In their ramshackle hut on the edge of the woods, a husband and wife were in despair. The woman had just given birth to their thirteenth child, and the growing family was quickly running out of food and money.
森のはずれの 今にも倒れそうな小屋に住む夫婦は 大変困っていました 13番目の子供が 生まれたばかりの大家族で 食べ物もお金も 底をつきかけていたのです
The father walked into the woods to ponder their problem. After hours spent wandering through the trees, he encountered two shadowy silhouettes. The first figure appeared to be the man’s God, while the second resembled the Devil. Both figures offered to lighten the man’s burden, and act as Godfather to his most recent child. But the man refused their offer— he wouldn’t entrust his son to those who passed judgment on human life.
どうしたものか考えるため 父親は森の中を歩きました 木々の間を何時間も さまよっていると 2人の暗い人影に 出くわしました 1人目はどうやら神様らしく もう1人は悪魔のようでした どちらも男に対し 自分が一番下の子の名付け親になって 暮らしを楽にしてやろうと持ち掛けましたが 男は断りました 人の一生に審判をくだす者に 我が子をゆだねるわけにはいかなかったのです
He ventured deeper into the tangled thicket. Here in the darkest part of the woods, the father made out a third figure. Sunken eyes stared out of its gaunt face, which broke into a crooked smile. This was Death himself, come to offer his services as Godfather. He promised to return when the child came of age, to bring him happiness and prosperity. The father— knowing that all people are equal in the eyes of Death— accepted his offer.
絡み合った茂みの中を さらに奥へと進みました 森の中でも最も暗いところで 男は3人目の人影に出くわしました 痩せさらばえた顔の落ちくぼんだ目が ゆがんだ笑みを浮かべています それは死神で 名付け親になることを申し出て 子供が成人したときに 戻ってきて 幸せと豊かさを もたらそうと約束しました 死神の目には誰もが平等であることを 知っていた父親は 申し出を受けることにしました
Years later, when the child had grown into an ambitious young man, his skeletal Godfather came for his promised visit. In his gnarled hand he held a flask containing the cure for all human ailments. Death had brought this flask for his Godson, promising to make him a successful doctor. But the powerful potion came with very strict rules.
月日がたって 子供は野心的な若者へと成長し 骸骨のような名付け親が 約束通りに現れました その節くれだった手には 万病に効く薬の瓶が 握られていました 医者としての成功を 約束する薬を 死神は名付け子に もたらしたのです ただ その強力な薬を使うには 固い決まりがありました
If his Godson encountered a sick person and Death was hovering at the top of their bed, the doctor could heal them with just a waft of the antidote’s fumes. But if Death lingered at the foot of the bed, he’d already claimed the patient as his own— and the doctor could do nothing for them.
名付け子が病人を診た時 死神がその頭上に 漂っていたなら 解毒薬の香りのひと吹きで 治してやることができます しかし 死神がベッドの足元に 居座っていたなら 患者の命をもう 自分の物にしたということで 医者にできることはありません
In time, the doctor’s potent potion and uncanny instincts became known throughout the land. He grew rich and famous, casting off the hardships of his early life.
やがて医者の強力な薬と 不思議な直感の噂は 国中に知れわたり 富と名声を手にした医者は 子供の頃の苦難とは無縁になりました
When the king fell ill, he summoned the famous physician to treat him. The doctor swept into the palace, ready to show off his skills. But when he entered the king’s chamber, he was dismayed to see Death settled at the foot of the bed.
王様が病気になったとき この有名な医者が治療のために呼ばれ 医者は自分の腕前を見せようと 宮殿に馳せ参じましたが 王様の部屋に入ると ベッドの足元に死神が居座っているのを見て 落胆しました
The doctor desperately wanted the glory of saving the king— even if it meant deceiving his Godfather. And so, he swiftly spun the bed around and reversed Death’s position, leaving the doctor free to administer the antidote. Death was livid. He warned his arrogant Godson that if he ever cheated Death again, he would pay for it with his life.
医者は王の命を救う 栄光を望むあまり 名付け親を欺くことも 厭いませんでした 医者は素早くベッドを回して 死神の位置を逆にすると 解毒薬を使いました 死神は激怒し 今度騙したりしたら 命で代償を払うことになるぞと 思い上がった名付け子に 警告しました
Death and the doctor continued their travels. After some time, the king’s messengers came to collect the doctor yet again. The princess was gravely ill, and the king had promised incredible riches to anyone who could cure her.
死神と医者は旅を続けました 時がたち 王様の使いが再び 医者を連れにやってきました 王女の容態が大変悪く 誰でも治した者には大きな富を与えると 王様は約束していました
The doctor approached the princesses’ chamber with gold in his eyes. But upon seeing the sleeping princess, his greed fell away. He was so struck by her grace, that he failed to notice Death lurking by her feet. He swiftly healed the princess, but before she could even utter her thanks, Death had dragged his lovesick Godson away.
医者は金欲に目をギラギラさせて 王女の元へ行きましたが 眠る王女を一目見て 欲は消え失せました 王女の優美さに すっかり打たれた医者は 死神が足元にいることにも 気が付きませんでした 医者は素早く王女の病を 癒しましたが 王女が礼を言う暇もなく 死神が恋煩いの名付け子を 連れ去りました
In an instant, the palace dissolved around them. The doctor found himself in an immense cave lined with countless quivering candles, each representing the duration of a life. As punishment for his Godson’s foolish attempt to master mortality, Death whittled his candle down to its wick.
宮殿が消えたかと思うと 医者は揺らめくロウソクが並ぶ 巨大な洞窟の中にいました ロウソクは命の長さを 表していました 死の定めを変えようという 名付け子の愚かな行為の罰として 死神は彼のロウソクを 芯だけになるまで短くしました
Seeing his own dwindling light, the doctor felt the fear he’d often glimpsed in his patients’ eyes. Desperately, he begged Death to transfer his dying light onto a new candle. His Godfather considered the request— but the doctor’s betrayal was too great. He loosened his bony grip, and his Godson’s candle fell to the floor. Death stood motionless, his inscrutable face fixed on the sputtering flame— until all that was left of the doctor was a wisp of smoke.
小さくなっていく 自分の命の火を見て これまで患者の目に度々見てきた 恐怖にとらわれた医者は 消えかかる自分の火を新しいロウソクに 移してくれるよう 死神に懇願しました 名付け親は頼みについて考えましたが 医者の裏切りは大きすぎました 骨ばった指を緩めると 名付け子のロウソクは床に落ちました 死神は身じろぎもせず 読み取り難い表情で パチパチ燃える炎を見つめていました 医者の命が一筋の煙となって 消えるまで