The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | Progressive Translation Books for Italian A2 Students

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | Progressive Translation Books for Italian A2 Students

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Introduction
Folklore,legends,mythsandfairytaleshavefollowedchildhoodthroughtheages,foreveryhealthyyoungsterhasawholesomeandinstinctiveloveforstoriesfantastic,marvelousandmanifestlyunreal.
ThewingedfairiesofGrimmandAndersenhavebroughtmorehappinesstochildishheartsthanallotherhumancreations.
Yettheoldtimefairytale,havingservedforgenerations,maynowbeclassedas“historical”inthechildren’slibrary;
forthetimehascomeforaseriesofnewer“wondertales”inwhichthestereotypedgenie,dwarfandfairyareeliminated,togetherwithallthehorribleandblood-curdlingincidentsdevisedbytheirauthorstopointafearsomemoraltoeachtale.
Moderneducationincludesmorality;
thereforethemodernchildseeksonlyentertainmentinitswondertalesandgladlydispenseswithalldisagreeableincident.
Havingthisthoughtinmind,thestoryof“The
Meraviglioso
Wonderful
WizardofOz”waswrittensolelytopleasechildrenoftoday.
Itaspirestobeingamodernizedfairytale,inwhichthewondermentandjoyareretainedandtheheartachesandnightmaresareleftout.
L.
ChapterITheCyclone
DorothylivedinthemidstofthegreatKansasprairies,withUncleHenry,whowasafarmer,and
Zia
Aunt
Em,whowasthefarmer’swife.
Theirhousewassmall,forthelumbertobuildithadtobe
trasportato
carried
bywagonmanymiles.
Therewerefourwalls,a
pavimento
floor
andaroof,whichmadeoneroom;
andthisroomcontainedarustylookingcookstove,acupboardforthedishes,a
tavolo
table
,threeorfourchairs,andthebeds.
UncleHenryand
Zia
Aunt
Emhadabigbedinonecorner,andDorothyalittlebedinanothercorner.
Therewasnogarretatall,andnocellar—exceptasmall
buco
hole
dugintheground,calledacyclonecellar,wherethefamilycouldgoincaseoneofthosegreatwhirlwindsarose,mightyenoughtocrushany
edificio
building
initspath.
Itwasreachedbyatrapdoorinthe
mezzo
middle
ofthefloor,fromwhichaladder
portava
led
downintothesmall,
buio
dark
hole.
WhenDorothystoodinthedoorwayandlookedaround,shecouldseenothingbutthegreatgrayprairieoneveryside.
Nota
albero
tree
norahousebrokethebroadsweepofflatcountrythat
raggiungeva
reached
totheedgeofthe
cielo
sky
inalldirections.
The
sole
sun
hadbakedtheplowed
terra
land
intoagraymass,withlittlecracksrunningthroughit.
Eventhegrasswasnot
verde
green
,forthesunhad
bruciato
burned
thetopsofthelongbladesuntiltheywerethesamegraycolortobeseen
ovunque
everywhere
.
Oncethehousehadbeenpainted,butthe
sole
sun
blisteredthepaintandtherainswasheditaway,andnowthehousewasasdullandgrayaseverythingelse.
When
Zia
Aunt
Emcametheretoliveshewasayoung,prettywife.
The
sole
sun
andwindhadchangedher,too.
Theyhadtakenthesparklefromhereyesandleftthemasobergray;
theyhadtakentheredfromhercheeksandlips,andtheyweregrayalso.
Shewasthinandgaunt,andnever
sorrideva
smiled
now.
WhenDorothy,whowasanorphan,firstcametoher,
Zia
Aunt
Emhadbeensostartledbythechild’slaughterthatshewouldscreamand
premeva
press
herhanduponherheartwheneverDorothy’smerry
voce
voice
reachedherears;
andshestilllookedatthelittlegirlwith
meraviglia
wonder
thatshecouldfindanythingto
ridere
laugh
at.
