Grimms' Fairy Tales | Gradually Hardening Italian B2 Books

Grimms' Fairy Tales | Gradually Hardening Italian B2 Books

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
Acertainkinghadabeautifulgarden,andinthegardenstoodatreewhichboregoldenapples.
Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegantogrow
maturare
ripe
itwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.
Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthe
giardiniere
gardener
tokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.
The
giardiniere
gardener
sethiseldestsontowatch;
butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.
Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;
andatmidnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganotherapplewasgone.
Thenthethirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;
butthe
giardiniere
gardener
atfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsomeharmshouldcometohim:
however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.
Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,andabirdcameflyingthatwasofpuregold;
andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithits
becco
beak
,thegardener’ssonjumpedupandshotan
freccia
arrow
atit.
Butthe
freccia
arrow
didthebirdnoharm;
onlyitdroppedagolden
piuma
feather
fromitstail,andthenflewaway.
Thegolden
piuma
feather
wasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.
Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthekingdom:
Thenthegardener’s
maggiore
eldest
sonsetoutandthoughttofindthegoldenbirdveryeasily;
andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawa
volpe
fox
sitting;
sohetookhisbowandmadereadytoshootatit.
Thenthe
volpe
fox
said,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougood
consiglio
counsel
;
Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegoldenbird.
Youwillreachavillageintheevening;
andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisvery
piacevole
pleasant
andbeautifultolookat:
gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothis
freccia
arrow
atthefox;
buthemissedit,anditsetupitstailaboveitsbackandranintothewood.
Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;
andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;
buttheotherlookedverydirty,andpoor.
‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthischarmingplace’;
sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.
Timepassedon;
andasthe
maggiore
eldest
sondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.
Hemetthe
volpe
fox
,whogavehimthegoodadvice:
butwhenhecametothetwoinns,his
maggiore
eldest
brotherwasstandingatthewindowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;
andhecouldnot
resistere
withstand
thetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegoldenbirdandhiscountryinthesame
modo
manner
.
Timepassedonagain,andthe
giovane
youngest
sontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldtoseekforthegoldenbird;
buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasvery
affezionato
fond
ofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,and
impedire
prevent
hiscomingback.
However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;
andashecametothewood,hemetthe
volpe
fox
,andheardthesamegood
consiglio
counsel
.
Buthewasthankfultothe
volpe
fox
,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;
sothe
volpe
fox
said,‘Situponmytail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthe
volpe
fox
begantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthewind.
Whentheycametothevillage,thesonfollowedthefox’s
consiglio
counsel
,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabby
locanda
inn
andrestedthereallnightathis
agio
ease
.
Inthemorningcamethe
volpe
fox
againandmethimashewasbeginninghisjourney,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoacastle,beforewhichlieawhole
truppa
troop
ofsoldiersfastasleepand
russano
snoring
:
takenonoticeofthem,butgointothecastleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenbirdsitsinawooden
gabbia
cage
;
closebyitstandsabeautifulgolden
gabbia
cage
;
butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabby
gabbia
cage
andputitintothehandsomeone,otherwiseyouwill
pentirai
repent
it.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.
Beforethecastlegateallwasasthe
volpe
fox
hadsaid:
sothesonwentinandfoundthe
camera
chamber
wherethegoldenbirdhunginawooden
gabbia
cage
,andbelowstoodthegolden
gabbia
cage
,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.
Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafinebirdinthisshabbycage’;
soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegolden
gabbia
cage
.
Butthebirdsetupsuchaloudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhimprisonerandcarriedhimbeforetheking.
Thenextmorningthecourtsattojudgehim;
andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegoldenhorsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthewind;
andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.
Sohesetoutoncemoreonhisjourney,sighing,andingreat
disperazione
despair
,whenonasuddenhisfriendthe
volpe
fox
methim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomy
consiglio
counsel
.
Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthegoldenhorse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.
Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothecastlewherethehorsestandsinhis
stalla
stall
:
byhissidewillliethegroomfastasleepand
russa
snoring
:
takeawaythehorsequietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathern
sella
saddle
uponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’stail,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.
