女性

解説

付記

天地創造のとき、 主はあらゆる生き物を地に満たした。 象からコウモリ、カタツムリまで、 すべて雄ばかり。 そこに悪魔が現れて言った。 「汝の永遠の律法―― 成長、成熟、衰退に従えば、 やがて地は無人になる。 繁殖を設けなければならぬ」 彼は袖がないので翼の下に顔を隠し、 笑った―― あまりに悪魔的な提案だったから。 主はその言葉を思案し、 運命を決める賽を振った。 大地の塵は同意し、 川は流れを変えて粘土を作った。 自然は吝嗇で、 粘土は十分集まったが、それ以上はない。 主はそれをこね、 まず粗い器官、次に細かい器官を造った。 一度に完全にはせず、 少しずつ段階を経て。 ついにすべての生き物に対応する 雌を造った――ただし「心臓」だけはなかった。 粘土が尽きたからだ。 「心臓ならすぐに持ってきてやる」 悪魔は叫び、袋いっぱいに持ち帰った。 その夜、大地は喧噪に包まれた―― 千百万の雄が妻を持ったのだ。 そして地獄は静まり返った―― 千百万の悪魔が死んだから！ ―― G.J.

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Original

One of the opposing, or unfair, sex.

Additional notes

The Maker, at Creation's birth, With living things had stocked the earth. From elephants to bats and snails, They all were good, for all were males. But when the Devil came and saw He said: "By Thine eternal law Of growth, maturity, decay, These all must quickly pass away And leave untenanted the earth Unless Thou dost establish birth"— Then tucked his head beneath his wing To laugh—he had no sleeve—the thing With deviltry did so accord, That he'd suggested to the Lord. The Master pondered this advice, Then shook and threw the fateful dice Wherewith all matters here below Are ordered, and observed the throw; Then bent His head in awful state, Confirming the decree of Fate. From every part of earth anew The conscious dust consenting flew, While rivers from their courses rolled To make it plastic for the mould. Enough collected (but no more, For niggard Nature hoards her store) He kneaded it to flexible clay, While Nick unseen threw some away. And then the various forms He cast, Gross organs first and finer last; No one at once evolved, but all By even touches grew and small Degrees advanced, till, shade by shade, To match all living things He'd made Females, complete in all their parts Except (His clay gave out) the hearts. No matter, Satan cried; "with speed I'll fetch the very hearts they need"— So flew away and soon brought back The number needed, in a sack. That night earth rang with sounds of strife— Ten million males each had a wife; That night sweet Peace her pinions spread O'er Hell—ten million devils dead! G.J.