UncleHenrynever
rideva
laughed
.
Heworkedhardfrommorningtillnightanddidnotknowwhatjoywas.
Hewasgrayalso,fromhislongbeardtohisroughboots,andhelookedsternandsolemn,andrarelyspoke.
ItwasTotothatmadeDorothy
ridere
laugh
,andsavedherfromgrowingasgrayasherothersurroundings.
Totowasnotgray;
hewasalittleblackdog,withlongsilkyhairandsmallblackeyesthattwinkledmerrilyoneithersideofhisfunny,wee
naso
nose
.
Totoplayedalldaylong,andDorothyplayedwithhim,andlovedhimdearly.
Today,however,theywerenotplaying.
UncleHenrysatuponthedoorstepandlookedanxiouslyatthe
cielo
sky
,whichwasevengrayerthanusual.
DorothystoodinthedoorwithTotoinherarms,andlookedatthe
cielo
sky
too.
AuntEmwas
lavando
washing
thedishes.
Fromthefar
nord
north
theyheardalowwailofthe
vento
wind
,andUncleHenryandDorothycouldseewherethelonggrassbowedinwavesbeforethecomingstorm.
Therenowcameasharpwhistlingintheairfromthe
sud
south
,andastheyturnedtheireyesthatwaytheysawripplesinthegrasscomingfromthatdirectionalso.
SuddenlyUncleHenrystoodup.
“There’sacyclonecoming,Em,”hecalledtohiswife.
“I’llgolookafterthestock.”
Thenherantowardtheshedswherethecowsandhorseswerekept.
Zia
Aunt
Emdroppedherworkandcametothedoor.
Oneglancetoldherofthedangercloseathand.
“Quick,Dorothy!”
shescreamed.
“Runforthecellar!”
Toto
saltò
jumped
outofDorothy’sarmsand
nascose
hid
underthebed,andthegirlstartedtogethim.
Zia
Aunt
Em,badlyfrightened,threwopenthetrapdoorinthe
pavimento
floor
andclimbeddowntheladderintothesmall,
buio
dark
hole.
DorothycaughtTotoatlastandstartedtofollowher
zia
aunt
.
Whenshewashalfway
attraverso
across
theroomtherecameagreatshriekfromthe
vento
wind
,andthehouseshooksohardthatshelostherfootingandsatdown
improvvisamente
suddenly
uponthefloor.
Thenastrangethinghappened.
Thehousewhirledaroundtwoorthreetimesandroseslowlythroughtheair.
Dorothyfeltasifsheweregoingupinaballoon.
The
nord
north
andsouthwindsmetwherethehousestood,andmadeittheexactcenterofthecyclone.
Inthe
mezzo
middle
ofacyclonetheairisgenerallystill,butthegreatpressureofthe
vento
wind
oneverysideofthehouseraisedituphigherandhigher,untilitwasattheverytopofthecyclone;
andthereitremainedandwascarriedmilesandmilesawayaseasilyasyoucould
trasportare
carry
afeather.
Itwasvery
buio
dark
,andthewindhowledhorriblyaroundher,butDorothyfoundshewas
cavalcando
riding
quiteeasily.
Afterthefirstfewwhirlsaround,andoneothertimewhenthehousetippedbadly,shefeltasifshewerebeingrockedgently,likeababyinacradle.
Totodidnotlikeit.
Heranabouttheroom,nowhere,nowthere,barkingloudly;
butDorothysatquitestillonthe
pavimento
floor
andwaitedtoseewhatwouldhappen.
OnceTotogottooneartheopentrapdoor,andfellin;
andatfirstthelittlegirlthoughtshehadlosthim.
Butsoonshesawoneofhisearsstickingupthroughthe
buco
hole
,forthestrongpressureoftheairwaskeepinghimupsothathecouldnotfall.
Shecrepttothe
buco
hole
,caughtTotobytheear,anddraggedhimintotheroomagain,afterwardclosingthetrapdoorsothatnomoreaccidentscouldhappen.
Hourafterhour
passò
passed
away,andslowlyDorothygotoverherfright;
butshefeltquitelonely,andthe
vento
wind
shriekedsoloudlyallaboutherthatshenearlybecamedeaf.
Atfirstshehadwonderedifshewouldbedashedtopieceswhenthehousefellagain;
butasthehours
passavano
passed
andnothingterriblehappened,shestoppedworryingandresolvedtowaitcalmlyandseewhatthe
futuro
future
wouldbring.
Atlastshecrawledovertheswaying
pavimento
floor
toherbed,andlaydownuponit;
andTotofollowedandlaydownbesideher.
ChapterIITheCouncilwiththeMunchkins
Shewasawakenedbyashock,sosuddenandseverethatifDorothyhadnotbeenlyingonthesoftbedshemighthavebeenhurt.
Asitwas,thejarmadehercatchherbreathand
chiedersi
wonder
whathadhappened;
andTotoputhiscoldlittle
naso
nose
intoherfaceandwhineddismally.
Dorothysatupand
notò
noticed
thatthehousewasnotmoving;
nor
wasitdark,forthebrightsunshinecameinatthe
finestra
window
,floodingthelittleroom.
ShesprangfromherbedandwithTotoatherheelsranandopenedthedoor.
Thelittlegirlgavea
grido
cry
ofamazementandlookedabouther,hereyesgrowingbiggerandbiggeratthewonderfulsightsshesaw.
Thecyclonehadsetthehousedownverygently—foracyclone—inthemidstofacountryofmarvelous
bellezza
beauty
.
Therewerelovelypatchesofgreenswardallabout,withstatelytreesbearingrichandlusciousfruits.
Banksofgorgeousflowerswereoneveryhand,andbirdswithrareandbrilliantplumagesangandflutteredinthetreesandbushes.
Alittlewayoffwasasmallbrook,rushingandsparklingalongbetweengreenbanks,andmurmuringina
voce
voice
verygratefultoalittlegirlwhohadlivedsolongonthedry,grayprairies.
Whileshestoodlookingeagerlyatthestrangeandbeautifulsights,she
notò
noticed
comingtowardhera
gruppo
group
ofthequeerestpeopleshehadeverseen.
Theywerenotasbigasthegrownfolkshehadalwaysbeenusedto;
butneitherweretheyverysmall.
Infact,they
sembravano
seemed
aboutastallasDorothy,whowasawell-grownchildforherage,althoughtheywere,sofaraslooksgo,manyyearsolder.
Threeweremenandoneawoman,andallwereoddly
vestiti
dressed
.
Theyworeroundhatsthatrosetoasmallpointa
piede
foot
abovetheirheads,withlittlebellsaroundthebrimsthattinkledsweetlyastheymoved.
Thehatsofthemenwere
blu
blue
;
thelittlewoman’shatwaswhite,andshe
indossava
wore
awhitegownthathunginpleatsfromhershoulders.
Overitweresprinkledlittlestarsthatglistenedinthe
sole
sun
likediamonds.
Themenwere
vestiti
dressed
inblue,ofthesameshadeastheirhats,and
indossavano
wore
well-polishedbootswitha
profondo
deep
rollofblueatthetops.
Themen,Dorothythought,wereaboutasoldasUncleHenry,fortwoofthemhadbeards.
Butthelittlewomanwasdoubtlessmucholder.
Herfacewas
coperto
covered
withwrinkles,herhairwasnearlywhite,andshewalked
piuttosto
rather
stiffly.
WhenthesepeopledrewnearthehousewhereDorothywasstandinginthedoorway,theypausedandwhisperedamongthemselves,asifafraidtocomefarther.
ButthelittleoldwomanwalkeduptoDorothy,madea
basso
low
bowandsaid,inasweet
voce
voice:
.
“Youarewelcome,mostnobleSorceress,tothe
terra
land
oftheMunchkins.
WearesogratefultoyouforhavingkilledtheWickedWitchoftheEast,andforsettingourpeoplefreefrombondage.”
Dorothylistenedtothisspeechwith
meraviglia
wonder
.
Whatcouldthelittlewomanpossiblymeanbycallingherasorceress,andsayingshehadkilledtheWickedWitchoftheEast?
Dorothywasan
innocente
innocent
,harmlesslittlegirl,whohadbeencarriedbyacyclonemanymilesfromhome;
andshehadneverkilledanythinginallherlife.
Butthelittlewomanevidentlyexpectedhertoanswer;
soDorothysaid,withhesitation,“Youareverykind,buttheremustbesomemistake.
Ihavenotkilledanything.”
“Yourhousedid,anyway,”repliedthelittleoldwoman,witha
risata
laugh
,“andthatisthesamething.
See!”
she
continuato
continued
,pointingtothecornerofthehouse.
“Therearehertwofeet,stillstickingoutfromunderablockofwood.”
Dorothylooked,andgavealittle
grido
cry
offright.
There,indeed,justunderthecornerofthegreatbeamthehouserestedon,twofeetwerestickingout,shodinsilver
scarpe
shoes
withpointedtoes.
“Oh,dear!
Oh,dear!”
criedDorothy,claspingherhandstogetherindismay.
“Thehousemusthavefallenonher.
Whatevershallwedo?”
“Thereisnothingtobedone,”saidthelittlewomancalmly.
“Butwhowasshe?”
askedDorothy.
“ShewastheWickedWitchoftheEast,asIsaid,”answeredthelittlewoman.
“ShehasheldalltheMunchkinsinbondageformanyyears,makingthemslaveforhernightandday.
Nowtheyareallsetfree,andaregratefultoyouforthefavor.”
“WhoaretheMunchkins?”
inquiredDorothy.
“Theyarethepeoplewholiveinthis
terra
land
oftheEastwheretheWickedWitchruled.”
“AreyouaMunchkin?”
askedDorothy.
“No,butIamtheirfriend,althoughIliveinthe
terra
land
oftheNorth.
WhentheysawtheWitchoftheEastwasdeadtheMunchkinssentaswiftmessengertome,andIcameatonce.
IamtheWitchoftheNorth.”
“Oh,gracious!”
criedDorothy.
“Areyouarealwitch?”
“Yes,indeed,”answeredthelittlewoman.
“ButIamagoodwitch,andthepeopleloveme.
IamnotaspowerfulastheWickedWitchwaswhoruledhere,orIshouldhavesetthepeoplefreemyself.”
“ButIthoughtallwitcheswerewicked,”saidthegirl,whowashalffrightenedatfacingarealwitch.
“Oh,no,thatisagreatmistake.
Therewereonlyfourwitchesinallthe
Terra
Land
ofOz,andtwoofthem,thosewholiveinthe
Nord
North
andtheSouth,aregoodwitches.
Iknowthisistrue,forIamoneofthemmyself,andcannotbemistaken.
ThosewhodweltintheEastandtheWestwere,indeed,wickedwitches;
butnowthatyouhavekilledoneofthem,thereisbutoneWickedWitchinallthe
Terra
Land
ofOz—theonewholivesintheWest.”
“But,”saidDorothy,afteramoment’sthought,“AuntEmhastoldmethatthewitcheswerealldead—yearsandyearsago.”
“Whois
Zia
Aunt
Em?”
inquiredthelittleoldwoman.
“Sheismy
zia
aunt
wholivesinKansas,whereIcamefrom.”
TheWitchofthe
Nord
North
seemedtothinkforatime,withherheadbowedandhereyesupontheground.
Thenshelookedupandsaid,“IdonotknowwhereKansasis,forIhaveneverheardthatcountrymentionedbefore.
Buttellme,isitacivilizedcountry?”
“Oh,yes,”repliedDorothy.
“Thenthataccountsforit.
InthecivilizedcountriesIbelievetherearenowitchesleft,
nor
wizards,norsorceresses,normagicians.
But,yousee,the
Terra
Land
ofOzhasneverbeencivilized,forwearecutofffromalltherestoftheworld.
Thereforewestillhavewitchesandwizardsamongstus.”
“Whoarethewizards?”
askedDorothy.
“OzhimselfistheGreatWizard,”answeredtheWitch,sinkingher
voce
voice
toawhisper.
“Heismorepowerfulthanalltherestofustogether.
HelivesintheCityofEmeralds.”
Dorothywasgoingtoaskanotherquestion,butjustthentheMunchkins,whohadbeenstandingsilentlyby,gavealoudshoutandpointedtothecornerofthehousewheretheWickedWitchhadbeenlying.
“Whatisit?”
askedthelittleoldwoman,andlooked,and
cominciò
began
tolaugh.
ThefeetofthedeadWitchhaddisappearedentirely,andnothingwasleftbutthesilver
scarpe
shoes
.
“Shewassoold,”
spiegò
explained
theWitchofthe
Nord
North
,“thatshedriedup
rapidamente
quickly
inthesun.Thatistheendofher.
Butthesilver
scarpe
shoes
areyours,andyoushallhavethemtowear.”
Shereacheddownandpickedupthe
scarpe
shoes
,andaftershakingthedustoutofthemhandedthemtoDorothy.
“TheWitchoftheEastwasproudofthosesilvershoes,”saidoneoftheMunchkins,“andthereissomecharmconnectedwiththem;
butwhatitisweneverknew.”
Dorothy
portò
carried
theshoesintothehouseandplacedthemonthe
tavolo
table
.
ThenshecameoutagaintotheMunchkinsandsaid:.
“Iamanxioustogetbacktomy
zia
aunt
anduncle,forIamsuretheywillworryaboutme.
Canyouhelpmefindmyway?”
TheMunchkinsandtheWitchfirstlookedatoneanother,andthenatDorothy,andthenshooktheirheads.
“Atthe
Est
East
,notfarfromhere,”saidone,“thereisagreatdesert,and
nessuno
none
couldlivetocrossit.”
“ItisthesameattheSouth,”saidanother,“forIhavebeenthereandseenit.
The
Sud
South
isthecountryoftheQuadlings.”
“Iamtold,”saidthe
terzo
third
man,“thatitisthesameattheWest.
Andthatcountry,wheretheWinkieslive,isruledbytheWickedWitchoftheWest,whowouldmakeyouherslaveifyou
passassi
passed
herway.”
“TheNorthismyhome,”saidtheoldlady,“andatitsedgeisthesamegreatdesertthatsurroundsthis
Terra
Land
ofOz.I’mafraid,mydear,youwillhavetolivewithus.”
Dorothy
cominciò
began
tosobatthis,forshefeltlonelyamongallthesestrangepeople.
Hertears
sembravano
seemed
togrievethekind-heartedMunchkins,fortheyimmediatelytookouttheirhandkerchiefsand
cominciarono
began
toweepalso.
Asforthelittleoldwoman,shetookoffhercapandbalancedthepointontheendofher
naso
nose
,whileshecounted“One,two,three”inasolemn
voce
voice
.
Atoncethecapchangedtoaslate,onwhichwaswritteninbig,whitechalkmarks:.
“LETDOROTHYGOTOTHECITYOFEMERALDS”.
Thelittleoldwomantooktheslatefromher
naso
nose
,andhavingreadthewordsonit,asked,“IsyournameDorothy,mydear?”
“Yes,”answeredthechild,lookingupanddryinghertears.
“ThenyoumustgototheCityofEmeralds.
PerhapsOzwillhelpyou.”
“Whereisthiscity?”
askedDorothy.
“Itisexactlyinthecenterofthecountry,andisruledbyOz,theGreatWizardItoldyouof.”
“Isheagoodman?”