翻刻
趣と奉存候以来今日を相待事一日三秋之思ひに御座候
四十余輩之者共雨に彳二日三日漸一食仕候老
衰病身之者聢々死を進候得共蟷螂ひちをたのむの笑
を相招弥尊君之恥辱を残し可申かと延留仕候昨夜半頃
各申合上野介殿御宅江推参仕候而尊君之依加護哉日来
之積鬱一時に果して今上野介殿御首を御供申是迄参上
仕候且亦此短刀は尊君往昔御秘蔵に而臣内蔵助江被下
贈候乍恐只今返上仕候条尊君之御志に於相叶は二度ひ
御手を被下御鬱憤を被遂おわしまし候へ右之趣四十
現代語訳
その趣旨と存じまして、今日この日を待つこと一日三秋の思いでございました。四十余名の者どもは雨の中を彷徨い、二日三日でやっと一食を取る有様で、老い衰え病身の者たちは確実に死に向かっておりましたが、蟷螂が斧を頼みとするような笑いものを招き、いよいよ尊い君主の恥辱を残すことになるのではないかと思い、延期いたしておりました。昨夜半頃、各々申し合わせて上野介殿の御屋敷へ推参いたしまして、尊い君主の御加護によるものでしょうか、日頃の積もった鬱憤を一時に晴らし、今、上野介殿の御首級を御供え申し上げ、ここまで参上いたしました。また、この短刀は尊い君主が往昔御秘蔵されていたもので、家臣内蔵助に下賜されたものでございますが、恐れながら只今返上いたします。尊い君主の御志に叶うならば、もう一度御手をお下しになり、御鬱憤をお遂げになってくださいませ。右の趣旨、四十
英語訳
With this purpose in mind, we have waited for this day with the feeling that each day was like three autumns. The forty-some men wandered in the rain, barely managing one meal in two or three days, and though the aged, weak, and infirm among us were surely approaching death, we delayed our action fearing that we might invite ridicule like a praying mantis relying on its axe, thereby further adding to our revered lord's disgrace. Around midnight last night, we all agreed and proceeded to Lord Kōzuke-no-suke's residence. Perhaps through our revered lord's divine protection, we fulfilled in one moment the accumulated resentment of many days, and now we present Lord Kōzuke-no-suke's head as an offering, having come this far. Moreover, this short sword was one that our revered lord treasured in former times and bestowed upon his retainer Kuranosuke. Though presumptuous, we now return it to you. If this accords with our revered lord's will, please extend your hand once more and achieve your vengeful purpose. Regarding the above matter, forty