Grimms' Fairy Tales | Gradually Hardening French B2 Translation Books

Grimms' Fairy Tales | Gradually Hardening French B2 Translation Books

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THEGOLDENBIRD
Acertainkinghadabeautifulgarden,andinthegardenstoodatreewhichboregoldenapples.
Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegantogrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.
Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthe
jardinier
gardener
tokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.
The
jardinier
gardener
sethiseldestsontowatch;
butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.
Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;
andatmidnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganotherapplewasgone.
Thenthethirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;
butthe
jardinier
gardener
atfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsomeharmshouldcometohim:
however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.
Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,andabirdcameflyingthatwasofpuregold;
andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithits
bec
beak
,thegardener’ssonjumpedupandshotan
flèche
arrow
atit.
Butthe
flèche
arrow
didthebirdnoharm;
onlyitdroppedagolden
plume
feather
fromitstail,andthenflewaway.
Thegolden
plume
feather
wasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.
Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthekingdom:
Thenthegardener’seldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegoldenbirdveryeasily;
andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawa
renard
fox
sitting;
sohetookhisbowandmadereadytoshootatit.
Thenthe
renard
fox
said,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodcounsel;
Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegoldenbird.
Youwillreachavillageintheevening;
andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisvery
agréable
pleasant
andbeautifultolookat:
gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothis
flèche
arrow
atthefox;
buthemissedit,anditsetupitstailaboveitsbackandranintothewood.
Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;
andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;
buttheotherlookedverydirty,andpoor.
‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthischarmingplace’;
sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathis
aise
ease
,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.
Timepassedon;
andastheeldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.
Hemetthe
renard
fox
,whogavehimthegoodadvice:
butwhenhecametothetwoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstandingatthewindowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;
andhecouldnotwithstandthe
tentation
temptation
,butwentin,andforgotthegoldenbirdandhiscountryinthesame
manière
manner
.
Timepassedonagain,andthe
jeune
youngest
sontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldtoseekforthegoldenbird;
buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,andpreventhiscomingback.
However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;
andashecametothewood,hemetthe
renard
fox
,andheardthesamegoodcounsel.
Buthewas
reconnaissant
thankful
tothefox,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;
sothe
renard
fox
said,‘Situponmytail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthe
renard
fox
begantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonesoquickthattheirhair
sifflaient
whistled
inthewind.
Whentheycametothevillage,thesonfollowedthefox’scounsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathis
aise
ease
.
Inthemorningcamethe
renard
fox
againandmethimashewasbeginninghisjourney,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoacastle,beforewhichlieawhole
troupe
troop
ofsoldiersfastasleepand
ronflent
snoring
:
takenonoticeofthem,butgointothecastleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenbirdsitsina
bois
wooden
cage;
closebyitstandsabeautifulgolden
cage
cage
;
butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabby
cage
cage
andputitintothehandsomeone,otherwiseyouwill
repentirez
repent
it.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhair
sifflent
whistled
inthewind.
Beforethecastlegateallwasasthe
renard
fox
hadsaid:
sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethegoldenbirdhungina
bois
wooden
cage,andbelowstoodthegolden
cage
cage
,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.
Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafinebirdinthisshabbycage’;
soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegolden
cage
cage
.
Butthebirdsetupsuchaloudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhimprisonerandcarriedhimbeforetheking.
Thenextmorningthecourtsattojudgehim;
andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegoldenhorsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthewind;
andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.
Sohesetoutoncemoreonhisjourney,
soupirant
sighing
,andingreatdespair,whenonasuddenhisfriendthe
renard
fox
methim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomycounsel.
Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthegoldenhorse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.
Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothecastlewherethehorsestandsinhisstall:
byhissidewillliethe
marié
groom
fastasleepandsnoring:
takeawaythehorsequietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathern
selle
saddle
uponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’stail,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhair
sifflent
whistled
inthewind.
Allwentright,andthe
marié
groom
laysnoringwithhishanduponthegolden
selle
saddle
.
Butwhenthesonlookedatthehorse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathern
selle
saddle
uponit.
‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;
‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegolden
selle
saddle
thegroomawokeandcriedoutsoloud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.
Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthehorsegivenhimforhisown.
Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;
buttheold
renard
fox
cameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?
Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththebirdandthehorse;
yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.
Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwillarriveatacastle.
Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:
gouptoherandgiveherakiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;
buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthe
renard
fox
stretchedouthistail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhair
sifflent
whistled
again.
Astheycametothecastle,allwasasthe
renard
fox
hadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtothebathandgaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.
Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlasthe
consente
consented
;
butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.
Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessineightdaysyoudigawaythehillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthishillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:
andwhenhehadworkedforsevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,the
renard
fox
cameandsaid.
‘Liedownandgotosleep;
Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthehillwasgone;
sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemustgivehimtheprincess.
Thenthekingwas
obligé
obliged
tokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandtheprincess;
‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthe
renard
fox
,‘itcanbedone.
Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautifulprincess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”
Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;
andyouwill
monteras
mount
thegoldenhorsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;
butshakehandswiththeprincesslast.
Thenliftherquicklyontothehorsebehindyou;
Allwentright:
thenthe
renard
fox
said,‘Whenyoucometothecastlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;
andwhenheseesthatitistherighthorse,hewillbringoutthebird;
butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,toseewhetheritisthetruegoldenbird;
This,too,happenedasthe
renard
fox
said;
theycarriedoffthebird,theprincess
montée
mounted
again,andtheyrodeontoagreatwood.
Thenthe
renard
fox
came,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungmanrefusedtodoit:
sothe
renard
fox
said,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodcounsel:
bewareoftwothings;
ransomnoonefromthe
potence
gallows
,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.
Herodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.
Andthereheheardagreatnoiseand
tumulte
uproar
;
andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecamenearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;
sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheirliberty.
Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhimtowardstheirhome.
Andastheycametothewoodwherethe
renard
fox
firstmetthem,itwassocooland
agréable
pleasant
thatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideoftheriver,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’scounsel,andsatdownonthesideoftheriver;
andwhilehesuspectednothing,theycamebehind,andthrewhimdownthebank,andtooktheprincess,thehorse,andthebird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.
‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;
butthehorsewouldnoteat,thebirdwouldnotsing,andtheprincesswept.
The
jeune
youngest
sonfelltothebottomoftheriver’sbed:
heureusement
luckily
itwasnearlydry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwasso
escarpée
steep
thathecouldfindnowaytogetout.
Thentheold
renard
fox
cameoncemore,and
réprimandé
scolded
himfornotfollowinghisadvice;
otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:
‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmytailandholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutoftheriver,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapoorman,andcame
secrètement
secretly
totheking’scourt,andwas
à peine
scarcely
withinthedoorswhenthehorsebegantoeat,andthebirdtosing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.
Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;
andtheywere
saisis
seized
andpunished,andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;
andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohiskingdom.
Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheold
renard
fox
methim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadandfeet.
HANSINLUCK
Somemenareborntogoodluck:
alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthefaster.
Theworldmayverylikelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?
whatcanitknowaboutthematter?
Oneoftheseluckybeingswas
voisin
neighbour
Hans.
Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.
Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;
Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:
sopraypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeena
fidèle
faithful
andgoodservant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehima
morceau
lump
ofsilverasbigashishead.
Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,threwitoverhisshoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.
Ashewentlazilyon,draggingonefootafteranother,amancameinsight,
trottant
trotting
gailyalongonacapitalhorse.
‘Ah!’saidHansaloud,‘whatafinethingitistorideon
cheval
horseback
!
Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;
hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeaksosoftlybutthe
cavalier
horseman
hearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadtocarry:
tobesureitissilver,butitissoheavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyshouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthe
cavalier
horseman
.
‘Iwillgiveyoumyhorse,andyoushallgivemethesilver;
whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroubleincarryingsuchaheavyloadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:
‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveawearytasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,the
cavalier
horseman
gotoff,tookthesilver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthe
fouet
whip
intotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipsloudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.
Hanswas
enchanté
delighted
ashesatonthehorse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhis
fouet
whip
,androdemerrilyoff,oneminute
sifflant
whistling
amerrytune,andanothersinging,.
‘Nocareandno
chagrin
sorrow
,Afigforthemorrow!
Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefullgallop;
andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,andlayonhisbackbythe
route
road-side
.
Hishorsewouldhaveranoff,ifa
berger
shepherd
whowascomingby,drivingacow,hadnotstoppedit.
Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,
tristement
sadly
vexed,andsaidtothe
berger
shepherd
,‘Thisridingisnojoke,whenamanhasthelucktogetuponabeastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhisneck.
However,I’moffnowonceforall:
Ilikeyourcownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmartbeastthatplayedmethistrick,andhas
gâché
spoiled
mybestcoat,yousee,inthis
flaque
puddle
;
which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.
Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhavemilk,
beurre
butter
,andcheese,everyday,intothebargain.
WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidthe
berger
shepherd
,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemycowforyourhorse;
Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.
‘Whata
noble
noble
heartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.
Thenthe
berger
shepherd
jumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthecowgoodmorning,andawayherode.
Hans
brossé
brushed
hiscoat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhiscowquietly,andthoughthis
marché
bargain
averyluckyone.
‘IfIhaveonlyapieceofbread(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmy
beurre
butter
andcheesewithit;
andwhenIam
soif
thirsty
Icanmilkmycowanddrinkthemilk:
andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoan
auberge
inn
,hehalted,ateupallhisbread,andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.
Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghiscowtowardshismother’svillage.
Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawide
bruyère
heath
thatwouldtakehimmorethananhourtocross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathistongueclavetotheroofofhismouth.
‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;
‘nowIwillmilkmycowandquenchmythirst’:
sohetiedhertothe
souche
stump
ofatree,andheldhisleathern
casquette
cap
tomilkinto;
butnotadropwastobehad.
Whowouldhavethoughtthatthiscow,whichwastobringhimmilkand
beurre
butter
andcheese,wasallthattimeutterlydry?
Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.
Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasybeastbegantothinkhimvery
gênant
troublesome
;
andatlastgavehimsuchakickontheheadasknockedhimdown;
andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.
Heureusement
Luckily
abutchersooncameby,drivingapiginawheelbarrow.
‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthe
boucher
butcher
,ashehelpedhimup.
Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewasdry,andwantedtomilkhiscow,butfoundthecowwasdrytoo.
Thenthe
boucher
butcher
gavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkand
rafraîchis
refresh
yourself;
yourcowwillgiveyounomilk:
don’tyouseesheisanoldbeast,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?
Whatashametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlyadrycow!
IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?
Ihatecow-beef;
itisnot
tendre
tender
enoughforme.
Ifitwereapignow—likethatfatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;
itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthe
boucher
butcher
,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.
TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfinefatpigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyour
gentillesse
kindness
andself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethe
boucher
butcher
thecow;
andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythe
corde
string
thatwastiedtoitsleg.
Soonhejogged,andallseemednowtogorightwithhim:
hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;
buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.
Howcoulditbeotherwisewithsuchatravelling
compagnon
companion
ashehadatlastgot?
Thenextmanhemetwasacountrymancarryingafinewhite
oie
goose
.
Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;
thisledtofurtherchat;
andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayandsmilingwithhim.
Thecountrymanthenbegantotellhis
histoire
tale
,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegoosetoachristening.
‘Feel,’saidhe,‘howheavyitis,andyetitisonlyeightweeksold.
Whoever
rôti
roasts
andeatsitwillfindplentyoffatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,ashe
pesant
weighed
itinhishand;
‘butifyoutalkoffat,mypigisnotrifle.’Meantimethecountrymanbegantolookgrave,andshookhishead.
‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘my
digne
worthy
friend,youseemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.
Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.
InthevillageIjustcamefrom,thesquirehashadapigstolenoutofhissty.
IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.
Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.
Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.
PoorHanswassadly
effrayé
frightened
.
‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.
Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredorborn;
buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell: