Translations: Aesop’s Fables イソップ物語（１）

日本語にほんご　Aesop’s Fables



父ちち　と　息子むすこたち

The Father and His Sons



父親ちちおや　には

何人なんにんか　の　息子むすこ　が　い　ました。

彼かれら　は

いつも　喧嘩けんか　を　して　い　ました。

A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves.



父親ちちおや　が

止やめる　ように　言いって聞きかせても

だめ　でした。

When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations,



互たがいに　争あらそう　こと　は　愚おろか　だと

もっと　現実的げんじつてき　に　教おしえよう

と　父親ちちおや　は　思おもい　ました。

he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;



ある　日ひ

彼かれ　は　息子むすこたち　に、

薪たきぎ　の　束たば　を　持もってくる　ように　言いい　ました。

and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks.



息子むすこたち　が

薪たきぎ　の　束たば　を　持もって来くる　と、

When they had done so,

彼かれ　は、

一人ひとり一人ひとり　に　その　束たば　を　手渡てわたし、

それ　を　折おる　ように　命めいじ　ました。

he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession, and ordered them to break it in pieces.



息子むすこたち　は、

力ちからいっぱい　試ためし　ました　が

折おれ　ません　でした。

They tried with all their strength, and were not able to do it.



そこで、

彼かれ　は、

束たば　を　ほどいて、バラバラ　に　して、

息子むすこたち　に　それぞれ　を　手渡てわたし　ました。

He next opened the faggot, took the sticks separately, one by one, and again put them into his sons' hands,



息子むすこたち　は、

簡単かんたん　に　折おり　ました。

upon which they broke them easily.



そこで、

父親ちちおや　は　息子むすこたち　に、

こんなこと　を　言いって聞きかせ　ました。

He then addressed them in these words:



「息子むすこたち　よ。

"My sons,



　もし　お前まえたち　が、心こころ　を　一ひとつ　に　して、

　互たがい　に　助たすけ合あえ　ば、

　この　薪たきぎ　の　束たば　の　ように、

　どんな　敵てき　にも　負まけ　ない。

if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each other, you will be as this faggot, uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies;



　しかし、

　互たがい　が　バラバラ　なら、

　この　棒ぼうきれ　の　ように、

　簡単かんたんに　折おられて　しまう」

but if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as these sticks."



The Father And His Sons

A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion; and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks. When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession, and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their strength, and were not able to do it. He next opened the faggot, took the sticks separately, one by one, and again put them into his sons' hands, upon which they broke them easily. He then addressed them in these words: "My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each other, you will be as this faggot, uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies; but if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as these sticks."



ライオン　と　ネズミ

The Lion and the Mouse



ライオン　が　寝ねて　いる　と

ネズミ　が

顔かお　の　上うえ　を　走はしって　行いき　ました。

ライオン　は　目め　を　覚さまし　ました。

A LION was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running over his face.



ライオン　は、

怒おこって　起おき上あがり

ネズミ　を　捕つかまえ

殺ころそう　と　し　ました。

Rising up angrily, he caught him and was about to kill him,



すると

ネズミ　は、

必死ひっしに　頼たのみ　ました。

when the Mouse piteously entreated, saying:



「命いのち　は　助たすけて　下ください。

　そうすれば　必かならず　恩返おんがえし　を　し　ます。」

"If you would only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness."



ライオン　は、

鼻はな　で　笑わらって

ネズミ　を　逃にがして　やり　ました。

The Lion laughed and let him go.



それから　少すこし　して

ライオン　は、

猟師りょうし　に　捕つかまり

太ふとい　ロープ　で　縛しばられて　しまい　ました。

It happened shortly after this that the Lion was caught by some hunters, who bound him by strong ropes to the ground.



ネズミ　は、

ライオン　の　うなり声ごえ　を　聞きいて、

やって来きて

歯は　で　ロープ　を　かじり

ライオン　を　逃にがして　やり　ました。

ネズミ　は、

得意とくいそうに　言いい　ました。

The Mouse, recognizing his roar, came gnawed the rope with his teeth, and set him free, exclaim



「あなた　は　この　前まえ

　私わたし　が　あなた　を　助たすける

　と　言いう　と

　鼻はな　で　笑わらって

　私わたし　が　あなた　に　恩返おんがえし　を　する　など　とは

　思おもい　ません　でした　よ　ね。

"You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, not expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favor;



　でも　もう

　ネズミ　だって　ライオン　を　助たすけられる

　と　わかった　でしょう」

now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to confer benefits on a Lion."



