翻刻
【柱】上 十二
から紙表紙一重へだてゝ竹つな金平
の用をもきゝ花さき爺（ぢゝ）が時代に
は桃太郎鬼が島の支度（したく）を請負（うけおひ）
舌（した）きり雀（すゞめ）のちうを尽し兎（うさぎ）の
手がらの数をしらずそのゝち
代々の記録をつかさどり青本〳〵
ともてはやされかまくらの一の鳥居
のほとりに住居し清信きよ倍清
満などゝ力をあはせ年〳〵の新板
世上に流布（るふ）すしかるに中むかし
宝りやく十年辰のとし丸小が板
丈阿 戯作（けさく）の草双紙に始て作者の名
をあらはし外題（げだい）の絵を紅摺にして
いだせしをその頃はまだ錦絵もなき
時代なればめづらしき事に思ひ所々
より出る草紙の外題（げだい）みな色ずり
となりたりしか汝ばかりは古風を守る
赤い色紙に青い短冊（たんざく）たいのみそすに
よもの赤のみかけ山のかんからす大木
のはへきはでふといの根がてんか〳〵位の
しやれなりしも思へば〳〵むかしにて
二十 余（よ）年の栄花の夢きん〳〵先生（せんせい）
といへる通人いでゝ鎌倉中の草双紙
これかために一 変（へん）してどうやうこうやら
草双紙といかのほりはおとなの物
となつたるもおかし見やうみまねに
近比は汝か家のさうしまて上書を紅摺
にして久しいなしみをかゑしたり
今われ鱗（うろこ）を得たるかはりに大通の
奥（おう）儀をさつけん此一巻を所持なす
【柱】上 十三
現代語訳
唐紙表紙一重を隔てて、竹綱金平の用をも聞き、花咲爺の時代には桃太郎鬼ヶ島の支度を請け負い、舌切り雀の仲を尽くし、兎の手柄の数を知らず。その後、代々の記録を司り、青本・青本ともてはやされ、鎌倉の一の鳥居のほとりに住居し、清信・清倍・清満などと力を合わせ、年々の新板を世上に流布す。
しかるに、中昔・宝暦十年辰の年、丸小が板、丈阿戯作の草双紙に始めて作者の名を表し、外題の絵を紅摺にして出だせしを、その頃はまだ錦絵もなき時代なれば、珍しき事に思い、所々より出る草紙の外題みな色摺りとなりたり。
しかし汝ばかりは古風を守る。赤い色紙に青い短冊、鯛の味噌汁、四方の赤のみかけ山のかんがらす、大木の生えきは、でふといの根がてんかてんか位の洒落なりしも、思えば思えば昔にて、二十余年の栄花の夢。
「きんきん先生」といえる通人が出でて、鎌倉中の草双紙これがために一変して、どうやらこうやら草双紙と凧のぼりは大人の物となったるもおかし。見様見真似に、近頃は汝が家の草紙まで上書を紅摺にして、久しい馴染みを変えしたり。
今、我れ鱗を得たる代わりに、大通の奥義を授けん。この一巻を所持なす。
英語訳
Separated by just a single layer of Chinese paper cover, it served even Takezuna Kinpira, and in the era of Hanasaka Jijii, it undertook the preparations for Momotarō's Onigashima expedition, gave its all for the relationship in Shita-kiri Suzume, and performed countless feats for the Rabbit — beyond counting. After that, it presided over records for generations, celebrated as "aohon" (blue books), and dwelt near the First Torii of Kamakura, joining forces with Kiyonobu, Kiyomasu, Kiyomitsu and others, spreading new publications to the world each year.
However, in the middle period — the Year of the Dragon in Hōryaku (Hōreki) the tenth year — with the publication by Maruko, and the kusazōshi written as a playful work by Jōa, an author's name appeared for the first time, and the cover illustration was produced in beni-zuri (red print). Since there were no nishiki-e (brocade prints) at that time, this was considered a remarkable thing, and before long, the cover illustrations of popular booklets from various places all came to be printed in color.
Yet you alone preserved the old ways. Red colored paper, blue poem slips, sea bream miso soup, red "miake-yama" ravens from all four directions, the roots of great trees standing out — these were wit and wordplay of the finest sort. But thinking back, thinking back, it was all in the past — a dream of glory lasting more than twenty years.
When the man of great refinement known as "Kinkin Sensei" appeared, the kusazōshi throughout Kamakura were completely transformed on his account, and somehow or other, both kusazōshi and kite-flying became things for adults — which is quite amusing. Imitating what they saw, recently even the booklets of your house have changed their title covers to color-printed red, altering long-established traditions.
Now, in return for obtaining the scales, I shall impart to you the secret teachings of great communication. Possess this one scroll.