21 Hase-Hime, never dreaming of the dreadful part her step-mother was acting, took one of the cups of wine and gave to her little step brother the other that had been poured out for him.
21 長谷姫は、継母が恐ろしいことをしているなどとは夢にも思わず、ワインの入ったカップを一つ取り、弟のために注がれていたもう一つを義理の弟に与えました。
22 The wicked woman had carefully marked the poisoned bottle, but on coming into the room she had grown nervous, and pouring out the wine hurriedly had unconsciously given the poisoned cup to her own child. All this time she was anxiously watching the little Princess, but to her amazement no change whatever took place in the young girl’s face. Suddenly the little boy screamed and threw himself on the floor, doubled up with pain. His mother flew to him, taking the precaution to upset the two tiny jars of wine which she had brought into the room, and lifted him up. The attendants rushed for the doctor, but nothing could save the child—he died within the hour in his mother’s arms. Doctors did not know much in those ancient times, and it was thought that the wine had disagreed with the boy, causing convulsions of which he died.
22 邪悪な女は毒入りの瓶に注意深く印をつけていたが、部屋に入ると緊張し、急いでぶどう酒を注ぎ出すと、無意識のうちに自分の子供に毒入りのコップを与えてしまった.この間、彼女は心配そうに小さなお姫様を見つめていましたが、驚いたことに、少女の顔に何の変化も見られませんでした。突然、少年は悲鳴を上げ、床に身を投げ出しました。彼の母親は彼のところに飛んで行き、彼女が部屋に持ってきた2つの小さなワインの瓶をひっくり返すように注意し、彼を持ち上げました.付添人は急いで医者に駆けつけましたが、子供を救うことはできませんでした。子供は母親の腕の中で1時間以内に亡くなりました。昔の医者はあまり知らず、ワインが少年に合わなかったため、けいれんを起こし、少年は死亡したと考えられていました。
23 Thus was the wicked woman punished in losing her own child when she had tried to do away with her step-daughter; but instead of blaming herself she began to hate Hase-Hime more than ever in the bitterness and wretchedness of her own heart, and she eagerly watched for an opportunity to do her harm, which was, however, long in coming.
23 このように、義理の娘を殺そうとしたときに自分の子供を失ったことで、邪悪な女性は罰せられました。しかし、彼女は自分を責める代わりに、自分の心の苦々しさと惨めさの中で、これまで以上に長谷姫を憎み始め、自分に危害を加える機会を熱心に見守っていました。
24 When Hase-Hime was thirteen years of age, she had already become mentioned as a poetess of some merit. This was an accomplishment very much cultivated by the women of old Japan and one held in high esteem.
24 長谷姫が 13 歳のとき、彼女はすでにいくつかの功績のある詩人として言及されるようになっていました。これは、昔の日本の女性たちによって非常に培われた功績であり、高く評価されていました.
25 It was the rainy season at Nara, and floods were reported every day as doing damage in the neighborhood. The river Tatsuta, which flowed through the Imperial Palace grounds, was swollen to the top of its banks, and the roaring of the torrents of water rushing along a narrow bed so disturbed the Emperor’s rest day and night, that a serious nervous disorder was the result. An Imperial Edict was sent forth to all the Buddhist temples commanding the priests to offer up continuous prayers to Heaven to stop the noise of the flood. But this was of no avail.
25 奈良は梅雨の時期で、洪水が連日報告され、近隣に被害が及んでいました。皇居の境内を流れる竜田川が増水し、せせらぎの河床を流れる激流の轟音が、昼夜を問わず天皇の休息を妨げ、深刻な神経障害を引き起こした。結果。勅令がすべての仏教寺院に送られ、洪水の騒音を止めるために僧侶に天に絶え間ない祈りを捧げるよう命じました。しかし、これは役に立ちませんでした。
26 Then it was whispered in Court circles that the Princess Hase, the daughter of Prince Toyonari Fujiwara, second minister at Court, was the most gifted poetess of the day, though still so young, and her masters confirmed the report. Long ago, a beautiful and gifted maiden-poetess had moved Heaven by praying in verse, had brought down rain upon a land famished with drought—so said the ancient biographers of the poetess Ono-no-Komachi. If the Princess Hase were to write a poem and offer it in prayer, might it not stop the noise of the rushing river and remove the cause of the Imperial illness? What the Court said at last reached the ears of the Emperor himself, and he sent an order to the minister Prince Toyonari to this effect.
26 その後、藤原豊成親王の娘で、宮廷の二等大臣である長谷姫が、まだ幼いながらも当時の最も才能のある詩人であることが宮廷内で囁かれ、彼女の主人はその報告を確認した.むかし、美しく才能のある乙女詩人が詩で祈ることによって天を動かし、旱魃に飢えた土地に雨を降らせました。長谷姫が歌を詠んでお祈りすると、川のせせらぎが止まり、皇室病の原因が取り除かれるのではないでしょうか。朝廷の言葉はついに天皇自身の耳に届き、大臣は豊成親王にこの旨の命令を送った。
27 Great indeed was Hase-Hime’s fear and astonishment when her father sent for her and told her what was required of her. Heavy, indeed, was the duty that was laid on her young shoulders—that of saving the Emperor’s life by the merit of her verse.
27 長谷姫の父親が長谷姫を呼びに来て、彼女に求められていることを告げたとき、長谷姫の恐怖と驚きは実に大きかった。確かに、彼女の若い肩に課せられた義務は重いものでした。彼女の詩の功績によって皇帝の命を救うという義務でした。
28 At last the day came and her poem was finished. It was written on a leaflet of paper heavily flecked with gold-dust. With her father and attendants and some of the Court officials, she proceeded to the bank of the roaring torrent and raising up her heart to Heaven, she read the poem she had composed, aloud, lifting it heavenwards in her two hands.
28 とうとうその日が来て、彼女の詩は完成しました。それは、金粉のちりばめられた紙のチラシに書かれていました。彼女は父と付添人、そして何人かの宮廷官吏と共に、轟音の激流の岸へと進み、心を天に向けて掲げ、自分が書いた詩を声に出して読み上げ、それを両手で天へと掲げた。
29 Strange indeed it seemed to all those standing round. The waters ceased their roaring, and the river was quiet in direct answer to her prayer. After this the Emperor soon recovered his health.
29 まわりに立っている人たち全員にとって、それは確かに奇妙に思えた。水は轟音を止め、川は彼女の祈りに直接応えて静かになりました.この後、皇帝はすぐに健康を取り戻しました。
30 His Majesty was highly pleased, and sent for her to the Palace and rewarded her with the rank of Chinjo—that of Lieutenant-General—to distinguish her. From that time she was called Chinjo-hime, or the Lieutenant-General Princess, and respected and loved by all.
30 陛下は非常に喜んで、彼女を宮殿に呼び寄せ、彼女を際立たせるために鎮城の階級、つまり中将の階級を彼女に与えた。それ以来、彼女は鎮城姫または中将姫と呼ばれ、すべての人から尊敬され、愛されていました.
31 There was only one person who was not pleased at Hase-Hime’s success. That one was her stepmother. Forever brooding over the death of her own child whom she had killed when trying to poison her step-daughter, she had the mortification of seeing her rise to power and honor, marked by Imperial favor and the admiration of the whole Court. Her envy and jealousy burned in her heart like fire. Many were the lies she carried to her husband about Hase-Hime, but all to no purpose. He would listen to none of her tales, telling her sharply that she was quite mistaken.
31 長谷姫の成功を快く思わなかった者はただ一人。その人は彼女の継母でした。義理の娘に毒を盛ろうとして殺してしまった自分の子供の死を永遠に思い悩んでいた彼女は、皇帝の寵愛と宮廷全体の称賛によって、自分が権力と名誉を獲得するのを見るという屈辱を味わった。彼女の羨望と嫉妬は彼女の心に火のように燃えていました。彼女が長谷姫について夫に伝えた多くの嘘でしたが、すべて無駄でした。彼は彼女の話に耳を貸そうとせず、彼女がかなり間違っていると鋭く告げた。
32 At last the step-mother, seizing the opportunity of her husband’s absence, ordered one of her old servants to take the innocent girl to the Hibari Mountains, the wildest part of the country, and to kill her there. She invented a dreadful story about the little Princess, saying that this was the only way to prevent disgrace falling upon the family—by killing her.
32 とうとう継母は、夫の不在の機会をとらえて、彼女の年老いた使用人の一人に、無実の少女を国の最も荒れた地域である雲雀山に連れて行き、そこで彼女を殺すように命じた.彼女は小さな王女についての恐ろしい話をでっち上げ、家族に恥辱が降りかかるのを防ぐ唯一の方法は彼女を殺すことだと言いました。
33 Katoda, her vassal, was bound to obey his mistress. Anyhow, he saw that it would be the wisest plan to pretend obedience in the absence of the girl’s father, so he placed Hase-Hime in a palanquin and accompanied her to the most solitary place he could find in the wild district. The poor child knew there was no good in protesting to her unkind step-mother at being sent away in this strange manner, so she went as she was told.
33 彼女の家臣であるカトダは、愛人に従う義務があった。とにかく、娘の父親がいないところで服従のふりをするのが一番賢明だと思った彼は、長谷姫を駕籠に乗せて、野生区で見つけられる限り最も人里離れた場所に連れて行った。可哀想な子供は、この奇妙な方法で送り出された不親切な継母に抗議しても意味がないことを知っていたので、言われたとおりに行きました.
