『マッチ売りの少女』

大みそかの夜、ひどく寒くてあたりは暗くなり、雪が激しく降っていた。この寒さと暗闇の中を、帽子もかぶらず、はだしになった貧しい少女が通りを歩いていた。

It was terribly cold and nearly dark on the last evening of the old year, and the snow was falling fast. In the cold and the darkness, a poor little girl, with bare head and naked feet, roamed through the streets.

家を出たときにはスリッパをはいていたのは確かだったが、それはあまり役に立たなかった。

It is true she had on a pair of slippers when she left home, but they were not of much use.

それはとても大きく、少女の母親のものだった。ものすごい速さで走ってきた二台の馬車をよけようとして、通りを走って渡ったときに脱げてしまったのだ。

They were very large, so large, indeed, that they had belonged to her mother, and the poor little creature had lost them in running across the street to avoid two carriages that were rolling along at a terrible rate.

片方は見つからず、もう片方は男の子が持って逃げてしまった。いつか自分に子どもができたら、ゆりかごにすると言いながら。

One of the slippers she could not find, and a boy seized upon the other and ran away with it, saying that he could use it as a cradle, when he had children of his own.

そこで少女は小さなはだしで歩き続けたが、足は寒さで赤や青になっていた。古いエプロンにはたくさんのマッチを入れ、手にもひと束持っていた。

So the little girl went on with her little naked feet, which were quite red and blue with the cold. In an old apron she carried a number of matches, and had a bundle of them in her hands.

一日じゅう、だれもマッチを買ってくれず、一銭も恵んでくれなかった。寒さと空腹にふるえながら、少女はとぼとぼと歩いた。みじめそのものの姿だった。

No one had bought anything of her the whole day, nor had any one given here even a penny. Shivering with cold and hunger, she crept along; poor little child, she looked the picture of misery.

肩までカールして垂れる長くて美しい金髪に、雪が舞い落ちていたが、少女は気にもとめなかった。

The snowflakes fell on her long, fair hair, which hung in curls on her shoulders, but she regarded them not.

どの窓からも明かりがもれ、ガチョウの肉を焼く香ばしいにおいがただよっていた。大みそかだったからだ。そう、少女もそれを思い出した。

Lights were shining from every window, and there was a savory smell of roast goose, for it was New-year’s eve—yes, she remembered that.

二軒の家のすき間で、片方が前に出っ張っている物陰に、彼女は腰を下ろして小さくうずくまった。

In a corner, between two houses, one of which projected beyond the other, she sank down and huddled herself together.

小さな足を抱えこんだが、寒さは防げなかった。家に帰る勇気もなかった。マッチが一本も売れず、一銭のお金も持ち帰れなかったからだ。

She had drawn her little feet under her, but she could not keep off the cold; and she dared not go home, for she had sold no matches, and could not take home even a penny of money.

帰ればきっと父親に殴られるはずだった。それに、家もここ並みに寒かった。屋根があるだけで、大きな穴をわらやすき間布でふさいでも、風がうなりを上げて吹き込んできた。

Her father would certainly beat her; besides, it was almost as cold at home as here, for they had only the roof to cover them, through which the wind howled, although the largest holes had been stopped up with straw and rags.

少女の小さな手は、寒さで凍えそうだった。ああ、マッチをひと束から抜いて、壁ですって指を温められたら、どんなにいいだろう。彼女は一本引き抜いた。シュッ。

Her little hands were almost frozen with the cold. Ah! perhaps a burning match might be some good, if she could draw it from the bundle and strike it against the wall, just to warm her fingers. She drew one out-“scratch!”

マッチは音を立てて激しく燃えた。手をかざすと、小さなろうそくのように温かく明るい光を放った。それは本当にすばらしい光だった。

how it sputtered as it burnt! It gave a warm, bright light, like a little candle, as she held her hand over it. It was really a wonderful light.

少女には、ピカピカにみがいた真ちゅうの足と飾りのついた、大きな鉄のストーブのそばに座っているように思えた。火はとてもよく燃えて、あたたかそうだった。少女が足を温めようと伸ばすと、ああ、

It seemed to the little girl that she was sitting by a large iron stove, with polished brass feet and a brass ornament. How the fire burned! and seemed so beautifully warm that the child stretched out her feet as if to warm them, when, lo!