The Master Cat, or Puss in Boots

Once upon a time there was a miller who left no more riches to the three sons he had than his mill, his ass, and his cat. The division was soon made. Neither the lawyer nor the attorney was sent for. They would soon have eaten up all the poor property. The eldest had the mill, the second the ass, and the youngest nothing but the cat.

Pada zaman dahulu ada seorang penggilingan gandum yang tidak meninggalkan kekayaan apa pun kepada ketiga putranya selain kincir gilingnya, keledainya, dan kucingnya. Pembagiannya segera dilakukan. Tak seorang pengacara maupun notaris pun dipanggil. Mereka pasti akan segera menghabiskan seluruh harta yang sedikit itu. Anak sulung mendapat kincir giling, anak kedua mendapat keledai, dan anak bungsu tidak mendapat apa-apa selain kucing itu.

The youngest, as we can understand, was quite unhappy at having so poor a share.

Anak bungsu itu, seperti bisa kita pahami, merasa sangat tidak senang mendapat bagian yang begitu sedikit.

"My brothers," said he, "may get their living handsomely enough by joining their stocks together; but, for my part, when I have eaten up my cat, and made me a muff of his skin, I must die of hunger."

"Saudara-saudaraku," katanya, "mungkin bisa mendapat penghidupan yang cukup baik dengan menggabungkan modal mereka; tetapi, bagiku, setelah aku memakan kucingku, dan membuat sebuah alat penghangat tangan dari kulitnya, aku pasti akan mati kelaparan."

The Cat, who heard all this, without appearing to take any notice, said to him with a grave and serious air:—

Sang Kucing, yang mendengar semua ini, tanpa tampak memperhatikan, berkata kepadanya dengan sikap yang tenang dan serius:—

"Do not thus afflict yourself, my master; you have nothing else to do but to give me a bag, and get a pair of boots made for me, that I may scamper through the brambles, and you shall see that you have not so poor a portion in me as you think."

"Jangan bersedih begitu, Tuanku; kau tak perlu melakukan apa pun selain memberiku sebuah kantong, dan membuatkan sepasang sepatu bot untukku, agar aku bisa berlarian menembus semak duri, dan kau akan melihat bahwa bagianmu tidaklah seburuk yang kaukira."

Though the Cat's master did not think much of what he said, he had seen him play such cunning tricks to catch rats and mice—hanging himself by the heels, or hiding himself in the meal, to make believe he was dead—that he did not altogether despair of his helping him in his misery.

Meskipun tuan sang Kucing tidak terlalu memikirkan apa yang dikatakannya, ia pernah melihatnya bermain dengan tipu daya licik untuk menangkap tikus got dan tikus rumah—menggantung dirinya dengan tumitnya, atau bersembunyi di dalam tepung, untuk berpura-pura bahwa ia sudah mati—sehingga ia tidak sepenuhnya putus asa akan bantuannya dalam kesengsaraannya.

When the Cat had what he asked for, he booted himself very gallantly, and putting his bag about his neck, he held the strings of it in his two forepaws, and went into a warren where was a great number of rabbits. He put bran and sow-thistle into his bag, and, stretching out at length, as if he were dead, he waited for some young rabbits, not yet acquainted with the deceits of the world, to come and rummage his bag for what he had put into it.

Ketika sang Kucing mendapatkan apa yang ia minta, ia mengenakan sepatu botnya dengan sangat gagah, dan menaruh kantongnya di lehernya, ia memegang tali-talinya dengan kedua kaki depannya, dan pergi ke sebuah hutan kelinci tempat terdapat banyak sekali kelinci. Ia memasukkan dedak dan tanaman liar ke dalam kantongnya, dan, merebahkan diri memanjang, seolah ia sudah mati, ia menunggu beberapa kelinci muda, yang belum mengenal tipu daya dunia, untuk datang dan mengacak-acak kantongnya mencari apa yang telah ia masukkan ke dalamnya.

Scarcely was he settled but he had what he wanted. A rash and foolish young rabbit jumped into his bag, and Monsieur Puss, immediately drawing close the strings, took him and killed him at once. Proud of his prey, he went with it to the palace, and asked to speak with the King. He was shown upstairs into his Majesty's apartment, and, making a low bow to the King, he said:—

Baru saja ia berbaring tetapi ia sudah mendapatkan apa yang ia inginkan. Seekor kelinci muda yang gegabah dan bodoh melompat ke dalam kantongnya, dan Tuan Kucing, seketika menarik erat tali-talinya, menangkapnya dan membunuhnya seketika itu juga. Bangga dengan hasil buruannya, ia pergi membawanya ke istana, dan meminta berbicara dengan Raja. Ia diantar naik ke atas ke apartemen Baginda, dan, membungkuk rendah kepada Raja, ia berkata:—

"I have brought you, sire, a rabbit which my noble Lord, the Master of Carabas" (for that was the title which Puss was pleased to give his master) "has commanded me to present to your Majesty from him."

"Hamba membawakan Paduka, seekor kelinci yang tuanku yang mulia, Marquis Carabas" (sebab itulah gelar yang sang Kucing senang berikan kepada tuannya) "perintahkan hamba untuk mempersembahkannya kepada Paduka atas namanya."

"Tell thy master," said the King, "that I thank him, and that I am pleased with his gift."

"Sampaikan kepada tuanmu," kata sang Raja, "bahwa aku berterima kasih kepadanya, dan aku senang dengan hadiahnya."

Another time he went and hid himself among some standing corn, still holding his bag open; and when a brace of partridges ran into it, he drew the strings, and so caught them both. He then went and made a present of these to the King, as he had done before of the rabbit which he took in the warren. The King, in like manner, received the partridges with great pleasure, and ordered his servants to reward him.

Lain kali ia pergi dan bersembunyi di antara tanaman gandum yang berdiri, tetap membiarkan kantongnya terbuka; dan ketika sepasang burung puyuh berlari masuk ke dalamnya, ia menarik talinya, dan berhasil menangkap keduanya. Kemudian ia pergi dan mempersembahkan keduanya kepada Raja, seperti yang telah ia lakukan sebelumnya dengan kelinci yang ia tangkap di hutan itu. Sang Raja, dengan cara yang sama, menerima burung puyuh itu dengan sangat senang, dan memerintahkan para pelayannya untuk memberinya imbalan.

The Cat continued for two or three months thus to carry his Majesty, from time to time, some of his master's game. One day when he knew that the King was to take the air along the riverside, with his daughter, the most beautiful princess in the world, he said to his master:—

Sang Kucing terus melakukan ini selama dua atau tiga bulan, membawakan kepada Baginda, dari waktu ke waktu, sebagian hewan buruan tuannya. Suatu hari ketika ia mengetahui bahwa Raja akan menghirup udara segar di sepanjang tepi sungai, bersama putrinya, sang putri tercantik di dunia, ia berkata kepada tuannya:—

"If you will follow my advice, your fortune is made. You have nothing else to do but go and bathe in the river, just at the spot I shall show you, and leave the rest to me."

"Jika kau mau mengikuti nasihatku, nasib baikmu sudah pasti. Kau tak perlu melakukan apa pun selain pergi dan berendam di sungai, tepat di titik yang akan kutunjukkan kepadamu, dan serahkan sisanya kepadaku."

The Marquis of Carabas did what the Cat advised him to, without knowing what could be the use of doing it. While he was bathing, the King passed by, and the Cat cried out with all his might:—

Marquis Carabas melakukan apa yang disarankan sang Kucing kepadanya, tanpa mengetahui apa gunanya melakukan hal itu. Ketika ia sedang berendam, Raja lewat, dan sang Kucing berteriak sekuat tenaganya:—

"Help! help! My Lord the Marquis of Carabas is drowning!"

"Tolong! tolong! Tuanku Marquis Carabas tenggelam!"

At this noise the King put his head out of the coach window, and seeing the Cat who had so often brought him game, he commanded his guards to run immediately to the assistance of his Lordship the Marquis of Carabas.

Mendengar suara ribut ini Raja menjulurkan kepalanya keluar dari jendela kereta, dan melihat sang Kucing yang begitu sering membawakannya hewan buruan, ia memerintahkan para pengawalnya untuk segera berlari menolong Tuanku Marquis Carabas.

While they were drawing the poor Marquis out of the river, the Cat came up to the coach and told the King that, while his master was bathing, there came by some rogues, who ran off with his clothes, though he had cried out, "Thieves! thieves!" several times, as loud as he could. The cunning Cat had hidden the clothes under a great stone. The King immediately commanded the officers of his wardrobe to run and fetch one of his best suits for the Lord Marquis of Carabas.

Sementara mereka menarik Marquis yang malang itu keluar dari sungai, sang Kucing mendatangi kereta itu dan memberitahu Raja bahwa, ketika tuannya sedang berendam, datanglah beberapa bandit, yang melarikan pakaiannya, meskipun ia telah berteriak, "Pencuri! pencuri!" beberapa kali, sekeras yang ia bisa. Sang Kucing yang licik itu telah menyembunyikan pakaian itu di bawah sebuah batu besar. Raja segera memerintahkan para pejabat lemari pakaiannya untuk berlari dan mengambil salah satu pakaian terbaiknya untuk Tuanku Marquis Carabas.

The King was extremely polite to him, and as the fine clothes he had given him set off his good looks (for he was well made and handsome), the King's daughter found him very much to her liking, and the Marquis of Carabas had no sooner cast two or three respectful and somewhat tender glances than she fell in love with him to distraction. The King would have him come into the coach and take part in the airing. The Cat, overjoyed to see his plan begin to succeed, marched on before, and, meeting with some countrymen, who were mowing a meadow, he said to them:—

Raja sangat sopan terhadapnya, dan karena pakaian bagus yang telah ia berikan semakin menonjolkan ketampanannya (sebab ia berpostur baik dan tampan), putri Raja mendapatinya sangat sesuai dengan seleranya, dan Marquis Carabas baru saja melemparkan dua atau tiga pandangan sopan dan agak lembut ketika ia jatuh cinta kepadanya sampai tergila-gila. Raja memintanya untuk masuk ke dalam kereta dan ikut serta dalam pesiar itu. Sang Kucing, bersukacita melihat rencananya mulai berhasil, berjalan lebih dulu, dan, bertemu dengan beberapa penduduk desa, yang sedang menyabit sebuah padang rumput, ia berkata kepada mereka:—

"Good people, you who are mowing, if you do not tell the King that the meadow you mow belongs to my Lord Marquis of Carabas, you shall be chopped as small as herbs for the pot."

"Orang-orang baik, kalian yang sedang menyabit, jika kalian tidak memberitahu Raja bahwa padang rumput yang kalian sabit itu milik Tuanku Marquis Carabas, kalian akan dicincang sekecil sayuran untuk periuk."

The King did not fail to ask the mowers to whom the meadow they were mowing belonged.

Raja tak lupa bertanya kepada para penyabit itu milik siapa padang rumput yang sedang mereka sabit.

"To my Lord Marquis of Carabas," answered they all together, for the Cat's threat had made them afraid.

"Milik Tuanku Marquis Carabas," jawab mereka semua serempak, sebab ancaman sang Kucing telah membuat mereka takut.

"You have a good property there," said the King to the Marquis of Carabas.

"Kau punya tanah yang bagus di sana," kata Raja kepada Marquis Carabas.

"You see, sire," said the Marquis, "this is a meadow which never fails to yield a plentiful harvest every year."

"Paduka bisa lihat sendiri," kata sang Marquis, "ini adalah padang rumput yang tak pernah gagal menghasilkan panen yang melimpah setiap tahunnya."

The Master Cat, who went still on before, met with some reapers, and said to them:—

Sang Kucing Ternama, yang terus berjalan lebih dulu, bertemu dengan beberapa pemanen, dan berkata kepada mereka:—

"Good people, you who are reaping, if you do not say that all this corn belongs to the Marquis of Carabas, you shall be chopped as small as herbs for the pot."

"Orang-orang baik, kalian yang sedang memanen, jika kalian tidak mengatakan bahwa semua gandum ini milik Marquis Carabas, kalian akan dicincang sekecil sayuran untuk periuk."

The King, who passed by a moment after, wished to know to whom belonged all that corn, which he then saw.

Raja, yang lewat sesaat kemudian, ingin tahu milik siapa semua gandum itu, yang kemudian ia lihat.

"To my Lord Marquis of Carabas," replied the reapers, and the King was very well pleased with it, as well as the Marquis, whom he congratulated thereupon. The Master Cat, who went always before, said the same thing to all he met, and the King was astonished at the vast estates of my Lord Marquis of Carabas.

"Milik Tuanku Marquis Carabas," jawab para pemanen itu, dan Raja sangat senang dengan itu, begitu pula sang Marquis, yang ia ucapkan selamat atasnya. Sang Kucing Ternama, yang selalu berjalan lebih dulu, mengatakan hal yang sama kepada semua orang yang ia temui, dan Raja tercengang dengan luasnya tanah milik Tuanku Marquis Carabas.

Monsieur Puss came at last to a stately castle, the master of which was an Ogre, the richest ever known; for all the lands which the King had then passed through belonged to this castle. The Cat, who had taken care to inform himself who this Ogre was and what he could do, asked to speak with him, saying he could not pass so near his castle without having the honor of paying his respects to him.

Tuan Kucing akhirnya tiba di sebuah kastil megah, yang pemiliknya adalah seorang Raksasa, raksasa terkaya yang pernah dikenal; sebab semua tanah yang telah dilalui Raja tadi adalah milik kastil ini. Sang Kucing, yang telah berhati-hati mencari tahu siapa Raksasa ini dan apa yang bisa ia lakukan, meminta untuk berbicara dengannya, mengatakan bahwa ia tidak bisa lewat begitu dekat dengan kastilnya tanpa mendapat kehormatan untuk memberi hormat kepadanya.

The Ogre received him as civilly as an Ogre could do, and made him sit down.

Sang Raksasa menyambutnya seramah yang bisa dilakukan seorang Raksasa, dan menyuruhnya duduk.

"I have been assured," said the Cat, "that you have the gift of being able to change yourself into all sorts of creatures you have a mind to; that you can, for example, transform yourself into a lion, or elephant, and the like."

"Aku telah diyakinkan," kata sang Kucing, "bahwa kau memiliki anugerah untuk bisa mengubah dirimu menjadi segala jenis makhluk yang kau inginkan; bahwa kau bisa, misalnya, mengubah dirimu menjadi seekor singa, atau gajah, dan sejenisnya."

"That is true," answered the Ogre, roughly; "and to convince you, you shall see me now become a lion."

"Itu benar," jawab sang Raksasa, dengan kasar; "dan untuk meyakinkanmu, kau akan melihatku sekarang berubah menjadi seekor singa."

Puss was so terrified at the sight of a lion so near him that he immediately climbed into the gutter, not without much trouble and danger, because of his boots, which were of no use at all to him for walking upon the tiles. A little while after, when Puss saw that the Ogre had resumed his natural form, he came down, and owned he had been very much frightened.

Sang Kucing begitu ketakutan melihat seekor singa begitu dekat dengannya sehingga ia segera memanjat ke talang atap, bukan tanpa banyak kesulitan dan bahaya, karena sepatu botnya, yang sama sekali tidak berguna baginya untuk berjalan di atas genteng. Sesaat kemudian, ketika sang Kucing melihat bahwa sang Raksasa telah kembali ke wujud aslinya, ia turun, dan mengakui bahwa ia sangat ketakutan.

"I have, moreover, been informed," said the Cat, "but I know not how to believe it, that; you have also the power to take on you the shape of the smallest animals; for example, to change yourself into a rat or a mouse, but I must own to you I take this to be impossible."

"Aku juga telah diberitahu," kata sang Kucing, "tetapi aku tidak tahu bagaimana harus mempercayainya, bahwa kau juga memiliki kekuatan untuk mengambil bentuk hewan-hewan terkecil; misalnya, untuk mengubah dirimu menjadi seekor tikus got atau tikus rumah, tetapi aku harus mengaku kepadamu aku menganggap ini mustahil."

"Impossible!" cried the Ogre; "you shall see." And at the same time he changed himself into a mouse, and began to run about the floor. Puss no sooner perceived this than he fell upon him and ate him up.

"Mustahil!" seru sang Raksasa; "kau akan melihatnya." Dan pada saat yang sama ia mengubah dirinya menjadi seekor tikus rumah, dan mulai berlarian di lantai. Sang Kucing begitu melihatnya langsung menerkamnya dan memakannya habis.

Meanwhile, the King, who saw, as he passed, this fine castle of the Ogre's, had a mind to go into it. Puss, who heard the noise of his Majesty's coach coming over the drawbridge, ran out, and said to the King, "Your Majesty is welcome to this castle of my Lord Marquis of Carabas."

Sementara itu, Raja, yang melihat, ketika ia lewat, kastil megah milik sang Raksasa ini, ingin memasukinya. Sang Kucing, yang mendengar suara kereta Baginda melintasi jembatan gantung, berlari keluar, dan berkata kepada Raja, "Paduka Raja diterima dengan senang hati di kastil Tuanku Marquis Carabas ini."

"What! my Lord Marquis," cried the King, "and does this castle also belong to you? There can be nothing finer than this courtyard and all the stately buildings which surround it; let us see the interior, if you please."

"Apa! Tuanku Marquis," seru Raja, "apakah kastil ini juga milikmu? Tak ada yang bisa lebih indah daripada halaman ini dan semua bangunan megah yang mengelilinginya; mari kita lihat bagian dalamnya, jika kau berkenan."

The Marquis gave his hand to the young Princess, and followed the King, who went first. They passed into the great hall, where they found a magnificent collation, which the Ogre had prepared for his friends, who were that very day to visit him, but dared not to enter, knowing the King was there. His Majesty, charmed with the good qualities of my Lord of Carabas, as was also his daughter, who had fallen violently in love with him, and seeing the vast estate he possessed, said to him:—

Sang Marquis memberikan tangannya kepada sang Putri muda, dan mengikuti Raja, yang berjalan lebih dulu. Mereka masuk ke aula besar, tempat mereka menemukan sebuah jamuan yang megah, yang telah disiapkan sang Raksasa untuk teman-temannya, yang pada hari itu juga akan mengunjunginya, tetapi tidak berani masuk, karena mengetahui Raja ada di sana. Baginda, terpesona dengan sifat-sifat baik Tuanku Carabas, begitu pula putrinya, yang telah jatuh cinta dengan sangat dalam kepadanya, dan melihat luasnya tanah yang ia miliki, berkata kepadanya:—

"It will be owing to yourself only, my Lord Marquis, if you are not my son-in-law."

"Semua bergantung pada dirimu sendiri, Tuanku Marquis, jika kau tidak menjadi menantuku."

The Marquis, with low bows, accepted the honor which his Majesty conferred upon him, and forthwith that very same day married the Princess.

Sang Marquis, dengan membungkuk rendah, menerima kehormatan yang Baginda berikan kepadanya, dan seketika itu juga pada hari itu menikahi sang Putri.

Puss became a great lord, and never ran after mice any more except for his diversion.

Sang Kucing menjadi bangsawan besar, dan tak pernah lagi mengejar tikus, kecuali untuk hiburannya sendiri.