1 THE STORY OF THE OLD MAN WHO MADE WITHERED TREES TO FLOWER
1 花咲か爺
2 Long, long ago there lived an old man and his wife who supported themselves by cultivating a small plot of land. Their life had been a very happy and peaceful one save for one great sorrow, and this was they had no child. Their only pet was a dog named Shiro, and on him they lavished all the affection of their old age. Indeed, they loved him so much that whenever they had anything nice to eat they denied themselves to give it to Shiro. Now Shiro means “white,” and he was so called because of his color. He was a real Japanese dog, and very like a small wolf in appearance.
2 昔々、小さな土地を耕すことで生計を立てていた老人とその妻が住んでいました。彼らの人生はとても幸せで平和なものでしたが、1 つの大きな悲しみを除けば、子供がいなかったのです。彼らの唯一のペットはシロという名前の犬であり、シロには老後のすべての愛情が惜しみなく注がれていました。確かに、彼らは彼をとても愛していたので、おいしいものを食べたときはいつでもシロにそれを与えることを拒否しました.現在、シロは「白」を意味し、その色からそう呼ばれていました。彼は本物の日本犬で、見た目は小さなオオカミのようでした。
3 The happiest hour of the day both for the old man and his dog was when the man returned from his work in the field, and having finished his frugal supper of rice and vegetables, would take what he had saved from the meal out to the little veranda that ran round the cottage. Sure enough, Shiro was waiting for his master and the evening tit-bit. Then the old man said “Chin, chin!” and Shiro sat up and begged, and his master gave him the food. Next door to this good old couple there lived another old man and his wife who were both wicked and cruel, and who hated their good neighbors and the dog Shiro with all their might. Whenever Shiro happened to look into their kitchen they at once kicked him or threw something at him, sometimes even wounding him.
3 おじいさんも犬も一日で最も幸せな時間は、おじいさんが畑仕事から帰ってきて、ご飯と野菜の質素な夕食を食べ終えて、食事から取っておいたものを家に持っていくときでした。コテージの周りにある小さなベランダ。案の定、士郎はご主人様と夜のシジュウカラを待っていた。すると老人は「チン、チン！」と言いました。シロは立ち上がって懇願し、主人は彼に食べ物を与えました。この古き良き夫婦の隣には、邪悪で残酷な別の老人とその妻が住んでいました。シロがたまたま台所をのぞき込むと、すぐにシロを蹴ったり、物を投げつけたり、ときには怪我をさせたりした。
4 One day Shiro was heard barking for a long time in the field at the back of his master’s house. The old man, thinking that perhaps some birds were attacking the corn, hurried out to see what was the matter. As soon as Shiro saw his master he ran to meet him, wagging his tail, and, seizing the end of his kimono, dragged him under a large yenoki tree. Here he began to dig very industriously with his paws, yelping with joy all the time. The old man, unable to understand what it all meant, stood looking on in bewilderment. But Shiro went on barking and digging with all his might.
4 ある日、シロは主人の家の裏の畑で長い間吠えているのが聞こえた。おじいさんは、鳥がとうもろこしを襲っているのではないかと思い、急いで様子を見に行きました。士郎は師匠を見るやいなや、しっぽを振って走って迎えに行き、着物の端をつかみ、大きな円の木の下に引きずり込みました。ここで、彼は足で非常に熱心に掘り始め、いつも喜びで叫びました。老人はそれが何を意味するのか理解できず、当惑して立っていた。しかし、士郎は全力で吠え、掘り続けた。
5 The thought that something might be hidden beneath the tree, and that the dog had scented it, at last struck the old man. He ran back to the house, fetched his spade and began to dig the ground at that spot. What was his astonishment when, after digging for some time, he came upon a heap of old and valuable coins, and the deeper he dug the more gold coins did he find. So intent was the old man on his work that he never saw the cross face of his neighbor peering at him through the bamboo hedge. At last all the gold coins lay shining on the ground. Shiro sat by erect with pride and looking fondly at his master as if to say, “You see, though only a dog, I can make some return for all the kindness you show me.”
5 何かが木の下に隠されているのではないか、犬が匂いを嗅いだのではないかという考えが、ついに老人を襲った。彼は家に戻って鋤を取り、その場所で地面を掘り始めました。しばらく掘った後、古くて価値のあるコインの山に出くわしたときの彼の驚きは何だったでしょう。老人は熱心に仕事に取り組んでいたので、竹の生け垣から隣人の横顔が彼をじっと見つめているのを見たことはありませんでした。ついにすべての金貨が地面に光り輝いた。シロは誇りを持って直立し、主人を愛情を込めて見つめて、「ほら、犬に過ぎませんが、あなたが私に示してくれたすべての親切にいくらかの恩返しをすることができます.」
6 The old man ran in to call his wife, and together they carried home the treasure. Thus in one day the poor old man became rich. His gratitude to the faithful dog knew no bounds, and he loved and petted him more than ever, if that were possible.