The Lion And The Mouse

A LION was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running over his face. Rising up angrily, he caught him and was about to kill him, when the Mouse piteously entreated, saying: "If you would only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness." The Lion laughed and let him go. It happened shortly after this that the Lion was caught by some hunters, who bound him by strong ropes to the ground. The Mouse, recognizing his roar, came and gnawed the rope with his teeth, and set him free, exclaiming:

"You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, not expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favor; now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to confer benefits on a Lion."



ロバ　と　キリギリス

The Ass and the Grasshopper



ロバ　は、

キリギリス　の　歌声うたごえ　を　聞きいて　感動かんどうし、

自分じぶん　も　美うつくしい　声こえ　で　歌うたい　たい

と　思おもい　ました。

AN ASS having heard some Grasshoppers chirping, was highly enchanted; and, desiring to possess the same charms of melody,



ロバ　は、キリギリス　に、

どんな　もの　を　食たべる　と

そんな　美うつくしい　声こえ　に　なる　の　か

と　尋たずね　ました。

demanded what sort of food they lived on to give them such beautiful voices.



キリギリス　は　答こたえ　ました。

They replied,



「水滴すいてき　だよ」

"The dew."



それで、

ロバ　は、

水みず　だけ　飲のんで　暮くらす　こと　に　し　ました。

The Ass resolved that he would live only upon dew,



ロバ　は、

すぐに

お腹なか　が　空すいて

死しんで　しまい　ました。

and in a short time died of hunger.



The Ass And The Grasshopper

AN ASS having heard some Grasshoppers chirping, was highly enchanted; and, desiring to possess the same charms of melody, demanded what sort of food they lived on to give them such beautiful voices. They replied, "The dew." The Ass resolved that he would live only upon dew, and in a short time died of hunger.



コウモリ　と　イタチ

The Bat and the Weasels



コウモリ　が、地面じめん　に　落おちて

イタチ　に　捕つかまり　ました。

コウモリ　は、

命いのち　を　助たすけて　ほしい

と　頼たのみ　ました。

A BAT who fell upon the ground and was caught by a Weasel pleaded to be spared his life.



しかし

イタチ　は

生うまれて　から　ずっと、あらゆる　鳥とり　と　戦たたかって　きた　のだ

と　言いって

断ことわり　ました。

The Weasel refused, saying that he was by nature the enemy of all birds.



そこで　コウモリ　は、

自分じぶん　は　鳥とり　では　ない、……　ネズミ　だ

と　言いい張はり　ました。

The Bat assured him that he was not a bird, but a mouse,



それ　を　聞きいて

イタチ　は、コウモリ　を　逃にがし　ました。

and thus was set free.



それから　まもなく、

コウモリ　は、また、

地面じめん　に　落おち　ました。

そして　また

別べつの　イタチ　に　捕つかまり　ました。

Shortly afterwards the Bat again fell to the ground and was caught by another Weasel,



コウモリ　は　また

自分じぶん　を　食たべ　ない　で　欲ほしい

と　頼たのみ　ました。

whom he likewise entreated not to eat him.



イタチ　は、

ネズミ　を　大変たいへん　憎にくんで　いる

と　言いい　ました。

The Weasel said that he had a special hostility to mice.



コウモリ　は、

自分じぶん　は　ネズミ　では　ない　……　コウモリ　だ

と　言いい　ました。

The Bat assured him that he was not a mouse, but a bat,



こうして、

コウモリ　は、

二度にど　も　困難こんなん　から　逃のがれ　ました。

and thus a second time escaped.



賢かしこい　人ひと　は、

いろいろな　状況じょうきょう　を　うまく　利用りよう　する　もの　です。

It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.



The Bat And The Weasels

A BAT who fell upon the ground and was caught by a Weasel pleaded to be spared his life. The Weasel refused, saying that he was by nature the enemy of all birds. The Bat assured him that he was not a bird, but a mouse, and thus was set free. Shortly afterwards the Bat again fell to the ground and was caught by another Weasel, whom he likewise entreated not to eat him. The Weasel said that he had a special hostility to mice. The Bat assured him that he was not a mouse, but a bat, and thus a second time escaped.

It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.



オオカミ　と　子こヒツジ

The Wolf and the Lamb



ある日ひ

オオカミ　は、

群むれ　と　はぐれて　迷子まいご　に　なった　子こヒツジ　に

出会であい　ました。

WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold,



オオカミ　は、

力ちからづく　では　なく

良よい　口実こうじつ　を　見みつけて

子こヒツジ　を　食たべて　やろう

と　思おもい　ました。

resolved not to lay violent hands on him, but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf's right to eat him.



そこで、

オオカミ　は

言いい　ました。

He thus addressed him:



「おい

　お前まえ　は、去年きょねん

　俺おれ　に　ひどい　悪口わるくち　を　言いった　な！」

"Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me."



子こヒツジ　は、

悲かなしそうな　声こえ　で　言いい　ました。

「いいえ。

　私わたし　は　その頃ころ、まだ

　生うまれて　い　ません」

"Indeed," bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, "I was not then born."



すると

オオカミ　が　言いい　ました。

Then said the Wolf,



「お前まえ　は、

　俺おれ　の　牧草ぼくそう　を　食たべた　な！」

"You feed in my pasture."



子こヒツジ　は　答こたえ　ました。

「いいえ。

　私わたし　は　まだ、

　草くさ　を　食たべた　こと　が　あり　ません」

"No, good sir," replied the Lamb, "I have not yet tasted grass."



すると　また

オオカミ　が　言いい　ました。

Again said the Wolf,



「お前まえ　は、

　俺おれ　の　井戸いど　の　水みず　を　飲のんだ　な！」

"You drink of my well."



子こヒツジ　は

叫さけび　ました。

「いいえ。

　まだ、水みず　を　飲のんだ　こと　が　あり　ません。

"No," exclaimed the Lamb, "I never yet drank water,



　お母かあさん　の　お乳ちち　以外いがい

　食たべた　こと　も　飲のんだ　こと　も　あり　ません……」

for as yet my mother's milk is both food and drink to me."



「おい。

　お前まえ　が

　俺おれ　に　どう　言いい返かえしても

　俺おれ　が　夕食ゆうしょく　を　食たべ　ず　に　いる　わけ　が　ない　だろう」

オオカミ　は　そう　言いい　ながら、

子こヒツジ　に　襲おそいかかり　ました。

Upon which the Wolf seized him and ate him up, saying, "Well! I won't remain supperless, even though you refute every one of my imputations."



暴君ぼうくん　は、

いつも、

自分じぶん　に　都合つごう　の　よい　口実こうじつ　を

見みつける　もの　です。

The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny.



The Wolf And The Lamb

WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him, but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf's right to eat him. He thus addressed him: "Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me." "Indeed," bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, "I was not then born." Then said the Wolf, "You feed in my pasture." "No, good sir," replied the Lamb, "I have not yet tasted grass." Again said the Wolf, "You drink of my well." "No," exclaimed the Lamb, "I never yet drank water, for as yet my mother's milk is both food and drink to me." Upon which the Wolf seized him and ate him up, saying, "Well! I won't remain supperless, even though you refute every one of my imputations." The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny.





炭屋すみや　と　洗濯屋せんたくや

The Charcoal-Burner and the Fuller



炭屋すみや　は

自分じぶん　の　家いえ　で

仕事しごと　を　して　い　ました。

A CHARCOAL-BURNER carried on his trade in his own house.



ある　日ひ

彼かれ　は

友人ゆうじん　の　洗濯屋せんたくや　に　会あい　ました。

One day he met a friend, a Fuller,



炭屋すみや　は

洗濯屋せんたくや　に

自分じぶん　の　家いえ　に　来きて、一緒いっしょ　に　暮くらそう

と　誘さそい　ました。

and entreated him to come and live with him,



そう　すれ　ば、

もっと　仲良なかよく　なれる　し

生活せいかつ　する　お金かね　も　楽らく　に　なる

と　言いい　ました。

saying that they should be far better neighbors and that their housekeeping expenses would be lessened.



すると、

洗濯屋せんたくや　は　こう　答こたえ　ました。

The Fuller replied,



「私わたし　が　思おもう　には

　それ　は

　無理むり　でしょう　ね。

"The arrangement is impossible as far as I am concerned,



　だって、

　私わたし　が　洗濯せんたくして、白しろく　した　もの　を、全部ぜんぶ

　あなた　は、すぐ

　炭すみ　で　また　黒くろく　して　しまう　でしょう……」

for whatever I should whiten, you would immediately blacken again with your charcoal."



The Charcoal-Burner And The Fuller

A CHARCOAL-BURNER carried on his trade in his own house. One day he met a friend, a Fuller, and entreated him to come and live with him, saying that they should be far better neighbors and that their housekeeping expenses would be lessened. The Fuller replied, "The arrangement is impossible as far as I am concerned, for whatever I should whiten, you would immediately blacken again with your charcoal."





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