アリババと四十人の盗賊

ペルシアのある町に、カシムとアリババという名の二人の兄弟が住んでいた。カシムは裕福な妻を娶り、満ち足りた暮らしを送っていたが、アリババは近くの森で木を切り、それを町で売って妻子を養わねばならなかった。ある日、アリババが森にいると、馬に乗った一隊が砂煙を巻き上げてこちらへ向かってくるのが見えた。盗賊ではないかと恐れた彼は、身の安全のために木によじ登った。彼らが近くまでやって来て馬から下りると、その数は四十人いた。彼らは馬の轡を外し、木につないだ。その中で一番身なりのよい男、アリババがその頭領だろうと思った男が、茂みの中に少し分け入り、はっきりとアリババに聞こえる声で「ひらけゴマ！」と言った。すると岩の中に扉が開き、一隊を中に入らせた後、頭領もそれに続き、扉はひとりでにまた閉まった。彼らはしばらく中に留まっていたので、アリババは彼らが出てきて捕まるのを恐れ、木の上でじっと我慢して座っていなければならなかった。ようやく扉が再び開き、四十人の盗賊が出てきた。頭領は最後に入ったので最初に出てきて、手下全員を自分の前を通らせた。それから「とじよゴマ！」と言って扉を閉めた。男たちはみな馬に轡をはめて跨がり、頭領がその先頭に立って、彼らはやって来たときと同じように戻っていった。

In a town in Persia there dwelt two brothers, one named Cassim, the other Ali Baba. Cassim was married to a rich wife and lived in plenty, while Ali Baba had to maintain his wife and children by cutting wood in a neighboring forest and selling it in the town. One day, when Ali Baba was in the forest, he saw a troop of men on horseback, coming toward him in a cloud of dust. He was afraid they were robbers, and climbed into a tree for safety. When they came up to him and dismounted, he counted forty of them. They unbridled their horses and tied them to trees. The finest man among them, whom Ali Baba took to be their captain, went a little way among some bushes, and said: “Open, Sesame!” so plainly that Ali Baba heard him. A door opened in the rocks, and having made the troop go in, he followed them, and the door shut again of itself. They stayed some time inside, and Ali Baba, fearing they might come out and catch him, was forced to sit patiently in the tree. At last the door opened again, and the Forty Thieves came out. As the Captain went in last he came out first, and made them all pass by him; he then closed the door, saying: “Shut, Sesame!” Every man bridled his horse and mounted, the Captain put himself at their head, and they returned as they came.

それからアリババは木を下り、茂みに隠された扉へ行き、「ひらけゴマ！」と言うと、扉は勢いよく開いた。薄暗くて陰気な場所を予想していたアリババは、そこが広々として明るく、天井の開口部から光を取り入れる丸天井の形に人の手で掘り抜かれているのを見てひどく驚いた。彼が見たものは、絹や錦織といった豊かに積まれた商品の包み、山のように積まれた金や銀、そして革の財布に入った金銭だった。彼が中に入ると、背後で扉が閉まった。彼は銀には目もくれず、外で草を食んでいるロバたちに運べるだけの金貨の袋を運び出し、それらをロバに積み、薪の束で覆ってすべてを隠した。「とじよゴマ！」という言葉を使って扉を閉め、彼は家へと向かった。

Then Ali Baba climbed down and went to the door concealed among the bushes, and said: “Open, Sesame!” and it flew open. Ali Baba, who expected a dull, dismal place, was greatly surprised to find it large and well lighted, hollowed by the hand of man in the form of a vault, which received the light from an opening in the ceiling. He saw rich bales of merchandise--silk, stuff-brocades, all piled together, and gold and silver in heaps, and money in leather purses. He went in and the door shut behind him. He did not look at the silver, but brought out as many bags of gold as he thought his asses, which were browsing outside, could carry, loaded them with the bags, and hid it all with fagots. Using the words: “Shut, Sesame!” he closed the door and went home.

それから彼はロバを庭へ追い込み、門を閉め、金貨の袋を妻のところへ運んで、その前にすべてぶちまけた。彼は妻に秘密を守るよう言いつけ、自分はこれから金貨を埋めに行こうとした。「まずそれを量らせておくれ」と妻は言った。「あなたが穴を掘っている間に、誰かから升を借りてくるから」。そこで彼女はカシムの妻のところへ走り、升を借りた。アリババの貧しさを知っていた義理の姉は、彼の妻がどんな穀物を量りたがっているのか好奇心を抱き、巧妙にも升の底に牛脂を少し塗っておいた。アリババの妻は家に戻り、金貨の山の上に升を置き、何度も満たしては空け、大いに満足した。それから彼女は金貨が１枚底にくっついていることにも気づかず、義理の姉のところへ返したのだが、カシムの妻は彼女が背を向けた途端にそれに気づいた。彼女は強い好奇心を抱き、カシムが帰宅すると彼に言った。「カシム、あなたの弟はあなたよりもお金持ちよ。お金を数えるんじゃなくて、量っているのよ」。彼がこの謎を説明してくれと頼むと、彼女は金貨を見せ、それをどこで見つけたかを話して聞かせた。するとカシムは眠れなくなるほど嫉妬し、翌朝日の出前に弟のところへ行った。「アリババ」と彼は金貨を見せながら言った。「お前は貧しいふりをしていながら、金を量っているではないか」。これによってアリババは、妻の愚かさのせいでカシムとその妻に秘密が知られてしまったことを悟り、すべてを告白してカシムに分け前を申し出た。「それは当然だな」とカシムは言った。「だが宝がどこにあるのかを知らねばならん。さもなくばすべてを暴き立て、お前はすべてを失うことになるぞ」。アリババは恐れからというよりは親切心から、洞窟のことと、使うべきまさにその言葉を彼に教えた。カシムは先手を打って宝を独り占めしようと企み、アリババのもとを去った。彼は翌朝早くに起き、大きな長持を積んだ十頭のラバを連れて出発した。彼はすぐにその場所と岩の扉を見つけた。彼が「ひらけゴマ！」と言うと、扉が開き、背後で閉まった。彼は一日中宝を眺めて楽しむこともできただろうが、できるだけ多くをかき集めようと急いだ。だが、立ち去る準備ができたとき、莫大な富のことばかり考えていたせいで、何を言うべきか思い出せなくなってしまった。「ゴマ」の代わりに、彼は「ひらけムギ！」と言ったが、扉は堅く閉ざされたままだった。彼はいくつかの異なる穀物の名を挙げたが、正しいものだけが抜け落ちており、扉は依然として堅く閉ざされたままだった。彼は自分が置かれた危険にひどく怯え、その言葉をまるで聞いたことがないかのようにすっかり忘れてしまった。

Then he drove his asses into the yard, shut the gates, carried the money-bags to his wife, and emptied them out before her. He bade her keep the secret, and he would go and bury the gold. “Let me first measure it,” said his wife. “I will go borrow a measure of someone, while you dig the hole.” So she ran to the wife of Cassim and borrowed a measure. Knowing Ali Baba’s poverty, the sister was curious to find out what sort of grain his wife wished to measure, and artfully put some suet at the bottom of the measure. Ali Baba’s wife went home and set the measure on the heap of gold, and filled it and emptied it often, to her great content. She then carried it back to her sister, without noticing that a piece of gold was sticking to it, which Cassim’s wife perceived directly her back was turned. She grew very curious, and said to Cassim when he came home: “Cassim, your brother is richer than you. He does not count his money, he measures it.” He begged her to explain this riddle, which she did by showing him the piece of money and telling him where she found it. Then Cassim grew so envious that he could not sleep, and went to his brother in the morning before sunrise. “Ali Baba,” he said, showing him the gold piece, “you pretend to be poor and yet you measure gold.” By this Ali Baba perceived that through his wife’s folly Cassim and his wife knew their secret, so he confessed all and offered Cassim a share. “That I expect,” said Cassim; “but I must know where to find the treasure, otherwise I will discover all, and you will lose all.” Ali Baba, more out of kindness than fear, told him of the cave, and the very words to use. Cassim left Ali Baba, meaning to be beforehand with him and get the treasure for himself. He rose early next morning, and set out with ten mules loaded with great chests. He soon found the place, and the door in the rock. He said: “Open, Sesame!” and the door opened and shut behind him. He could have feasted his eyes all day on the treasures, but he now hastened to gather together as much of it as possible; but when he was ready to go he could not remember what to say for thinking of his great riches. Instead of “Sesame,” he said: “Open, Barley!” and the door remained fast. He named several different sorts of grain, all but the right one, and the door still stuck fast. He was so frightened at the danger he was in that he had as much forgotten the word as if he had never heard it.

正午頃、盗賊たちは洞窟に戻り、カシムのラバたちが大きな長持を背負ってうろついているのを見かけた。これによって彼らは警戒した。彼らは刀を抜き、扉へ向かったが、頭領が「ひらけゴマ！」と言うと扉が開いた。馬の足音を聞いていたカシムは、命をただではやるまいと決意し、扉が開くと同時に飛び出して頭領を突き倒した。しかし無駄なことだった。盗賊たちは刀であっという間に彼を殺してしまった。洞窟に入ると、彼らはすべての袋が揃えて置かれているのを目にし、自分たちの秘密を知らずにどうやって誰かが侵入したのか想像もつかなかった。彼らは足を踏み入れようとする者を脅すため、カシムの遺体を四つ裂きにして洞窟の内側に釘で打ちつけ、さらなる宝を求めて立ち去った。

About noon the robbers returned to their cave, and saw Cassim’s mules roving about with great chests on their backs. This gave them the alarm; they drew their sabres, and went to the door, which opened on their Captain’s saying: “Open, Sesame!” Cassim, who had heard the trampling of their horses’ feet, resolved to sell his life dearly, so when the door opened he leaped out and threw the Captain down. In vain, however, for the robbers with their sabres soon killed him. On entering the cave they saw all the bags laid ready, and could not imagine how anyone had got in without knowing their secret. They cut Cassim’s body into four quarters, and nailed them up inside the cave, in order to frighten anyone who should venture in, and went away in search of more treasure.

夜が近づくにつれてカシムの妻はひどく不安になり、義理の弟のもとへ走って行って、夫がどこへ行ったのかを話した。アリババは全力を尽くして彼女を慰め、カシムを捜しに森へと出発した。彼が洞窟に入って最初に目にしたものは、死んだ兄の姿だった。恐怖に震えながら、彼は遺体をロバの一頭に乗せ、金貨の袋を他の二頭に乗せ、すべてを薪の束で覆って家へと戻った。彼は金貨を積んだ二頭のロバを自分の庭へ追い込み、もう一頭をカシムの家へ引いていった。扉を開けたのは奴隷のモルジアナで、彼は彼女が勇敢で賢明であることを知っていた。ロバから荷を下ろしながら、彼は彼女に言った。「これはお前の主人の遺体だ。殺されてしまったのだが、まるで床の上で亡くなったかのようにして葬らねばならない。また後でお前と話すが、今は奥方に私が来たと伝えてくれ」。カシムの妻は夫の運命を知ると泣き叫び涙に暮れたが、アリババは、秘密を守りすべてをモルジアナに任せると約束するなら、自分と妻と一緒に暮らせるよう引き取ろうと申し出た。そこで彼女は承諾し、涙を拭った。

As night drew on Cassim’s wife grew very uneasy, and ran to her brother-in-law, and told him where her husband had gone. Ali Baba did his best to comfort her, and set out to the forest in search of Cassim. The first thing he saw on entering the cave was his dead brother. Full of horror, he put the body on one of his asses, and bags of gold on the other two, and, covering all with some fagots, returned home. He drove the two asses laden with gold into his own yard, and led the other to Cassim’s house. The door was opened by the slave Morgiana, whom he knew to be both brave and cunning. Unloading the ass, he said to her: “This is the body of your master, who has been murdered, but whom we must bury as though he had died in his bed. I will speak with you again, but now tell your mistress I am come.” The wife of Cassim, on learning the fate of her husband, broke out into cries and tears, but Ali Baba offered to take her to live with him and his wife if she would promise to keep his counsel and leave everything to Morgiana; whereupon she agreed, and dried her eyes.

一方モルジアナは薬屋を探し、丸薬をいくつか求めた。「私の哀れな主人は」と彼女は言った。「食べることも話すこともできず、どのような病気なのか誰にもわからないのです」。彼女は丸薬を家に持ち帰り、翌日には泣きながら戻って、死に瀕した者にしか与えられない霊薬を求めた。こうして夕方、カシムの妻とモルジアナの悲痛な悲鳴と叫び声を聞いてカシムが死んだのだと知らされても、誰も驚かなかった。その翌日、モルジアナは町の門の近くで早くから店を開けていた年老いた靴直しのもとへ行き、彼の手に金貨を１枚握らせ、針と糸を持ってついてくるように言いつけた。ハンカチで彼の目を覆うと、彼女は遺体の横たわる部屋へ彼を連れていき、目隠しを外して、切り離された体を縫い合わせるように命じた。その後、彼女は再び彼の目を覆い、家まで送り届けた。それから彼らはカシムを埋葬し、奴隷であるモルジアナは泣き叫び髪をかきむしりながら墓へと従い、一方カシムの妻は家に残って哀れな泣き声を上げていた。翌日、彼女はアリババのもとへ身を寄せ、アリババはカシムの店を自分の長男に与えた。

