こちらは有名ですよね。「羊の皮を着たオオカミ」や「偽善者」などが定訳。中国語訳は「披着羊皮的狼」。
さて、語源はどうでしょうか。まずは「イソップ物語」にこのような一節があります。
Once upon a time a Wolf resolved to disguise his appearance in order to secure food more easily. Encased in the skin of a sheep, he pastured with the flock deceiving the shepherd by his costume. In the evening he was shut up by the shepherd in the fold; the gate was closed, and the entrance made thoroughly secure. But the shepherd, returning to the fold during the night to obtain meat for the next day, mistakenly caught up the Wolf instead of a sheep, and killed him instantly. (George Fyler Townsend's 1867 translation)
次に新約聖書「マタイの福音書７：１５」に、
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (King James Version)
という記述があります。
年代的には当然、「イソップ物語」の方が古く、聖書が書かれた時期に中東あたりで出回っていた史実から、おおもとは「イソップ物語」であると見てほぼ間違いないでしょう。
- 日時: 2008年05月13日 07:19 | パーマリンク