Grimms’ Fairy Tales Progressive Translation Books for Czech B1 Students

THEGOLDENBIRD

Acertainkinghadabeautifulgarden,andinthegardenstoodatreewhichboregoldenapples.

Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegantogrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.

Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.

Thegardenersethiseldestsontowatch;

butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.

Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;

andat

půlnoci

midnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganother

jablko

applewasgone.

Thenthethirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;

butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsomeharmshouldcometohim:

however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.

Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustling

šum

noiseintheair,anda

pták

birdcameflyingthatwasofpuregold;

andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithitsbeak,thegardener’ssonjumpedupandshotanarrowatit.

Butthearrowdidthebirdnoharm;

onlyitdroppedagoldenfeatherfromits

ocasu

tail,andthenflewaway.

Thegoldenfeatherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthe

rada

councilwascalledtogether.

Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthe

království

kingdom:

Thenthegardener’seldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegolden

ptáka

birdveryeasily;

andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawafoxsitting;

sohetookhis

luk

bowandmadereadytoshootatit.

Thenthefoxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodcounsel;

Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegolden

ptáka

bird.

Youwillreachavillageintheevening;

andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinns

naproti

oppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisverypleasantandbeautifultolookat:

gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansucha

zvíře

beastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothisarrowatthefox;

buthemissedit,anditsetupits

ocas

tailaboveitsbackandranintothewood.

Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;

andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;

buttheotherlookedverydirty,andpoor.

‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthis

okouzlující

charmingplace’;

sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthe

ptáka

bird,andhiscountrytoo.

Timepassedon;

andastheeldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.

Hemetthefox,whogavehimthegood

radu

advice:

butwhenhecametothetwoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstandingatthewindowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;

andhecouldnotwithstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthe

zlatý

goldenbirdandhiscountryinthesamemanner.

Timepassedonagain,andtheyoungestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldto

hledat

seekforthegoldenbird;

buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,andpreventhiscomingback.

However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;

andashecametothewood,hemetthefox,andheardthesamegoodcounsel.

Buthewasthankfultothefox,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;

sothefoxsaid,‘Situponmy

ocas

tail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthefoxbegantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthewind.

Whentheycametothevillage,thesonfollowedthefox’scounsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathisease.

Inthemorningcamethefoxagainandmethimashewasbeginninghis

cestu

journey,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoa

hradu

castle,beforewhichlieawholetroopofsoldiersfastasleepandsnoring:

takenonoticeofthem,butgointothe

hradu

castleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethe

zlatý

goldenbirdsitsinawoodencage;

closebyitstandsabeautifulgoldencage;

butdonottrytotakethe

ptáka

birdoutoftheshabbycageandputitintothehandsomeone,otherwiseyouwillrepentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthis

ocas

tailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockand

kámen

stonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.

Beforethecastle

branou

gateallwasasthefoxhadsaid:

sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethe

zlatý

goldenbirdhunginawoodencage,and

pod

belowstoodthegoldencage,andthethree

zlatý

goldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.

Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafine

ptáka

birdinthisshabbycage’;

soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegoldencage.

Butthe

pták

birdsetupsuchaloudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhim

vězně

prisonerandcarriedhimbeforetheking.

Thenextmorningthecourtsattojudgehim;

andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegoldenhorsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthewind;

andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegolden

ptáka

birdgivenhimforhisown.

Sohesetoutoncemoreonhis

cestu

journey,sighing,andingreatdespair,whenonasuddenhisfriendthefoxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomycounsel.

Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthegoldenhorse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.

Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothe

hrad

castlewherethehorsestandsinhisstall:

byhissidewillliethegroomfastasleepandsnoring:

takeawaythehorse

tiše

quietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathernsaddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’s

ocas

tail,andawaytheywentoverstockand

kámen

stonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.

Allwentright,andthegroomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthegoldensaddle.

Butwhenthesonlookedatthehorse,hethoughtitagreat

škoda

pitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.

‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;

‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegoldensaddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutsoloud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhim

vězně

prisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.

Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldlive,andhavethe

pták

birdandthehorsegivenhimforhisown.

Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;

buttheoldfoxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?

Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththe

ptáka

birdandthehorse;

yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.

Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwillarriveata

hrad

castle.

Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:

gouptoherandgiveherakiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;

buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthis

ocas

tail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.

Astheycametothe

hrad

castle,allwasasthefoxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtothe

lázně

bathandgaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.

Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;

butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.

Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessineightdaysyoudigawaythe

kopec

hillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthis

kopec

hillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:

andwhenhehadworkedforsevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,thefoxcameandsaid.

‘Liedownandgotosleep;

Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthe

kopec

hillwasgone;

sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemustgivehimtheprincess.

Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandtheprincess;

‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthefox,‘itcanbedone.

Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautifulprincess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”

Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;

andyouwillmountthegoldenhorsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;

butshakehandswiththeprincesslast.

Then

zvedněte

liftherquicklyontothehorsebehindyou;

Allwentright:

thenthefoxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothe

hradu

castlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;

andwhenheseesthatitistherighthorse,hewillbringoutthe

ptáka

bird;

butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,toseewhetheritisthetrue

zlatý

goldenbird;

This,too,happenedasthefoxsaid;

theycarriedoffthe

ptáka

bird,theprincessmountedagain,andtheyrodeontoagreatwood.

Thenthefoxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungmanrefusedtodoit:

sothefoxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodcounsel:

bewareoftwothings;

ransomnoonefromthegallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.

Herodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.

Andthereheheardagreat

hluk

noiseanduproar;

andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecamenearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;

sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheirliberty.

Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhimtowardstheirhome.

Andastheycametothewoodwherethefoxfirstmetthem,itwassocoolandpleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideoftheriver,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’scounsel,andsatdownonthesideoftheriver;

andwhilehesuspectednothing,theycamebehind,andthrewhimdownthebank,andtooktheprincess,thehorse,andthe

ptáka

bird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.

‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;

butthehorsewouldnoteat,the

pták

birdwouldnotsing,andtheprincesswept.

Theyoungestsonfelltothe

dno

bottomoftheriver’sbed:

luckilyitwasnearly

suché

dry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.

Thentheoldfoxcameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotfollowinghis

radu

advice;

otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:

‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmy

ocas

tailandholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutoftheriver,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’scourt,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthehorsebegantoeat,andthe

pták

birdtosing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.

Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;

andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;

andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohis

království

kingdom.

Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheoldfoxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadandfeet.

HANSINLUCK

Somemenareborntogoodluck:

alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthefaster.

Theworldmayverylikelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?

whatcanitknowaboutthematter?

OneoftheseluckybeingswasneighbourHans.

Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.

Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;

Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:

sopraypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeenafaithfulandgoodservant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpofsilverasbigashishead.

Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,threwitoverhis

rameno

shoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.

Ashewentlazilyon,draggingonefootafteranother,amancameinsight,trottinggailyalongonacapitalhorse.

‘Ah!’saidHansaloud,‘whatafinethingitistorideonhorseback!

Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;

hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhe

sotva

hardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeaksosoftlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadtocarry:

tobesureitis

stříbro

silver,butitissoheavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyshouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.

‘Iwillgiveyoumyhorse,andyoushallgivemethe

stříbro

silver;

whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroubleincarryingsuchaheavyloadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:

‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveaweary

úkol

tasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,thehorsemangotoff,tookthe

stříbro

silver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthewhipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipsloudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.

Hanswasdelightedashesatonthehorse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhiswhip,androdemerrilyoff,oneminutewhistlingamerrytune,andanothersinging,.

‘Nocareandnosorrow,Afigforthemorrow!

Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefullgallop;

andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.

Hishorsewouldhaveranoff,ifashepherdwhowascomingby,drivinga

krávu

cow,hadnotstoppedit.

Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisnojoke,whenamanhasthelucktogetupona

zvíře

beastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhisneck.

However,I’moffnowonceforall:

Ilikeyour

kráva

cownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmart

bestie

beastthatplayedmethis

trik

trick,andhasspoiledmybest

kabát

coat,yousee,inthispuddle;

which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.

Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhavemilk,butter,and

sýr

cheese,everyday,intothebargain.

WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidtheshepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemy

krávu

cowforyourhorse;

Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.

‘Whatanobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.

Thentheshepherdjumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthecowgoodmorning,andawayherode.

Hansbrushedhis

kabát

coat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhis

krávu

cowquietly,andthoughthisbargainaveryluckyone.

‘IfIhaveonlyapieceofbread(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmybutterand

sýr

cheesewithit;

andwhenIamthirstyIcanmilkmy

krávu

cowanddrinkthemilk:

andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoaninn,hehalted,ateupallhis

chléb

bread,andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.

Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghis

krávu

cowtowardshismother’svillage.

Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawideheaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourtocross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathis

jazyk

tongueclavetotheroofofhismouth.

‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;

‘nowIwillmilkmy

krávu

cowandquenchmythirst’:

sohetiedhertothestumpofatree,andheldhisleatherncaptomilkinto;

butnotadropwastobehad.

Whowouldhavethoughtthatthis

kráva

cow,whichwastobringhimmilkandbutterand

sýr

cheese,wasallthattimeutterly

suchá

dry?

Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.

Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasy

zvíře

beastbegantothinkhimverytroublesome;

andatlastgavehimsuchakickontheheadasknockedhimdown;

andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.

Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivinga

prase

piginawheelbarrow.

‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthebutcher,ashehelpedhimup.

Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewasdry,andwantedtomilkhiscow,butfoundthecowwasdrytoo.

Thenthebutchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;

your

kráva

cowwillgiveyounomilk:

don’tyouseesheisanold

zvíře

beast,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?

Whatashametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlya

suchou

drycow!

IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?

Ihatecow-beef;

itisnottenderenoughforme.

Ifitwerea

prase

pignow—likethatfatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;

itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthebutcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.

TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfinefat

prase

pigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyourkindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutcherthe

krávu

cow;

andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringthatwastiedtoitsleg.

Soonhejogged,andallseemednowtogorightwithhim:

hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;

buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.

Howcoulditbeotherwisewithsuchatravellingcompanionashehadatlastgot?

Thenextmanhemetwasacountrymancarryingafinewhitegoose.

Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;

thisledtofurtherchat;

andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayandsmilingwithhim.

Thecountrymanthenbegantotellhistale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegoosetoachristening.

‘Feel,’saidhe,‘howheavyitis,andyetitisonlyeightweeksold.

Whoeverroastsandeatsitwillfindplentyoffatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,asheweigheditinhishand;

‘butifyoutalkoffat,my

prase

pigisnotrifle.’Meantimethecountrymanbegantolookgrave,andshookhishead.

‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,youseemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.

Your

prase

pigmaygetyouintoascrape.

InthevillageIjustcamefrom,thesquirehashada

prase

pigstolenoutofhissty.

IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.

Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.

Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.

PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.

‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.

Iknownothingofwherethe

prase

pigwaseitherbredorborn;

buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell:

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