東と西の物語（その二） キプリング

大佐の息子は父親の雌馬を盗んだカマールを追ったが、彼に捕らわれることになる。

The ballade of East and West

II

"Ye shoot like a soldier," Kamal said. "Show now if ye can ride."
It's up and over the Tongue of Jagai, as blown dust-devils go,
The dun he fled like a stag of ten, but the mare like a barren doe.
The dun he leaned against the bit and slugged his head above,
But the red mare played with the snaffle-bars, as a maiden plays with a glove.
There was rock to the left and rock to the right, and low lean thorn between,
And thrice he heard a breech-bolt snick tho' never a man was seen.
They have ridden the low moon out of the sky, their hoofs drum up the dawn,
The dun he went like a wounded bull, but the mare like a new-roused fawn.
The dun he fell at a water-course--in a woful heap fell he,
And Kamal has turned the red mare back, and pulled the rider free.
He has knocked the pistol out of his hand--small room was there to strive,
"'Twas only by favour of mine," quoth he, "ye rode so long alive:
There was not a rock for twenty mile, there was not a clump of tree,
But covered a man of my own men with his rifle cocked on his knee.
If I had raised my bridle-hand, as I have held it low,
The little jackals that flee so fast were feasting all in a row:
If I had bowed my head on my breast, as I have held it high,
The kite that whistles above us now were gorged till she could not fly."
Lightly answered the Colonel's son: "Do good to bird and beast,
But count who come for the broken meats before thou makest a feast.
If there should follow a thousand swords to carry my bones away,
Belike the price of a jackal's meal were more than a thief could pay.
They will feed their horse on the standing crop, their men on the garnered grain,
The thatch of the byres will serve their fires when all the cattle are slain.
But if thou thinkest the price be fair,--thy brethren wait to sup,
The hound is kin to the jackal-spawn,--howl, dog, and call them up!
And if thou thinkest the price be high, in steer and gear and stack,
Give me my father's mare again, and I'll fight my own way back!"
Kamal has gripped him by the hand and set him upon his feet.

Rudyard Kipling

東と西の物語

その二

「撃ち方は兵隊みたいだが」とカマールはいった。「乗馬も見せてもらおうか？」
タング・オブ・ジャガイも越えたし、砂の悪魔は吹き荒れ
灰色馬は十歳の雄鹿のように逃げるが、雌馬は雌鹿のよう。
灰色馬は馬銜傾け、頭を上に上げるが
赤い雌馬は馬銜棒とじゃれ、乙女が手袋と戯れるよう。
左手には岩、右手には岩、間には低く傾いた棘があり
人が見えないのに、撃鉄を引く音を三度聞いた。
連中は空から低い月を追い払い、蹄は曙を呼び出す
灰色馬は手負いの牡牛のようだが、雌馬は生まれたての雌鹿のよう。
灰色馬は水路で崩れ――彼はドスーンと落馬し
カマールは赤い雌馬を引き戻し、騎手を引っ張り出した。
カマールは手のピストルを鳴らし――争う余地はほとんどない
「わしの情けだ」とかマールは言った。「随分長く乗ったからな。
二十マイルは岩一つも、木立もない
どこにも膝にライフルを立てた手下が一人はいる。
もしもわしが下げている手綱の手を上げたなら
逃げ足速いジャッカルどもが並んで大騒ぎだ。
今上げている頭を下ろしたら
上の凧も落ちるまで口笛を吹くが、吐きそうな声をだすだろう」
大佐の息子は静かに答えた――「鳥や獣に施すがよかろうが
宴会の前に腐った肉を食いにくる人を勘定してみたらいい。
千の剣が次々に僕の骨を持ち去ったとしよう
多分ジャッカル一匹の肉の値段は泥棒では払えまい。
刈り取り前の穀物を馬に、貯蔵した穀物を手下に食べさせ
厩の屋根藁は家畜を殺す火に使われる。
だがもし公正な値段だとお考えなら――仲間は食事を待つ
猟犬はジャッカルに似ている――吠え、付け回し、呼び出す！
高い値段をお考えなら、子牛、金、干草で
お父さんの雌馬をくれないか、僕はきっと戻ってくる！」
カマールは彼の手を握り、彼を立たせた。

ラドヤード・キプリング