Morgiana, meanwhile, sought an apothecary and asked him for some lozenges. “My poor master,” she said, “can neither eat nor speak, and no one knows what his distemper is.” She carried home the lozenges and returned next day weeping, and asked for an essence only given to those just about to die. Thus, in the evening, no one was surprised to hear the wretched shrieks and cries of Cassim’s wife and Morgiana, telling everyone that Cassim was dead. The day after Morgiana went to an old cobbler near the gates of the town who opened his stall early, put a piece of gold in his hand, and bade him follow her with his needle and thread. Having bound his eyes with a handkerchief, she took him to the room where the body lay, pulled off the bandage, and bade him sew the quarters together, after which she covered his eyes again and led him home. Then they buried Cassim, and Morgiana his slave followed him to the grave, weeping and tearing her hair, while Cassim’s wife stayed at home uttering lamentable cries. Next day she went to live with Ali Baba, who gave Cassim’s shop to his eldest son.

四十人の盗賊は洞窟に戻ると、カシムの遺体と金貨の袋のいくつかがなくなっているのを見てひどく驚いた。「我々は間違いなく見つかってしまった」と頭領は言った。「そして我々の秘密を知る者が誰なのか突き止められなければ、我々は破滅するだろう。二人の男が知っていたに違いない。一人は殺したが、もう一人を今すぐ捜し出さねばならん。そのためには、お前たちの中で大胆で抜け目のない者が一人、旅人の姿に変装して町へ行き、我々が誰を殺したのか、そしてその奇妙な死に様が人々の噂になっていないかを突き止めねばならない。もしその使者が失敗したなら、我々が裏切られぬよう、その者は命を落とさねばならぬ」。盗賊の一人が立ち上がってこれを引き受けると申し出、残りの者たちがその勇気を大いに称えた後、彼は変装して、ちょうど夜明けの頃にババ・ムスタファの露店のすぐそばから町に入った。盗賊は彼に挨拶をし、こう言った。「正直者のおじいさん、そのお年でどうして縫い目が見えるのかね？」「年寄りではあるがね」と靴直しは答えた。「わしはとても目が利くのさ。今よりも暗い場所で死人の体を縫い合わせたと言ったら、信じてくれるかね」。盗賊はこの幸運に大喜びし、彼に金貨を１枚与えて、死体を縫い合わせた家を教えてほしいと頼んだ。最初、ムスタファは目隠しをされていたのだと言って断った。しかし盗賊がもう１枚金貨を与えると、前と同じように目隠しをされれば曲がり角を思い出せるかもしれないと考え始めた。このやり方はうまくいった。盗賊は彼に半分導かれ、半分導きながら、カシムの家のまさに真ん前まで案内され、盗賊はその扉にチョークで印をつけた。それから大満足でババ・ムスタファに別れを告げ、森へと戻った。やがてモルジアナが外に出ると、盗賊がつけた印が目に留まり、何か良からぬことが企まれていると素早く察知して、チョークを持ってきて両隣の二、三軒の扉に印をつけた。主人にも奥方にも何も言わずに。

The Forty Thieves, on their return to the cave, were much astonished to find Cassim’s body gone and some of their money-bags. “We are certainly discovered,” said the Captain, “and shall be undone if we cannot find out who it is that knows our secret. Two men must have known it; we have killed one, we must now find the other. To this end one of you who is bold and artful must go into the city dressed as a traveler, and discover whom we have killed, and whether men talk of the strange manner of his death. If the messenger fails he must lose his life, lest we be betrayed.” One of the thieves started up and offered to do this, and after the rest had highly commended him for his bravery he disguised himself, and happened to enter the town at daybreak, just by Baba Mustapha’s stall. The thief bade him good-day, saying: “Honest man, how can you possibly see to stitch at your age?” “Old as I am,” replied the cobbler, “I have very good eyes, and will you believe me when I tell you that I sewed a dead body together in a place where I had less light than I have now.” The robber was overjoyed at his good fortune, and, giving him a piece of gold, desired to be shown the house where he stitched up the dead body. At first Mustapha refused, saying that he had been blindfolded; but when the robber gave him another piece of gold he began to think he might remember the turnings if blindfolded as before. This means succeeded; the robber partly led him, and was partly guided by him, right in front of Cassim’s house, the door of which the robber marked with a piece of chalk. Then, well pleased, he bade farewell to Baba Mustapha and returned to the forest. By and by Morgiana, going out, saw the mark the robber had made, quickly guessed that some mischief was brewing, and fetching a piece of chalk marked two or three doors on each side, without saying anything to her master or mistress.

一方、その盗賊は仲間たちに自分の発見を告げた。頭領は彼に礼を言い、印をつけた家を案内するよう命じた。だがそこへ行ってみると、五、六軒の家に同じようにチョークで印がつけられているのが見えた。案内役はすっかり当惑して返す言葉もなく、戻るとすぐに、失敗した廉で首をはねられた。別の盗賊が派遣され、ババ・ムスタファを丸め込んで赤いチョークで家に印をつけた。しかしモルジアナがまたしても彼らより一枚上手であったため、二人目の使者もやはり処刑された。頭領は今や自ら出向くことを決意したが、他の者たちよりも賢かった彼は、家に印をつけず、忘れようがないほど念入りにその家を見つめた。彼は戻ると、近隣の村々へ行って十九頭のラバと三十八個の革樽を買ってくるよう手下たちに命じた。革樽は油で満たされた一つを除いて、すべて空だった。頭領は手下の一人ひとりに完全な武装をさせて樽の中に入れ、中身の詰まった樽の油を外側に塗りつけた。こうして十九頭のラバに、樽に入った三十七人の盗賊と一つの油樽が積み込まれ、夕暮れ時までに町へ到着した。頭領はアリババの家の前でラバを止め、涼みに出て座っていたアリババに言った。「明日の市で売るために遠方から油を運んできたのですが、すっかり遅くなってしまい、あなたが親切に泊めてくださらない限り、どこで夜を明かしたものかわかりません」。アリババは森で盗賊の頭領を目にしていたものの、油商人に変装した彼に気づかなかった。彼は彼を歓迎し、ラバが入れるよう門を開け、客のために寝床と夕食を用意するよう言い付けにモルジアナのところへ行った。彼は見知らぬ男を大広間に招き入れ、夕食を終えると台所のモルジアナと話すために再び立ち去った。その間、頭領はラバの世話をするふりをして中庭へ出たが、実際には手下たちに指図をするためだった。最初の樽から最後の樽まで巡りながら、彼はそれぞれの男にこう言った。「わしが泊まっている部屋の窓から小石を投げたらすぐに、小刀で樽を切り裂いて出てこい。あっという間にお前たちと合流する」。彼は屋敷に戻り、モルジアナが彼を客間へと案内した。それから彼女は同じ奴隷仲間のアブダッラーに、もう寝床に入った主人のために肉のスープを作る鍋を火にかけるよう言った。その最中に彼女のランプが消えてしまい、家中にもう油が残っていなかった。「心配なさるな」とアブダッラーは言った。「庭に出て、あの樽の一つから少し取ってくればいい」。モルジアナはその助言に礼を言い、油入れを手にして中庭へと出た。彼女が最初の樽に近づいたとき、中の盗賊が小声で言った。「もう時間か？」

