‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
それはクリスマスの前の晩、家中で生き物は、ネズミさえも動かなくなったころ、
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
靴下は煙突のそばに下げられていて、サンタクロースが来るのを待っていた。
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
子供たちはベッドに寝静まって、頭の中で砂糖入り菓子が踊っていて、
And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,
ママは布をかぶっていて、私は帽子をかぶり、長い夜の眠りについた時に。
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
突然外の庭で大きな音がしたので、私はベッドから飛び起きて、何だろうと思い、
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
窓のそばにいって、雨戸を開けた。
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
降ったばかりの雪の上に月が昼間のように光を投げていた。
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
すると目の前に何と小さなソリと八頭のトナカイが見えて
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
御者が元気なおじいさんだったので、サンタクロースだとすぐ分かった。
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
ワシよりも早くトナカイたちは飛んできてサンタさんは大声で名前を呼んだ。
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”
「そらダッシャー、そらダンサー、それプランサー、ヴィクセン、行けコメット、行けキューピッド、ドナー、ブリッツェン、ポーチに上まで、煙突の上まで！早く走れ、それ走れ、みんな走れ！」
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
ハリケーンの前で枯葉が舞うように、何かにぶち当たると、ソリは空へ舞いある、
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.
だからトナカイたちは家の屋根の上へ飛んで行った、おもちゃがいっぱいのソリとサンタクロースを載せて。
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
私が驚いていると、屋根の上にトナカイたちがコトコト動いているのが聞こえた。
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
頭を引っ込めて、ぐるりと回したらサンタさんがポンと煙突を下りてきた。
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
サンさんは頭から足まで、毛皮の服を着て、それが灰とススにまみれていた。
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.
後ろにはおもちゃを沢山背負って、包を開く前の行商人のようだった。
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
目が光っていて、えくぼが幸せそうで、頬は紅色で、サクランボみたいだった。
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
小さな口を弓のようにして、あごには雪のように白いヒゲを生やして、
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
歯にはパイプをきつくかんで、煙が花輪のように頭をめぐっていた。
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
サンタさんの顔は広くて、丸いお腹は笑う時に震えて、ジェリーが入ったボウルのようだった。
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
かわいく太っていて、愉快な妖精のようだった。思わず笑ってしまった私に
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
目をウィンクして、頭をかしげたので、何も怖くないとすぐ分かった。
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
言葉は何も言わなくて、すぐ仕事に取り掛かって、靴下をいっぱいにして、くるりと身を回して、
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
そして指を鼻の脇に置いて、それからうなづいて、煙突を登っていった。
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,
それからソリに飛び乗って、トナカイたちに口笛を吹いて、枯草が舞うように、飛んでいってしまった。
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”
でも見えなくなる前に、サンタさんが叫ぶのが聞こえた。
「クリスマス、おめでとう！みんな、お休み！」