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

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

This progressive translation technique brings multiple benefits to language learners. It lets you choose the difficulty level that matches your abilities, making sure the material is challenging but not too difficult. By focusing on understanding words in context, this method boosts your comprehension skills. While direct translations are slightly hidden to promote guessing from context, you can always check unfamiliar words. This approach makes learning a new language both engaging and accessible, offering the right mix of difficulty and encouragement. Embark on a journey through translated classics and enjoy the process of learning through reading.

THEGOLDENBIRD
A
certo
certain
kinghadabeautifulgarden,andinthegardenstooda
albero
tree
whichboregoldenapples.
Theseappleswerealways
contate
counted
,andaboutthetimewhenthey
cominciavano
began
togrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.
Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.
Thegardenersethiseldestsontowatch;
butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.
Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;
andatmidnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganotherapplewasgone.
Thenthe
terzo
third
sonofferedtokeepwatch;
butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,for
paura
fear
someharmshouldcometohim:
however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.
Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,andabirdcame
volando
flying
thatwasofpure
oro
gold
;
andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithitsbeak,thegardener’sson
saltò
jumped
upandshotanarrowatit.
Butthearrowdidthebirdnoharm;
onlyit
cadere
dropped
agoldenfeatherfromitstail,andthen
volato
flew
away.
Thegoldenfeatherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.
Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthekingdom:
Thenthegardener’seldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegoldenbirdveryeasily;
andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawafoxsitting;
sohetookhisbowandmadereadytoshootatit.
Thenthefoxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodcounsel;
Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegoldenbird.
Youwill
raggiungerete
reach
avillageintheevening;
andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisverypleasantandbeautifultolookat:
gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothisarrowatthefox;
buthemissedit,anditsetupitstail
sopra
above
itsbackandranintothewood.
Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothe
villaggio
village
wherethetwoinnswere;
andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;
buttheotherlookedvery
sporco
dirty
,andpoor.
‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthischarmingplace’;
sohewentintothe
intelligente
smart
house,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.
Time
passato
passed
on;
andastheeldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.
Hemetthefox,whogavehimthegoodadvice:
butwhenhecametothetwoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstandingatthe
finestra
window
wherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;
andhecouldnotwithstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegoldenbirdandhiscountryinthesamemanner.
Time
passò
passed
onagain,andtheyoungestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldtoseekforthegoldenbird;
buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,andpreventhiscomingback.
However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;
andashecametothewood,hemetthefox,andheardthesamegoodcounsel.
Buthewasthankfultothefox,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;
sothefoxsaid,‘Situponmytail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthefox
cominciò
began
torun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthe
vento
wind
.
Whentheycametothe
villaggio
village
,thesonfollowedthefox’scounsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathisease.
Inthemorningcamethefoxagainandmethimashewasbeginninghisjourney,andsaid,‘Go
dritto
straight
forward,tillyoucometoacastle,beforewhichlieawholetroopofsoldiersfastasleepandsnoring:
takenonoticeofthem,butgointothecastleand
passate
pass
onandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenbirdsitsinawoodencage;
closebyitstandsabeautifulgoldencage;
butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabbycageandputitintothehandsomeone,
altrimenti
otherwise
youwillrepentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthe
vento
wind
.
Beforethecastlegateallwasasthefoxhadsaid:
sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethegoldenbirdhunginawoodencage,andbelowstoodthegoldencage,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.
Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafinebirdinthisshabbycage’;
soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegoldencage.
Butthebirdsetupsuchaloudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhimprisonerand
portarono
carried
himbeforetheking.
Thenextmorningthe
corte
court
sattojudgehim;
andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegolden
cavallo
horse
whichcouldrunasswiftlyasthe
vento
wind
;
andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.
Sohesetoutoncemoreonhisjourney,sighing,andingreatdespair,whenonasuddenhisfriendthefoxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomycounsel.
Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthegolden
cavallo
horse
,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.
Youmustgo
dritto
straight
ontillyoucometothecastlewherethe
cavallo
horse
standsinhisstall:
byhissidewillliethegroomfast
addormentato
asleep
andsnoring:
takeawaythe
cavallo
horse
quietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathernsaddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’stail,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthe
vento
wind
.
Allwentright,andthegroomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthegoldensaddle.
Butwhenthesonlookedatthe
cavallo
horse
,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.
‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;
‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegoldensaddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutsoloud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethe
corte
court
tobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.
Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautiful
principessa
princess
,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthe
cavallo
horse
givenhimforhisown.
Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;
buttheoldfoxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?
Ifyouhad,youwouldhave
portato
carried
awayboththebirdandthe
cavallo
horse
;
yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.
Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwillarriveatacastle.
Attwelveo’clockatnightthe
principessa
princess
goestothebathing-house:
gouptoherandgivehera
bacio
kiss
,andshewillletyouleadheraway;
buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.
Astheycametothecastle,allwasasthefoxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmetthe
principessa
princess
goingtothebathandgaveherthe
bacio
kiss
,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.
Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;
butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.
Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessin
otto
eight
daysyoudigawaythehillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthishillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:
andwhenhehadworkedfor
sette
seven
days,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
horse
thattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;
butshakehandswiththe
principessa
princess
last.
Thenlifther
velocemente
quickly
ontothehorsebehindyou;
Allwentright:
thenthefoxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothecastlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththe
principessa
princess
atthedoor,andyouwill
cavalcherai
ride
inandspeaktotheking;
andwhenheseesthatitistheright
cavallo
horse
,hewillbringoutthebird;
butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,tosee
se
whether
itisthetruegoldenbird;
This,too,happenedasthefoxsaid;
they
portarono
carried
offthebird,the
principessa
princess
mountedagain,andthey
andarono
rode
ontoagreatwood.
Thenthefoxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungmanrefusedtodoit:
sothefoxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodcounsel:
bewareoftwothings;
ransomnoonefromthegallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.
He
cavalcare
rode
onwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothe
villaggio
village
wherehehadlefthistwobrothers.
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
threw
himdownthebank,andtookthe
principessa
princess
,thehorse,andthebird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.
‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;
butthe
cavallo
horse
wouldnoteat,thebirdwouldnotsing,andthe
principessa
princess
wept.
Theyoungestsonfelltothebottomoftheriver’sbed:
luckilyitwasnearlydry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.
Thentheoldfoxcameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotfollowinghisadvice;
altrimenti
otherwise
noevilwouldhavebefallenhim:
‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmytailandholdfast.’Thenhe
tirò
pulled
himoutofthe
fiume
river
,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohe
vestì
dressed
himselfasapoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’s
corte
court
,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthe
cavallo
horse
begantoeat,andthebirdtosing,andthe
principessa
princess
leftoffweeping.
Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;
andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadthe
principessa
princess
giventohimagain;
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
Seven
longyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.
Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;
Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:
so
prego
pray
paymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeenafaithfulandgoodservant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpofsilverasbigashishead.
Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthe
pezzo
piece
ofsilverintoit,
gettò
threw
itoverhisshoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.
Ashewentlazilyon,draggingone
piede
foot
afteranother,amancameinsight,trottinggailyalongonacapital
cavallo
horse
.
‘Ah!’saidHansaloud,‘whatafinethingitisto
cavalcare
ride
onhorseback!
Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;
hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeaksosoftlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadto
portare
carry
:
tobesureitissilver,butitisso
pesante
heavy
thatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyshouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.
‘Iwillgiveyoumy
cavallo
horse
,andyoushallgivemethesilver;
whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroublein
portare
carrying
suchaheavyloadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:
‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveawearytasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,thehorsemangotoff,tookthesilver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthewhipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipsloudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.
Hanswasdelightedashesatonthe
cavallo
horse
,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhiswhip,and
cavalcato
rode
merrilyoff,oneminutewhistlingamerrytune,andanothersinging,.
‘Nocareandnosorrow,Afigforthemorrow!
Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittle
veloce
faster
,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthe
cavallo
horse
fullgallop;
andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewas
gettato
thrown
off,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.
His
cavallo
horse
wouldhaveranoff,ifashepherdwhowascomingby,drivingacow,hadnotstoppedit.
Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisno
scherzo
joke
,whenamanhasthelucktogetuponabeastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhis
collo
neck
.
However,I’moffnowonceforall:
Ilikeyourcownowagreatdealbetterthanthis
intelligente
smart
beastthatplayedmethistrick,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
jumped
uponthehorse,wishedHansandthecowgoodmorning,andawayhe
andò
rode
.
Hansbrushedhiscoat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhiscowquietly,andthoughthisbargainaveryluckyone.
‘IfIhaveonlya
pezzo
piece
ofbread(andI
certamente
certainly
shallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmybutterandcheesewithit;
andwhenIamthirstyIcan
latte
milk
mycowanddrinkthe
latte
milk
:
andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoaninn,hehalted,ateupallhisbread,andgaveawayhislastpennyfora
bicchiere
glass
ofbeer.
Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghiscowtowardshismother’s
villaggio
village
.
Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawideheaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourto
attraversare
cross
,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathistongueclavetotheroofofhis
bocca
mouth
.
‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;
‘nowIwillmilkmycowandquenchmythirst’:
sohetiedhertothestumpofa
albero
tree
,andheldhisleatherncapto
latte
milk
into;
butnota
goccia
drop
wastobehad.
Whowouldhavethoughtthatthiscow,whichwastobringhim
latte
milk
andbutterandcheese,wasallthattimeutterlydry?
Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.
Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasybeast
iniziato
began
tothinkhimverytroublesome;
andatlastgavehimsucha
calcio
kick
ontheheadasknockedhimdown;
andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.
Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivingapiginawheelbarrow.
‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthebutcher,ashehelpedhimup.
Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewasdry,andwantedto
mungere
milk
hiscow,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
fat
gentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;
itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthebutcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.
TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfine
grasso
fat
pigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyourkindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutcherthecow;
andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringthatwastiedtoits
gamba
leg
.
Soonhejogged,andall
sembravano
seemed
nowtogorightwithhim:
hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;
buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.
Howcoulditbe
diversamente
otherwise
withsuchatravellingcompanionashehadatlastgot?
Thenextmanhemetwasacountryman
trasportava
carrying
afinewhitegoose.
Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;
this
portato
led
tofurtherchat;
andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayand
sorridente
smiling
withhim.
Thecountrymanthen
iniziato
began
totellhistale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegoosetoachristening.
‘Feel,’saidhe,‘how
pesante
heavy
itis,andyetitisonly
otto
eight
weeksold.
Whoeverroastsandeatsitwillfindplentyof
grasso
fat
uponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,asheweigheditinhishand;
‘butifyoutalkof
grasso
fat
,mypigisnotrifle.’Meantimethecountryman
cominciò
began
tolookgrave,andshookhishead.
‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,you
sembri
seem
agoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.
Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.
Inthe
villaggio
village
Ijustcamefrom,thesquirehashadapig
rubato
stolen
outofhissty.
IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.
Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.
Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.
PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.
‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.
Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredor
nato
born
;
buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell: