Grimms’ Fairy Tales Gradually Hardening Italian B2 Books

THEGOLDENBIRD

Acertainkinghadabeautifulgarden,andinthegardenstoodatreewhichboregoldenapples.

Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegantogrow

maturare

ripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.

Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthe

giardiniere

gardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.

The

giardiniere

gardenersethiseldestsontowatch;

butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.

Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;

andatmidnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganotherapplewasgone.

Thenthethirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;

butthe

giardiniere

gardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsomeharmshouldcometohim:

however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.

Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,andabirdcameflyingthatwasofpuregold;

andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithits

becco

beak,thegardener’ssonjumpedupandshotan

freccia

arrowatit.

Butthe

freccia

arrowdidthebirdnoharm;

onlyitdroppedagolden

piuma

featherfromitstail,andthenflewaway.

Thegolden

piuma

featherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.

Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthekingdom:

Thenthegardener’s

maggiore

eldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegoldenbirdveryeasily;

andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawa

volpe

foxsitting;

sohetookhisbowandmadereadytoshootatit.

Thenthe

volpe

foxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougood

consiglio

counsel;

Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegoldenbird.

Youwillreachavillageintheevening;

andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisvery

piacevole

pleasantandbeautifultolookat:

gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothis

freccia

arrowatthefox;

buthemissedit,anditsetupitstailaboveitsbackandranintothewood.

Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;

andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;

buttheotherlookedverydirty,andpoor.

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

sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.

Timepassedon;

andasthe

maggiore

eldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.

Hemetthe

volpe

fox,whogavehimthegoodadvice:

butwhenhecametothetwoinns,his

maggiore

eldestbrotherwasstandingatthewindowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;

andhecouldnot

resistere

withstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegoldenbirdandhiscountryinthesame

modo

manner.

Timepassedonagain,andthe

giovane

youngestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldtoseekforthegoldenbird;

buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasvery

affezionato

fondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,and

impedire

preventhiscomingback.

However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;

andashecametothewood,hemetthe

volpe

fox,andheardthesamegood

consiglio

counsel.

Buthewasthankfultothe

volpe

fox,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;

sothe

volpe

foxsaid,‘Situponmytail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthe

volpe

foxbegantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthewind.

Whentheycametothevillage,thesonfollowedthefox’s

consiglio

counsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabby

locanda

innandrestedthereallnightathis

agio

ease.

Inthemorningcamethe

volpe

foxagainandmethimashewasbeginninghisjourney,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoacastle,beforewhichlieawhole

truppa

troopofsoldiersfastasleepand

russano

snoring:

takenonoticeofthem,butgointothecastleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenbirdsitsinawooden

gabbia

cage;

closebyitstandsabeautifulgolden

gabbia

cage;

butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabby

gabbia

cageandputitintothehandsomeone,otherwiseyouwill

pentirai

repentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.

Beforethecastlegateallwasasthe

volpe

foxhadsaid:

sothesonwentinandfoundthe

camera

chamberwherethegoldenbirdhunginawooden

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

foxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomy

consiglio

counsel.

Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthegoldenhorse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.

Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothecastlewherethehorsestandsinhis

stalla

stall:

byhissidewillliethegroomfastasleepand

russa

snoring:

takeawaythehorsequietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathern

sella

saddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’stail,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.

Allwentright,andthegroomlay

russare

snoringwithhishanduponthegolden

sella

saddle.

Butwhenthesonlookedatthehorse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathern

sella

saddleuponit.

‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;

‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegolden

sella

saddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutsoloud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.

Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthehorsegivenhimforhisown.

Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;

buttheold

volpe

foxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?

Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththebirdandthehorse;

yetwillIoncemoregiveyou

consiglio

counsel.

Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwillarriveatacastle.

Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:

gouptoherandgiveherakiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;

buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthe

volpe

foxstretchedouthistail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.

Astheycametothecastle,allwasasthe

volpe

foxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtothebathandgaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.

Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;

butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.

Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessineightdaysyoudigawaythehillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthishillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:

andwhenhehadworkedforsevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,the

volpe

foxcameandsaid.

‘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

foxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothecastlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;

andwhenheseesthatitistherighthorse,hewillbringoutthebird;

butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,toseewhetheritisthetruegoldenbird;

This,too,happenedasthe

volpe

foxsaid;

theycarriedoffthebird,theprincessmountedagain,andtheyrodeontoagreatwood.

Thenthe

volpe

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

sothe

volpe

foxsaid,‘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

foxfirstmetthem,itwassocooland

piacevole

pleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘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

youngestsonfelltothebottomoftheriver’sbed:

per fortuna

luckilyitwasnearlydry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.

Thentheold

volpe

foxcameoncemore,and

rimproverò

scoldedhimfornotfollowinghisadvice;

otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:

‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmytailandholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutoftheriver,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapoorman,andcame

segretamente

secretlytotheking’scourt,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthehorsebegantoeat,andthebirdtosing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.

Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;

andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;

andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohiskingdom.

Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheold

volpe

foxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadandfeet.

HANSINLUCK

Somemenareborntogoodluck:

alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthefaster.

Theworldmayverylikelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?

whatcanitknowaboutthematter?

Oneoftheseluckybeingswas

vicino

neighbourHans.

Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.

Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;

Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:

sopraypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeena

fedele

faithfulandgoodservant,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

softlybutthehorsemanhearditall,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

whipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlips

forte

loudlytogether,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

shepherdwhowascomingby,drivingacow,hadnotstoppedit.

Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,

tristemente

sadlyvexed,andsaidtothe

pastore

shepherd,‘Thisridingisnojoke,whenamanhasthelucktogetuponabeastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhisneck.

However,I’moffnowonceforall:

Ilikeyourcownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmartbeastthatplayedmethistrick,andhas

rovinato

spoiledmybestcoat,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

nobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.

Thenthe

pastore

shepherdjumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthecowgoodmorning,andawayherode.

Hans

spazzolò

brushedhiscoat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhiscowquietly,andthoughthis

affare

bargainaveryluckyone.

‘IfIhaveonlyapieceofbread(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmy

burro

butterandcheesewithit;

andwhenIamthirstyIcanmilkmycowanddrinkthemilk:

andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoan

locanda

inn,hehalted,ateupallhisbread,andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.

Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghiscowtowardshismother’svillage.

Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonas

mezzogiorno

nooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawide

brughiera

heaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourtocross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathistongueclavetotheroofofhismouth.

‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;

‘nowIwillmilkmycowandquenchmythirst’:

sohetiedhertothestumpofatree,andheldhisleatherncaptomilkinto;

butnotadropwastobehad.

Whowouldhavethoughtthatthiscow,whichwastobringhimmilkand

burro

butterandcheese,wasallthattimeutterlydry?

Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.

Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasybeastbegantothinkhimvery

fastidioso

troublesome;

andatlastgavehimsuchakickontheheadasknockedhimdown;

andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.

Fortunatamente

Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivingapiginawheelbarrow.

‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthe

macellaio

butcher,ashehelpedhimup.

Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewasdry,andwantedtomilkhiscow,butfoundthecowwasdrytoo.

Thenthe

macellaio

butchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkand

rinfrescati

refreshyourself;

yourcowwillgiveyounomilk:

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

Whatashametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlyadrycow!

IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?

Ihatecow-beef;

itisnot

tenero

tenderenoughforme.

Ifitwereapignow—likethatfatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;

itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthe

macellaio

butcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.

TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfinefatpigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyour

gentilezza

kindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethe

macellaio

butcherthecow;

andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythe

corda

stringthatwastiedtoitsleg.

Soonhejogged,andallseemednowtogorightwithhim:

hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;

buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.

Howcoulditbeotherwisewithsuchatravelling

compagno

companionashehadatlastgot?

Thenextmanhemetwasacountrymancarryingafinewhitegoose.

Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;

thisledtofurtherchat;

andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayandsmilingwithhim.

Thecountrymanthenbegantotellhis

storia

tale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegoosetoachristening.

‘Feel,’saidhe,‘howheavyitis,andyetitisonlyeightweeksold.

Whoever

arrostisce

roastsandeatsitwillfindplentyoffatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,ashe

pesava

weigheditinhishand;

‘butifyoutalkoffat,mypigisnotrifle.’

Nel frattempo

Meantimethecountrymanbegantolookgrave,andshookhishead.

‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,youseemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.

Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.

InthevillageIjustcamefrom,the

scudiero

squirehashadapigstolenoutofhissty.

IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.

Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.

Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.

PoorHanswas

tristemente

sadlyfrightened.

‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.

Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredorborn;

buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell:

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