9: THE QUEEN OF THE FIELD MICE
9 (9) [他] a number, nine
mouse (ネズミ) [名] a small rodent which typically has a pointed snout, large ears, and a long tail
9:野ネズミの女王

 “We cannot be far from the road of yellow brick, now,” remarked the Scarecrow, as he stood beside the girl, “for we have come nearly as far as the river carried us away.”
「黄色いレンガの道からそう遠くはないはずだ」とカカシは少女のそばに立って言った。「川に流された距離とほぼ同じくらい来たからね。」

 The Tin Woodman was about to reply when he heard a low growl, and turning his head (which worked beautifully on hinges) he saw a strange beast come bounding over the grass toward them.
beautifully (うまく) [副] in a pleasing manner
over (上) [前] above or across the top of
ブリキの木こりが答えようとした時、低い唸り声が聞こえ、頭を回すと(蝶番でうまく動いた)奇妙な獣が草の上を跳ねてこちらに向かってくるのが見えた。
It was, indeed, a great yellow Wildcat, and the Woodman thought it must be chasing something, for its ears were lying close to its head and its mouth was wide open, showing two rows of ugly teeth, while its red eyes glowed like balls of fire.
wildcat (山猫) [名] a small wild feline
tooth (歯) [名] any of the hard, bony structures in the jaws used for biting and chewing
glow (輝く) [動] to shine brightly and steadily
それは確かに大きな黄色い山猫で、木こりは何かを追いかけているに違いないと思った。耳は頭にぴったりとくっつき、口は大きく開いて二列の醜い歯を見せ、赤い目は火の玉のように輝いていた。
As it came nearer the Tin Woodman saw that running before the beast was a little gray field mouse, and although he had no heart he knew it was wrong for the Wildcat to try to kill such a pretty, harmless creature.
come nearer (近づいてくる) [動] move or travel toward
field mouse (野ネズミ) [名] a mouse that lives in fields
近づいてくると、ブリキの木こりは獣の前を走っているのが小さな灰色の野ネズミだと分かり、心臓はないものの、山猫がこんなかわいくて無害な生き物を殺そうとするのは間違っていることが分かった。

 So the Woodman raised his axe, and as the Wildcat ran by he gave it a quick blow that cut the beast’s head clean off from its body, and it rolled over at his feet in two pieces.
raise (振り上げる) [動] lift or move to a higher position
run by (走り抜ける) [動] pass by quickly
blow (一撃) [名] a powerful or violent stroke with a hand or weapon
cut (切り離す) [動] separate with a sharp-edged tool
そこで木こりは斧を振り上げ、山猫が走り抜ける時に素早く一撃を加えると、獣の頭が体からきれいに切り離され、二つに分かれて足元に転がった。

 The field mouse, now that it was freed from its enemy, stopped short;
be freed from (解放される) [動] be released from
stop short (急に止まる) [動] come to a sudden halt
野ネズミは敵から解放されたので、急に止まった。
and coming slowly up to the Woodman it said, in a squeaky little voice,
come up to (近づく) [動] approach
そしてゆっくりと木こりに近づき、小さな声で言った。

 “Oh, thank you! Thank you ever so much for saving my life.”
ever so much (本当に) [副] to a very great extent
「ああ、ありがとう! 命を救ってくれて本当にありがとう」

 “Don’t speak of it, I beg of you,” replied the Woodman.
don't speak of it (どういたしまして) [句] you're welcome
replied (答えた) [動] say something in response
「どういたしまして」と木こりは答えた。
“I have no heart, you know, so I am careful to help all those who may need a friend, even if it happens to be only a mouse.”
happen to be (であっても) [動] have the (unfortunate) characteristic of being
「私には心がないので、たとえネズミであっても、友達を必要としている人には誰でも助けようと気をつけているんだ」

 “Only a mouse!” cried the little animal, indignantly;
indignantly (憤慨して) [副] feeling or showing anger or annoyance at something unfair or unreasonable
「ただのネズミだって!」と小さな動物は憤慨して叫んだ。
“why, I am a Queen—the Queen of all the Field Mice!”
Queen (女王) [名] the female ruler of an independent state
Field Mice (野ネズミ) [名] a small rodent that lives in fields
「私は女王様よ、野ネズミの女王様よ!」

 “Oh, indeed,” said the Woodman, making a bow.
bow (お辞儀) [名] a bending of the head or body in greeting, respect, submission, or shame
「ああ、そうですか」と木こりはお辞儀をした。

 “Therefore you have done a great deed, as well as a brave one, in saving my life,” added the Queen.
deed (行為) [名] something that is done
life (命) [名] the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death
「だから、私の命を救ってくれたのは、勇敢なだけでなく、偉大な行為だったのよ」と女王は付け加えた。

 At that moment several mice were seen running up as fast as their little legs could carry them, and when they saw their Queen they exclaimed,
be seen (見える) [動] be visible
run up (走ってくる) [動] run towards
as fast as (できる限り速く) [副] to the highest degree possible
exclaim (叫ぶ) [動] cry out suddenly
その瞬間、何匹かのネズミが小さな足でできる限り速く走ってくるのが見え、女王を見ると叫んだ。

 “Oh, your Majesty, we thought you would be killed!
Majesty (女王様) [名] a title used to address a king or queen
「ああ、女王様、殺されたかと思いました!
How did you manage to escape the great Wildcat?”
escape (逃げる) [動] get free from a situation
どうしてあの大きな山猫から逃げられたのですか?」
and they all bowed so low to the little Queen that they almost stood upon their heads.
low (低く) [副] not high or tall
そして、みんな小さな女王に頭を下げたので、ほとんど頭で立っているようだった。

 “This funny tin man,” she answered, “killed the Wildcat and saved my life.
「このおかしなブリキの男が」と彼女は答えた、「山猫を殺して私の命を救ってくれたの。
So hereafter you must all serve him, and obey his slightest wish.”
hereafter (これから) [副] from now on
obey (従う) [動] follow the commands, instructions, or orders of
だからこれからはみんな彼に仕えて、彼のどんな小さな望みにも従いなさい。」

 “We will!” cried all the mice, in a shrill chorus.
shrill (甲高い) [形] high-pitched and piercing
chorus (一斉に) [名] a group of people who sing or play music together
「従います!」とすべてのネズミが甲高い声で叫んだ。
And then they scampered in all directions, for Toto had awakened from his sleep, and seeing all these mice around him he gave one bark of delight and jumped right into the middle of the group.
scamper (逃げ出す) [動] run quickly and lightly
direction (方角) [名] the course along which something moves, faces, or is aimed
awaken (目覚める) [動] stop sleeping
そして、みんな四方八方に逃げ出した。トトが眠りから覚めて、周りにいるたくさんのネズミを見て、喜びのワンワンと吠えて、群れの真ん中に飛び込んだのだ。
Toto had always loved to chase mice when he lived in Kansas, and he saw no harm in it.
love (大好きだ) [動] be extremely fond of
see (感じる) [動] notice or become aware of
トトはカンザスに住んでいた頃からいつもネズミを追いかけるのが好きだったし、それに何の害も感じていなかった。

 But the Tin Woodman caught the dog in his arms and held him tight, while he called to the mice: “Come back! Come back!
hold (抱きかかえる) [動] to keep or maintain in a certain state, position, or relationship
come back (戻って来い) [動] to return to a place or person
しかしブリキの木こりは犬を腕に抱きかかえて、ネズミに向かって「戻って来い! 戻って来い!
Toto shall not hurt you.”
shall (だろう) [助] will
トトは傷つけないぞ」と呼びかけた。

 At this the Queen of the Mice stuck her head out from a clump of grass and asked, in a timid voice,
at this (すると) [副] at this time; now
Queen of the Mice (ネズミの女王) [名] the female ruler of the mice
stick out (出す) [動] extend outward
clump of grass (草むら) [名] a group of grass plants growing together
timid (臆病な) [形] showing a lack of courage or confidence
するとネズミの女王が草むらから頭を出して、臆病な声で尋ねた。

 “Are you sure he will not bite us?”
be sure (本当に) [動] be certain or confident about something
bite (噛みつく) [動] cut or wound with the teeth
「本当に噛みつかないのですか?」

 “I will not let him,” said the Woodman; “so do not be afraid.”
「噛みつかないようにするから、怖がらなくていい」と木こりは言った。

 One by one the mice came creeping back, and Toto did not bark again, although he tried to get out of the Woodman’s arms, and would have bitten him had he not known very well he was made of tin.
one by one (一匹ずつ) [副] individually
come creeping back (戻ってくる) [動] return to a place
try to get out of (抜け出そうとする) [動] attempt to escape from
would have bitten (噛みついていただろう) [動] would have attacked with the teeth
had he not known (知らなかったら) [動] if he did not know
ネズミたちは一匹ずつ戻ってきて、トトは木こりの腕から抜け出そうとはしたものの、もう吠えなかった。トトは木こりがブリキ製だとよく知っていなければ、噛みついていただろう。
Finally one of the biggest mice spoke.
ついに一番大きなネズミが口を開いた。

 “Is there anything we can do,” it asked, “to repay you for saving the life of our Queen?”
repay (お礼をする) [動] pay back (money)
「女王の命を救っていただいたお礼に何かできることはありますか?」と尋ねた。

 “Nothing that I know of,” answered the Woodman;
「特に思いつきません」と木こりは答えた。
but the Scarecrow, who had been trying to think, but could not because his head was stuffed with straw, said, quickly, “Oh, yes; you can save our friend, the Cowardly Lion, who is asleep in the poppy bed.”
quickly (すぐに) [副] at a fast speed or in a short time
でも、頭の中がわらでいっぱいで考えようとしていたけどできなかったかかしが、すぐに「ああ、そうだ。ケシの花畑で眠っている臆病なライオンを助けてください」と言った。

 “A Lion!” cried the little Queen;
「ライオン!」と小さな女王は叫んだ。
“why, he would eat us all up.”
eat up (食べられてしまう) [動] eat all of something
「そんな、私たちみんな食べられてしまうよ」

 “Oh, no,” declared the Scarecrow;
no (そうはならない) [副] not at all; not a bit
declare (断言する) [動] state or announce something in a solemn and emphatic manner
「ああ、そうはならない」かかしは断言した。
“this Lion is a coward.”
「このライオンは臆病者だ」

 “Really?” asked the Mouse.
「本当に?」とネズミは尋ねた。

 “He says so himself,” answered the Scarecrow, “and he would never hurt anyone who is our friend.
say so (そう言う) [動] say that
himself (彼自身) [代] the male person being discussed
「彼は自分でそう言っている」かかしは答えた。「それに彼は私たちの友達を傷つけることは絶対にしない。
If you will help us to save him I promise that he shall treat you all with kindness.”
もし彼を助けてくれるなら、彼はみんなに親切に接するだろうと約束する」

 “Very well,” said the Queen, “we trust you. But what shall we do?”
trust (信頼する) [動] have confidence in the reliability, truth, or ability of
「とても良い」女王は言った。「私たちはあなたを信頼する。でも私たちに何ができる?」

 “Are there many of these mice which call you Queen and are willing to obey you?”
「あなたを女王と呼び、あなたに従うネズミはたくさんいるの?」

 “Oh, yes; there are thousands,” she replied.
there are (いる) [動] exist
thousands (何千) [名] a very large number
「ああ、そうよ、何千もいるよ」彼女は答えた。

 “Then send for them all to come here as soon as possible, and let each one bring a long piece of string.”
send for (呼びにやる) [動] send someone to fetch someone or something
bring (持って来る) [動] take or carry with oneself to a place
「それなら、できるだけ早くここに来るようにみんなに伝えて、それぞれに長いひもを持って来るように言って」

 The Queen turned to the mice that attended her and told them to go at once and get all her people.
turn to (向き直る) [動] change direction so as to face
attend (付き添う) [動] go regularly to an institution for education
get (連れてくる) [動] cause to come or go with oneself
女王は付き添いのネズミに向き直り、すぐに行ってみんなを連れてくるように言った。
As soon as they heard her orders they ran away in every direction as fast as possible.
order (命令) [名] an authoritative command or instruction
run away (逃げる) [動] leave a place or situation in a hurry
every direction (あらゆる方向) [名] all possible directions
as fast as possible (できるだけ速く) [副] at the highest possible speed
彼らは命令を聞くとすぐに、できるだけ速くあらゆる方向に走り去った。

 “Now,” said the Scarecrow to the Tin Woodman, “you must go to those trees by the river-side and make a truck that will carry the Lion.”
river-side (川岸) [名] the land along a river
「さて」かかしはブリキの木こりに言った、「川岸の木のところに行って、ライオンを運ぶための台車を作らなくちゃ」

 So the Woodman went at once to the trees and began to work;
そこで木こりはすぐに木のところに行って作業を始めた。
and he soon made a truck out of the limbs of trees, from which he chopped away all the leaves and branches.
truck (台車) [名] a vehicle with a large open container for carrying goods
limb (枝) [名] a large branch of a tree
そしてすぐに木の枝から台車を作り、葉や枝をすべて切り落とした。
He fastened it together with wooden pegs and made the four wheels out of short pieces of a big tree trunk.
peg (釘) [名] a short, thin, pointed piece of wood, metal, or plastic
wheel (車輪) [名] a circular object that revolves on an axle and is fixed below a vehicle or other object to enable it to move easily over the ground
out of (から) [前] from
木の釘でそれを固定し、大きな木の幹の短い部分から四つの車輪を作った。
So fast and so well did he work that by the time the mice began to arrive the truck was all ready for them.
so fast (とても速く) [副] very quickly
so well (とても上手に) [副] very well
by the time (頃には) [接] at or before the time that
arrive (到着する) [動] reach a destination
彼はとても速く、とても上手に作業したので、ネズミが到着し始める頃には台車はすべて準備ができていた。

 They came from all directions, and there were thousands of them: big mice and little mice and middle-sized mice;
come from (やってくる) [動] move or travel from one place to another
thousand (数千) [名] the number 1000
middle-sized (中くらい) [形] of medium size
彼らは四方八方からやってきて、その数は数千にも及んだ。大きなネズミ、小さなネズミ、中くらいのネズミ。
and each one brought a piece of string in his mouth.
each one (それぞれ) [代] every one of a group
bring (持ってくる) [動] cause to come or go with oneself
piece (一片) [名] a part of something
string (紐) [名] a thin piece of twisted fiber used for tying or sewing
そして、それぞれが口に紐をくわえて持ってきた。
It was about this time that Dorothy woke from her long sleep and opened her eyes.
about this time (この頃) [名] at or around this time
wake (覚める) [動] stop sleeping
long sleep (長い眠り) [名] a long period of sleep
open one's eyes (目を開ける) [動] to become aware of something
ドロシーが長い眠りから覚めて目を開けたのはこの頃だった。
She was greatly astonished to find herself lying upon the grass, with thousands of mice standing around and looking at her timidly.
彼女は自分が草の上に横たわっていて、何千匹ものネズミが周りに立って臆病に自分を見ているのを見て、とても驚いた。
But the Scarecrow told her about everything, and turning to the dignified little mouse, he said,
everything (すべて) [名] all that exists; all that is
dignified (威厳のある) [形] having or showing a serious and impressive manner
しかし、かかしは彼女にすべてを話し、威厳のある小さなネズミの方を向いて言った。

 “Permit me to introduce to you her Majesty, the Queen.”
permit (許す) [動] allow to do something
introduce (紹介する) [動] make someone known to someone else by giving their name, or make something known to someone by giving information about it
「女王陛下をご紹介しましょう」

 Dorothy nodded gravely and the Queen made a curtsy, after which she became quite friendly with the little girl.
make a curtsy (会釈する) [動] bend your knees and lower your body as a sign of respect
become (なる) [動] come to be
ドロシーは真面目そうにうなずき、女王は会釈をした後、少女ととても仲良くなった。

 The Scarecrow and the Woodman now began to fasten the mice to the truck, using the strings they had brought.
かかしと木こりは、持ってきた紐を使ってネズミを台車に固定し始めた。
One end of a string was tied around the neck of each mouse and the other end to the truck.
one end (一端) [名] one of the two ends of something
other end (もう一端) [名] the other of the two ends of something
紐の一端を各ネズミの首に巻き付け、もう一端を台車に結び付けた。
Of course the truck was a thousand times bigger than any of the mice who were to draw it;
draw (ひっぱる) [動] pull or move something in a specified direction
もちろん、台車はそれをひっぱるネズミのどれよりも千倍も大きかった。
but when all the mice had been harnessed they were able to pull it quite easily.
harness (つなぐ) [動] fasten or secure with a harness
quite (とても) [副] to a certain extent; fairly
しかし、すべてのネズミがつながれた時、彼らはそれをとても簡単に引っ張ることができた。
Even the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman could sit on it, and were drawn swiftly by their queer little horses to the place where the Lion lay asleep.
かかしとブリキの木こりさえもそれに座ることができ、彼らの奇妙な小さな馬によってライオンが眠っている場所まで素早く引っ張られた。

 After a great deal of hard work, for the Lion was heavy, they managed to get him up on the truck.
a great deal of (かなりの) [名] a large amount or extent of
hard work (重労働) [名] work that is physically or mentally demanding
manage (なんとかする) [動] succeed in doing something
get (乗せる) [動] cause to be in a certain state
ライオンは重かったので、かなりの重労働の末、彼らはなんとかライオンを台車に乗せることができた。
Then the Queen hurriedly gave her people the order to start, for she feared if the mice stayed among the poppies too long they also would fall asleep.
hurriedly (急いで) [副] quickly
give (出す) [動] cause to be received
start (出発) [名] the beginning of something
long (長く) [副] for a long time
それから女王は急いで出発の命令を出した。ネズミたちがケシの中に長くいると、彼らも眠ってしまうのではないかと心配したからだ。

 At first the little creatures, many though they were, could hardly stir the heavily loaded truck;
though (にもかかわらず) [接] despite the fact that
stir (動かす) [動] move or cause to move slightly
heavily (重い) [副] to a great degree
loaded (積んだ) [形] carrying a load
最初、小さな生き物たちは、たくさんいたにもかかわらず、重い荷物を積んだ台車をほとんど動かすことができなかった。
but the Woodman and the Scarecrow both pushed from behind, and they got along better.
しかし、木こりとかかしが後ろから押すと、うまく進むようになった。
Soon they rolled the Lion out of the poppy bed to the green fields, where he could breathe the sweet, fresh air again, instead of the poisonous scent of the flowers.
roll (運び出す) [動] move by turning over and over
bed (畑) [名] a piece of ground where plants are grown
green field (緑の野原) [名] a field with green grass
fresh (新鮮な) [形] recently produced or harvested
すぐに彼らはライオンをケシ畑から緑の野原に運び出し、そこでライオンは花の毒の香りの代わりに、再び甘く新鮮な空気を吸うことができた。

 Dorothy came to meet them and thanked the little mice warmly for saving her companion from death.
come to meet (会いに来る) [動] come to see
warmly (心から) [副] in a warm manner
death (死) [名] the end of all life
ドロシーは彼らに会いに来て、仲間を死から救ってくれた小さなネズミたちに心から感謝した。
She had grown so fond of the big Lion she was glad he had been rescued.
grow fond of (好きになる) [動] develop a liking for
be glad (嬉しい) [動] pleased; happy
be rescued (助け出される) [動] be saved from danger or harm
ドロシーは大きなライオンがとても好きになっていたので、彼が助け出されて嬉しかった。

 Then the mice were unharnessed from the truck and scampered away through the grass to their homes.
unharness (外す) [動] remove the harness from
それからネズミたちは荷車から外され、草の中を走り回って家へと帰っていった。
The Queen of the Mice was the last to leave.
Mice (ネズミ) [名] a small rodent which typically has a pointed snout, large ears, and a long tail
ネズミの女王は最後に去っていった。

 “If ever you need us again,” she said, “come out into the field and call, and we shall hear you and come to your assistance. Good-bye!”
assistance (助け) [名] the action of helping someone by sharing work or providing money, information, or other resources
「もしまた私たちが必要になったら」と女王は言った、「野原に出て呼んでください。私たちはあなたの声を聞いて助けに参ります。さようなら!」

 “Good-bye!” they all answered, and away the Queen ran, while Dorothy held Toto tightly lest he should run after her and frighten her.
run away (走り去る) [動] leave quickly
hold tightly (しっかりと抱きしめる) [動] hold firmly
lest (しないように) [接] for fear that
run after (追いかける) [動] chase
「さようなら!」とみんなが答え、女王は走り去った。ドロシーはトトが女王を追いかけて怖がらせないように、しっかりと抱きしめた。

 After this they sat down beside the Lion until he should awaken;
この後、みんなはライオンが目を覚ますまでその横に座った。
and the Scarecrow brought Dorothy some fruit from a tree near by, which she ate for her dinner.
かかしはドロシーに近くの木から果物を取ってきてくれたので、ドロシーはそれを夕食に食べた。