×

We use cookies to help make LingQ better. By visiting the site, you agree to our cookie policy.


image

Andersen's Fairy Tales, The leap-frog, part 1

The leap-frog, part 1

THE LEAP-FROG

A Flea, a Grasshopper, and a Leap-frog once wanted to see which could jump highest; and they invited the whole world, and everybody else besides who chose to come to see the festival. Three famous jumpers were they, as everyone would say, when they all met together in the room.

"I will give my daughter to him who jumps highest," exclaimed the King; "for it is not so amusing where there is no prize to jump for." The Flea was the first to step forward. He had exquisite manners, and bowed to the company on all sides; for he had noble blood, and was, moreover, accustomed to the society of man alone; and that makes a great difference.

Then came the Grasshopper. He was considerably heavier, but he was well-mannered, and wore a green uniform, which he had by right of birth; he said, moreover, that he belonged to a very ancient Egyptian family, and that in the house where he then was, he was thought much of. The fact was, he had been just brought out of the fields, and put in a pasteboard house, three stories high, all made of court-cards, with the colored side inwards; and doors and windows cut out of the body of the Queen of Hearts. "I sing so well," said he, "that sixteen native grasshoppers who have chirped from infancy, and yet got no house built of cards to live in, grew thinner than they were before for sheer vexation when they heard me." It was thus that the Flea and the Grasshopper gave an account of themselves, and thought they were quite good enough to marry a Princess.

The Leap-frog said nothing; but people gave it as their opinion, that he therefore thought the more; and when the housedog snuffed at him with his nose, he confessed the Leap-frog was of good family. The old councillor, who had had three orders given him to make him hold his tongue, asserted that the Leap-frog was a prophet; for that one could see on his back, if there would be a severe or mild winter, and that was what one could not see even on the back of the man who writes the almanac.

"I say nothing, it is true," exclaimed the King; "but I have my own opinion, notwithstanding." Now the trial was to take place. The Flea jumped so high that nobody could see where he went to; so they all asserted he had not jumped at all; and that was dishonorable.


The leap-frog, part 1 El salto al vacío, parte 1 O salto-sapo, parte 1 Kurbağa sıçraması, bölüm 1 跨越式发展,第 1 部分

THE LEAP-FROG

A Flea, a Grasshopper, and a Leap-frog once wanted to see which could jump highest; and they invited the whole world, and everybody else besides who chose to come to see the festival. Uma pulga, um gafanhoto e um sapo saltitante uma vez quiseram ver qual poderia pular mais alto; e eles convidaram o mundo inteiro, e todos os outros além dos que escolheram vir para ver o festival. Three famous jumpers were they, as everyone would say, when they all met together in the room. Três saltadores famosos eram eles, como todos diriam, quando todos se reuniam na sala.

"I will give my daughter to him who jumps highest," exclaimed the King; "for it is not so amusing where there is no prize to jump for." "Darei minha filha a quem saltar mais alto", exclamou o rei; "pois não é tão divertido quando não há prêmio pelo qual pular." The Flea was the first to step forward. O Flea foi o primeiro a dar um passo à frente. He had exquisite manners, and bowed to the company on all sides; for he had noble blood, and was, moreover, accustomed to the society of man alone; and that makes a great difference. Ele tinha maneiras requintadas e se curvava para a companhia de todos os lados; pois ele tinha sangue nobre e, além disso, estava acostumado apenas à sociedade do homem; e isso faz uma grande diferença.

Then came the Grasshopper. Depois veio o Gafanhoto. He was considerably heavier, but he was well-mannered, and wore a green uniform, which he had by right of birth; he said, moreover, that he belonged to a very ancient Egyptian family, and that in the house where he then was, he was thought much of. Ele era consideravelmente mais pesado, mas era bem-educado e usava um uniforme verde, que tinha por direito de nascimento; ele disse, além disso, que pertencia a uma família egípcia muito antiga, e que na casa onde ele estava, ele era muito estimado. The fact was, he had been just brought out of the fields, and put in a pasteboard house, three stories high, all made of court-cards, with the colored side inwards; and doors and windows cut out of the body of the Queen of Hearts. O fato é que ele acabara de ser trazido dos campos e colocado em uma casa de papelão, de três andares, toda feita de cartas da corte, com o lado colorido para dentro; e portas e janelas recortadas do corpo da Rainha de Copas. "I sing so well," said he, "that sixteen native grasshoppers who have chirped from infancy, and yet got no house built of cards to live in, grew thinner than they were before for sheer  vexation when they heard me." "Eu canto tão bem", disse ele, "que dezesseis gafanhotos nativos que chilrearam desde a infância, e ainda assim não têm casa construída de cartas para morar, ficaram mais magros do que antes por pura irritação quando me ouviram." It was thus that the Flea and the Grasshopper gave an account of themselves, and thought they were quite good enough to marry a Princess. Foi assim que a Pulga e o Gafanhoto prestaram contas de si mesmos e acharam que eram bastante bons para se casar com uma princesa.

The Leap-frog said nothing; but people gave it as their opinion, that he therefore thought the more; and when the housedog snuffed at him with his nose, he confessed the Leap-frog was of good family. O Sapo Saltitante não disse nada; mas as pessoas deram como opinião deles que ele, portanto, pensava mais; e quando o cão doméstico o farejou com o focinho, ele confessou que o Sapo Saltitante era de boa família. The old councillor, who had had three orders given him to make him hold his tongue, asserted that the Leap-frog was a prophet; for that one could see on his back, if there would be a severe or mild winter, and that was what one could not see even on the back of the man who writes the almanac. O velho conselheiro, que recebera três ordens para fazê-lo calar a língua, afirmou que o Sapo Salteante era um profeta; pois isso se podia ver nas costas, se houvesse um inverno rigoroso ou ameno, e era o que não se podia ver nem nas costas do homem que escreve o almanaque.

"I say nothing, it is true," exclaimed the King; "but I have my own opinion, notwithstanding." "Não digo nada, é verdade", exclamou o rei; "mas eu tenho minha própria opinião, apesar de tudo." Now the trial was to take place. Agora o julgamento estava para acontecer. The Flea jumped so high that nobody could see where he went to; so they all asserted he had not jumped at all; and that was dishonorable. O Flea pulou tão alto que ninguém conseguiu ver para onde ele foi; então todos afirmaram que ele não havia pulado; e isso era desonroso.