Grimms' Fairy Tales | Progressive Translation Books for Spanish B1 Learners

Grimms' Fairy Tales | Progressive Translation Books for Spanish B1 Learners

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
Acertainkinghadabeautiful
jardín
garden
,andinthegardenstoodatreewhichbore
oro
golden
apples.
Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegantogrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.
Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.
Thegardenersethiseldestsontowatch;
butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.
Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;
andat
medianoche
midnight
hetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganother
manzana
apple
wasgone.
Thenthethirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;
butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsomeharmshouldcometohim:
however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.
Astheclock
golpeó
struck
twelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,anda
pájaro
bird
cameflyingthatwasof
puro
pure
gold;
andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithitsbeak,thegardener’ssonjumpedupandshotanarrowatit.
Butthearrowdidthe
pájaro
bird
noharm;
onlyitdroppeda
oro
golden
featherfromitstail,andthenflewaway.
The
oro
golden
featherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.
Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthe
reino
kingdom
:
Thenthegardener’seldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthe
oro
golden
birdveryeasily;
andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawafoxsitting;
sohetookhis
arco
bow
andmadereadytoshootatit.
Thenthefoxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodcounsel;
Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthe
oro
golden
bird.
Youwillreachavillageintheevening;
andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisverypleasantandbeautifultolookat:
gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmay
parezca
appear
toyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansucha
bestia
beast
asthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothisarrowatthefox;
buthemissedit,anditsetupits
cola
tail
aboveitsbackandranintothewood.
Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;
andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;
buttheotherlookedverydirty,andpoor.
‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthischarmingplace’;
sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthe
pájaro
bird
,andhiscountrytoo.
Timepassedon;
andastheeldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.
Hemetthefox,whogavehimthegoodadvice:
butwhenhecametothetwoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstandingatthewindowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;
andhecouldnotwithstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthe
oro
golden
birdandhiscountryinthesamemanner.
Timepassedonagain,andtheyoungestsontoowishedtosetoutintothe
ancho
wide
worldtoseekforthe
oro
golden
bird;
buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,andpreventhiscomingback.
However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;
andashecametothewood,hemetthefox,andheardthesamegoodcounsel.
Buthewasthankfultothefox,anddidnot
intentó
attempt
hislifeashisbrothershaddone;
sothefoxsaid,‘Situponmy
cola
tail
,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthefoxbegantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockand
piedra
stone
soquickthattheirhairwhistledinthewind.
Whentheycametothevillage,thesonfollowedthefox’scounsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathisease.
Inthemorningcamethefoxagainandmethimashewasbeginninghis
viaje
journey
,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoa
castillo
castle
,beforewhichlieawholetroopofsoldiersfastasleepandsnoring:
takenonoticeofthem,butgointothe
castillo
castle
andpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegolden
pájaro
bird
sitsinawoodencage;
closebyitstandsabeautifulgoldencage;
butdonottrytotakethe
pájaro
bird
outoftheshabbycageandputitintothehandsomeone,otherwiseyouwillrepentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthis
cola
tail
again,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockand
piedra
stone
tilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.
Beforethe
castillo
castle
gateallwasasthefoxhadsaid:
sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethe
oro
golden
birdhunginawoodencage,and
debajo
below
stoodthegoldencage,andthethree
oro
golden
applesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.
Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafine
pájaro
bird
inthisshabbycage’;
soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothe
oro
golden
cage.
Butthebirdsetupsucha
fuerte
loud
screamthatallthesoldiers
despertaron
awoke
,andtheytookhim
prisionero
prisoner
andcarriedhimbeforetheking.
Thenextmorningthecourtsattojudgehim;
andwhenallwasheard,it
condenó
sentenced
himtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthe
oro
golden
horsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthewind;
andifhedidthis,hewastohavethe
oro
golden
birdgivenhimforhisown.
Sohesetoutoncemoreonhis
viaje
journey
,sighing,andingreatdespair,whenonasuddenhisfriendthefoxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomycounsel.
Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthe
oro
golden
horse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.
Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothe
castillo
castle
wherethehorsestandsinhisstall:
byhissidewillliethegroomfastasleepandsnoring:
takeawaythehorsequietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathernsaddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’s
cola
tail
,andawaytheywentoverstockand
piedra
stone
tilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.
Allwentright,andthegroomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthe
oro
golden
saddle.
Butwhenthesonlookedatthehorse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.
‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;
‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthe
oro
golden
saddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutso
fuerte
loud
,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhim
prisionero
prisoner
,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,andwas
sentenciado
sentenced
todie.
Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldlive,andhavethe
pájaro
bird
andthehorsegivenhimforhisown.
Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;
buttheoldfoxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?
Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththe
pájaro
bird
andthehorse;
yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.
Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwill
llegarás
arrive
atacastle.
Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:
gouptoherandgiveherakiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;
buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthis
cola
tail
,andsoawaytheywentoverstockand
piedra
stone
tilltheirhairwhistledagain.
Astheycametothe
castillo
castle
,allwasasthefoxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtothe
baño
bath
andgaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,but
suplicó
begged
withmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.
Atfirsthe
negó
refused
,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;
butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguards
despertaron
awoke
andhewastaken
prisionero
prisoner
again.
Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessineightdaysyou
caves
dig
awaythehillthatstopsthe
vista
view
frommywindow.’Nowthis
colina
hill
wassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:
andwhenhehadworkedforsevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,thefoxcameandsaid.
‘Liedownandgotosleep;
Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorninghe
despertó
awoke
andthehillwasgone;
sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwas
quitado
removed
hemustgivehimtheprincess.
Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandtheprincess;
‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthefox,‘itcanbedone.
Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautifulprincess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”
Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;
andyouwillmountthe
oro
golden
horsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;
but
estrecha
shake
handswiththeprincesslast.
Thenliftherquicklyontothehorsebehindyou;
Allwentright:
thenthefoxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothe
castillo
castle
wherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;
andwhenheseesthatitistherighthorse,hewillbringoutthe
pájaro
bird
;
butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,toseewhetheritisthetruegolden
pájaro
bird
;
This,too,happenedasthefoxsaid;
theycarriedoffthe
pájaro
bird
,theprincessmountedagain,andtheyrodeontoagreatwood.
Thenthefoxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungman
negó
refused
todoit:
sothefoxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodcounsel:
bewareoftwothings;
ransomnoonefromthegallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.
Herodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.
Andthereheheardagreat
ruido
noise
anduproar;
andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecamenearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;
sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheirliberty.
Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhim
hacia
towards
theirhome.
Andastheycametothewoodwherethefoxfirstmetthem,itwassocoolandpleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideoftheriver,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’scounsel,andsatdownonthesideoftheriver;
andwhilehe
sospechaba
suspected
nothing,theycamebehind,andthrewhimdownthebank,andtooktheprincess,thehorse,andthe
pájaro
bird
,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.
‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;
butthehorsewouldnoteat,the
pájaro
bird
wouldnotsing,andtheprincesswept.
Theyoungestsonfelltothe
fondo
bottom
oftheriver’sbed:
luckilyitwasnearly
seco
dry
,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.
Thentheoldfoxcameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotfollowinghisadvice;
otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:
‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmy
cola
tail
andholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutoftheriver,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’scourt,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthehorsebegantoeat,andthe
pájaro
bird
tosing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.
Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;
andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;
andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohis
reino
kingdom
.
Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheoldfoxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadandfeet.
HANSINLUCK
Somemenareborntogoodluck:
alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthefaster.
Theworldmayvery
probable
likely
notalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?
whatcanitknowaboutthematter?
OneoftheseluckybeingswasneighbourHans.
Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.
Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;
Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:
sopraypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeenafaithfulandgoodservant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpofsilverasbigashishead.
Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,threwitoverhis
hombro
shoulder
,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.
Ashewentlazilyon,
arrastrando
dragging
onefootafteranother,amancamein
vista
sight
,trottinggailyalongona
capital
capital
horse.
‘Ah!’saidHansaloud,‘whatafinethingitistorideonhorseback!
Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthe
silla
chair
byhisfireside;
hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeaksosoftlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethis
carga
load
tocarry:
tobesureitis
plata
silver
,butitissoheavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmy
hombro
shoulder
sadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.
‘Iwillgiveyoumyhorse,andyoushallgivemethe
plata
silver
;
whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroubleincarryingsuchaheavy
carga
load
aboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:
‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveaweary
tarea
task
todrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,thehorsemangotoff,tookthe
plata
silver
,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthewhipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipsloudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.
Hanswasdelightedashesatonthehorse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhiswhip,androdemerrilyoff,oneminutewhistlinga
alegre
merry
tune,andanothersinging,.
‘Nocareandnosorrow,Afigforthemorrow!
Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefullgallop;
andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.
Hishorsewouldhaveranoff,ifashepherdwhowascomingby,drivinga
vaca
cow
,hadnotstoppedit.
Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisnojoke,whenamanhasthelucktogetupona
bestia
beast
likethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhisneck.
However,I’moffnowonceforall:
Ilikeyour
vaca
cow
nowagreatdealbetterthanthissmart
bestia
beast
thatplayedmethis
truco
trick
,andhasspoiledmybest
abrigo
coat
,yousee,inthispuddle;
which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.
Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhavemilk,butter,and
queso
cheese
,everyday,intothebargain.
WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidtheshepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemy
vaca
cow
foryourhorse;
Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.
‘Whatanobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.
Thentheshepherdjumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthe
vaca
cow
goodmorning,andawayherode.
Hansbrushedhis
abrigo
coat
,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhis
vaca
cow
quietly,andthoughthisbargainaveryluckyone.
‘IfIhaveonlyapieceof
pan
bread
(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmybutterand
queso
cheese
withit;
andwhenIamthirstyIcanmilkmy
vaca
cow
anddrinkthemilk:
andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoaninn,hehalted,ateupallhis
pan
bread
,andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.
Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghis
vaca
cow
towardshismother’svillage.
Butthe
caliente
heat
grewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawideheaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourtocross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathis
lengua
tongue
clavetotheroofofhismouth.
‘Icanfinda
cura
cure
forthis,’thoughthe;
‘nowIwillmilkmy
vaca
cow
andquenchmythirst’:
sohe
ató
tied
hertothestumpofatree,andheldhisleatherncaptomilkinto;
butnotadropwastobehad.
Whowouldhavethoughtthatthis
vaca
cow
,whichwastobringhimmilkandbutterand
queso
cheese
,wasallthattimeutterlydry?
Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.
Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasy
bestia
beast
begantothinkhimverytroublesome;
andatlastgavehimsuchakickontheheadasknockedhimdown;
andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.
Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivinga
cerdo
pig
inawheelbarrow.
‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthebutcher,ashehelpedhimup.
Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewas
seco
dry
,andwantedtomilkhis
vaca
cow
,butfoundthecowwas
seco
dry
too.
Thenthebutchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;
your
vaca
cow
willgiveyounomilk:
don’tyouseesheisanold
bestia
beast
,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?
Whatashametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlyadry
vaca
cow
!
IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?
Ihatecow-beef;
itisnottenderenoughforme.
Ifitwerea
cerdo
pig
now—likethatfatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;
itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthebutcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.
TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfinefat
cerdo
pig
forthecow.’‘Heaven
recompense
reward
youforyourkindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutcherthe
vaca
cow
;
andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringthatwastiedtoitsleg.
Soonhejogged,andallseemednowtogorightwithhim:
hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;
buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.
Howcoulditbeotherwisewithsucha
viaje
travelling
companionashehadatlastgot?
Thenextmanhemetwasacountrymancarryingafinewhitegoose.
Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;
thisledtofurther
charla
chat
;
andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayandsmilingwithhim.
Thecountrymanthenbegantotellhistale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegoosetoachristening.
‘Feel,’saidhe,‘howheavyitis,andyetitisonlyeightweeksold.
Whoeverroastsandeatsitwillfindplentyoffatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,asheweigheditinhishand;
‘butifyoutalkoffat,my
cerdo
pig
isnotrifle.’Meantimethecountrymanbegantolook
grave
grave
,andshookhishead.
‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,youseemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.
Your
cerdo
pig
maygetyouintoascrape.
InthevillageIjustcamefrom,thesquirehashada
cerdo
pig
stolenoutofhissty.
IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’s
cerdo
pig
.
Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.
Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.
PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.
‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.
Iknownothingofwherethe
cerdo
pig
waseitherbredorborn;
buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell: