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Grimms' Fairy Tales | Gradually Hardening Italian B1 Books

Grimms' Fairy Tales | Gradually Hardening Italian B1 Books

Discover the advantages of this innovative translation method, designed to cater to your learning needs. You can select your preferred difficulty level, ensuring a well-balanced challenge that isn't too overwhelming. This technique sharpens your comprehension skills by encouraging you to derive meaning from context, minimizing the need for direct translations. While some words are purposefully obscured to promote contextual guessing, looking up unclear terms is always an option. With this method, language learning becomes both accessible and enjoyable, blending challenge with support. Explore translated classics and experience the excitement of learning through literature.

THEGOLDENBIRD
Acertainkinghadabeautiful
giardino
garden,andinthegardenstoodatreewhichboregoldenapples.
Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegantogrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.
Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.
Thegardenersethiseldestsontowatch;
butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.
Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;
andat
mezzanotte
midnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganother
mela
applewasgone.
Thenthethirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;
butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsome
male
harmshouldcometohim:
however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.
Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustling
rumore
noiseintheair,anda
uccello
birdcameflyingthatwasof
puro
puregold;
andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithitsbeak,thegardener’ssonjumpedupandshotanarrowatit.
Butthearrowdidthebirdno
male
harm;
onlyitdroppedagoldenfeatherfromits
coda
tail,andthenflewaway.
Thegoldenfeatherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthe
consiglio
councilwascalledtogether.
Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthe
regno
kingdom:
Thenthegardener’seldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegoldenbirdvery
facilmente
easily;
andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawafoxsitting;
sohetookhis
arco
bowandmadereadytoshootatit.
Thenthefoxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodcounsel;
Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegoldenbird.
Youwillreachavillageintheevening;
andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinns
di fronte
oppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisverypleasantandbeautifultolookat:
gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansucha
bestia
beastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothisarrowatthefox;
buthemissedit,anditsetupits
coda
tailaboveitsbackandranintothewood.
Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;
andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;
buttheotherlookedverydirty,andpoor.
‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthischarmingplace’;
sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.
Timepassedon;
andastheeldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.
Hemetthefox,whogavehimthegood
consiglio
advice:
butwhenhecametothetwoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstandingatthewindowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;
andhecouldnotwithstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegoldenbirdandhiscountryinthesamemanner.
Timepassedonagain,andtheyoungestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldtoseekforthegoldenbird;
buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,andpreventhiscomingback.
However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;
andashecametothewood,hemetthefox,andheardthesamegoodcounsel.
Buthewasthankfultothefox,anddidnot
tentato
attempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;
sothefoxsaid,‘Situponmy
coda
tail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthefoxbegantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockand
pietra
stonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthewind.
Whentheycametothevillage,thesonfollowedthefox’scounsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathisease.
Inthemorningcamethefoxagainandmethimashewasbeginninghis
viaggio
journey,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoa
castello
castle,beforewhichlieawholetroopofsoldiersfastasleepandsnoring:
takenonoticeofthem,butgointothe
castello
castleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenbirdsitsinawoodencage;
closebyitstandsabeautifulgoldencage;
butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabbycageandputitintothehandsomeone,otherwiseyouwillrepentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthis
coda
tailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockand
pietra
stonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.
Beforethe
castello
castlegateallwasasthefoxhadsaid:
sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethegoldenbirdhunginawoodencage,and
sotto
belowstoodthegoldencage,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.
Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafine
uccello
birdinthisshabbycage’;
soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegoldencage.
Butthebirdsetupsucha
forte
loudscreamthatallthesoldiers
svegliarono
awoke,andtheytookhim
prigioniero
prisonerandcarriedhimbeforetheking.
Thenextmorningthecourtsattojudgehim;
andwhenallwasheard,it
condannò
sentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegoldenhorsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthewind;
andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.
Sohesetoutoncemoreonhis
viaggio
journey,sighing,andingreatdespair,whenonasuddenhisfriendthefoxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomycounsel.
Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthegoldenhorse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.
Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothe
castello
castlewherethehorsestandsinhisstall:
byhissidewillliethegroomfastasleepandsnoring:
takeawaythehorsequietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathernsaddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’s
coda
tail,andawaytheywentoverstockand
pietra
stonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.
Allwentright,andthegroomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthegoldensaddle.
Butwhenthesonlookedatthehorse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.
‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;
‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegoldensaddlethegroom
svegliò
awokeandcriedoutso
forte
loud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhim
prigioniero
prisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,andwas
condannato
sentencedtodie.
Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthehorsegivenhimforhisown.
Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;
buttheoldfoxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?
Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththebirdandthehorse;
yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.
Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwill
arriverete
arriveatacastle.
Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:
gouptoherandgiveherakiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;
buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthis
coda
tail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockand
pietra
stonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.
Astheycametothe
castello
castle,allwasasthefoxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtothe
bagno
bathandgaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,but
implorò
beggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.
Atfirsthe
rifiutò
refused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;
butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguards
svegliarono
awokeandhewastaken
prigioniero
prisoneragain.
Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessineightdaysyou
scavi
digawaythehillthatstopsthe
vista
viewfrommywindow.’Nowthis
collina
hillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:
andwhenhehadworkedforsevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,thefoxcameandsaid.
‘Liedownandgotosleep;
Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorninghe
svegliò
awokeandthehillwasgone;
sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwas
rimosso
removedhemustgivehimtheprincess.
Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandtheprincess;
‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthefox,‘itcanbedone.
Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautifulprincess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”
Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;
andyouwillmountthegoldenhorsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;
butshakehandswiththeprincesslast.
Thenliftherquicklyontothehorsebehindyou;
Allwentright:
thenthefoxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothe
castello
castlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;
andwhenheseesthatitistherighthorse,hewillbringoutthebird;
butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,toseewhetheritisthetruegolden
uccello
bird;
This,too,happenedasthefoxsaid;
theycarriedoffthebird,theprincessmountedagain,andtheyrodeontoagreatwood.
Thenthefoxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungman
rifiutò
refusedtodoit:
sothefoxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodcounsel:
bewareoftwothings;
ransomnoonefromthegallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.
Herodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.
Andthereheheardagreat
rumore
noiseanduproar;
andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecamenearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;
sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheirliberty.
Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhim
verso
towardstheirhome.
Andastheycametothewoodwherethefoxfirstmetthem,itwassocoolandpleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideoftheriver,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’scounsel,andsatdownonthesideoftheriver;
andwhilehe
sospettava
suspectednothing,theycamebehind,andthrewhimdownthebank,andtooktheprincess,thehorse,andthebird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.
‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;
butthehorsewouldnoteat,thebirdwouldnotsing,andtheprincesswept.
Theyoungestsonfelltothe
fondo
bottomoftheriver’sbed:
luckilyitwasnearly
asciutto
dry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.
Thentheoldfoxcameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotfollowinghis
consiglio
advice;
otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:
‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmy
coda
tailandholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutoftheriver,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’scourt,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthehorsebegantoeat,andthebirdtosing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.
Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;
andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;
andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohis
regno
kingdom.
Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheoldfoxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadandfeet.
HANSINLUCK
Somemenareborntogoodluck:
alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthefaster.
Theworldmayvery
probabile
likelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?
whatcanitknowaboutthematter?
OneoftheseluckybeingswasneighbourHans.
Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.
Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;
Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:
sopraypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeenafaithfulandgoodservant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpofsilverasbigashishead.
Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,threwitoverhis
spalla
shoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.
Ashewentlazilyon,
trascinando
draggingonefootafteranother,amancamein
vista
sight,trottinggailyalongona
capitale
capitalhorse.
‘Ah!’saidHansaloud,‘whatafinethingitistorideonhorseback!
Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthe
sedia
chairbyhisfireside;
hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeaksosoftlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethis
carico
loadtocarry:
tobesureitissilver,butitissoheavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmy
spalla
shouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.
‘Iwillgiveyoumyhorse,andyoushallgivemethesilver;
whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroubleincarryingsuchaheavy
carico
loadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:
‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveaweary
compito
tasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,thehorsemangotoff,tookthesilver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthewhipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipsloudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.
Hanswasdelightedashesatonthehorse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhiswhip,androdemerrilyoff,oneminutewhistlingamerrytune,andanothersinging,.
‘Nocareandnosorrow,Afigforthemorrow!
Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefullgallop;
andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.
Hishorsewouldhaveranoff,ifashepherdwhowascomingby,drivinga
mucca
cow,hadnotstoppedit.
Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisnojoke,whenamanhasthelucktogetupona
bestia
beastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhisneck.
However,I’moffnowonceforall:
Ilikeyour
mucca
cownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmart
bestia
beastthatplayedmethis
trucco
trick,andhasspoiledmybest
cappotto
coat,yousee,inthispuddle;
which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.
Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhavemilk,butter,and
formaggio
cheese,everyday,intothebargain.
WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidtheshepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemy
mucca
cowforyourhorse;
Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.
‘Whatanobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.
Thentheshepherdjumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthe
mucca
cowgoodmorning,andawayherode.
Hansbrushedhis
cappotto
coat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhis
mucca
cowquietly,andthoughthisbargainaveryluckyone.
‘IfIhaveonlyapieceof
pane
bread(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmybutterand
formaggio
cheesewithit;
andwhenIamthirstyIcanmilkmy
mucca
cowanddrinkthemilk:
andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoaninn,hehalted,ateupallhis
pane
bread,andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.
Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghis
mucca
cowtowardshismother’svillage.
Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawideheaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourtocross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathis
lingua
tongueclavetotheroofofhismouth.
‘Icanfinda
cura
cureforthis,’thoughthe;
‘nowIwillmilkmy
mucca
cowandquenchmythirst’:
sohetiedhertothestumpofatree,andheldhisleatherncaptomilkinto;
butnotadropwastobehad.
Whowouldhavethoughtthatthis
mucca
cow,whichwastobringhimmilkandbutterand
formaggio
cheese,wasallthattimeutterlydry?
Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.
Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasy
bestia
beastbegantothinkhimverytroublesome;
andatlastgavehimsuchakickontheheadasknockedhimdown;
andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.
Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivinga
maiale
piginawheelbarrow.
‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthebutcher,ashehelpedhimup.
Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewas
asciutto
dry,andwantedtomilkhis
mucca
cow,butfoundthecowwas
asciutto
drytoo.
Thenthebutchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;
your
mucca
cowwillgiveyounomilk:
don’tyouseesheisanold
bestia
beast,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?
Whatashametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlyadry
mucca
cow!
IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?
Ihatecow-beef;
itisnottenderenoughforme.
Ifitwerea
maiale
pignow—likethatfatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;
itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthebutcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.
TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfinefat
maiale
pigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyourkindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutcherthe
mucca
cow;
andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringthatwastiedtoitsleg.
Soonhejogged,andallseemednowtogorightwithhim:
hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;
buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.
Howcoulditbeotherwisewithsucha
viaggio
travellingcompanionashehadatlastgot?
Thenextmanhemetwasacountrymancarryingafinewhitegoose.
Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;
thisledtofurther
chiacchierata
chat;
andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayandsmilingwithhim.
Thecountrymanthenbegantotellhistale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegoosetoachristening.
‘Feel,’saidhe,‘howheavyitis,andyetitisonlyeightweeksold.
Whoeverroastsandeatsitwillfindplentyoffatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,asheweigheditinhishand;
‘butifyoutalkoffat,my
maiale
pigisnotrifle.’Meantimethecountrymanbegantolook
grave
grave,andshookhishead.
‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,youseemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.
Your
maiale
pigmaygetyouintoascrape.
InthevillageIjustcamefrom,thesquirehashada
maiale
pigstolenoutofhissty.
IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’s
maiale
pig.
Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.
Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.
PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.
‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.
Iknownothingofwherethe
maiale
pigwaseitherbredorborn;
buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell: