Grimms’ Fairy Tales Progressive Translation Books for Italian A2 Students

THEGOLDENBIRD

certo

certainkinghadabeautifulgarden,andinthegardenstooda

albero

treewhichboregoldenapples.

Theseappleswerealways

contate

counted,andaboutthetimewhenthey

cominciavano

begantogrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.

Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.

Thegardenersethiseldestsontowatch;

butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.

Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;

andatmidnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganotherapplewasgone.

Thenthe

terzo

thirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;

butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,for

paura

fearsomeharmshouldcometohim:

however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.

Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,andabirdcame

volando

flyingthatwasofpure

oro

gold;

andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithitsbeak,thegardener’sson

saltò

jumpedupandshotanarrowatit.

Butthearrowdidthebirdnoharm;

onlyit

cadere

droppedagoldenfeatherfromitstail,andthen

volato

flewaway.

Thegoldenfeatherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.

Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthekingdom:

Thenthegardener’seldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegoldenbirdveryeasily;

andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawafoxsitting;

sohetookhisbowandmadereadytoshootatit.

Thenthefoxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodcounsel;

Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegoldenbird.

Youwill

raggiungerete

reachavillageintheevening;

andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisverypleasantandbeautifultolookat:

gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothisarrowatthefox;

buthemissedit,anditsetupitstail

sopra

aboveitsbackandranintothewood.

Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothe

villaggio

villagewherethetwoinnswere;

andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;

buttheotherlookedvery

sporco

dirty,andpoor.

‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthischarmingplace’;

sohewentintothe

intelligente

smarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.

Time

passato

passedon;

andastheeldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.

Hemetthefox,whogavehimthegoodadvice:

butwhenhecametothetwoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstandingatthe

finestra

windowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;

andhecouldnotwithstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegoldenbirdandhiscountryinthesamemanner.

Time

passò

passedonagain,andtheyoungestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldtoseekforthegoldenbird;

buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,andpreventhiscomingback.

However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;

andashecametothewood,hemetthefox,andheardthesamegoodcounsel.

Buthewasthankfultothefox,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;

sothefoxsaid,‘Situponmytail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthefox

cominciò

begantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthe

vento

wind.

Whentheycametothe

villaggio

village,thesonfollowedthefox’scounsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathisease.

Inthemorningcamethefoxagainandmethimashewasbeginninghisjourney,andsaid,‘Go

dritto

straightforward,tillyoucometoacastle,beforewhichlieawholetroopofsoldiersfastasleepandsnoring:

takenonoticeofthem,butgointothecastleand

passate

passonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenbirdsitsinawoodencage;

closebyitstandsabeautifulgoldencage;

butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabbycageandputitintothehandsomeone,

altrimenti

otherwiseyouwillrepentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthe

vento

wind.

Beforethecastlegateallwasasthefoxhadsaid:

sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethegoldenbirdhunginawoodencage,andbelowstoodthegoldencage,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.

Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafinebirdinthisshabbycage’;

soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegoldencage.

Butthebirdsetupsuchaloudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhimprisonerand

portarono

carriedhimbeforetheking.

Thenextmorningthe

corte

courtsattojudgehim;

andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegolden

cavallo

horsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthe

vento

wind;

andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.

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

Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthegolden

cavallo

horse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.

Youmustgo

dritto

straightontillyoucometothecastlewherethe

cavallo

horsestandsinhisstall:

byhissidewillliethegroomfast

addormentato

asleepandsnoring:

takeawaythe

cavallo

horsequietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathernsaddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’stail,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthe

vento

wind.

Allwentright,andthegroomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthegoldensaddle.

Butwhenthesonlookedatthe

cavallo

horse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.

‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;

‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegoldensaddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutsoloud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethe

corte

courttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.

Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautiful

principessa

princess,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthe

cavallo

horsegivenhimforhisown.

Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;

buttheoldfoxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?

Ifyouhad,youwouldhave

portato

carriedawayboththebirdandthe

cavallo

horse;

yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.

Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwillarriveatacastle.

Attwelveo’clockatnightthe

principessa

princessgoestothebathing-house:

gouptoherandgivehera

bacio

kiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;

buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.

Astheycametothecastle,allwasasthefoxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmetthe

principessa

princessgoingtothebathandgaveherthe

bacio

kiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.

Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;

butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.

Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessin

otto

eightdaysyoudigawaythehillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthishillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:

andwhenhehadworkedfor

sette

sevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,thefoxcameandsaid.

‘Liedownandgotosleep;

Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthehillwasgone;

sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemustgivehimthe

principessa

princess.

Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandthe

principessa

princess;

‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthefox,‘itcanbedone.

Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautiful

principessa

princess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”

Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;

andyouwillmountthegolden

cavallo

horsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;

butshakehandswiththe

principessa

princesslast.

Thenlifther

velocemente

quicklyontothehorsebehindyou;

Allwentright:

thenthefoxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothecastlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththe

principessa

princessatthedoor,andyouwill

cavalcherai

rideinandspeaktotheking;

andwhenheseesthatitistheright

cavallo

horse,hewillbringoutthebird;

butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,tosee

whetheritisthetruegoldenbird;

This,too,happenedasthefoxsaid;

they

portarono

carriedoffthebird,the

principessa

princessmountedagain,andthey

andarono

rodeontoagreatwood.

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

sothefoxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodcounsel:

bewareoftwothings;

ransomnoonefromthegallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.

cavalcare

rodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothe

villaggio

villagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.

Andthereheheardagreatnoiseanduproar;

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

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

Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhimtowardstheirhome.

Andastheycametothewoodwherethefoxfirstmetthem,itwassocoolandpleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideofthe

fiume

river,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’scounsel,andsatdownonthesideofthe

fiume

river;

andwhilehesuspectednothing,theycamebehind,and

gettarono

threwhimdownthebank,andtookthe

principessa

princess,thehorse,andthebird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.

‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;

butthe

cavallo

horsewouldnoteat,thebirdwouldnotsing,andthe

principessa

princesswept.

Theyoungestsonfelltothebottomoftheriver’sbed:

luckilyitwasnearlydry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.

Thentheoldfoxcameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotfollowinghisadvice;

altrimenti

otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:

‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmytailandholdfast.’Thenhe

tirò

pulledhimoutofthe

fiume

river,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohe

vestì

dressedhimselfasapoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’s

corte

court,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthe

cavallo

horsebegantoeat,andthebirdtosing,andthe

principessa

princessleftoffweeping.

Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;

andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadthe

principessa

princessgiventohimagain;

andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohiskingdom.

Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheoldfoxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadandfeet.

HANSINLUCK

Somemenareborntogoodluck:

alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthe

più velocemente

faster.

Theworldmayverylikelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?

whatcanitknowaboutthematter?

OneoftheseluckybeingswasneighbourHans.

Sette

Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.

Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;

Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:

prego

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

Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthe

pezzo

pieceofsilverintoit,

gettò

threwitoverhisshoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.

Ashewentlazilyon,draggingone

piede

footafteranother,amancameinsight,trottinggailyalongonacapital

cavallo

horse.

‘Ah!’saidHansaloud,‘whatafinethingitisto

cavalcare

rideonhorseback!

Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;

hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeaksosoftlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadto

portare

carry:

tobesureitissilver,butitisso

pesante

heavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyshouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.

‘Iwillgiveyoumy

cavallo

horse,andyoushallgivemethesilver;

whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroublein

portare

carryingsuchaheavyloadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:

‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveawearytasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,thehorsemangotoff,tookthesilver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthewhipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipsloudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.

Hanswasdelightedashesatonthe

cavallo

horse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhiswhip,and

cavalcato

rodemerrilyoff,oneminutewhistlingamerrytune,andanothersinging,.

‘Nocareandnosorrow,Afigforthemorrow!

Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittle

veloce

faster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthe

cavallo

horsefullgallop;

andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewas

gettato

thrownoff,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.

His

cavallo

horsewouldhaveranoff,ifashepherdwhowascomingby,drivingacow,hadnotstoppedit.

Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisno

scherzo

joke,whenamanhasthelucktogetuponabeastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhis

collo

neck.

However,I’moffnowonceforall:

Ilikeyourcownowagreatdealbetterthanthis

intelligente

smartbeastthatplayedmethistrick,andhasspoiledmybestcoat,yousee,inthispuddle;

which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.

Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhave

latte

milk,butter,andcheese,everyday,intothebargain.

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

cavallo

horse;

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

‘Whatanobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.

Thentheshepherd

saltò

jumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthecowgoodmorning,andawayhe

andò

rode.

Hansbrushedhiscoat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhiscowquietly,andthoughthisbargainaveryluckyone.

‘IfIhaveonlya

pezzo

pieceofbread(andI

certamente

certainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmybutterandcheesewithit;

andwhenIamthirstyIcan

latte

milkmycowanddrinkthe

latte

milk:

andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoaninn,hehalted,ateupallhisbread,andgaveawayhislastpennyfora

bicchiere

glassofbeer.

Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghiscowtowardshismother’s

villaggio

village.

Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawideheaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourto

attraversare

cross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathistongueclavetotheroofofhis

bocca

mouth.

‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;

‘nowIwillmilkmycowandquenchmythirst’:

sohetiedhertothestumpofa

albero

tree,andheldhisleatherncapto

latte

milkinto;

butnota

goccia

dropwastobehad.

Whowouldhavethoughtthatthiscow,whichwastobringhim

latte

milkandbutterandcheese,wasallthattimeutterlydry?

Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.

Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasybeast

iniziato

begantothinkhimverytroublesome;

andatlastgavehimsucha

calcio

kickontheheadasknockedhimdown;

andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.

Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivingapiginawheelbarrow.

‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthebutcher,ashehelpedhimup.

Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewasdry,andwantedto

mungere

milkhiscow,butfoundthecowwasdrytoo.

Thenthebutchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;

yourcowwillgiveyouno

latte

milk:

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

Whatashametotakemy

cavallo

horse,andgivemeonlyadrycow!

IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?

Ihatecow-beef;

itisnottenderenoughforme.

Ifitwereapignow—likethat

grasso

fatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;

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

TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfine

grasso

fatpigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyourkindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutcherthecow;

andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringthatwastiedtoits

gamba

leg.

Soonhejogged,andall

sembravano

seemednowtogorightwithhim:

hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;

buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.

Howcoulditbe

diversamente

otherwisewithsuchatravellingcompanionashehadatlastgot?

Thenextmanhemetwasacountryman

trasportava

carryingafinewhitegoose.

Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;

this

portato

ledtofurtherchat;

andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayand

sorridente

smilingwithhim.

Thecountrymanthen

iniziato

begantotellhistale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegoosetoachristening.

‘Feel,’saidhe,‘how

pesante

heavyitis,andyetitisonly

otto

eightweeksold.

Whoeverroastsandeatsitwillfindplentyof

grasso

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

‘butifyoutalkof

grasso

fat,mypigisnotrifle.’Meantimethecountryman

cominciò

begantolookgrave,andshookhishead.

‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,you

sembri

seemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.

Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.

Inthe

villaggio

villageIjustcamefrom,thesquirehashadapig

rubato

stolenoutofhissty.

IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.

Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.

Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.

PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.

‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.

Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredor

nato

born;

buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell:

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