MAEDA TOSHIIE ASSISTS EXILED FRIENDS
前田利家 追放された友人を援助する
When Toyotomi Hideyoshi was ordered by his father to go to Koya-san and there commit suicide, Inoko Takumi and Terada Soyo were sent into exile and all their property was confiscated.
豊臣秀吉が高野山へ行った折、殺生事件が発生、罰としてＩｎｏｋｏ ＴａｋｕｍｉとＴｅｒａｄａ Ｓｏｙｏと言う二人の人物が財産を没収、追放されました。
Now Dainagon Maeda Toshiie was a friend of both and when he heard of it he felt very sorry for them and took all Takumi's tea-vessels into his own charge, sending his retainer Kamiya Shinano with a present of five pieces of gold for the expenses of their journey.
現大納言前田利家は二人の友人で、事件を聞きとても不憫に思いました。そして、Ｉｎｏｋｏ Ｔａｋｕｍｉの所有する茶道具類全てを自分が預かりると申し出て、家臣のＫａｍｉｙａ Ｓｈｉｎａｎｏに五個の金塊を持たせて彼らのもとへ派遣しました。
Soyo had a famous tea-caddy worth, was said, some sixty or seventy pieces of gold and this Toshiie also took charge.
Ｓｏｙｕはとても有名な茶入を所有している旨をＫａｍｉｙａ Ｓｈｉｎａｎｏは利家に報告して、価値は六十から七十両と聞き、同様に預かる事を申し出ました。
Soon after the Bugyo, in the course of a strict investigation, came to hear that these things were in Maeda's mansion and e n quired the reason.
その件を聞きつけた奉行は、詳細を問いただすべく前田邸へ行きました。
"That tea-caddy is mine," he answered, "for I bought it of Soyo at a time when he needed money."
前田利家は「茶入は自分のものである」とまず始めに答え、「Ｓｏｙｏが金子が必要な時購入した」と説明しました。
And the Bugyo said no more since it was Maeda Toshiie.
前田利家からそう言われた奉行、それ以上詮索は出来ませんでした。
The next year Toshiie obtained a pardon for the two from Hideyoshi and restored Soyo his tea-caddy and Takumi all his vessels too.
翌年、利家は秀吉から二名は許された旨報告を受け、Ｓｏｙｏの茶入とＴａｋｕｍｉの茶道具類は返却されました。
And all agreed that Maeda was as magnanimous as he was influential.
この一件で前田利家の度量の大きさが世間に知れ渡りました。
As the verse put it :
詩があります；
When your luck is out
運に見放され
And your sleeves with tears are wet
悲しみにくれて
Then you know full well
その時に全て解る
Who's your friend and who is not.
誰が本当の友であるかないか
The true self will show itself.
本性はそれを示すだろう
And Maeda had experienced this himself.
前田利家はそれを実践して見せたのです。
For when he fell under the displeasure of Oda Nobunaga, those who had been his friends turned away from him, while his enemies became still more hostile, and it was only Shibata Katsuie and Mori Nagayoshi who stuck to him.
彼が織田信長の怒りをかってしまった時、周りの友人達は去って行き、残り戦ってくれたのは柴田勝家と森長可だけでした。
On the ninth of December 1599 Maeda Toshiie invited his son Hizen-no-kami Toshinaga to a tea party.
１５９９年１２月９日、前田利家は彼の子、肥前守利長を茶会に招待しました。
The other guests were Inoko Takumi, Yamaoka Somu and Hijikata Kambei.
同席者はＩｎｏｋｏ Ｔａｋｕｍｉ、Ｙａｍａｏｋａ Ｓｏｍｕ、Ｈｉｊｉｋａｔａ ｋａｍｂｅｉです。
When the tea was finished Toshiie put tea into the Tea-caddy called 'Konomura' and offered it to Toshinaga "If this comes to you after my death," he said, "you won't feel any more greateful than other sons usually do when they inherit their father's property.
茶会も終わりを向かえ、利家がＫｏｎｏｍｕｒａと言う名の茶入を置き利長にいいます。「もしワシが死んだら、家督を継ぐ一般的な子の様に大げさにしてはならない。」
But I should like to witness the pleasure you will feel in receiving it now, so do you take it and show us your skill by serving us from it."
「この宝を受け継ぐ喜びとし、手にして、持ち続ける光栄としてほしい。」
"I am indeed overwhelmed by your kindness," replied Toshinaga, "but though you allow it to be mine, please let it remain in your keeping for the present and then you can use it when you like."
「父上のご厚意痛み入りますが、、」と利長は答え「その茶入を受け継げますことは光栄ですが、これからも末長く、お好きなだけ使用して下さい。」
"Oh no," insisted his father, "there is no need of that.
「ちがうちがう！」っと父、「そう言う意味ではないわ。」
You must take it and keep it, for that is my desire."
「そちに受け継いでほしいと言うのがワシの希望だと言う事だよ。」
And as the others also pressed him to accept this auspicious present, he hesitated no longer, whereupon Toshiie retired into the Mizuya, summoned the official who carried his clothesbox, changed his garments and returned to the Tea-room, to take his seat this time with the guests.
同席者も吉兆の物として今受け取る事を利長に勧め、固辞し続けることは出来ずに、利家は水屋に下がり、保管袋である仕服を持ってこさせ仕込んで茶室に戻って、袱紗を取り出し客達に拝見に出しました。
Then Toshinaga served them with tea as host, and acquitted himself most capably in this role to his father's great satisfaction.
利長は正客として受け取り、父の期待に十二分に応える役割を果たしたのでした。