ランナーは風のように走る『#4_六人の冒険者』
あらすじ
彼らは王女の夫を決める街にたどり着いた。彼女とレースで勝負し、勝てば夫に、負ければ頭を切り落とされるという契約が為され、男はランナーを自分の代わりに出場させた。
開始直後にランナーは風のように走り、あっという間に折り返し地点を通過した。しかし彼は退屈に勝てず、道中で眠ってしまった。
#4 Six soldiers of fortune
So the six went on until they came to a town where the king had caused it to be made known that whoever would run a race with his daughter and win it might become her husband, but that whoever lost must lose his head into the bargain.
Household Stories
王の娘と競争し、それに勝ったものは誰でも彼女の夫になってもよいが、負けた者は頭を失うことになると発表されていた町に到着するまで六人は進んだ。
And the leader came forward and said one of his men should run for him.
Household Stories
リーダーは進み出て、仲間の一人が代わりに走ると言った。
“Then,” said the king, “his life too must be put in pledge, and if he fails, his head and yours too must fall.”
Household Stories
「それなら代理人の命もまた誓約に記入されなければならない。代理人が失敗するなら、彼の頭と一緒にあなたの頭も落ちなければならない」王は言った。
When this was quite settled and agreed upon, the leader called the runner, and strapped his second leg on to him.
Household Stories
誓約が決められて同意された時、リーダーはランナーを呼んで、彼に二つ目の足をくっつけた。
“Now, look out,” said he, “and take care that we win.”
Household Stories
「用心して。勝てるよう注意してください」彼は言った。
It had been agreed that the one who should bring water first from a far distant brook should be accounted winner.
Household Stories
遠くの小川から最初に水を運ぶ者が勝者であると取り決められた。
Now the king’s daughter and the runner each took a pitcher, and they started both at the same time; but in one moment, when the king’s daughter had gone but a very little way, the runner was out of sight, for his running was as if the wind rushed by.
Household Stories
王の娘とランナーはそれぞれピッチャーを取り、彼らは双方同時にスタートした。
王の娘が少し進む間に、ランナーは風のような走りで見えなくなった。
In a short time he reached the brook, filled his pitcher full of water, and turned back again.
Household Stories
短時間で彼は小川に到着し、水でピッチャーを満たして折り返した。
About half-way home, however, he was overcome with weariness, and setting down his pitcher, he lay down on the ground to sleep.
Household Stories
しかしながら、途中で彼は退屈に打ちのめされた。ピッチャーを置いて、彼は地面に横たわった。
But in order to awaken soon again by not lying too soft he had taken a horse’s skull which lay near and placed it under his head for a pillow.
Household Stories
しかし快適な状態で横になっていないためにすぐに目覚めるので、彼は近くにあった馬の頭蓋骨を持ってきて頭の下にそれを置いた。
In the meanwhile the king’s daughter, who really was a good runner, good enough to beat an ordinary man, had reached the brook, and filled her pitcher, and was hastening with it back again, when she saw the runner lying asleep.
Household Stories
その間に、一般人を打ち破るのに十分な力を持った、優秀なランナーである王の娘は小川に到着してピッチャーを満たし、それを持って帰りを急いだ。その時、彼女は眠っているランナーを見つけた。
