翻刻
浅野家の可立事を謀又吉良家江御仕置之筋可有儀を願
此度迄右之落着を待ける故臆したると取沙汰有ける也かゝる忍
ひ難きおも聞ぬ体に而家に忠をのみなさむと志ける然れ共両品共に
不叶故思ひ立に及ひては死を決し妻子を捨主税壱人具足して
武州江下りける
一大石主税辛巳春十四歳にして此災難を聞より死を一図に
して義にすゝむ未幼若の身としておさ〳〵敷風情誠にせん
だんは二葉よりかうばしと打入之夜の働退口の武者振最期に
父の事を不忘末期の一通を以暇乞を告父の心を安からしむる
現代語訳
浅野家を再興させる事を謀り、また吉良家への処罰があることを願い、
今回までその決着を待っていたため、臆病になったと世間で取り沙汰されていた。このような耐え難い噂も聞かない振りをして、ひたすら家に忠義を尽くそうと志していた。しかしながら両方とも叶わなかったため、思い立つに及んでは死を決意し、妻子を捨て、主税一人を連れて武蔵国へ下ったのである。
一、大石主税は辛巳の春、十四歳でこの災難を聞いてから死を一途に決意して義に進んだ。まだ幼い身でありながら立派な風情で、まことに「栴檀は双葉より芳し」というように、討ち入りの夜の働き、退却時の武者ぶり、最期に父のことを忘れず、辞世の一通をもって暇乞いを告げ、父の心を安らかにした。
英語訳
He plotted to restore the Asano house and hoped that the Kira family would receive punishment. Because he waited for this matter to be resolved, he was criticized by society as having become cowardly. Even hearing such unbearable rumors, he pretended not to hear them and devoted himself solely to loyalty to his house. However, when neither wish was fulfilled, he resolved to die when he made his decision, abandoned his wife and children, and went down to Musashi Province accompanied only by Chikara.
1. Ōishi Chikara, in the spring of the Metal Snake year at age fourteen, upon hearing of this disaster, resolved single-mindedly on death and advanced toward righteousness. Despite his still young age, he showed admirable bearing. Truly "the fragrant wood is fragrant from its first leaves" - his performance on the night of the attack, his warrior's conduct during the retreat, and at the end, not forgetting his father, he bid farewell with a final letter, bringing peace to his father's heart.