私（わつち）だつて何も盗つ人の肩を持つにや当ら無えけれど、
あいつは懐の暖（あつたけ）え大名屋敷へ忍びこんぢや、
御手許金と云ふやつを掻攫（かつさら）つて、
その日に追はれる貧乏人へ恵んでやるのだと云ひやすぜ。
成程（なるほど）善悪にや二つは無えが、どうせ盗みをするからにや、
悪党冥利（みやうり）にこの位（くれえ）な陰徳は積んで置き度（て）えとね、
まあ、私（わつち）なんぞは思つてゐやすのさ。
（芥川龍之介『鼠小僧次郎吉』より）
There once was a notorious thief who lived in Tokyo in the Edo period.
His name was Nezumi Kozo, or "Rat Boy".
Many stories, plays, films, manga and anime have been based on his exploits.
Thief, folk hero, gambler, outlaw, resister, lone wolf (rat!?)....
You'll hear lots of rumors about him,
But nobody really knows who he was....
|
|
