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Grimms' Fairy Tales | Gradually Hardening Dutch B2 Translation Books

Grimms' Fairy Tales | Gradually Hardening Dutch B2 Translation Books

Embrace the benefits of this cutting-edge translation method, offering a tailored learning experience by letting you select the difficulty level that fits you best. It improves your comprehension by urging you to deduce meanings from context, reducing the need for constant translation. While some translations are intentionally masked to encourage guessing, it's always acceptable to check unfamiliar words. This method strikes the perfect balance between challenge and accessibility, making language learning both effective and enjoyable. Immerse yourself in these translated classics and uncover the pleasure of learning through literary exploration.

THEGOLDENBIRD
Acertainkinghadabeautifulgarden,andinthegardenstoodatreewhichboregoldenapples.
Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegantogrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.
Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.
The
tuinman
gardenersethiseldestsontowatch;
butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.
Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;
andatmidnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganotherapplewasgone.
Thenthethirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;
butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsomeharmshouldcometohim:
however,atlasthe
stemde
consented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.
Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,andabirdcameflyingthatwasofpuregold;
andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithits
snavel
beak,thegardener’ssonjumpedupandshotan
pijl
arrowatit.
Butthe
pijl
arrowdidthebirdnoharm;
onlyitdroppedagolden
veer
featherfromitstail,andthenflewaway.
Thegolden
veer
featherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.
Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthekingdom:
Thenthegardener’s
oudste
eldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegoldenbirdveryeasily;
andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawa
vos
foxsitting;
sohetookhisbowandmadereadytoshootatit.
Thenthe
vos
foxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodcounsel;
Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegoldenbird.
Youwillreachavillageintheevening;
andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisvery
aangenaam
pleasantandbeautifultolookat:
gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothis
pijl
arrowatthefox;
buthemissedit,anditsetupitstailaboveitsbackandranintothewood.
Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;
andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;
buttheotherlookedverydirty,andpoor.
‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthischarmingplace’;
sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathis
gemak
ease,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.
Timepassedon;
andasthe
oudste
eldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.
Hemetthe
vos
fox,whogavehimthegoodadvice:
butwhenhecametothetwoinns,his
oudste
eldestbrotherwasstandingatthewindowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;
andhecouldnot
weerstaan
withstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegoldenbirdandhiscountryinthesame
manier
manner.
Timepassedonagain,andthe
jongste
youngestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldtoseekforthegoldenbird;
buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,and
verhinderen
preventhiscomingback.
However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;
andashecametothewood,hemetthe
vos
fox,andheardthesamegoodcounsel.
Buthewas
dankbaar
thankfultothefox,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;
sothe
vos
foxsaid,‘Situponmytail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthe
vos
foxbegantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthewind.
Whentheycametothevillage,thesonfollowedthefox’scounsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttothe
shabby
shabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathis
gemak
ease.
Inthemorningcamethe
vos
foxagainandmethimashewasbeginninghisjourney,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoacastle,beforewhichlieawhole
troep
troopofsoldiersfastasleepand
snurkt
snoring:
takenonoticeofthem,butgointothecastleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenbirdsitsinawooden
kooi
cage;
closebyitstandsabeautifulgolden
kooi
cage;
butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabby
kooi
cageandputitintothehandsomeone,otherwiseyouwill
berouw
repentit.’Thenthefox
strekte
stretchedouthistailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.
Beforethecastlegateallwasasthe
vos
foxhadsaid:
sothesonwentinandfoundthe
kamer
chamberwherethegoldenbirdhunginawooden
kooi
cage,andbelowstoodthegolden
kooi
cage,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.
Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafinebirdinthisshabbycage’;
soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegolden
kooi
cage.
Butthebirdsetupsuchaloudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhimprisonerandcarriedhimbeforetheking.
Thenextmorningthecourtsattojudgehim;
andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegoldenhorsewhichcouldrunas
snel
swiftlyasthewind;
andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.
Sohesetoutoncemoreonhisjourney,
zuchtend
sighing,andingreatdespair,whenonasuddenhisfriendthe
vos
foxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomycounsel.
Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthegoldenhorse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.
Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothecastlewherethehorsestandsinhis
stal
stall:
byhissidewillliethe
bruidegom
groomfastasleepandsnoring:
takeawaythehorsequietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathern
zadel
saddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’stail,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.
Allwentright,andthe
bruidegom
groomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthegolden
zadel
saddle.
Butwhenthesonlookedatthehorse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathern
zadel
saddleuponit.
‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;
‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegolden
zadel
saddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutsoloud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.
Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthehorsegivenhimforhisown.
Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;
buttheold
vos
foxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?
Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththebirdandthehorse;
yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.
Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwillarriveatacastle.
Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:
gouptoherandgiveherakiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;
buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthe
vos
foxstretchedouthistail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.
Astheycametothecastle,allwasasthe
vos
foxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtothebathandgaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.
Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;
butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.
Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessineightdaysyoudigawaythehillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthishillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:
andwhenhehadworkedforsevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,the
vos
foxcameandsaid.
‘Liedownandgotosleep;
Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthehillwasgone;
sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemustgivehimtheprincess.
Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandtheprincess;
‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthe
vos
fox,‘itcanbedone.
Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautifulprincess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”
Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;
andyouwillmountthegoldenhorsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;
butshakehandswiththeprincesslast.
Thenliftherquicklyontothehorsebehindyou;
Allwentright:
thenthe
vos
foxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothecastlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;
andwhenheseesthatitistherighthorse,hewillbringoutthebird;
butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,toseewhetheritisthetruegoldenbird;
This,too,happenedasthe
vos
foxsaid;
theycarriedoffthebird,theprincessmountedagain,andtheyrodeontoagreatwood.
Thenthe
vos
foxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungmanrefusedtodoit:
sothe
vos
foxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodcounsel:
pas op
bewareoftwothings;
ransomnoonefromthe
galg
gallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.
Herodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.
Andthereheheardagreatnoiseanduproar;
andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecame
dichterbij
nearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;
sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheir
vrijheid
liberty.
Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhimtowardstheirhome.
Andastheycametothewoodwherethe
vos
foxfirstmetthem,itwassocooland
aangenaam
pleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideoftheriver,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’scounsel,andsatdownonthesideoftheriver;
andwhilehesuspectednothing,theycamebehind,andthrewhimdownthebank,andtooktheprincess,thehorse,andthebird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.
‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;
butthehorsewouldnoteat,thebirdwouldnotsing,andtheprincesswept.
The
jongste
youngestsonfelltothebottomoftheriver’sbed:
gelukkig
luckilyitwasnearlydry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwasso
steil
steepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.
Thentheold
vos
foxcameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotfollowinghisadvice;
otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:
‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmytailandholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutoftheriver,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’scourt,andwas
nauwelijks
scarcelywithinthedoorswhenthehorsebegantoeat,andthebirdtosing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.
Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;
andtheywereseizedand
gestraft
punished,andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;
andaftertheking’sdeathhewas
erfgenaam
heirtohiskingdom.
Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheold
vos
foxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadandfeet.
HANSINLUCK
Somemenareborntogoodluck:
alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthefaster.
Theworldmayverylikelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?
whatcanitknowaboutthematter?
Oneoftheseluckybeingswas
buurman
neighbourHans.
Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.
Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;
Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:
sopraypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeenafaithfulandgoodservant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpofsilverasbigashishead.
Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,threwitoverhisshoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.
Ashewentlazilyon,draggingonefootafteranother,amancameinsight,trottinggailyalongonacapitalhorse.
‘Ah!’saidHans
hardop
aloud,‘whatafinethingitistorideon
paard
horseback!
Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;
hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeaksosoftlybutthe
ruiter
horsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadtocarry:
tobesureitissilver,butitissoheavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyshouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthe
ruiter
horseman.
‘Iwillgiveyoumyhorse,andyoushallgivemethesilver;
whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroubleincarryingsuchaheavyloadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:
‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhavea
vermoeide
wearytasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,the
ruiter
horsemangotoff,tookthesilver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthe
zweep
whipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlips
luid
loudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.
Hanswasdelightedashesatonthehorse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhis
zweep
whip,androdemerrilyoff,oneminute
fluiten
whistlingamerrytune,andanothersinging,.
‘Nocareandnosorrow,Afigforthemorrow!
Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefullgallop;
andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,andlayonhisbackbythe
kant van de weg
road-side.
Hishorsewouldhaveranoff,ifa
herder
shepherdwhowascomingby,drivingacow,hadnotstoppedit.
Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,sadlyvexed,andsaidtothe
herder
shepherd,‘Thisridingisnojoke,whenamanhasthelucktogetuponabeastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhisneck.
However,I’moffnowonceforall:
Ilikeyourcownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmartbeastthatplayedmethistrick,andhasspoiledmybestcoat,yousee,inthis
plas
puddle;
which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.
Onecanwalkalongatone’s
vrije tijd
leisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhavemilk,
boter
butter,andcheese,everyday,intothebargain.
WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidthe
herder
shepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemycowforyourhorse;
Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.
‘Whatanobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.
Thenthe
herder
shepherdjumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthecowgoodmorning,andawayherode.
Hansbrushedhiscoat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhiscowquietly,andthoughthis
koopje
bargainaveryluckyone.
‘IfIhaveonlyapieceofbread(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmy
boter
butterandcheesewithit;
andwhenIam
dorst
thirstyIcanmilkmycowanddrinkthemilk:
andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoan
herberg
inn,hehalted,ateupallhisbread,andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.
Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghiscowtowardshismother’svillage.
Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawide
heide
heaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourtocross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathistongueclavetotheroofofhismouth.
‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;
‘nowIwillmilkmycowandquenchmythirst’:
sohetiedhertothe
stomp
stumpofatree,andheldhisleatherncaptomilkinto;
butnotadropwastobehad.
Whowouldhavethoughtthatthiscow,whichwastobringhimmilkand
boter
butterandcheese,wasallthattimeutterlydry?
Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.
Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasybeastbegantothinkhimvery
lastig
troublesome;
andatlastgavehimsuchakickontheheadasknockedhimdown;
andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.
Gelukkig
Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivingapiginawheelbarrow.
‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthe
slager
butcher,ashehelpedhimup.
Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewasdry,andwantedtomilkhiscow,butfoundthecowwasdrytoo.
Thenthe
slager
butchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;
yourcowwillgiveyounomilk:
don’tyouseesheisanoldbeast,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?
Whatashametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlyadrycow!
IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?
Ihatecow-beef;
itisnot
teder
tenderenoughforme.
Ifitwereapignow—likethatfatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;
itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthe
slager
butcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.
TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfinefatpigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyour
vriendelijkheid
kindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethe
slager
butcherthecow;
andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringthatwastiedtoitsleg.
Soonhejogged,andallseemednowtogorightwithhim:
hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;
buthewasnowwell
betaald
repaidforall.
Howcoulditbeotherwisewithsuchatravellingcompanionashehadatlastgot?
Thenextmanhemetwasacountrymancarryingafinewhite
gans
goose.
Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;
thisledtofurtherchat;
andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayandsmilingwithhim.
Thecountrymanthenbegantotellhis
verhaal
tale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethe
gans
goosetoachristening.
‘Feel,’saidhe,‘howheavyitis,andyetitisonlyeightweeksold.
Whoever
roostert
roastsandeatsitwillfindplentyoffatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,asheweigheditinhishand;
‘butifyoutalkoffat,mypigisnotrifle.’
Ondertussen
Meantimethecountrymanbegantolookgrave,andshookhishead.
‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,youseemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.
Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.
InthevillageIjustcamefrom,the
squire
squirehashadapigstolenoutofhissty.
IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.
Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.
Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.
PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.
‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.
Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredorborn;
buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell: