Alice's Adventures in Wonderland | Progressive German B1 Translation Books

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland | Progressive German B1 Translation Books

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CHAPTERI.DowntheRabbit-Hole
Alicewasbeginningtogetverytiredofsittingbyhersisteronthebank,andofhavingnothingtodo:
onceortwiceshehadpeepedintothebookhersisterwasreading,butithadnopicturesorconversationsinit,“andwhatistheuseofabook,”thoughtAlice“withoutpicturesorconversations?”
Soshewasconsideringinherownmind(aswellasshecould,forthehotdaymadeherfeelverysleepyandstupid),whetherthepleasureofmakingadaisy-chainwouldbeworththetroubleofgettingupandpickingthedaisies,whensuddenlyaWhite
Kaninchen
Rabbit
withpinkeyesranclosebyher.
Therewasnothingsoveryremarkableinthat;
nordidAlicethinkitsoverymuchoutofthewaytohearthe
Kaninchen
Rabbit
saytoitself,“Ohdear!
Ohdear!
Ishallbelate!”
(whenshethoughtitoverafterwards,itoccurredtoherthatsheoughttohavewonderedatthis,butatthetimeitallseemedquitenatural);
butwhenthe
Kaninchen
Rabbit
actuallytookawatchoutofitswaistcoat-pocket,andlookedatit,andthenhurriedon,Alicestartedtoherfeet,foritflashedacrosshermindthatshehadneverbeforeseena
kaninchen
rabbit
witheitherawaistcoat-pocket,orawatchtotakeoutofit,andburningwithcuriosity,sheranacrossthefieldafterit,andfortunatelywasjustintimetoseeit
pop
pop
downalargerabbit-holeunderthehedge.
InanothermomentdownwentAliceafterit,neveronceconsideringhowintheworldshewastogetoutagain.
Therabbit-holewentstraightonlikeatunnelforsomeway,andthendippedsuddenlydown,sosuddenlythatAlicehadnotamomenttothinkaboutstoppingherselfbeforeshefoundherselffallingdownaverydeepwell.
Eitherthewellwasverydeep,orshefellvery
langsam
slowly
,forshehadplentyoftimeasshewentdowntolookaboutherandtowonderwhatwasgoingtohappennext.
First,shetriedtolookdownandmakeoutwhatshewascomingto,butitwastoodarktoseeanything;
thenshelookedatthesidesofthewell,andnoticedthattheywerefilledwithcupboardsandbook-shelves;
hereandthereshesawmapsandpictureshunguponpegs.
Shetookdownajarfromoneoftheshelvesasshepassed;
itwaslabelled“ORANGEMARMALADE”,buttohergreatdisappointmentitwasempty:
shedidnotliketodropthejarforfearofkillingsomebodyunderneath,somanagedtoputitintooneofthecupboardsasshefellpastit.
“Well!”
thoughtAlicetoherself,“aftersuchafallasthis,Ishallthinknothingoftumblingdownstairs!
How
mutig
brave
they’llallthinkmeathome!
Why,Iwouldn’tsayanythingaboutit,evenifIfelloffthetopofthehouse!”
(Whichwasverylikelytrue.)
Down,down,down.
Wouldthefallnevercometoanend?
“IwonderhowmanymilesI’vefallenbythistime?”
shesaidaloud.
“Imustbegettingsomewherenearthecentreoftheearth.
Letmesee:
thatwouldbefourthousandmilesdown,Ithink—”
(for,yousee,Alicehadlearntseveralthingsofthissortinherlessonsintheschoolroom,andthoughthiswasnotaverygood
gelegenheit
opportunity
forshowingoffher
wissen
knowledge
,astherewasnoonetolistentoher,stillitwasgoodpracticetosayitover)“—yes,that’sabouttherightdistance—butthenIwonderwhatLatitudeorLongitudeI’vegotto?”
(AlicehadnoideawhatLatitudewas,orLongitudeeither,butthoughttheywerenicegrandwordstosay.)
Presentlyshebeganagain.
“IwonderifIshallfallrightthroughtheearth!
Howfunnyit’llseemtocomeout
unter
among
thepeoplethatwalkwiththeirheadsdownward!
TheAntipathies,Ithink—”
(shewasrathergladtherewasnoonelistening,thistime,asitdidn’tsoundatalltherightword)“—butIshallhavetoaskthemwhatthenameofthecountryis,youknow.
Please,Ma’am,isthisNewZealandorAustralia?”
(andshetriedtocurtseyasshespoke—fancycurtseyingasyou’refallingthroughtheair!
Doyouthinkyoucouldmanageit?)
“Andwhatanignorantlittlegirlshe’llthinkmeforasking!
No,it’llneverdotoask:
perhapsIshallseeitwrittenupsomewhere.”
Down,down,down.
Therewasnothingelsetodo,soAlicesoonbegantalkingagain.
“Dinah’llmissmeverymuchto-night,Ishouldthink!”
(Dinahwasthecat.)
“Ihopethey’llrememberhersaucerofmilkattea-time.
Dinahmydear!
Iwishyouweredownherewithme!
Therearenomiceintheair,I’mafraid,butyoumightcatchabat,andthat’sverylikea
maus
mouse
,youknow.
Butdocatseatbats,Iwonder?”
AndhereAlicebegantogetrathersleepy,andwentonsayingtoherself,inadreamysortofway,“Docatseatbats?
Docatseatbats?”
andsometimes,“Dobatseatcats?”
for,yousee,asshecouldn’tanswereitherquestion,itdidn’tmuchmatterwhichwaysheputit.
Shefeltthatshewasdozingoff,andhadjustbeguntodreamthatshewaswalkinghandinhandwithDinah,andsayingtoherveryearnestly,“Now,Dinah,tellmethetruth:
didyouevereatabat?”
whensuddenly,thump!
thump!
downshecameuponaheapofsticksanddryleaves,andthefallwasover.
Alicewasnotabithurt,andshejumpedupontoherfeetinamoment:
shelookedup,butitwasalldarkoverhead;
beforeherwasanotherlongpassage,andtheWhite
Kaninchen
Rabbit
wasstillinsight,hurryingdownit.
Therewasnotamomenttobelost:
awaywentAlicelikethewind,andwasjustintimetohearitsay,asitturneda
ecke
corner
,“Ohmyearsandwhiskers,howlateit’sgetting!”
Shewasclosebehinditwhensheturnedthe
ecke
corner
,buttheRabbitwasnolongertobeseen:
shefoundherselfinalong,low
halle
hall
,whichwaslitupbya
reihe
row
oflampshangingfromthe
dach
roof
.
Thereweredoorsallroundthe
saal
hall
,buttheywerealllocked;
andwhenAlicehadbeenallthewaydownonesideanduptheother,tryingeverydoor,shewalkedsadlydownthemiddle,wonderinghowshewasevertogetoutagain.
Suddenlyshecameuponalittlethree-leggedtable,allmadeofsolidglass;
therewasnothingonitexceptatinygoldenkey,andAlice’sfirstthoughtwasthatitmight
gehören
belong
tooneofthedoorsofthe
halle
hall
;
but,alas!
eitherthelocksweretoolarge,orthekeywastoosmall,butatanyrateitwouldnotopenanyofthem.
However,onthesecondtimeround,shecameuponalowcurtainshehadnotnoticedbefore,andbehinditwasalittledooraboutfifteenincheshigh:
shetriedthelittlegoldenkeyinthelock,andtohergreatdelightitfitted!
Aliceopenedthedoorandfoundthatitledintoasmallpassage,notmuchlargerthanarat-hole:
shekneltdownandlookedalongthepassageintotheloveliest
garten
garden
youeversaw.
Howshelongedtogetoutofthatdark
saal
hall
,andwanderaboutamongthosebedsofbrightflowersandthosecoolfountains,butshecouldnotevengetherheadthroughthedoorway;
“andevenifmyheadwouldgothrough,”thoughtpoorAlice,“itwouldbeofverylittleusewithoutmyshoulders.
Oh,howIwishIcouldshutuplikeatelescope!
IthinkIcould,ifIonlyknewhowtobegin.”
For,yousee,somanyout-of-the-waythingshadhappened
in letzter zeit
lately
,thatAlicehadbeguntothinkthatveryfewthings
tat
indeed
werereallyimpossible.
Thereseemedtobenouseinwaitingbythelittledoor,soshewentbacktothetable,halfhopingshemightfindanotherkeyonit,oratanyrateabookofrulesforshuttingpeopleupliketelescopes:
thistimeshefoundalittle
flasche
bottle
onit,(“whichcertainlywasnotherebefore,”saidAlice,)androundtheneckofthe
flasche
bottle
wasapaperlabel,withthewords“DRINKME,”beautifullyprintedonitinlargeletters.
Itwasallverywelltosay“Drinkme,”butthe
weise
wise
littleAlicewasnotgoingtodothatinahurry.
“No,I’lllookfirst,”shesaid,“andseewhetherit’smarked‘poison’ornot”;
forshehadreadseveralnicelittlehistoriesaboutchildrenwhohadgotburnt,andeatenupbywildbeastsandotherunpleasantthings,allbecausetheywouldnotrememberthesimplerulestheirfriendshadtaughtthem:
suchas,thatared-hotpokerwillburnyouifyouholdittoolong;
andthatifyoucutyour
finger
finger
verydeeplywithaknife,itusuallybleeds;
andshehadnever
vergessen
forgotten
that,ifyoudrinkmuchfroma
flasche
bottle
marked“poison,”itisalmostcertaintodisagreewithyou,soonerorlater.
However,this
flasche
bottle
wasnotmarked“poison,”soAliceventuredtotasteit,and
fand
finding
itverynice,(ithad,infact,asortofmixedflavourofcherry-tart,custard,pine-apple,roastturkey,toffee,andhotbuttered
toast
toast,)
sheverysoonfinisheditoff.
“Whatacuriousfeeling!”
saidAlice;
“Imustbeshuttinguplikeatelescope.”
Andsoitwas
tat
indeed
:
shewasnowonlytenincheshigh,andherfacebrightenedupatthethoughtthatshewasnowtheright
größe
size
forgoingthroughthelittledoorintothatlovely
garten
garden
.
First,however,shewaitedforafewminutestoseeifshewasgoingtoshrinkanyfurther:
shefeltalittlenervousaboutthis;
“foritmightend,youknow,”saidAlicetoherself,“inmygoingoutaltogether,likeacandle.
IwonderwhatIshouldbelikethen?”
Andshetriedtofancywhattheflameofacandleislikeafterthecandleisblownout,forshecouldnotremembereverhavingseensuchathing.
Afterawhile,findingthatnothingmorehappened,shedecidedongoingintothe
garten
garden
atonce;
but,alasforpoorAlice!
whenshegottothedoor,shefoundshehad
vergessen
forgotten
thelittlegoldenkey,andwhenshewentbacktothetableforit,shefoundshecouldnotpossiblyreachit:
shecouldseeitquiteplainlythroughtheglass,andshetriedherbestto
klettern
climb
uponeofthelegsofthetable,butitwastooslippery;
andwhenshehadtiredherselfoutwithtrying,thepoorlittlethingsatdownandcried.
“Come,there’snouseincryinglikethat!”
saidAlicetoherself,rathersharply;
“Iadviseyoutoleaveoffthisminute!”
Shegenerallygaveherselfverygoodadvice,(thoughsheveryseldomfollowedit),andsometimesshescoldedherselfsoseverelyastobringtearsintohereyes;
andoncesherememberedtryingtoboxherownearsforhaving
betrogen
cheated
herselfinagameofcroquetshewasplayingagainstherself,forthiscuriouschildwasveryfondofpretendingtobetwopeople.
“Butit’snousenow,”thoughtpoorAlice,“topretendtobetwopeople!
Why,there’s
kaum
hardly
enoughofmelefttomakeonerespectableperson!”
Soonhereyefellonalittleglassboxthatwaslyingunderthetable:
sheopenedit,andfoundinitaverysmall
kuchen
cake
,onwhichthewords“EATME”werebeautifullymarkedincurrants.
“Well,I’lleatit,”saidAlice,“andifitmakesmegrowlarger,Icanreachthekey;
andifitmakesmegrowsmaller,Icancreepunderthedoor;
soeitherwayI’llgetintothe
garten
garden
,andIdon’tcarewhichhappens!”
Sheatealittlebit,andsaidanxiouslytoherself,“Whichway?
Whichway?”,holdingherhandonthetopofherheadtofeelwhichwayitwasgrowing,andshewasquite
überrascht
surprised
tofindthatshe
blieb
remained
thesamesize:
tobesure,thisgenerallyhappenswhenoneeats
kuchen
cake
,butAlicehadgotsomuchintothewayofexpectingnothingbutout-of-the-waythingstohappen,thatitseemedquitedullandstupidforlifetogooninthecommonway.
CHAPTERII.ThePoolofTears
“Curiouserandcuriouser!”
criedAlice(shewassomuch
überrascht
surprised
,thatforthemomentshequiteforgothowtospeakgoodEnglish);
“nowI’mopeningoutlikethelargesttelescopethateverwas!
Good-bye,feet!”
(forwhenshelookeddownatherfeet,theyseemedtobealmostoutofsight,theyweregettingsofaroff).
“Oh,mypoorlittlefeet,Iwonderwhowillputonyourshoesandstockingsforyounow,dears?
I’msureIshan’tbeable!
Ishallbeagreatdealtoofarofftotroublemyselfaboutyou:
youmustmanagethebestwayyoucan;—butImustbekindtothem,”thoughtAlice,“orperhapstheywon’twalkthewayIwanttogo!
Letmesee:
I’llgivethemanew
paar
pair
ofbootseveryChristmas.”
Andshewentonplanningtoherselfhowshewouldmanageit.
“Theymustgobythecarrier,”shethought;
“andhowfunnyit’llseem,sendingpresentstoone’sownfeet!
Andhow
seltsam
odd
thedirectionswilllook!
Ohdear,what
unsinn
nonsense
I’mtalking!”
Justthenherheadstruckagainstthe
dach
roof
ofthehall:
infactshewasnowmorethanninefeethigh,andsheatoncetookupthelittlegoldenkeyandhurriedofftothegardendoor.
PoorAlice!
Itwasasmuchasshecoulddo,lyingdownononeside,tolookthroughintothe
garten
garden
withoneeye;
buttogetthroughwasmorehopelessthanever:
shesatdownandbegantocryagain.
“Yououghttobeashamedofyourself,”saidAlice,“agreatgirllikeyou,”(shemightwellsaythis),“togooncryinginthisway!
Stopthismoment,Itellyou!”
Butshewentonallthesame,sheddinggallonsoftears,untiltherewasalarge
pool
pool
allroundher,aboutfourinchesdeepandreachinghalfdownthe
halle
hall
.
Afteratimesheheardalittlepatteringoffeetinthedistance,andshehastily
trocknete
dried
hereyestoseewhatwascoming.
ItwastheWhite
Kaninchen
Rabbit
returning,splendidlydressed,witha
paar
pair
ofwhitekidglovesinonehandandalarge
ventilator
fan
intheother:
hecametrottingalonginagreathurry,mutteringtohimselfashecame,“Oh!
theDuchess,theDuchess!
Oh!
won’tshebesavageifI’vekeptherwaiting!”
Alicefeltso
verzweifelt
desperate
thatshewasreadytoaskhelpofanyone;
so,whenthe
Kaninchen
Rabbit
camenearher,shebegan,inalow,timidvoice,“Ifyouplease,sir—”
The
Kaninchen
Rabbit
startedviolently,droppedthewhitekidglovesandthe
ventilator
fan
,andskurriedawayintothe
dunkelheit
darkness
ashardashecouldgo.
Alicetookupthefanandgloves,and,asthe
halle
hall
wasveryhot,shekeptfanningherselfallthetimeshewentontalking:
“Dear,dear!
Howqueereverythingisto-day!
Andyesterdaythingswentonjustasusual.
IwonderifI’vebeenchangedinthenight?
Letmethink:
wasIthesamewhenIgotupthismorning?
IalmostthinkIcanrememberfeelingalittledifferent.
ButifI’mnotthesame,thenextquestionis,WhointheworldamI?
Ah,that’sthegreatpuzzle!”
Andshebeganthinkingoverallthechildrensheknewthatwereofthesameageasherself,toseeifshecouldhavebeenchangedforanyofthem.
“I’msureI’mnotAda,”shesaid,“forherhairgoesinsuchlongringlets,andminedoesn’tgoinringletsatall;
andI’msureIcan’tbeMabel,forIknowallsortsofthings,andshe,oh!
sheknowssuchaverylittle!
Besides,she’sshe,andI’mI,and—ohdear,howpuzzlingitallis!
I’lltryifIknowallthethingsIusedtoknow.
Letmesee:
fourtimesfiveistwelve,andfourtimessixisthirteen,andfourtimessevenis—ohdear!
Ishallnevergettotwentyatthat
geschwindigkeit
rate
!
However,theMultiplicationTabledoesn’tsignify:
let’stryGeography.
Londonisthe
hauptstadt
capital
ofParis,andParisisthe
hauptstadt
capital
ofRome,andRome—no,that’sallwrong,I’mcertain!
ImusthavebeenchangedforMabel!
I’lltryandsay‘Howdoththelittle—’”andshecrossedherhandsonherlapasifsheweresayinglessons,andbeganto
wiederholen
repeat
it,buthervoicesoundedhoarseandstrange,andthewordsdidnotcomethesameastheyusedtodo:—.
“HowdoththelittlecrocodileImprovehisshining
schwanz
tail
,AndpourthewatersoftheNileOneverygoldenscale!
“Howcheerfullyheseemstogrin,Howneatlyspreadhisclaws,AndwelcomelittlefishesinWithgentlysmilingjaws!”
“I’msurethosearenottherightwords,”saidpoorAlice,andhereyesfilledwithtearsagainasshewenton,“ImustbeMabelafterall,andIshallhavetogoandliveinthatpokylittlehouse,andhavenexttonotoystoplaywith,andoh!
eversomanylessonstolearn!
No,I’vemadeupmymindaboutit;
ifI’mMabel,I’llstaydownhere!
It’llbenousetheirputtingtheirheadsdownandsaying‘Comeupagain,dear!’Ishallonlylookupandsay‘WhoamIthen?
Tellmethatfirst,andthen,ifIlikebeingthatperson,I’llcomeup:
ifnot,I’llstaydownheretillI’msomebodyelse’—but,ohdear!”
criedAlice,withasuddenburstoftears,“Idowishtheywouldputtheirheadsdown!
Iamsoverytiredofbeingallalonehere!”
Asshesaidthisshelookeddownatherhands,andwas
überrascht
surprised
toseethatshehadputononeoftheRabbit’slittlewhitekidgloveswhileshewastalking.
“HowcanIhavedonethat?”
shethought.
“Imustbegrowingsmallagain.”
Shegotupandwenttothetabletomeasureherselfbyit,andfoundthat,asnearlyasshecouldguess,shewasnowabouttwofeethigh,andwasgoingonshrinkingrapidly:
shesoonfoundoutthatthecauseofthiswasthe
ventilator
fan
shewasholding,andshedroppedithastily,justintimeto
vermeiden
avoid
shrinkingawayaltogether.
“Thatwasanarrowescape!”