The Father And His Sons

A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion; and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks. When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession, and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their strength, and were not able to do it. He next opened the faggot, took the sticks separately, one by one, and again put them into his sons’ hands, upon which they broke them easily. He then addressed them in these words: “My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each other, you will be as this faggot, uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies; but if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as these sticks.”

ある父親には息子たちがいたが、彼らはいつも仲間うちでけんかばかりしていた。父親はいくら言い聞かせても争いをおさめることができなかったので、仲たがいがどれほど悪いことかを、実際に見せて教えようと決めた。そのためにある日、息子たちに小枝のたばを持ってくるように言った。息子たちが持ってくると、父親はそのたばを一人ずつ順に手わたし、折ってみなさいと命じた。息子たちは力いっぱいやってみたが、折ることはできなかった。次に父親はたばをほどき、小枝を一本ずつばらばらにして、もう一度息子たちの手にわたした。すると息子たちはそれをたやすく折ってしまった。そこで父親は息子たちにこう語りかけた。「息子たちよ、おまえたちが心を一つにして、力を合わせて助け合うなら、このたばのように、敵がどんなことをしてきても傷つくことはない。だが、おまえたちが仲間割れをすれば、この小枝のようにたやすく折られてしまうだろう」