이솝우화 제 74화 노인과 죽음 (The Old Man and Death) *노인과 저승사자

올드코난 (Old Conan)이 재해석하는 현대판 이솝우화 (Aesop's Fables, Aesopica) => 원 저작자: Aesop; 참고 번역본 저자: 조지 파일러 타운센드(George Fyler Townsend, 1814-1900) 외 / 현재 알려진 이솝우화들을 현대적으로 해석해  소개해 드리겠습니다.

올드코난의 이솝우화 제 74화 노인과 죽음 (Perry 60. The Old Man and Death) *노인과 저승사자

시골의 어느 가난한 노인이 지게에 땔감을 가득 싣고 집을 향해 걸어가고 있었다. 

늘 사는게 힘이 들었던 불쌍한 노인은 그날따라 몸과 마음이 너무 힘이 들었다. 

나무가 가득 실린 지게를 내려 놓고 길가에 앉아 쉬면서 노인은 한숨을 쉬면서 이렇게는 더 이상 살기 싫다는 생각을 하게 된다. 죽는게 낫다는 생각을 하게된 노인은 혼잣말로 이렇게 말한다.

”이제 그만 저승사자가 나타났으면 좋겠군“

노인의 말을 들은 저승사자가 노인 앞에 나타났다. 그리고 물었다.

“내가 뭐 도와줄 일이 있소?”

노인은 갑자기 나타난 저승사자를 보자 겁이나 이렇게 대답했다.

“오, 참으로 좋으신 분이군요. 마침 잘 오셨습니다. 지게가 무거워서 일어나기 힘들군요. 저를 일으켜 세워 주시겠습니까?”

죽고 싶다는 말은 오히려 살고 싶다는 말인 것이다.

[올드코난 한마디]

노인들의 가장 큰 거짓말은 “이제 그만 죽어야지”라는 말일 것이다. 

인간은 누구나 늙고 병들고 결국은 죽게 된다. 

죽음을 앞둔 노인들도 그래도 살고 싶다는 생각을 한다. 

정말 죽고 싶은 사람은 없는 것이다.

저승사자를 막상 불러 보니 살고 싶어진 이 노인의 이야기는 죽음 앞에 선 인간이 얼마나 나약한 존재인지를 일깨워 준다.

[영어 문장]

Perry 60. The Old Man and Death

An Old Man was tired of picking up sticks and called on Death to take him. Death arrived and the Old Man asked him to pick up the sticks. Changed his mind.

Be careful what you wish for.

1. Townsend version

An old man was employed in cutting wood in the forest, and, in carrying the faggots to the city for sale one day, became very wearied with his long journey. He sat down by the wayside, and throwing down his load, besought “Death” to come. “Death” immediately appeared in answer to his summons and asked for what reason he had called him. The Old Man hurriedly replied, “That, lifting up the load, you may place it again upon my shoulders.”

2. JBR Collection (The Woman and The Fat Hen)

A poor and toil-worn Peasant, bent with years, and groaning beneath the weight of a heavy faggot of firewood which he carried, sought, weary and sore-footed on a long and dusty road, to gain his distant cottage. Unable to bear the weight of his burden any longer, he let it fall by the roadside, and sitting down upon it, lamented his hard fate. What pleasure had he known since first he drew breath in this sad world? From dawn to dusk one round of ill-requited toil! At home, empty cupboards, a discontented wife, and disobedient children! He called on Death to free him from his troubles. At once the King of Terrors stood before him, and asked him what he wanted. Awed at the ghastly presence, the Old Fellow stammering said, it was nothing more than to have helped once more upon his shoulders the bundle of sticks which he had let fall.

3. Eliot/Jacobs Version

An Old Man, bent double with age and toil, was gathering sticks in a forest. At last he grew so tired and hopeless that he threw down the bundle of sticks, and cried out: “I cannot bear this life any longer. Death come and take me!” As he spoke, Death appeared and said to him: “What do you want Old Man? I heard you call me.” “Please, sir,” replied the Old Man, “would you kindly help me lift this load of sticks on to my shoulder?”

4. L’Estrange version

An old man that had travell’d a great way under a huge burden of sticks, found himself so weary, that he cast it down, and call’d upon Death to deliver him from a more miserable life. Death came presently at his call, and asked him his bus’ness. Pray good sir, says he, do me but the favour to help me up with my burden again.

Moral: Men call upon death, as they do upon the devil: when he comes they’re affraid of him.

5. Mors et Pauper

Pauper quidam lignorum fasciculum portabat humeris. Longo deinde itinere fatigatus, onere se levavit, consedit humi, et flebili voce advocavit Mortem. Illa continuo adest, interrogans quid se velit. Respondet pauper, “Humi ut tolleres hunc fascem mihi, huc ego te vocavi.”

Moral: Adeo in miseris etiam vitae amantes sunt mortales.

글 작성/편집 올드코난 (Old Conan)

글에 공감하신다면 SNS (트위터, 페이스북)로 널리 널리 알려 주세요. ★ 글의 오타, 하고픈 말, 그리고 동영상 등이 재생이 안되는 등 문제가 발견 되면 본문 하단에 댓글로 남겨 주시면 감사하겠습니다