翻刻
当今の難義ハ救ひ可申と申けれは糸安き
事に候其位は持合申迚直に金子取出し
早速被渡けれは人々是を持帰り申様扨々
思の外糸易く出来候斯と知ならハ百両
共可申に残甚成事かなと申けれはさあ
らばこのうへは品を替て穀物をかりて
見ばやとて亦々参り先達而御無心申せし
金子不残割合当分の小遣等ハ間に合せ
申けれどもたべ物一切無之年とりかねし
者数人みへ申候馴々敷は御坐候へ共何卒
穀物有次第御忍借申て皆々へ割与へ
申度又候参り申也迚もの御忍請序に
御了間被下かしと願ひける後家殿被申けるは
当年は田畑共に皆無にて一粒も取申
さね共ケ様成時の為とひね穀少々
囲置申候有次第御持参被成可申とて
現代語訳
今の困窮は救ってあげましょうと申したところ、とても簡単なことですその程度でしたら持ち合わせがございますと言って、すぐに金子を取り出し、早速渡してくれたので、人々はこれを持ち帰り申した。さてさて思いの外とても簡単にできました。こうと知っていたなら百両でも申し上げたのに、残念なことですなあと申したところ、それならばこの上は品を替えて穀物を借りてみようということで、また参り「先だって無心申し上げた金子は残らず割り当てて当分の小遣い等には間に合わせることができました。
けれども食べ物が一切なく、年を取って稼げない者が数人見えます。馴れ馴れしくはございますが、何卒穀物がございましたら忍んで借用申し上げ、皆々へ分け与えたく、また参りました。ついでのお忍び請いの序に、ご了解いただけないでしょうか」と願ったところ、後家殿が申されるには「当年は田畑ともに皆無で一粒も取れませんでしたが、このような時のためにとひね穀を少々囲い置いてあります。ある分だけお持ち帰りになって下さい」とのことで
英語訳
When she said "I shall help you with your current hardships," she replied "That is quite a simple matter. I have that amount on hand," and immediately took out the money and promptly gave it to them. The people took it home. Well, well, it was much easier than expected. If we had known it would be this simple, we could have asked for even a hundred ryō. What a shame, they said. Then they decided, "In that case, let us try asking for grain instead of money this time," and visited her again, saying: "The money we borrowed from you the other day has been distributed among us all and has served for our daily expenses.
However, we have no food at all, and there are several elderly people who cannot work to earn their keep. Though we may seem presumptuous, if you have any grain, we humbly ask to borrow some to distribute among everyone. We have come again for this purpose. While we are here asking this favor, might you also give us your understanding?" The widow replied: "This year both rice fields and dry fields yielded nothing - not even a single grain was harvested. However, I have stored away some old grain for times like these. Please take whatever amount is available."