Allwentright,andthegroomlay
russare
snoring
withhishanduponthegolden
sella
saddle
.
Butwhenthesonlookedatthehorse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathern
sella
saddle
uponit.
‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;
‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegolden
sella
saddle
thegroomawokeandcriedoutsoloud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.
Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthehorsegivenhimforhisown.
Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;
buttheold
volpe
fox
cameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?
Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththebirdandthehorse;
yetwillIoncemoregiveyou
consiglio
counsel
.
Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwillarriveatacastle.
Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:
gouptoherandgiveherakiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;
buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthe
volpe
fox
stretchedouthistail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.
Astheycametothecastle,allwasasthe
volpe
fox
hadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtothebathandgaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.
Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;
butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.
Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessineightdaysyoudigawaythehillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthishillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:
andwhenhehadworkedforsevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,the
volpe
fox
cameandsaid.
‘Liedownandgotosleep;
Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthehillwasgone;
sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemustgivehimtheprincess.
Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandtheprincess;
‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthe
volpe
fox
,‘itcanbedone.
Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautifulprincess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”
Thenhewillbevery
gioioso
joyful
;
andyouwillmountthegoldenhorsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;
butshakehandswiththeprincesslast.
Thenliftherquicklyontothehorsebehindyou;
Allwentright:
thenthe
volpe
fox
said,‘Whenyoucometothecastlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;
andwhenheseesthatitistherighthorse,hewillbringoutthebird;
butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,toseewhetheritisthetruegoldenbird;
This,too,happenedasthe
volpe
fox
said;
theycarriedoffthebird,theprincessmountedagain,andtheyrodeontoagreatwood.
Thenthe
volpe
fox
came,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungmanrefusedtodoit:
sothe
volpe
fox
said,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougood
consiglio
counsel
:
bewareoftwothings;
ransomnoonefromthe
forca
gallows
,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.
Herodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.
Andthereheheardagreatnoiseand
tumulto
uproar
;
andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecamenearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;
sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheirliberty.
Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhimtowardstheirhome.
Andastheycametothewoodwherethe
volpe
fox
firstmetthem,itwassocooland
piacevole
pleasant
thatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideoftheriver,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’s
consiglio
counsel
,andsatdownonthesideoftheriver;
andwhilehesuspectednothing,theycamebehind,andthrewhimdownthebank,andtooktheprincess,thehorse,andthebird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.
‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;
butthehorsewouldnoteat,thebirdwouldnotsing,andtheprincesswept.
The
minore
youngest
sonfelltothebottomoftheriver’sbed:
per fortuna
luckily
itwasnearlydry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.
Thentheold
volpe
fox
cameoncemore,and
rimproverò
scolded
himfornotfollowinghisadvice;
otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:
‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmytailandholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutoftheriver,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapoorman,andcame
segretamente
secretly
totheking’scourt,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthehorsebegantoeat,andthebirdtosing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.
Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;
andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;
andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohiskingdom.
Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheold
volpe
fox
methim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadandfeet.
HANSINLUCK
Somemenareborntogoodluck:
alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthefaster.
Theworldmayverylikelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?
whatcanitknowaboutthematter?
Oneoftheseluckybeingswas
vicino
neighbour
Hans.
Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.
Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;
Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:
sopraypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeena
fedele
faithful
andgoodservant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpofsilverasbigashishead.
Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,threwitoverhisshoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.
Ashewentlazilyon,draggingonefootafteranother,amancameinsight,trottinggailyalongonacapitalhorse.
‘Ah!’saidHans
ad alta voce
aloud
,‘whatafinethingitistorideon
a cavallo
horseback
!
Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;
hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeakso
dolcemente
softly
butthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadtocarry:
tobesureitissilver,butitissoheavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyshouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.
‘Iwillgiveyoumyhorse,andyoushallgivemethesilver;
whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroubleincarryingsuchaheavyloadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:
‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveawearytasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,thehorsemangotoff,tookthesilver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthe
frusta
whip
intotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlips
forte
loudly
together,andcry“Jip!”’.
Hanswasdelightedashesatonthehorse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhis
frusta
whip
,androdemerrilyoff,oneminutewhistlingamerry
melodia
tune
,andanothersinging,.
‘Nocareandno
dolore
sorrow
,Afigforthemorrow!
Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefullgallop;
andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.
Hishorsewouldhaveranoff,ifa
pastore
shepherd
whowascomingby,drivingacow,hadnotstoppedit.
Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,
tristemente
sadly
vexed,andsaidtothe
pastore
shepherd
,‘Thisridingisnojoke,whenamanhasthelucktogetuponabeastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhisneck.
However,I’moffnowonceforall:
Ilikeyourcownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmartbeastthatplayedmethistrick,andhas
rovinato
spoiled
mybestcoat,yousee,inthis
pozzanghera
puddle
;
which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.
Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhavemilk,
burro
butter
,andcheese,everyday,intothebargain.
WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidthe
pastore
shepherd
,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemycowforyourhorse;
Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.
‘Whata
nobile
noble
heartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.
Thenthe
pastore
shepherd
jumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthecowgoodmorning,andawayherode.
Hans
spazzolò
brushed
hiscoat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhiscowquietly,andthoughthis
affare
bargain
averyluckyone.
‘IfIhaveonlyapieceofbread(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmy
burro
butter
andcheesewithit;
andwhenIamthirstyIcanmilkmycowanddrinkthemilk:
andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoan
locanda
inn
,hehalted,ateupallhisbread,andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.
Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghiscowtowardshismother’svillage.
Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonas
mezzogiorno
noon
cameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawide
brughiera
heath
thatwouldtakehimmorethananhourtocross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathistongueclavetotheroofofhismouth.
‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;
‘nowIwillmilkmycowandquenchmythirst’:
sohetiedhertothestumpofatree,andheldhisleatherncaptomilkinto;
butnotadropwastobehad.
Whowouldhavethoughtthatthiscow,whichwastobringhimmilkand
burro
butter
andcheese,wasallthattimeutterlydry?
Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.
Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasybeastbegantothinkhimvery
fastidioso
troublesome
;
andatlastgavehimsuchakickontheheadasknockedhimdown;
andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.
Fortunatamente
Luckily
abutchersooncameby,drivingapiginawheelbarrow.
‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthe
macellaio
butcher
,ashehelpedhimup.
Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewasdry,andwantedtomilkhiscow,butfoundthecowwasdrytoo.
Thenthe
macellaio
butcher
gavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkand
rinfrescati
refresh
yourself;
yourcowwillgiveyounomilk:
don’tyouseesheisanoldbeast,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?
Whatashametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlyadrycow!
IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?
Ihatecow-beef;
itisnot
tenero
tender
enoughforme.
Ifitwereapignow—likethatfatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;
itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthe
macellaio
butcher
,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.
TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfinefatpigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyour
gentilezza
kindness
andself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethe
macellaio
butcher
thecow;
andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythe
corda
string
thatwastiedtoitsleg.
Soonhejogged,andallseemednowtogorightwithhim:
hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;
buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.
Howcoulditbeotherwisewithsuchatravelling
compagno
companion
ashehadatlastgot?
Thenextmanhemetwasacountrymancarryingafinewhitegoose.
Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;
thisledtofurtherchat;
andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayandsmilingwithhim.
Thecountrymanthenbegantotellhis
storia
tale
,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegoosetoachristening.
‘Feel,’saidhe,‘howheavyitis,andyetitisonlyeightweeksold.
Whoever
arrostisce
roasts
andeatsitwillfindplentyoffatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,ashe
pesava
weighed
itinhishand;
‘butifyoutalkoffat,mypigisnotrifle.’
Nel frattempo
Meantime
thecountrymanbegantolookgrave,andshookhishead.
‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,youseemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.
Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.
InthevillageIjustcamefrom,the
scudiero
squire
hashadapigstolenoutofhissty.
IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.
Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.
Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.
PoorHanswas
tristemente
sadly
frightened.
‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.
Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredorborn;
buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell: