The Striped TulipsTraduccin: Orly Borges Los Tulipanes Rayados

Once upon a time there was a good old woman who lived in a little house. She had in her garden a bed of beautiful striped tulips.rase una vez una buena anciana que viva en una pequea casa. Tena en su jardn un cantero de hermosos tulipanes rayados.

One night she was wakened by the sounds of sweet singing and of babies laughing. She looked out at the window. The sounds seemed to come from the tulip bed, but she could see nothing.Una noche la despertaron unos sonidos de canciones dulces y de bebs riendo. Mir por la ventana. Los sonidos parecan venir del cantero de tulipanes. Sin embargo, no logr ver nada.

The next morning she walked among her flowers, but there were no signs of any one having been there the night before.A la maana siguiente, camin entre sus flores, pero no haba seales de que alguien hubiese andado por all la noche anterior.

On the following night she was again wakened by sweet singing and babies laughing. She rose and stole softly through her garden. The moon was shining brightly on the tulip bed, and the flowers were swaying to and fro.A la noche siguiente la volvieron a despertar los sonidos de canciones dulces y de bebs riendo. Se levant y desplaz muy sigilosamente por su jardn. La luna brillaba con fuerza sobre el cantero de tulipanes y las flores se balanceaban de un lado para el otro.

The old woman looked closely and she saw, standing by each tulip, a little Fairy mother who was crooning and rocking the flower like a cradle, while in each tulip cup lay a little Fairy baby laughing and playing.La anciana mir ms de cerca y vio, de pie junto a cada tulipn, diminutas Hadas madres que cantaban y balanceaban las flores como si fueran cunas y en el hueco de cada tulipn haba un beb de hadas riendo y jugueteando.

The good old woman stole quietly back to her house, and from that time on she never picked a tulip, nor did she allow her neighbors to touch the flowers.Sin hacer ruido, la buena anciana regres a su casa y, a partir de aquel momento, nunca cort un tulipn, ni les permita a sus vecinos tocar las flores.

The tulips grew daily brighter in color and larger in size, and they gave out a delicious perfume like that of roses. They began, too, to bloom all the year round. And every night the little Fairy mothers caressed their babies and rocked them to sleep in the flower cups.Los tulipanes crecan cada da ms brillantes en color y ms grandes en tamao, y comenzaron a desprender un delicioso perfume parecido al de las rosas. Comenzaron tambin a florecer durante todo el ao. Y todas las noches las diminutas Hadas madres acariciaban a sus bebs y los mecan para que se durmieran en las copas de flores.

The day came when the good old woman died, and the tulip bed was torn up by folks who did not know about the Fairies, and parsley was planted there instead of the flowers. But the parsley withered, and so did all the other plants in the garden, and from that time nothing would grow there.Lleg el da en que la buena anciana muri y el cantero de tulipanes fue deshecho por gente que no saba nada de las Hadas y plantaron all perejil en lugar de las flores. Sin embargo, el perejil se marchit, al igual que todas las otras plantas del jardn, y desde ese momento nada pudo crecer all.

But the good old woman's grave grew beautiful, for the Fairies sang above it, and kept it green while on the grave and all around it there sprang up tulips, daffodils, and violets, and other lovely flowers of spring.Pero la tumba de la buena anciana se mantena hermosa pues las Hadas cantaban encima y la mantenan verde. Y sobre la tumba y todo alrededor brotaron tulipanes, narcisos, violetas y otras flores hermosas de primavera.

CinderellaPAGE CINDERELLA/LA CENICIENTA - Hermanos Grimm

CenicientaPAGINA 1/2

Once upon a time there lived an unhappy young girl. Her mother was dead and her father had married a widow with two daughters. Her stepmother didn't like her one little bit. All her kind thoughts and loving touches were for her own daughters. Nothing was too good for them dresses, shoes, delicious food, soft beds, and every home comfort.Hace mucho tiempo viva una desdichada muchacha. Su madre haba muerto y su padre se haba casado con una viuda que tena dos hijas. Su madrastra no la apreciaba para nada. Toda su amabilidad y cario era para sus hijas propias. Nada les alcanzaba vestidos, zapatos, comidas deliciosas, cmodas camas y todas las comodidades hogareas.

But, for the poor unhappy girl, there was nothing at all. No dresses, only her stepsisters hand-me-downs. No lovely dishes, nothing but scraps. No rest and no comfort. She had to work hard all day. Only when evening came was she allowed to sit for a while by the fire, near the cinders. Thats why everybody called her Cinderella.Pero, para la tan desdichada muchacha nunca haba nada. Ningn vestido, slo ropas usadas de sus hermanastras. Nada de comidas fabulosas, slo restos. Nada de descanso y sin comodidades. Deba trabajar intensamente todo el da. Slo por la noche se le permita sentarse un rato al lado del fuego, cerca de las cenizas. Por eso todos la llamaban Cenicienta.

Cinderella used to spend long hours all alone talking to the cat. The cat said, "Miaow", which really meant, "Cheer up! You have something neither of your stepsisters has and that is beauty." It was quite true. Cinderella, even dressed in old rags, was a lovely girl. While her stepsisters, no matter how splendid and elegant their clothes, were still clumsy, lumpy and ugly and always would be.Cenicienta pasaba largas horas solitaria hablando con su gato. El gato exclamaba, "Miau", lo cual realmente significaba, "Arriba el nimo! T tienes algo que ninguna de tus hermanastras tiene: belleza". Era verdad. An vestida con harapos, Cenicienta era hermosa. Mientras que sus hermanastras, an con esplndidas y elegantes ropas, eran torpes, rechonchonas y feas y as seguiran.

One day, beautiful new dresses arrived at the house. A ball was to be held at the palace and the stepsisters were getting ready to go. Cinderella didn't even dare ask if she could go too. She knew very well what the answer would be: "You? You're staying at home to wash the dishes, scrub the floors and turn down the beds for your stepsisters. They will come home tired and very sleepy". Cinderella sighed, "Oh dear, I'm so unhappy!". and the cat murmured, "Miaow"..Un dia llegaron a la casa vestidos nuevos y deslumbrantes. Se realizaba en el palacio un baile y las hermanastras se estaban preparando para asistir. Cenicienta ni se atrevi a preguntar si podra asistir tambin. Conoca perfectamente la respuesta. "T? T te quedas en casa lavando platos, fregando pisos, y haciendo las camas para tus hermanastras. Van a llegar cansadas y con mucho sueo". Cenicienta suspir, "Dios mo, soy tan desdichada!", y el gato murmuraba, "Miau".

Suddenly something amazing happened. As Cinderella was sitting all alone, there was a burst of light and a fairy appeared. "Don't be alarmed, Cinderella",. said the fairy. "I know you would love to go to the ball. And so you shall!". "How can I, dressed in rags?", Cinderella replied. "The servants will turn me away!".De pronto sucedi algo asombroso. Cuando Cenicienta se encontraba sentada en soledad, surgi un rayo luminoso y apareci un hada. "No temas, Cenicienta", dijo el hada. "S cunto te gustara ir al baile. Y vas a ir!". "Cmo podra ir as vestida en harapos?", contest Cenicienta. "Los sirvientes me echaran!".

The fairy smiled. With a flick of her magic wand Cinderella found herself wearing the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. "Now for your coach", said the fairy. "A real lady would never go to a ball on foot! Quick! Get me a pumpkin!". "Oh of course", said Cinderella, rushing away. Then the fairy turned to the cat. "You, bring me seven mice, and, remember they must be alive!".El hada sonri. Con un toque de su varita mgica, Cenicienta se vio ataviada con el ms bello traje que hubiese imaginado. "Ahora, vamos por tu carroza", dijo el hada. "Una autntica dama jams puede asistir a un baile a pie!. Rpido! Treme una calabaza!. "S, claro", dijo Cenicienta y sali disparando. Luego el hada se dirigi al gato. "T, treme siete ratas y recuerda que deben estar vivas!".

The Selfish GiantPAGE 1/2Oscar WildeEl Gigante EgostaPAGINA 1/2

Every afternoon, as they were coming from school, the children used to go and play in the Giant's garden.Todas las tardes, cuando salan de la escuela, los nios iban a jugar al jardn del gigante.

It was a large lovely garden, with soft green grass. Here and there over the grass stood beautiful flowers like stars, and there were twelve peach-trees that in the spring-time broke out into delicate blossoms of pink and pearl, and in the autumn bore rich fruit. The birds sat on the trees and sang so sweetly that the children used to stop their games in order to listen to them.Era un jardn inmenso y encantador con mullido csped verde. Flores hermosas como estrellas asomaban entre la hierba por todas partes y haba doce perales, que en primavera se cubran de delicados capullos de color rosado y madreperla y en otoo ofrecan deliciosos frutos. Los pjaros se posaban en los rboles y cantaban tan dulcemente que los nios interrumpan sus juegos para escucharlos.

"How happy we are here!" they cried to each other.-Qu felices somos aqu! se decan unos a otros.

One day the Giant came back. He had been to visit his friend the Cornish ogre, and had stayed with him for seven years. After the seven years were over he had said all that he had to say, for his conversation was limited, and he determined to return to his own castle. When he arrived he saw the children playing in the garden.Un da, el Gigante regres. Haba ido a visitar a su amigo, el ogro de Cornualles, con quien haba pasado siete aos. Al cabo de siete aos, ya no le quedaba nada para decir porque su capacidad de conversacin era limitada, y decidi regresar a su castillo. Cuando lleg, encontr a los nios jugando en el jardn.

"What are you doing here?" he cried in a very gruff voice, and the children ran away. "My own garden is my own garden," said the Giant; "any one can understand that, and I will allow nobody to play in it but myself."-Qu hacen aqu? grit con voz tremebunda. Y los nios escaparon. -Mi jardn es slo mo declar el gigante-, recurdenlo bien. Y no permitir que nadie juegue aqu excepto yo.

So he built a high wall all round it, and put up a notice-board.Entonces construy un muro altsimo alrededor del jardn y coloc un letrero:

TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTEDLOS INTRUSOS SERAN CASTIGADOS

He was a very selfish Giant.Era un gigante muy egosta.

The poor children had now nowhere to play. They tried to play on the road, but the road was very dusty and full of hard stones, and they did not like it. They used to wander round the high wall when their lessons were over, and talk about the beautiful garden inside.Los pobres nios ya no tenan adonde ir. Intentaron jugar en la carretera, pero all haba demasiado polvo y tantas piedras afiladas que no les gust. Cuando terminaban las clases solan pasear alrededor del alto muro y hablaban del hermoso jardn que haba detrs.

"How happy we were there," they said to each other.-Qu felices ramos all! se decan unos a otros.

Then the Spring came, and all over the country there were little blossoms and little birds. Only in the garden of the Selfish Giant it was still winter. The birds did not care to sing in it as there were no children, and the trees forgot to blossom. Once a beautiful flower put its head out from the grass, but when it saw the notice-board it was so sorry for the children that it slipped back into the ground again, and went off to sleep. The only people who were pleased were the Snow and the Frost.Un da lleg la primavera y toda la regin se cubri de capullos y pajaritos. Slo en el jardn del gigante egosta segua siendo invierno. Los pjaros no queran cantar all porque no haba nios y los rboles se olvidaron de florecer. Una vez, una hermosa flor asom la cabecita entre la hierba, pero cuando vio el letrero sinti tanta pena por los nios que volvi a esconderse en la tierra y sigui durmiendo. Las nicas que estaban encantadas eran la nieve y la escarcha.

"Spring has forgotten this garden," they cried, "so we will live here all the year round."-La primavera ha olvidado este jardn exclamaban-. Nos quedaremos a vivir aqu todo el ao.

The Snow covered up the grass with her great white cloak, and the Frost painted all the trees silver. Then they invited the North Wind to stay with them, and he came. He was wrapped in furs, and he roared all day about the garden, and blew the chimney-pots down.La nieve despleg su espeso manto blanco sobre la hierba y la escarcha pint de plata todos los rboles. Luego invitaron al viento del norte para hacerles compaa. Y el viento del norte lleg envuelto en pieles, rugi todo el da por el jardn y sopl hasta derribar las chimeneas.

"This is a delightful spot," he said, "we must ask the Hail on a visit."-Qu lugar delicioso dijo-. Debemos pedirle al granizo que venga a visitarnos.

So the Hail came. Every day for three hours he rattled on the roof of the castle till he broke most of the slates, and then he ran round and round the garden as fast as he could go. He was dressed in grey, and his breath was like ice.Y el granizo lleg. Todos los das durante tres horas tamborileaba sobre el techo del castillo hasta que rompi casi todas las tejas y luego corri y corri por el jardn a toda velocidad. Iba vestido de gris y su aliento cortaba como el hielo.

"I cannot understand why the Spring is so late in coming," said the Selfish Giant, as he sat at the window and looked out at his cold white garden; "I hope there will be a change in the weather."-No comprendo por qu la primavera demora tanto en llegar deca el gigante egosta mientras contemplaba por la ventana su blanco jardn helado -. Espero que pronto cambie el clima.

But the Spring never came, nor the Summer. The Autumn gave golden fruit to every garden, but to the Giant's garden she gave none. "He is too selfish," she said. So it was always Winter there, and the North Wind, and the Hail, and the Frost, and the Snow danced about through the trees.Pero la primavera nunca lleg ni tampoco el verano. El otoo trajo dorados frutos a todos los jardines, pero en el jardn del gigante no hubo ni uno. -Es demasiado egosta declar el otoo. Y as, siempre era invierno en el jardn del gigante y el viento del norte, el granizo, la escarcha y la nieve seguan bailando entre los rboles.

One morning the Giant was lying awake in bed when he heard some lovely music. It sounded so sweet to his ears that he thought it must be the King's musicians passing by. It was really only a little linnet singing outside his window, but it was so long since he had heard a bird sing in his garden that it seemed to him to be the most beautiful music in the world. Then the Hail stopped dancing over his head, and the North Wind ceased roaring, and a delicious perfume came to him through the open casement.Una maana, el gigante estaba despierto en su cama cuando escuch una msica encantadora. El sonido era tan dulce que supuso que pasaban marchando los msicos del rey. En realidad, se trataba de un jilguero que cantaba frente a su ventana, pero haca tanto tiempo que el gigante no escuchaba el canto de un pjaro en su jardn que le pareci la msica ms bella del mundo. Entonces el granizo dej de bailar sobre el tejado, el viento del norte ces de rugir y un delicioso perfume penetr por la ventana entreabierta.

"I believe the Spring has come at last," said the Giant; and he jumped out of bed and looked out.-Creo que por fin ha llegado la primavera se dijo el gigante mientras saltaba de la cama y se asomaba a la ventana.

The Happy PrincePAGE Oscar Wilde

El Prncipe FelizPAGINA 1/4

High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword-hilt.En lo alto, dominando la ciudad y situada encima de una elevada columna, se hallaba la estatua del Prncipe Feliz. Era una estatua dorada, toda cubierta con delgadas lminas de oro fino; por ojos tena dos resplandecientes zafiros y un gran rub brillaba en la empuadura de su espada.

He was very much admired indeed. "He is as beautiful as a weathercock," remarked one of the Town Councillors who wished to gain a reputation for having artistic tastes; "only not quite so useful," he added, fearing lest people should think him unpractical, which he really was not.Por cierto que era una estatua sumamente admirada. -Es tan hermosa como una veleta indic uno de los concejales, que deseaba ganarse la reputacin de tener muy buen gusto artstico-. Solamente que no es tan til- aadi temiendo que la gente pudiese pensar que era poco prctico, cosa muy alejada de la realidad.

"Why can't you be like the Happy Prince?" asked a sensible mother of her little boy who was crying for the moon. "The Happy Prince never dreams of crying for anything."-Por qu no sers igual que el Prncipe Feliz? le pregunt una juiciosa madre a su hijito que lloraba desvariando al pedir la luna- El Prncipe Feliz nunca lloraba pidiendo cualquier cosa.

"I am glad there is some one in the world who is quite happy," muttered a disappointed man as he gazed at the wonderful statue.-Me siento contento al ver que, en el mundo, alguien es completamente dichoso murmur un hombre ya sin ilusiones, mirando fijamente la maravillosa estatua.

"He looks just like an angel," said the Charity Children as they came out of the cathedral in their bright scarlet cloaks and their clean white pinafores.-Tiene el aspecto de un ngel! exclamaron los nios del Hospicio mientras salan de la catedral con sus resplandecientes capas escarlatas y sus blancos y limpios uniformes.

"How do you know?" said the Mathematical Master, "you have never seen one."-Qu saben ustedes? pregunt el maestro de matemticas-, si nunca han visto uno.

"Ah! but we have, in our dreams," answered the children; and the Mathematical Master frowned and looked very severe, for he did not approve of children dreaming.-Claro que s, los hemos visto en sueos! respondieron ellos y el maestro de matemticas los mir muy severo frunciendo el ceo porque no aprobaba el que los nios soaran.

One night there flew over the city a little Swallow. His friends had gone away to Egypt six weeks before, but he had stayed behind, for he was in love with the most beautiful Reed. He had met her early in the spring as he was flying down the river after a big yellow moth, and had been so attracted by her slender waist that he had stopped to talk to her.Cierta noche vol sobre esa misma ciudad una pequea golondrina. Sus amigas de haban ido a Egipto seis semanas antes, pero ella iba con retraso porque se haba enamorado del ms hermoso de los junquillos. Ambos se conocieron al principio de la primavera mientras ella volaba sobre el ro persiguiendo a una polilla gruesa y amarillenta, fue entonces cuando se sinti atrada por la esbeltez de aquel Junquillo que, inmvil, no poda ir a su encuentro.