6 老人は妻を呼ぶために駆け寄り、一緒に宝物を家に持ち帰りました。このようにして、貧しい老人は一日で金持ちになりました。忠実な犬への彼の感謝は際限がなく、可能であれば、彼はこれまで以上に彼を愛し、かわいがりました。
7 The cross old neighbor, attracted by Shiro’s barking, had been an unseen and envious witness of the finding of the treasure. He began to think that he, too, would like to find a fortune. So a few days later he called at the old man’s house and very ceremoniously asked permission to borrow Shiro for a short time.
7 シロの吠え声に惹かれた十字架の古い隣人は、宝の発見の目に見えない羨望の証人でした.彼は自分も財産を見つけたいと考え始めました。それで数日後、彼は老人の家を訪れ、非常に厳粛にシロを短期間借りる許可を求めました.
8 Shiro’s master thought this a strange request, because he knew quite well that not only did his neighbor not love his pet dog, but that he never lost an opportunity of striking and tormenting him whenever the dog crossed his path. But the good old man was too kind-hearted to refuse his neighbor, so he consented to lend the dog on condition that he should be taken great care of.
8 シロの主人は、これは変な要求だと思った。なぜなら、彼の隣人が愛犬を愛していなかっただけでなく、犬が道を横切るたびに彼を殴ったり苦しめたりする機会を逃したことがないことをよく知っていたからである。しかし、善良な老人は親切すぎて隣人を断ることができなかったので、世話をするという条件で犬を貸すことに同意しました。
9 The wicked old man returned to his home with an evil smile on his face, and told his wife how he had succeeded in his crafty intentions. He then took his spade and hastened to his own field, forcing the unwilling Shiro to follow him. As soon as he reached a yenoki tree, he said to the dog, threateningly:
9 邪悪な老人は、邪悪な笑みを顔に浮かべて家に帰り、妻に、彼の狡猾な意図がいかに成功したかを話しました。それから彼はスペードを取り、自分の畑に急いで行き、不本意なシロに彼を追いかけさせました。イェノキの木にたどり着くとすぐに、彼は犬に脅迫的に言いました：
10 “If there were gold coins under your master’s tree, there must also be gold coins under my tree. You must find them for me! Where are they? Where? Where?”
10 「ご主人様の木の下に金貨があるなら、私の木の下にも金貨があるはずです。あなたは私のためにそれらを見つける必要があります ！彼らはどこにいる？どこ？どこ？\”
11 And catching hold of Shiro’s neck he held the dog’s head to the ground, so that Shiro began to scratch and dig in order to free himself from the horrid old man’s grasp.
11 そしてシロの首をつかみ、犬の頭を地面につけたので、シロは恐ろしい老人の手から逃れるために引っ掻いたり掘ったりし始めた。
12 The old man was very pleased when he saw the dog begin to scratch and dig, for he at once supposed that some gold coins lay buried under his tree as well as under his neighbor’s, and that the dog had scented them as before; so pushing Shiro away he began to dig himself, but there was nothing to be found. As he went on digging a foul smell was noticeable, and he at last came upon a refuse heap.
12 犬が引っ掻いたり掘ったりし始めたのを見て、老人はとても喜んだ。そこでシロを押しのけ、自分を掘り始めたが何も見つからなかった。掘り進めるうちに異臭が立ちこめ、とうとうゴミの山にたどり着きました。
13 The old man’s disgust can be imagined. This soon gave way to anger. He had seen his neighbor’s good fortune, and hoping for the same luck himself, he had borrowed the dog Shiro; and now, just as he seemed on the point of finding what he sought, only a horrid smelling refuse heap had rewarded him for a morning’s digging. Instead of blaming his own greed for his disappointment, he blamed the poor dog. He seized his spade, and with all his strength struck Shiro and killed him on the spot. He then threw the dog’s body into the hole which he had dug in the hope of finding a treasure of gold coins, and covered it over with the earth. Then he returned to the house, telling no one, not even his wife, what he had done.
13 老人の嫌悪感は想像に難くない。これはすぐに怒りに変わりました。彼は隣人の幸運を見て、自分も同じ幸運を願って、シロという犬を借りた。そして今、彼が探しているものを見つけようとしているように見えたのと同じように、恐ろしいにおいのゴミの山だけが彼に朝の掘削の報酬を与えました.彼は失望の原因を自分の貪欲さのせいにする代わりに、かわいそうな犬のせいにした。彼はスペードをつかみ、全力でシロを殴り、その場で殺した.それから、金貨の宝物を見つけようと掘った穴に犬の死体を投げ入れ、土をかぶせました。それから彼は家に戻り、自分のしたことを誰にも、妻でさえも話しませんでした。
14 After waiting several days, as the dog Shiro did not return, his master began to grow anxious. Day after day went by and the good old man waited in vain. Then he went to his neighbor and asked him to give him back his dog. Without any shame or hesitation, the wicked neighbor answered that he had killed Shiro because of his bad behavior. At this dreadful news Shiro’s master wept many sad and bitter tears. Great indeed, was his woful surprise, but he was too good and gentle to reproach his bad neighbor. Learning that Shiro was buried under the yenoki tree in the field, he asked the old man to give him the tree, in remembrance of his poor dog Shiro.
14 数日待っても犬のシロが帰ってこないので、主人は不安になり始めました。毎日が過ぎ、古き良き男は無駄に待っていました。それから彼は隣人のところに行き、犬を返してくれるように頼みました。恥ずかしさやためらうことなく、邪悪な隣人は、彼の悪い行動のためにシロを殺したと答えました.この恐ろしいニュースで、シロのマスターは多くの悲しくて苦い涙を流しました.確かに、彼のひどい驚きは素晴らしかったが、彼はあまりにも親切で優しいので、悪い隣人を非難することはできなかった.シロが野原のエノキの木の下に埋葬されていることを知った彼は、かわいそうな犬のシロを偲んで、老人に木を与えるように頼んだ。
15 Even the cross old neighbor could not refuse such a simple request, so he consented to give the old man the tree under which Shiro lay buried. Shiro’s master then cut the tree down and carried it home. Out of the trunk he made a mortar. In this his wife put some rice, and he began to pound it with the intention of making a festival to the memory of his dog Shiro.
15 十字架の古い隣人でさえ、そのような単純な要求を拒否することはできなかったので、シロが埋葬された木を老人に与えることに同意した.シロの主人は木を切り倒して家に持ち帰りました。トランクから彼は迫撃砲を作りました。これに妻がご飯を入れ、愛犬のシロを偲んで祭りを作ろうと思い、米を搗き始めた。
16 A strange thing happened! His wife put the rice into the mortar, and no sooner had he begun to pound it to make the cakes, than it began to increase in quantity gradually till it was about five times the original amount, and the cakes were turned out of the mortar as if an invisible hand were at work.
16 おかしなことが起きた！彼の妻は米をすり鉢に入れ、餅を作るために米をたたき始めるとすぐに、その量が徐々に増え始め、元の量の約 5 倍になり、餅がすり鉢から取り出されました。まるで見えざる手が働いているかのように。
17 When the old man and his wife saw this, they understood that it was a reward to them from Shiro for their faithful love to him. They tasted the cakes and found them nicer than any other food. So from this time they never troubled about food, for they lived upon the cakes with which the mortar never ceased to supply them.
17 老人とその妻はこれを見て、これがシロへの忠実な愛情に対する報いだと理解した。彼らはケーキを味わって、他のどの食べ物よりもおいしいと感じました.この時から彼らは食べ物に悩まされることはありませんでした。なぜなら彼らはすり鉢が絶え間なく与えてくれるケーキを食べて暮らしていたからです。
18 The greedy neighbor, hearing of this new piece of good luck, was filled with envy as before, and called on the old man and asked leave to borrow the wonderful mortar for a short time, pretending that he, too, sorrowed for the death of Shiro, and wished to make cakes for a festival to the dog’s memory.
18 貪欲な隣人は、この新しい幸運のかけらを聞いて、以前と同じようにねたみに満ち、老人を呼び、彼もまた死を悲しんでいるふりをして、素晴らしいモルタルを少しの間貸してほしいと頼んだ。シロの思い出に、お祭り用のケーキを作りたいと思いました。
19 The old man did not in the least wish to lend it to his cruel neighbor, but he was too kind to refuse. So the envious man carried home the mortar, but he never brought it back.
19 老人はそれを残酷な隣人に貸したくはありませんでしたが、親切すぎて断ることができませんでした。それでねたみ深い男は迫撃砲を家に持ち帰りましたが、決して持ち帰らなかったのです。
20 Several days passed, and Shiro’s master waited in vain for the mortar, so he went to call on the borrower, and asked him to be good enough to return the mortar if he had finished with it. He found him sitting by a big fire made of pieces of wood. On the ground lay what looked very much like pieces of a broken mortar. In answer to the old man’s inquiry, the wicked neighbor answered haughtily:
20 数日が経ち、シロの主人はモルタルを待っても無駄だったので、借主を訪ねて、使い終わったらモルタルを返してくれるよう頼んだ。彼は彼が木片でできた大きな火のそばに座っているのを見つけました。地面には、壊れた迫撃砲の破片のように見えるものが横たわっていました。老人の質問に、邪悪な隣人は傲慢に答えた。