The thief, meantime, told his comrades of his discovery. The Captain thanked him, and bade him show him the house he had marked. But when they came to it they saw that five or six of the houses were chalked in the same manner. The guide was so confounded that he knew not what answer to make, and when they returned he was at once beheaded for having failed. Another robber was dispatched, and, having won over Baba Mustapha, marked the house in red chalk; but Morgiana being again too clever for them, the second messenger was put to death also. The Captain now resolved to go himself, but, wiser than the others, he did not mark the house, but looked at it so closely that he could not fail to remember it. He returned, and ordered his men to go into the neighboring villages and buy nineteen mules, and thirty-eight leather jars, all empty except one, which was full of oil. The Captain put one of his men, fully armed, into each, rubbing the outside of the jars with oil from the full vessel. Then the nineteen mules were loaded with thirty-seven robbers in jars, and the jar of oil, and reached the town by dusk. The Captain stopped his mules in front of Ali Baba’s house, and said to Ali Baba, who was sitting outside for coolness: “I have brought some oil from a distance to sell at to-morrow’s market, but it is now so late that I know not where to pass the night, unless you will do me the favor to take me in.” Though Ali Baba had seen the Captain of the robbers in the forest, he did not recognize him in the disguise of an oil merchant. He bade him welcome, opened his gates for the mules to enter, and went to Morgiana to bid her prepare a bed and supper for his guest. He brought the stranger into his hall, and after they had supped went again to speak to Morgiana in the kitchen, while the Captain went into the yard under pretense of seeing after his mules, but really to tell his men what to do. Beginning at the first jar and ending at the last, he said to each man: “As soon as I throw some stones from the window of the chamber where I lie, cut the jars open with your knives and come out, and I will be with you in a trice.” He returned to the house, and Morgiana led him to his chamber. She then told Abdallah, her fellow-slave, to set on the pot to make some broth for her master, who had gone to bed. Meanwhile her lamp went out, and she had no more oil in the house. “Do not be uneasy,” said Abdallah; “go into the yard and take some out of one of those jars.” Morgiana thanked him for his advice, took the oil pot, and went into the yard. When she came to the first jar the robber inside said softly: “Is it time?”

モルジアナ以外の奴隷なら、目当ての油の代わりに甕の中に男を見つけて悲鳴を上げ、大騒ぎしただろう。だが、彼女は主人の身に迫る危険を察してある計略を思いつき、静かに答えた。「まだだよ。でも、もうすぐだ」。彼女は油の入った甕に行き着くまで、どの甕にも同じ答えを繰り返しながら回った。主人は油商人を歓待しているつもりで、三十八人もの盗賊を家に招き入れてしまったのだと、彼女は悟った。モルジアナは油入れを満たして台所へ戻り、ランプを灯すと、再び油の甕へ行って大鍋いっぱいに油を満たした。それが煮え立つと、彼女はどの甕にも、中の盗賊を窒息させて殺すのに十分な量の油を注いで回った。この勇敢な行いを成し遂げると、彼女は台所に戻って火とランプを消し、何が起きるか見届けようと待った。

Any other slave but Morgiana, on finding a man in the jar instead of the oil she wanted, would have screamed and made a noise; but she, knowing the danger her master was in, bethought herself of a plan, and answered quietly: “Not yet, but presently.” She went to all the jars, giving the same answer, till she came to the jar of oil. She now saw that her master, thinking to entertain an oil merchant, had let thirty-eight robbers into his house. She filled her oil pot, went back to the kitchen, and, having lit her lamp, went again to the oil jar and filled a large kettle full of oil. When it boiled she went and poured enough oil into every jar to stifle and kill the robber inside. When this brave deed was done she went back to the kitchen, put out the fire and the lamp, and waited to see what would happen.

十五分ほど経つと、盗賊のかしらが目を覚まし、起き上がって窓を開けた。あたりは静まり返っているように見えたので、彼は小石をいくつか投げ下ろし、小石は甕に当たった。耳を澄ませたが、手下たちが一人も動く気配がなかったので不安になり、庭へ下りて行った。最初の甕へ行き、「眠っているのか」と声をかけたとき、熱く煮え立った油の匂いが鼻をつき、彼はアリ・ババとその家族を皆殺しにする企みが露見したことを即座に悟った。手下の群れが全滅しているのを知り、最後の甕から油がなくなっているのを見て、彼らの死に様を悟ったのだ。それから彼は庭へと通じる扉の錠をこじ開け、いくつもの壁を乗り越えて逃亡した。モルジアナはこの一部始終を聞き、見ていたので、作戦の成功を喜びながら床に就き、眠りに落ちた。

In a quarter of an hour the Captain of the robbers awoke, got up, and opened the window. As all seemed quiet, he threw down some little pebbles which hit the jars. He listened, and as none of his men seemed to stir he grew uneasy, and went down into the yard. On going to the first jar and saying, “Are you asleep?” he smelt the hot boiled oil, and knew at once that his plot to murder Ali Baba and his household had been discovered. He found all the gang was dead, and, missing the oil out of the last jar, became aware of the manner of their death. He then forced the lock of a door leading into a garden, and climbing over several walls made his escape. Morgiana heard and saw all this, and, rejoicing at her success, went to bed and fell asleep.

夜が明けるとアリ・ババは起き出し、油の甕がまだそこにあるのを見て、なぜ商人がラバを連れて立ち去らなかったのか尋ねた。モルジアナは最初の甕を覗いて油があるかどうか確かめるよう促した。中に男がいるのを見て、彼は恐怖のあまり飛び退いた。「ご心配なさいますな」とモルジアナは言った。「その男はあなた様に害を加えることはできません。死んでいるのです」。驚きからいくらか立ち直ると、アリ・ババはあの商人はどうなったのかと尋ねた。「商人ですって」と彼女は言った。「あいつが商人だなんて、私が商人であるのと同じくらいあり得ないことですわ」。そして彼女は事の顛末をすべて話し、それが森の盗賊たちの企みであり、盗賊はもう三人しか残っていないこと、そして白と赤のチョークの印もこれに関係していることを請け合った。アリ・ババは彼女のおかげで命拾いしたと言って、すぐにモルジアナに自由の身を与えた。それから二人は死体をアリ・ババの庭に埋め、ラバは奴隷たちの手で市場で売り払われた。

At daybreak Ali Baba arose, and, seeing the oil jars still there, asked why the merchant had not gone with his mules. Morgiana bade him look in the first jar and see if there was any oil. Seeing a man, he started back in terror. “Have no fear,” said Morgiana; “the man cannot harm you: he is dead.” Ali Baba, when he had recovered somewhat from his astonishment, asked what had become of the merchant. “Merchant!” said she, “he is no more a merchant than I am!” and she told him the whole story, assuring him that it was a plot of the robbers of the forest, of whom only three were left, and that the white and red chalk marks had something to do with it. Ali Baba at once gave Morgiana her freedom, saying that he owed her his life. They then buried the bodies in Ali Baba’s garden, while the mules were sold in the market by his slaves.

かしらはひとり洞窟へ戻ったが、失った仲間たちのいない洞窟は彼にとって恐ろしく思え、アリ・ババを殺して彼らの仇を討とうと固く心に誓った。彼は身なりを整えて町へ赴き、ある宿屋に部屋を取った。森へ何度も通ううちに、彼は多くの高価な織物や上等な亜麻布を運び出し、アリ・ババの息子の店の向かいに店を構えた。彼はコジャ・ハッサンと名乗り、礼儀正しく身なりも良かったため、すぐにアリ・ババの息子と親しくなり、息子を通じてアリ・ババとも懇意になって、しきりに二人を食事に招いた。アリ・ババはその親切に報いたいと思い、彼を家に招き、息子への厚意に感謝しながら笑顔で迎えた。商人が立ち去ろうとしたとき、アリ・ババは彼を引き止めて言った。「旦那、そんなに急いでどこへ行かれるのです。残って私と夕食を共にしていかれませんか」。商人は断り、理由があるのだと言った。アリ・ババがその理由を尋ねると、彼はこう答えた。「実は、旦那、私は塩の入った食べ物は一切口にできないのです」。「それだけのことなら」とアリ・ババは言った。「今夜いただく肉にもパンにも一切塩を入れぬよう言いつけましょう」。彼はこの言いつけを伝えるためにモルジアナのところへ行き、彼女はひどく驚いた。「肉に塩をつけないなんて、いったいどんなお方なのです」と彼女は言った。「正直なお方だよ、モルジアナ」と主人は答えた。「だから、言いつけ通りにするのだ」。しかし彼女はその見知らぬ男を一目見たいという思いを抑えきれず、アブダッラーが料理を運ぶのを手伝った。そして一目で、コジャ・ハッサンがあの盗賊のかしらであり、衣服の下に短剣を隠し持っているのを見抜いた。「我が主人を殺そうと企むこの悪党が、主人と塩を分かち合おうとしないのも道理だわ」と彼女は心の中で言った。「でも、あいつの企みは私が阻んでみせる」。

The Captain returned to his lonely cave, which seemed frightful to him without his lost companions, and firmly resolved to avenge them by killing Ali Baba. He dressed himself carefully, and went into the town, where he took lodgings in an inn. In the course of a great many journeys to the forest he carried away many rich stuffs and much fine linen, and set up a shop opposite that of Ali Baba’s son. He called himself Cogia Hassan, and as he was both civil and well dressed he soon made friends with Ali Baba’s son, and through him with Ali Baba, whom he was continually asking to sup with him. Ali Baba, wishing to return his kindness, invited him into his house and received him smiling, thanking him for his kindness to his son. When the merchant was about to take his leave Ali Baba stopped him, saying: “Where are you going, sir, in such haste? Will you not stay and sup with me?” The merchant refused, saying that he had a reason; and, on Ali Baba’s asking him what that was, he replied: “It is, sir, that I can eat no victuals that have any salt in them.” “If that is all,” said Ali Baba, “let me tell you that there shall be no salt in either the meat or the bread that we eat to-night.” He went to give this order to Morgiana, who was much surprised. “Who is this man,” she said, “who eats no salt with his meat?” “He is an honest man, Morgiana,” returned her master; “therefore do as I bid you.” But she could not withstand a desire to see this strange man, so she helped Abdallah to carry up the dishes, and saw in a moment that Cogia Hassan was the robber Captain, and carried a dagger under his garment. “I am not surprised,” she said to herself, “that this wicked man, who intends to kill my master, will eat no salt with him; but I will hinder his plans.”

彼女はアブダッラーに夕食を運ばせ、その間に思いもよらないほど大胆な行動の準備を整えた。デザートが出されると、コジャ・ハッサンはアリ・ババとその息子と三人きりになり、二人を酔い潰してから殺害しようと企んでいた。その間にモルジアナは踊り子のような髪飾りをつけ、腰には銀の柄がついた短剣を吊るした帯を締め、アブダッラーに言った。「太鼓を持って、主人とお客様をもてなしに行きましょう」。アブダッラーは太鼓を手に取り、部屋の扉に着くまでモルジアナの前で演奏した。扉の前でアブダッラーは演奏をやめ、モルジアナは深々とお辞儀をした。「お入り、モルジアナ」とアリ・ババは言った。「そしてコジャ・ハッサン殿にお前の芸をお見せするのだ」。そしてコジャ・ハッサンの方を向いて言った。「私の奴隷で、家政を取り仕切っている娘です」。コジャ・ハッサンは少しも喜ばなかった。アリ・ババを殺す好機が当面失われてしまったのではないかと恐れたからだ。しかし彼はモルジアナをぜひ見たいという素振りを見せ、アブダッラーが演奏を始め、モルジアナが踊り始めた。いくつかの踊りを披露した後、彼女は短剣を抜き、まるで踊りの一部であるかのように、時には自分の胸に向け、時には主人の胸に向けながら剣を振るってみせた。突然、息を切らした彼女は左手でアブダッラーから太鼓をひったくり、右手に短剣を握ったまま、主人に向かって太鼓を差し出した。アリ・ババと息子はその中に金貨を一枚ずつ入れ、コジャ・ハッサンは彼女が自分の方へ歩み寄ってくるのを見て、褒美を与えようと財布を取り出したが、彼が財布に手を差し入れている隙に、モルジアナは彼の心臓へ短剣を突き立てた。

She sent up the supper by Abdallah, while she made ready for one of the boldest acts that could be thought on. When the dessert had been served, Cogia Hassan was left alone with Ali Baba and his son, whom he thought to make drunk and then to murder them. Morgiana, meanwhile, put on a head-dress like a dancing-girl’s, and clasped a girdle round her waist, from which hung a dagger with a silver hilt, and said to Abdallah: “Take your tabor, and let us go and divert our master and his guest.” Abdallah took his tabor and played before Morgiana until they came to the door, where Abdallah stopped playing and Morgiana made a low courtesy. “Come in, Morgiana,” said Ali Baba, “and let Cogia Hassan see what you can do”; and, turning to Cogia Hassan, he said: “She’s my slave and my housekeeper.” Cogia Hassan was by no means pleased, for he feared that his chance of killing Ali Baba was gone for the present; but he pretended great eagerness to see Morgiana, and Abdallah began to play and Morgiana to dance. After she had performed several dances she drew her dagger and made passes with it, sometimes pointing it at her own breast, sometimes at her master’s, as if it were part of the dance. Suddenly, out of breath, she snatched the tabor from Abdallah with her left hand, and, holding the dagger in her right hand, held out the tabor to her master. Ali Baba and his son put a piece of gold into it, and Cogia Hassan, seeing that she was coming to him, pulled out his purse to make her a present, but while he was putting his hand into it Morgiana plunged the dagger into his heart.

「何と浅ましいことを！」とアリ・ババと息子は叫んだ。「私たちを破滅させる気か！」

“Unhappy girl!” cried Ali Baba and his son, “what have you done to ruin us?”