34 But the old servant knew that the young Princess was quite innocent of all the things her step-mother had invented to him as reasons for her outrageous orders, and he determined to save her life. Unless he killed her, however, he could not return to his cruel task-mistress, so he decided to stay out in the wilderness. With the help of some peasants he soon built a little cottage, and having sent secretly for his wife to come, these two good old people did all in their power to take care of the now unfortunate Princess. She all the time trusted in her father, knowing that as soon as he returned home and found her absent, he would search for her.
34 しかし、年老いた使用人は、若い王女が、彼女の法外な命令の理由として彼女の継母が彼に発明したすべてのことについてまったく無実であることを知っていたので、彼女の命を救うことを決心しました.しかし、彼女を殺さない限り、彼は残酷な仕事の女主人に戻ることができなかったので、彼は荒野にとどまることにしました.何人かの農民の助けを借りて、彼はすぐに小さな家を建て、奥さんが来るようにこっそりと送りました。この二人の古き良き人々は、今や不幸な王女の世話をするために全力を尽くしました。彼女はいつも父親を信頼しており、父親が家に帰って彼女がいないことに気付くとすぐに彼女を探してくれることを知っていました.
35 Prince Toyonari, after some weeks, came home, and was told by his wife that his daughter Hime had done something wrong and had run away for fear of being punished. He was nearly ill with anxiety. Every one in the house told the same story—that Hase-Hime had suddenly disappeared, none of them knew why or whither. For fear of scandal he kept the matter quiet and searched everywhere he could think of, but all to no purpose.
35 数週間後、豊成皇子が帰宅すると、妻から、娘の姫が何か悪いことをしたので罰せられるのを恐れて逃げ出したと告げられた.彼は不安でほとんど病気でした。家の誰もが同じ話をしました – 長谷姫が突然姿を消した、誰もその理由や場所を知りませんでした.スキャンダルを恐れて、彼はこの件を黙って、思いつくところはどこでも探したが、すべて無駄だった。
36 One day, trying to forget his terrible worry, he called all his men together and told them to make ready for a several days’ hunt in the mountains. They were soon ready and mounted, waiting at the gate for their lord. He rode hard and fast to the district of the Hibari Mountains, a great company following him. He was soon far ahead of every one, and at last found himself in a narrow picturesque valley.
36 ある日、彼はひどい心配を忘れようとして、すべての部下を集めて、山で数日間狩りをする準備をするように言いました。彼らはすぐに準備が整い、馬に乗り、門で主君を待ちました。彼はひばり山脈の地区に向けて懸命に速く走りました。彼はすぐに誰よりも先を行き、ついには絵のように美しい狭い谷にたどり着きました。
37 Looking round and admiring the scenery, he noticed a tiny house on one of the hills quite near, and then he distinctly heard a beautiful clear voice reading aloud. Seized with curiosity as to who could be studying so diligently in such a lonely spot, he dismounted, and leaving his horse to his groom, he walked up the hillside and approached the cottage. As he drew nearer his surprise increased, for he could see that the reader was a beautiful girl. The cottage was wide open and she was sitting facing the view. Listening attentively, he heard her reading the Buddhist scriptures with great devotion. More and more curious, he hurried on to the tiny gate and entered the little garden, and looking up beheld his lost daughter Hase-Hime. She was so intent on what she was saying that she neither heard nor saw her father till he spoke.
37 周りを見回して景色を眺めていると、かなり近くの丘の 1 つに小さな家があることに気付きました。誰がこんな人里離れた場所で熱心に勉強しているのだろうかと好奇心にかられ、彼は馬を降り、花婿に馬を預け、丘の中腹を歩いて小屋に近づきました。彼が近づくにつれて、読者が美しい女の子であることがわかったので、彼の驚きは増した.コテージは大きく開いていて、彼女は景色に向かって座っていました。注意深く耳を傾けると、彼女が熱心に仏典を読んでいるのが聞こえました。ますます興味をそそられて、彼は小さな門に急いで行き、小さな庭に入り、見上げると、亡くなった娘の長谷姫が見えました。彼女は自分の言っていることに集中していたので、父親が話すまで聞いたり見たりすることはありませんでした.
38 “Hase-Hime!” he cried, “it is you, my Hase-Hime!”
38「ハセ姫！」彼は叫びました、「それはあなたです、私のハセ姫！」
39 Taken by surprise, she could hardly realize that it was her own dear father who was calling her, and for a moment she was utterly bereft of the power to speak or move.
驚いたことに、彼女は自分を呼んでいるのが自分の親愛なる父親であることにほとんど気がつかず、しばらくの間、話す力も動く力も完全に失っていた.
40 “My father, my father! It is indeed you—oh, my father!” was all she could say, and running to him she caught hold of his thick sleeve, and burying her face burst into a passion of tears.
40 「お父さん、お父さん！それは確かにあなたです-ああ、私の父です！彼女が言えることはそれだけだったので、彼に駆け寄り、彼の分厚い袖をつかみ、顔を埋めて涙をこぼしました。