Mononoke Soushi 4

[51]
三味弾き手の目
The Hand's Eye plays the shamisen

[52]
あっしは”手の目”だ。
Tenome: I am the Hand's Eye.
先見や千里眼で酒の席を取り持つ芸人だ。
A performer with the gift of foresight or clairvoyance who wanders between sake houses.
今　ちょいと手が離せねえ
right now my hand's a little stuck...

[53]
何しろ。この三味を弾き続けてねえと我が身が危ねえ。
Spirit: What are you doing? If you don't keep playing that shamisen, I'll be in danger!

え？なに？　手が塞がっていたって口は利けるだろうって？そいつは道理だ。
Tenome: Eh? What? You say even if my fingers are blocked, my mouth seems to be working? That is true.

[54]
座敷をしくじって　とんずら決め込んだがツイてねえ時はとことんだ　　山中で迷っちまって足は疲れるし腹は減る。
Tenome: The performance fell through, and my escape seemed assured. I had gotten well underway, when I got lost in the middle of the mountains. My legs were tired, and my stomach was empty.
暗くなったら山の物怪らしいのが追っかけてきやがった。
After it had grown dark, something like a spirit of the mountain chased me and then disappeared.
やつとのことで少し開けた所に出たら
I barely made it to a space that was a little more open.
ひどく寂れちゃいるもののやたらと立派なお館がデンと構えてやがる。
I thoughtlessly stumbled into a splendid mansion. It was built very grandly.

[55]
はい　御免なさいよ　道に迷った女芸人だ
Tenome: Excuse me. I'm a female performer who's lost her way.
いずれ、お山の怪しい代将のお住まいと察しますがね。
Anyhow, there was a powerful spirit from the mountain. If anyone lives here, they'll understand.
こちとらつかれていっちも　休ませてくれるンなら煮るなり焼くなりご自由に
I'm exhausted and there's no other way. If they let me stay here I'll gladly cook for them.

[56]
ホホホ。。。面白い娘がきたね
Host: Ho ho, an interesting girl has come my way.

出たな
Tenome: They've come out.
ところで　こちとら垢まみれだ。　これじゃ　お口にも合いますまい
By the way, I'm filthy from the road. I'm sure that doesn't suit your dignity. Won't you let me wash myself?

いいだろう
Host: Of course.
湯を沸かすからお入り
I'll boil some water and you can bathe.

[57]
ひゃあああ～～
Tenome: Aaaaah!
生き返る
I'm revived.

ところで　あっしの腹ン中は今からっぽだ
Tenome: By the way, my stomach is positively hollow.
ここに何か詰めたほうがきっと　食いごたえがあるんじゃねえかな。
if you were to put something in here I'm sure it would bear eating it.

いいだろう
Host: Of course.
膳をよういしよう
I'll prepare you a table.

[58]

あ～～～～うんめえ～～～っ！
Tenome: Ah! This is great!

ところでおまえ　芸人なら三味線ぐらい弾けるだろうね？
Host: By the way, miss. If you're a performer, you should know how to play the shamisen, right?

へ？三味ですかい
Tenome: Eh? The shamisen?

ああ　となりの間を覗いてごらん
Host: Yes. Take a look into the next room.

おっと
Tenome: Oh.

[59]
おまえに　その三味線をひいて欲しいのさ
Host: I want you to play that shamisen.

それというのもね
If you please.

このやまの奥に棲む物怪がしっこく私ねいい寄って婚儀をせまるのさ
The spirits that live on this mountain　have been visiting, and they insist that I hold a wedding ceremony.

「６０」

彼奴は三味線の音が苦手だが私は三味線には触れないのだ
Host: That man's sound was rather poor, but I am unable to touch the shamisen.

おまえには徹して弾き続けてもらいたい
I would like you to devote yourself to continuing to play.

何　義太夫や長唄をうなることはない。
What? It doesn't have to be a ballad or a long song.

ただ出鱈目にかきならしゃいいのさ
Just pluck out whatever comes to mind.

だけど　気を抜くんじゃないよ
However, don't get distracted.

つい根負けすると　この旅の坊主みたいに
If I run out of patience, you'll end up like this wandering monk.

すっかり精気を吸い尽くされてしまうからね。
I might end up sucking out all your life energy.

[61]
え～～～～いしっこい野郎だ！
Tenome: Hey, you obstinate bastard!
まだ参らねえか
You can't come yet!

[62]
これでどうだ！もっとかあああ！！
Tenome: How's this? Want some more?

[63]
ああ。。。山猫の化け物だったのか
Aah... Was that the mountain cat monster?
それで猫の皮をはった三味の音が苦手なのか
So it was weak to the sound of a cat-skin shamisen.
あれ？おまけにこいつは。。。雌なねえか
Hm? What's more, it was female...

よくやってくれたねえしつこい女で困っていたのだよ
Host: You did a very good thing for me. And now it's the obstinate woman who's in trouble.

え。。。え？え？
Tenome: Eh? Eeeeeeeh?

[64]
おまえこそ我が嫁にふさわしい
Host: You will be perfect for my bride.

え？
Eh?
あんた男だったのかい？
Tenome: You're a man?

さあ　共にこの館でいつまでも暮らすのだ
Host: Come. We'll live together in this mansion forever.

勝手に決めるな！！
Tenome: Don't decide that on your own!

ギャ！！
GYAA!

[65]
あ　ネズミか！
Tenome: Huh? A mouse?!
野ネズミだったのか！
You're a field mouse?
だから　猫の皮を張った三味線に触れなかったのか
So... You couldn't touch a shamisen made out of catskin.

無礼な奴め誰がおまえなど嫁にするものか
Host: Like anyone would want to make such a rude girl like you his bride.
土産をくれてやるからさっさと山を降りるがよい。
I'll give you a parting gift, just get off this mountain quickly.

[66]
はっ！？
Tenome: Wha-?!
気が付くとあっしは
By the time I noticed
崖の上で米俵に乗っていた
I was on the top of a cliff, sitting on a bag of rice.
こんな山の中で米俵一表土産に持たされても始末にこまる
In mountains like these, even one bag of rice as a souvenir is nothing but trouble.
さてこの先どうしてくれようか
So. Why did he give it to me?