を失ったほかの戦士たちも叫び嘆いた。女も泣いた。

"Where is the Young Eagle?" asked the Old Eagle of the Head Buffalo. The other warriors, in like manner, asked for their kindred who had been killed.

「若い鷲はどこだ」と年老いた鷲は頭の野牛に尋ねた。ほかの戦士たちも同じように、殺された身内のことを尋ねた。

"Fathers, they are dead," answered the warrior. "The Head Buffalo has said they are dead, and he never lies. But let my fathers take comfort. Who can live for ever? The foot of the swift step and the hand of the stout bow become feeble. The eye grows dim, and the heart of many days quails at the fierce glance of warriors. 'Twas better they should die like brave men in their youth than become old men and faint."

「父たちよ、みな死んだ」と戦士は答えた。「頭の野牛がみな死んだと言った。頭の野牛は決して嘘をつかない。だが父たちよ、慰めを得てくれ。誰がいつまでも生きられよう。速い足取りの足も、強い弓を引く手も弱っていく。目はかすみ、長い日々を経た心は戦士たちの激しいまなざしにたじろぐ。年老いて弱り果てるより、若いうちに勇敢な男らしく死んだほうがよかったのだ。」

"We must have revenge," they all cried. "We will not listen to the young warrior who pines for the daughter of the sun."

「仇を討たねばならぬ」とみなが叫んだ。「太陽の娘に焦がれる若い戦士の言うことなど聞くものか。」

Then they began to sing a mournful song. The strange woman wept. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she often looked up to the house of the Great Spirit and spoke, but none could understand her. All the time the Old Eagle and the other warriors begged that she should be burned to revenge them.

それからみなは悲しい歌を歌いはじめた。見知らぬ女は泣いた。涙が頬を転がり落ち、女はたびたび偉大な霊の住まいを見上げて何か言ったが、誰にもわからなかった。そのあいだずっと、年老いた鷲とほかの戦士たちは、自分たちの仇を討つために女を焼けとせがんだ。

"Brothers and warriors," said Chenos, "our sons did wrong when they broke in upon the sacred dance the Walkullas made to their god, and he lent his thunder to the strange warriors. Let us not draw down his vengeance further by doing we know not what. Let the beautiful woman remain this night in the wigwam of the council, covered with skins, and let none disturb her. To-morrow we will offer a sacrifice of deer's flesh to the Great Spirit, and if he will not give her to the raging fire and the torments of the avengers, he will tell us so by the words of his mouth. If he does not speak, it shall be done to her as the Old Eagle and his brothers have said."

「兄弟たちよ、戦士たちよ」とチェノスは言った。「われらの息子たちは、ワルクッラ族が自分たちの神に捧げた聖なる踊りに踏み込んで過ちを犯した。そしてその神は見知らぬ戦士たちに雷を貸したのだ。われらが何をしているかもわからないことをして、これ以上その怒りを招くのはやめよう。美しい女を今夜は会議の小屋に、皮にくるんでとどまらせよ。誰にも乱させてはならぬ。明日、われらは偉大な霊に鹿の肉の生贄を捧げよう。そして偉大な霊が女を燃えさかる火と仇を討つ者たちの責め苦に渡すつもりがなければ、その口の言葉でそう告げてくださるだろう。もし何もおっしゃらなければ、年老いた鷲とその兄弟たちの言ったとおりに女を扱おう。」

The head chief said--

頭の首長は言った——

"Chenos has spoken well; wisdom is in his words. Make for the strange woman a soft bed of skins, and treat her kindly, for it may be she is a daughter of the Great Spirit."

「チェノスはよく語った。その言葉には知恵がある。見知らぬ女のために柔らかな皮の寝床をこしらえ、優しく扱え。ひょっとすると偉大な霊の娘かもしれぬのだから。」

Then they all returned to their cabins and slept, save the Head Buffalo, who, fearing for the woman's life, laid himself down at the door of the lodge, and watched.

それからみな自分の小屋へ帰って眠ったが、頭の野牛だけは、女の命を案じて小屋の戸口に横たわって見張った。

When the morning came the warrior went to the forest and killed a deer which he brought to Chenos, who prepared it for a sacrifice, and sang a song while the flesh lay on the fire.

朝になると、戦士は森へ行って鹿を一頭殺し、それをチェノスのもとへ運んだ。チェノスはそれを生贄にする支度をし、肉が火にかかっているあいだ歌を歌った。

"Let us listen," said Chenos, stopping the warriors in their dance. "Let us see if the Great Spirit hears us."

