Grimms' Fairy Tales | Progressive Translation Books for French A2 Students

Grimms' Fairy Tales | Progressive Translation Books for French A2 Students

Experience the benefits of this forward-thinking translation strategy that tailors language learning to your specific needs. You have control over the difficulty, which ensures that the content is neither too easy nor overly challenging. This method enhances your ability to understand new words through context, reducing reliance on direct translations. While the translations are subtly obscured to foster learning, you can still look up unclear terms. This balanced approach makes language acquisition smoother and more enjoyable. Delve into these translated literary works and discover the satisfaction of mastering a language through reading.

THEGOLDENBIRD
Acertainkinghadabeautifulgarden,andinthegardenstooda
arbre
tree
whichboregoldenapples.
Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhenthey
commençaient
began
togrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.
Thekingbecamevery
en colère
angry
atthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.
Thegardenersethiseldestsontowatch;
butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.
Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;
andatmidnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganotherapplewasgone.
Thenthe
troisième
third
sonofferedtokeepwatch;
butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,for
peur
fear
someharmshouldcometohim:
cependant
however
,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.
Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,andabirdcame
voler
flying
thatwasofpuregold;
andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithitsbeak,thegardener’sson
sauta
jumped
upandshotanarrowatit.
Butthearrowdidthebirdnoharm;
onlyit
tomber
dropped
agoldenfeatherfromitstail,andthen
volé
flew
away.
Thegoldenfeatherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.
Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthekingdom:
Thenthegardener’seldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegoldenbirdveryeasily;
andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawafoxsitting;
sohetookhisbowandmadereadytoshootatit.
Thenthefoxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodcounsel;
Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegoldenbird.
Youwill
arriverez
reach
avillageintheevening;
andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisverypleasantandbeautifultolookat:
gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothisarrowatthefox;
buthemissedit,anditsetupitstail
au-dessus
above
itsbackandranintothewood.
Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothe
village
village
wherethetwoinnswere;
andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;
buttheotherlookedvery
sale
dirty
,andpoor.
‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthischarmingplace’;
sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.
Time
passé
passed
on;
andastheeldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.
Hemetthefox,whogavehimthegoodadvice:
butwhenhecametothetwoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstandingatthe
fenêtre
window
wherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;
andhecouldnotwithstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegoldenbirdandhiscountryinthesamemanner.
Time
passa
passed
onagain,andtheyoungestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldtoseekforthegoldenbird;
buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,andpreventhiscomingback.
Cependant
However
,atlastitwas
convenu
agreed
heshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;
andashecametothewood,hemetthefox,andheardthesamegoodcounsel.
Buthewasthankfultothefox,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;
sothefoxsaid,‘Situponmytail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthefoxbegantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstoneso
vite
quick
thattheirhairwhistledinthe
vent
wind
.
Whentheycametothe
village
village
,thesonfollowedthefox’scounsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathisease.
Inthemorningcamethefoxagainandmethimashewas
commençait
beginning
hisjourney,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoacastle,beforewhichlieawholetroopofsoldiersfastasleepandsnoring:
takenonoticeofthem,butgointothecastleand
passez
pass
onandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenbirdsitsinawoodencage;
closebyitstandsabeautifulgoldencage;
butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabbycageandputitintothehandsomeone,
sinon
otherwise
youwillrepentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthe
vent
wind
.
Beforethecastlegateallwasasthefoxhadsaid:
sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethegoldenbirdhunginawoodencage,andbelowstoodthegoldencage,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.
Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafinebirdinthisshabbycage’;
soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegoldencage.
Butthebirdsetupsuchaloudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhimprisonerand
portèrent
carried
himbeforetheking.
Thenextmorningthe
tribunal
court
sattojudgehim;
andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegolden
cheval
horse
whichcouldrunasswiftlyasthe
vent
wind
;
andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.
Sohesetoutoncemoreonhisjourney,sighing,andingreatdespair,whenonasuddenhisfriendthefoxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomycounsel.
Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthegolden
cheval
horse
,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.
Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothecastlewherethe
cheval
horse
standsinhisstall:
byhissidewillliethegroomfastasleepandsnoring:
takeawaythe
cheval
horse
quietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathernsaddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’stail,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthe
vent
wind
.
Allwentright,andthegroomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthegoldensaddle.
Butwhenthesonlookedatthe
cheval
horse
,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.
‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;
‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegoldensaddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutsoloud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethe
tribunal
court
tobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.
Butitwas
convenu
agreed
,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautiful
princesse
princess
,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthe
cheval
horse
givenhimforhisown.
Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;
buttheoldfoxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?
Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththebirdandthe
cheval
horse
;
yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.
Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwillarriveatacastle.
Attwelveo’clockatnightthe
princesse
princess
goestothebathing-house:
gouptoherandgivehera
embrassez
kiss
,andshewillletyouleadheraway;
buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.
Astheycametothecastle,allwasasthefoxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmetthe
princesse
princess
goingtothebathandgaveherthe
baiser
kiss
,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.
Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathis
pieds
feet
,tillatlastheconsented;
butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.
Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessin
huit
eight
daysyoudigawaythehillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthishillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:
andwhenhehadworkedfor
sept
seven
days,andhaddoneverylittle,thefoxcameandsaid.
‘Liedownandgotosleep;
Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthehillwasgone;
sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemustgivehimthe
princesse
princess
.
Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandthe
princesse
princess
;
‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthefox,‘itcanbedone.
Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautiful
princesse
princess
,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”
Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;
andyouwillmountthegolden
cheval
horse
thattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;
butshakehandswiththe
princesse
princess
last.
Thenlifther
rapidement
quickly
ontothehorsebehindyou;
Allwentright:
thenthefoxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothecastlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththe
princesse
princess
atthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;
andwhenheseesthatitistheright
cheval
horse
,hewillbringoutthebird;
butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,tosee
si
whether
itisthetruegoldenbird;
This,too,happenedasthefoxsaid;
theycarriedoffthebird,the
princesse
princess
mountedagain,andthey
montée
rode
ontoagreatwood.
Thenthefoxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungmanrefusedtodoit:
sothefoxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodcounsel:
bewareoftwothings;
ransomnoonefromthegallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.
Herodeonwiththe
princesse
princess
,tillatlasthecametothe
village
village
wherehehadlefthistwobrothers.
Andthereheheardagreatnoiseanduproar;
andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecamenearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;
sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheirliberty.
Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhimtowardstheirhome.
Andastheycametothewoodwherethefoxfirstmetthem,itwassocoolandpleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideofthe
fleuve
river
,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’scounsel,andsatdownonthesideofthe
fleuve
river
;
andwhilehesuspectednothing,theycamebehind,and
jetèrent
threw
himdownthebank,andtookthe
princesse
princess
,thehorse,andthebird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.
‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;
butthe
cheval
horse
wouldnoteat,thebirdwouldnotsing,andthe
princesse
princess
wept.
Theyoungestsonfelltothebottomoftheriver’sbed:
luckilyitwasnearlydry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthe
rive
bank
wassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.
Thentheoldfoxcameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotfollowinghisadvice;
sinon
otherwise
noevilwouldhavebefallenhim:
‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmytailandholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutofthe
fleuve
river
,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthe
rive
bank
,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’s
cour
court
,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthe
cheval
horse
begantoeat,andthebirdtosing,andthe
princesse
princess
leftoffweeping.
Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;
andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadthe
princesse
princess
giventohimagain;
andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohiskingdom.
Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheoldfoxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadand
pieds
feet
.
HANSINLUCK
Somemenare
nés
born
togoodluck:
alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthefaster.
Theworldmayverylikelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?
whatcanitknowaboutthematter?
OneoftheseluckybeingswasneighbourHans.
Sept
Seven
longyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.
Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;
Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:
so
prie
pray
paymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeenafaithfulandgoodservant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpofsilverasbigashishead.
Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,
jeta
threw
itoverhisshoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.
Ashewentlazilyon,draggingonefootafteranother,amancameinsight,trottinggailyalongonacapital
cheval
horse
.
‘Ah!’saidHansaloud,‘whatafinethingitisto
monter
ride
onhorseback!
Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;
he
trébuche
trips
againstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeaksosoftlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadto
porter
carry
:
tobesureitissilver,butitisso
lourd
heavy
thatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyshouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.
‘Iwillgiveyoumy
cheval
horse
,andyoushallgivemethesilver;
whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroublein
porter
carrying
suchaheavyloadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:
‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveawearytasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’
Cependant
However
,thehorsemangotoff,tookthesilver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthewhipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipsloudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.
Hanswasdelightedashesatonthe
cheval
horse
,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhiswhip,and
roulé
rode
merrilyoff,oneminutewhistlingamerrytune,andanothersinging,.
‘Nocareandnosorrow,Afigforthemorrow!
Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthe
cheval
horse
fullgallop;
andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewas
jeté
thrown
off,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.
His
cheval
horse
wouldhaveranoff,ifashepherdwhowascomingby,drivingacow,hadnotstoppedit.
Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisno
blague
joke
,whenamanhasthelucktogetuponabeastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhis
cou
neck
.
However,I’moffnowonceforall:
Ilikeyourcownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmartbeastthatplayedmethistrick,andhasspoiledmybestcoat,yousee,inthispuddle;
which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.
Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhave
lait
milk
,butter,andcheese,everyday,intothebargain.
WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidtheshepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemycowforyour
cheval
horse
;
Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.
‘Whatanobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.
Thentheshepherd
sauté
jumped
uponthehorse,wishedHansandthecowgoodmorning,andawayherode.
Hansbrushedhiscoat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhiscowquietly,andthoughthisbargainaveryluckyone.
‘IfIhaveonlya
morceau
piece
ofbread(andI
certainement
certainly
shallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmybutterandcheesewithit;
andwhenIamthirstyIcan
lait
milk
mycowanddrinkthe
lait
milk
:
andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoaninn,hehalted,ateupallhisbread,andgaveawayhislastpennyfora
verre
glass
ofbeer.
Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghiscowtowardshismother’s
village
village
.
Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawideheaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourto
traverser
cross
,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathistongueclavetotheroofofhis
bouche
mouth
.
‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;
‘nowIwill
traire
milk
mycowandquenchmythirst’:
sohetiedhertothestumpofa
arbre
tree
,andheldhisleatherncaptomilkinto;
butnota
goutte
drop
wastobehad.
Whowouldhavethoughtthatthiscow,whichwastobringhim
lait
milk
andbutterandcheese,wasallthattimeutterlydry?
Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.
Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasybeast
commencé
began
tothinkhimverytroublesome;
andatlastgavehimsucha
coup
kick
ontheheadasknockedhimdown;
andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.
Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivingapiginawheelbarrow.
‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthebutcher,ashehelpedhimup.
Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewasdry,andwantedto
traire
milk
hiscow,butfoundthecowwasdrytoo.
Thenthebutchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;
yourcowwillgiveyouno
lait
milk
:
don’tyouseesheisanoldbeast,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?
Whata
honte
shame
totakemyhorse,andgivemeonlyadrycow!
IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?
Ihatecow-beef;
itisnottenderenoughforme.
Ifitwereapignow—likethatfatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;
itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthebutcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.
TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfine
gras
fat
pigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyourkindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutcherthecow;
andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringthatwastiedtoits
jambe
leg
.
Soonhejogged,andall
semblait
seemed
nowtogorightwithhim:
hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;
buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.
Howcoulditbe
autrement
otherwise
withsuchatravellingcompanionashehadatlastgot?
Thenextmanhemetwasacountryman
portant
carrying
afinewhitegoose.
Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;
this
conduit
led
tofurtherchat;
andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwent
gai
gay
andsmilingwithhim.
Thecountrymanthenbegantotellhistale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegoosetoachristening.
‘Feel,’saidhe,‘how
lourd
heavy
itis,andyetitisonly
huit
eight
weeksold.
Whoeverroastsandeatsitwillfindplentyof
graisse
fat
uponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,asheweigheditinhishand;
‘butifyoutalkof
graisse
fat
,mypigisnotrifle.’Meantimethecountryman
commença
began
tolookgrave,andshookhishead.
‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,you
semblez
seem
agoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.
Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.
Inthe
village
village
Ijustcamefrom,thesquirehashadapig
volé
stolen
outofhissty.
IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.
Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.
Theleasttheywilldowillbeto
jeter
throw
youintothehorse-pond.
PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.
‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.
Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredor
born
;
buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell: