ＷＥＢ絵本「春の野路から」

第１回配信

昔々ある所に、貧乏な一人の爺が住んでいました．

毎日毎日働いてやっと暮らしを立てていました．

Once upon a time, there was a poor Old Man at a place.
He worked everday and scraped a living.

今日は卯月の八日だから、一日だけ家でゆっくりと休もうと思っていますと、また用が出来て外へ行かなければならぬことになりました．

折角買って置いた一升の酒を、徳利のままでぶら下げて、途中で飲もうと思って一人で出かけました．

Today is 8 April of the Buddha's birthday;
So, I'm going to take a rest all day at home.
The Old Man thoght so.
But he had to go out on an errand.
He had bought a bottle of wine especially.
He left home alone. And he was carrying the bottle in order to drink on the way.

晴れ晴れとした良い天気で、野にも山にも色々の花が、咲きほこっているのでありました．

広い野原にさしかかって、天気は好し疲れもしたので、この辺で一杯やろうと思って、よいくらいの石に腰を掛けますと、足もとに一つの骸骨が転がっていました．

これはこれは、どういう人の骨だか知らないが、ちょうどよい所だ．

俺は一人で飲むのはきらいだ．お前さんも一つ飲んで、この景色を見ながら一緒に楽しみましょうと言って、盃になみなみと一杯ついだ酒を、その骸骨に注ぎかけたそうです．

そうして面白く歌などを歌って、ややしばらく遊んでから、そこを立って出かけました．

It was very nice weather. And flowers were in full bloom at hills and fields.
The Old Man came to a field.
Then, he decided to drink because of the fine weather and tiredness.
And he sat on a stone of good size.
There was a skelton near his feet.
He said:
I don't know whose skelton you are;
But it's a good timing;
I dislike drinking alone;
You drink too!
Let's enjoy this landscape.
And he poured a full cup of wine over the skelton.
Singing songs joyfully, he took a rest for a while.
After that, he left.

ところがこの爺が用を済ませて、その日の黄昏時に同じ野を通って帰って来ると、後から爺様ちょっと待ってと呼ぶ声がしました．

振り返ってみると、十七八の美しい姉様であったそうです．

今日はお前さんのお蔭で、ほんとうに嬉しい思いをしました．

そのお礼を言いたい為に、帰って来られるのを待っていました．

私は三年前のこの月の二十八日に、この野原を通っていて急病で死んだ娘であります．

親たちは今に諸所方々を探していますが、縁が薄くてまだ見つけてくれず、昨日までは真に寂しく暮らしていました．

二十八日の法事の日には、何用を置いても是非もう一度ここへ来て、私と一緒に親の家へ行ってくださいと言ったそうです．

The Old Man finished the errand.
He came back to the same field in the twilight of the day.
"Mr. Old Man, please wait for a moment!" someone said behind him.
He turned back and saw a pretty girl of 17 or 18 years old.
She said:
Thanks to you, I could have a truly good time today;
To express my thanks, I was waiting for you to come back;
Three years ago, a girl was passing through this field on the 28th day of this month;
And she died by a sudden illness;
I am the Girl;
My parents have still searched me;
But they cannnot find out me due to our thin fate;
Till yesterday, I stayed here lonesomely;
My memorial Buddhist service will be performed on the 28th day of this month;
Would you please come here again and go to my parents' house together!

（つづく）