「耳を澄まそう」とチェノスは、踊っている戦士たちを止めて言った。「偉大な霊がわれらの言うことを聞いてくださるか見てみよう。」

They listened, but could hear nothing. Chenos asked him why he did not speak, but he did not answer. Then they sang again.

みな耳を澄ましたが、何も聞こえなかった。チェノスは偉大な霊になぜ話してくださらないのかと尋ねたが、答えはなかった。それからみなはまた歌った。

"Hush!" said Chenos listening. "I hear the crowing of the Great Turkey-cock. I hear him speaking."

「静かに!」とチェノスは耳を澄まして言った。「大いなる七面鳥の雄鶏が鳴くのが聞こえる。それが話しているのが聞こえる。」

They stopped, and Chenos went close to the fire and talked with his master, but nobody saw with whom he talked.

みなが歌うのをやめると、チェノスは火のすぐそばへ行って主と語り合ったが、チェノスが誰と話しているのか誰にも見えなかった。

"What does the Great Spirit tell his prophet?" asked the head chief.

「偉大な霊はその預言者に何と告げておられるのだ」と頭の首長は尋ねた。

"He says," answered Chenos, "the young woman must not be offered to him. He wills her to live and become the mother of many children."

「偉大な霊は」とチェノスは答えた。「若い女を自分に捧げてはならぬとおっしゃる。女が生きて、多くの子の母になることを望んでおられる。」

Many were pleased that she was to live, but those who had lost brothers or sons were not appeased, and they said--

女が生きることになったのを喜ぶ者は多かったが、兄弟や息子を失った者たちはおさまらず、こう言った——

"We will have blood. We will go to the priest of the Evil Spirit, and ask him if his master will not give us revenge."

「わしらは血が欲しい。悪霊の祭司のところへ行って、その主が仇を討たせてくれぬか聞いてこよう。」

Not far from where our nation had their council fire was a great hill, covered with stunted trees and moss, and rugged rocks. There was a great cave in it, in which dwelt Sketupah, the priest of the Evil One, who there did worship to his master. Sketupah would have been tall had he been straight, but he was more crooked than a bent bow. His hair was like a bunch of grapes, and his eyes like two coals of fire. Many were the gifts our nation made to him to gain his favour, and the favour of his master. Who but he feasted on the fattest buffalo hump? Who but he fed on the earliest ear of milky corn, on the best things that grew on the land or in the water?

わが民が会議の火を焚いていたところからほど遠くないところに、いじけた木々と苔とごつごつした岩に覆われた大きな丘があった。そこには大きな洞穴があって、悪しき者の祭司スケトゥパが住み、そこで主をあがめていた。スケトゥパは体がまっすぐなら背が高かっただろうが、曲げた弓よりもひねくれて曲がっていた。髪はブドウの房のようで、目は二つの燃える炭のようだった。わが民は、スケトゥパとその主の好意を得ようと、たくさんの贈り物をした。いちばん脂の乗った野牛のこぶをごちそうになったのは、スケトゥパでなくて誰だったか。いちばん早い乳のようなトウモロコシの穂を、陸や水に育ついちばんよいものを食べたのは、スケトゥパでなくて誰だったか。

The Old Eagle went to the mouth of the cave and cried with a loud voice--

年老いた鷲は洞穴の口へ行って大声で叫んだ——

"Sketupah!"

「スケトゥパ!」

"Sketupah!" answered the hoarse voice of the Evil One from the hollow cave. He soon came and asked the Old Eagle what he wanted.

「スケトゥパ!」とうつろな洞穴から悪しき者のしわがれ声が答えた。まもなくスケトゥパが出てきて、年老いた鷲に何の用かと尋ねた。

"Revenge for our sons who have been killed by the Walkullas and their friends. Will your master hear us?"

「ワルクッラ族とその友に殺された息子たちの仇討ちだ。お前の主はわしらの願いを聞いてくれるか。」

"My master must have a sacrifice; he must smell blood," answered Sketupah. "Then we shall know if he will give revenge. Bring hither a sacrifice in the morning."

「わが主には生贄がなければならぬ。血のにおいを嗅がねばならぬ」とスケトゥパは答えた。「そうすれば、仇を討たせてくださるかどうかわかるだろう。朝、ここへ生贄を持ってこい。」

So in the morning they brought a sacrifice, and the priest laid it on the fire while he danced around. He ceased singing and listened, but the Evil Spirit answered not. Just as he was going to commence another song the warriors saw a large ball rolling very fast up the hill to the spot where they stood. It was the height of a man. When it came up to them it began to unwind itself slowly, until at last a little strange-looking man crept out of the ball, which was made of his own hair. He was no higher than one's shoulders. One of his feet made a strange track, such as no warrior had ever seen before. His face was as black as the shell of the butter-nut or the feathers of the raven, and his eyes as green as grass. His hair was of the colour of moss, and so long that, as the wind blew it out, it seemed the tail of a fiery star.

そこで朝、人々は生贄を持ってきて、祭司はそれを火にかけ、そのまわりを踊った。祭司は歌うのをやめて耳を澄ましたが、悪霊は答えなかった。祭司がまた別の歌をはじめようとしたちょうどそのとき、戦士たちは、大きな玉がたいそうな速さで丘を転がり上がって、自分たちの立っている場所へ来るのを見た。それは人の背丈ほどあった。玉は戦士たちのところまで来ると、ゆっくりほどけはじめ、とうとう奇妙な姿の小さな男が玉から這い出してきた。玉はその男自身の髪でできていたのである。男は人の肩ほどの背丈しかなかった。片方の足は、どの戦士も見たことのない奇妙な足跡をつけた。顔はバターナッツの殻か鴉の羽のように黒く、目は草のように緑だった。髪は苔の色で、あまりに長いので、風に吹かれてなびくと、燃える星の尾のように見えた。

"What do you want of me?" he asked.

「わしに何の用だ」と男は尋ねた。

The priest answered--

祭司は答えた——

"The Shawanos want revenge. They want to sacrifice the beautiful daughter of the sun, whom the Head Buffalo has brought from the camp of the Walkullas."

「ショーニー族は仇討ちを望んでいます。頭の野牛がワルクッラ族の野営地から連れてきた美しい太陽の娘を生贄にしたいのです。」

"They shall have their wish," said the Evil Spirit. "Go and fetch her."

「望みはかなえてやろう」と悪霊は言った。「行って女を連れてこい。」

Then Old Eagle and the warriors fetched her. Head Buffalo would have fought for her, but Chenos commanded him to be still.

そこで年老いた鷲と戦士たちは女を連れてきた。頭の野牛は女のために戦おうとしたが、チェノスがじっとしていろと命じた。

"My master," he said, "will see she does not suffer." Then they fastened her to the stake. The head warrior had stood still, for he hoped that the priest of the Great Spirit should snatch her away from the Evil One. Now he shouted his war-cry and rushed upon Sketupah. It was in vain. Sketupah's master did but breathe upon the face of the warrior when he fell as though he had struck him a blow, and never breathed more. Then the Evil One commanded them to seize Chenos.

「わが主は」とチェノスは言った。「女が苦しまないよう見届けてくださる。」それから人々は女を柱に縛りつけた。戦士の頭はじっと立っていた。偉大な霊の祭司が悪しき者から女を奪い返してくれることを望んでいたからである。今、頭の野牛は雄叫びをあげてスケトゥパに飛びかかった。無駄だった。スケトゥパの主が戦士の顔に息を吹きかけただけで、戦士はまるで一撃を食らったように倒れ、二度と息をしなかった。それから悪しき者はチェノスを捕らえるよう命じた。

"Come, my master," cried Chenos, "for the hands of the Evil One are upon me."

「来てください、わが主よ」とチェノスは叫んだ。「悪しき者の手がわたしにかかっています。」

As soon as he had said this, very far over the tall hills, which Indians call the Backbone of the Great Spirit, the people saw two great lights, brighter and larger than stars, moving very fast towards the land of the Shawanos. One was just as high as another, and they were both as high as the goat-sucker flies before a thunderstorm. At first they were close together, but as they came nearer they grew wider apart. Soon our people saw that they were two eyes, and in a little while the body of a great man, whose head nearly reached the sky, came after them. Brothers, the eyes of the Great Spirit always go before him, and nothing is hid from his sight. Brothers, I cannot describe the Master of Life as he stood before the warriors of our nation. Can you look steadily on the star of the morning?

チェノスがそう言うやいなや、インディアンが偉大な霊の背骨と呼ぶ高い丘々のずっと向こうに、人々は星より明るく大きな二つの光が、たいそうな速さでショーニー族の土地へ向かってくるのを見た。二つは同じ高さにあり、どちらも雷雨の前にヨタカが飛ぶほどの高さにあった。初めは二つは近くに寄り合っていたが、近づくにつれて離れていった。まもなく人々は、それが二つの目で、すぐあとから、頭がほとんど空に届くほどの大男の体がついてくるのを見た。兄弟たちよ、偉大な霊の目はいつもその前を行き、その視界から隠れるものは何もない。兄弟たちよ、命の主がわが民の戦士たちの前に立ったときのさまを、わたしは言い表せない。あなたがたは明けの明星をじっと見つめていられるだろうか。

When the Evil Spirit saw the Spirit of Good coming, he began to grow in stature, and continued swelling until he was as tall and big as he. When the Spirit of Good came near and saw how the Evil Spirit had grown, he stopped, and, looking angry, said, with a voice that shook the hills--

悪霊は善の霊がやって来るのを見ると、背丈が伸びはじめ、ふくれ続けて、とうとう善の霊と同じほど背高く大きくなった。善の霊は近くまで来て、悪霊がどれほど大きくなったかを見ると立ち止まり、怒った顔で、丘々を揺るがす声で言った——

"You lied; you promised to stay among the white people and the nations towards the rising sun, and not trouble my people more."

「お前は嘘をついた。白人たちと日の昇る方角の諸民族のあいだにとどまって、もうわたしの民を悩まさないと約束したではないか。」

"This woman," replied the Evil Spirit, "comes from my country; she is mine."

「この女は」と悪霊は答えた。「わしの国から来た。わしのものだ。」

"She is mine," said the Great Spirit. "I had given her for a wife to the warrior whom you have killed. Tell me no more lies, bad manito, lest I punish you. Away, and see you trouble my people no more."

「その女はわたしのものだ」と偉大な霊は言った。「わたしは、お前が殺した戦士の妻としてその女を与えたのだ。これ以上嘘をつくな、悪しきマニトウよ。さもないと罰するぞ。去れ。そして二度とわたしの民を悩ますな。」

The cowardly spirit made no answer, but shrank down to the size he was when he first came. Then he began as before to roll himself up in his hair, which he soon did, and then disappeared as he came. When he was gone, the Great Spirit shrank till he was no larger than a Shawano, and began talking to our people in a soft sweet voice--

臆病な霊は何も答えず、最初に来たときの大きさまで縮んだ。それから前と同じように自分の髪にくるまりはじめ、まもなくくるまり終えると、来たときと同じように姿を消した。悪霊がいなくなると、偉大な霊はショーニー族の者ほどの大きさに縮み、柔らかな甘い声でわが民に話しはじめた——

"Men of the Shawanos nation, I love you and have always loved you. I bade you conquer your enemies; I gave your foes into your hands. I sent herds of deer and many bears and moose to your hunting-ground, and made my suns shine upon your corn. Who lived so well, who fought so bravely as the Shawanos? Whose women bore so many sons as yours?

「ショーニー族の男たちよ、わたしはお前たちを愛している。これまでもずっと愛してきた。わたしはお前たちに敵を打ち負かせと命じ、敵をお前たちの手に渡した。お前たちの狩り場に鹿の群れやたくさんの熊やヘラジカを送り、わが日の光をお前たちのトウモロコシの上に照らした。ショーニー族ほど豊かに暮らし、勇ましく戦った者がいたか。お前たちの女ほど多くの息子を産んだ女がいたか。

"Why did you disturb the sacrifice which the Walkullas were offering to me at the feast of green corn? I was angry, and gave your warriors into the hands of their enemies.

「なぜお前たちは、ワルクッラ族が青いトウモロコシの宴でわたしに捧げていた生贄を乱したのか。わたしは怒って、お前たちの戦士を敵の手に渡したのだ。

"Shawanos, hear my words, and forget them not; do as I bid you, and you shall see my power and my goodness. Offer no further violence to the white maiden, but treat her kindly. Go now and rake up the ashes of the sacrifice fire into a heap, gathering up the brands. When the great star of evening rises, open the ashes, put in the body of the Head Buffalo, lay on much wood, and kindle a fire on it. Let all the nation be called together, for all must assist in laying wood on the fire, but they must put on no pine, nor the tree which bears white flowers, nor the grape-vine which yields no fruit, nor the shrub whose dew blisters the flesh. The fire must be kept burning two whole moons. It must not go out; it must burn night and day. On the first day of the third moon put no wood on the fire, but let it die. On the morning of the second day the Shawanos must all come to the heap of ashes--every man, woman, and child must come, and the aged who cannot walk must be helped to it. Then Chenos and the head chief must bring out the beautiful woman, and place her near the ashes. This is the will of the Great Spirit."

「ショーニー族よ、わたしの言葉を聞いて忘れるな。わたしの命じるとおりにせよ。そうすればわたしの力と恵みを見るだろう。白い乙女にこれ以上乱暴をしてはならぬ。優しく扱え。さあ行って、生贄の火の灰をかき集めて山にし、燃えさしを拾い集めよ。大いなる宵の星が昇ったら、灰を開いて頭の野牛の体を入れ、薪をたくさん積んで火をつけよ。一族をみな呼び集めよ。みなが火に薪をくべるのを手伝わなければならぬ。ただし松をくべてはならぬ。白い花をつける木も、実のならないブドウの蔓も、その露が肌に水ぶくれをつくる灌木もくべてはならぬ。火はまるふた月燃やし続けなければならぬ。消してはならぬ。昼も夜も燃やさなければならぬ。三か月目の最初の日には火に薪をくべず、消えるに任せよ。二日目の朝、ショーニー族はみな灰の山に来なければならぬ——男も女も子どももみな来なければならず、歩けない年寄りは手を貸して連れてこなければならぬ。それからチェノスと頭の首長が美しい女を連れ出して、灰の近くに置かなければならぬ。これが偉大な霊の意志である。」

When he had finished these words he began to swell until he had reached his former bulk and stature. Then at each of his shoulders came out a wing of the colour of the gold-headed pigeon. Gently shaking these, he took flight from the land of the Shawanos, and was never seen in those beautiful regions again.

偉大な霊はこの言葉を言い終えると、ふくれはじめて、もとの大きさと背丈になった。それから両肩から金色の頭の鳩の色をした翼が一枚ずつ出てきた。それを静かに振ると、偉大な霊はショーニー族の土地から飛び立ち、それからその美しい地方で二度と姿を見られなかった。

The Shawanos did as he bade them. They raked the ashes together, laid the body of Head Buffalo in them, lighted the fire, and kept it burning the appointed time. On the first day of the third moon they let the fire out, assembled the nation around, and placed the beautiful woman near the ashes. They waited, and looked to see what would happen. At last the priests and warriors who were nearest began to shout, crying out--

ショーニー族は命じられたとおりにした。灰をかき集め、頭の野牛の体をそのなかに横たえ、火をつけて、定められたあいだ燃やし続けた。三か月目の最初の日に火を消えるに任せ、一族をまわりに集め、美しい女を灰の近くに置いた。人々は何が起こるか待って見つめていた。とうとういちばん近くにいた祭司と戦士たちが叫びはじめ、こう叫んだ——

"Piqua!" which in the Shawanos tongue means a man coming out of the ashes, or a man made of ashes.

「ピクア!」それはショーニー族の言葉で、灰から出てくる人、あるいは灰でできた人という意味である。

They told no lie. There he stood, a man tall and straight as a young pine, looking like a Shawanos, but handsomer than any man of our nation. The first thing he did was to cry the war-whoop, and demand paint, a club, a bow and arrows, and a hatchet,--all of which were given him. Looking around he saw the white woman, and he walked up to her, and gazed in her eyes. Then he came to the head chief and said--

人々は嘘をついていなかった。そこに一人の男が立っていた。若い松のように背高くまっすぐで、ショーニー族のように見えたが、わが一族のどの男よりも美しかった。男が最初にしたのは雄叫びをあげて、化粧と棍棒と弓矢と手斧を求めることだった——それはみな男に与えられた。あたりを見まわすと白い女が見えたので、男は女のところへ歩いていって、その目をじっと見つめた。それから頭の首長のところへ来て言った——

"I must have that woman for my wife."

「あの女を妻にしなければならない。」

"What are you?" asked the chief.

「お前は何者だ」と首長は尋ねた。

"A man of ashes," he replied.

「灰の男だ」と男は答えた。

"Who made you?"

「誰がお前を造った。」

"The Great Spirit; and now let me go, that I may take my bow and arrows, kill my deer, and come back and take the beautiful maiden for my wife."

「偉大な霊だ。さあ、行かせてくれ。弓矢を取って鹿を仕留め、戻ってきて美しい乙女を妻にするのだ。」

The chief asked Chenos--

首長はチェノスに尋ねた——

"Shall he have her? Does the Great Spirit give her to him?"

「この男に女を与えてよいか。偉大な霊は女をこの男にお与えになるのか。」

"Yes," replied the priest. "The Great Spirit has willed that he shall have her, and from them shall arise a tribe to be called Piqua."

「そうだ」と祭司は答えた。「偉大な霊は、この男が女を得ることを望まれた。そして二人から、ピクアと呼ばれる部族が生まれるだろう。」

Brothers, I am a Piqua, descended from the man made of ashes. If I have told you a lie, blame not me, for I have but told the story as I heard it. Brothers, I have done.

兄弟たちよ、わたしはピクアで、灰でできた男の子孫である。もしわたしが嘘をついたとしても、わたしを責めないでほしい。わたしは聞いたとおりに話を語っただけなのだから。兄弟たちよ、これで話を終える。