"Shall I love you?" said the Swallow, who liked to come to the point at once, and the Reed made him a low bow. So he flew round and round her, touching the water with his wings, and making silver ripples. This was his courtship, and it lasted all through the summer.-Debo amarte? quiso saber la golondrina, que se prend inmediatamente de l en cuanto le hizo una reverencia. As pues, vol en crculos alrededor suyo, tocando el agua con sus alas y haciendo plateadas olitas. De esta manera se desenvolvi su cortejo durante todo el verano.

"It is a ridiculous attachment," twittered the other Swallows; "she has no money, and far too many relations"; and indeed the river was quite full of Reeds. Then, when the autumn came they all flew away.-Es un noviazgo ridculo piaron las otras golondrinas-. l no tiene dinero, carece de relaciones, y encima el ro est lleno de sus parientes los otros junquillos, adems, cuando el otoo venga todas nosotras volaremos lejos de aqu.

After they had gone he felt lonely, and began to tire of his lady-love. "She has no conversation," he said, "and I am afraid that she is a coquette, for she is always flirting with the wind." And certainly, whenever the wind blew, the Reed made the most graceful curtseys. "I admit that she is domestic," he continued, "but I love travelling, and my wife, consequently, should love travelling also."Llegado el momento, las golondrinas se fueron y ella se qued sola y empez a cansarse de su amado. -Carece de conversacin reflexionaba- y me temo que sea un conquistador porque siempre est flirteando con la brisa. Y era cierto, pues, cuando sta soplaba, el Junquillo se inclinaba ante ella galantemente una y mil veces. -Admito que sea hogareo continu la golondrina-, pero a m me gusta viajar, y, a mi esposo, consecuentemente, tiene que agradarle tambin.

"Will you come away with me?" he said finally to her; but the Reed shook her head, she was so attached to her home.-Vienes conmigo? le pregunt al final. El Junquillo dijo que no con la cabeza porque estaba muy unido a su hogar.

"You have been trifling with me," he cried. "I am off to the Pyramids. Good-bye!" and he flew away.-Veo que te importo muy poco! grit ella- Estoy muy lejos de las pirmides, as que me voy. Adis! y se alej volando.

All day long he flew, and at night-time he arrived at the city. "Where shall I put up?" he said; "I hope the town has made preparations."A lo largo de todo el da estuvo de viaje y al atardecer arrib a la ciudad. -En dnde voy a instalarme? se pregunt- Espero que la ciudad tenga preparado algn tipo de alojamiento.

Then he saw the statue on the tall column.Entonces vio la estatua sobre la elevada columna.

"I will put up there," he cried; "it is a fine position, with plenty of fresh air." So he alighted just between the feet of the Happy Prince.-Me instalar ah arriba exclam-; es un buen lugar con abundancia de aire fresco. Y descendi hasta situarse entre los pies del Prncipe Feliz.

"I have a golden bedroom," he said softly to himself as he looked round, and he prepared to go to sleep; but just as he was putting his head under his wing a large drop of water fell on him. "What a curious thing!" he cried; "there is not a single cloud in the sky, the stars are quite clear and bright, and yet it is raining. The climate in the north of Europe is really dreadful. The Reed used to like the rain, but that was merely her selfishness."-Tengo un dormitorio dorado se dijo blandamente mientras miraba en derredor y ya se dispona a dormir, pero justo estaba poniendo la cabeza bajo el ala, cuando una gran gota de agua cay sobre ella. -Qu cosa ms curiosa! coment-; aqu no hay una sola nube en el cielo, las estrellas estn completamente claras y brillantes, y, sin embargo, llueve. El clima en el norte de Europa es verdaderamente terrible. Pero al Junquillo le gustaba la lluvia simplemente porque es un egosta.

Then another drop fell.Entonces cay otra gota.

"What is the use of a statue if it cannot keep the rain off?" he said; "I must look for a good chimney-pot," and he determined to fly away.-Para que sirve una estatua si no puede guarecerte de la lluvia? se dijo- Debo procurarme el cobijo de una buena chimenea y decidi volar de nuevo.

But before he had opened his wings, a third drop fell, and he looked up, and saw - Ah! what did he see?Pero antes de que desplegase las alas, cay una tercera gota y al mirar hacia arriba vio... Ah! qu es lo que vio?

The eyes of the Happy Prince were filled with tears, and tears were running down his golden cheeks. His face was so beautiful in the moonlight that the little Swallow was filled with pity.Los ojos del Prncipe Feliz estaban llenos de lgrimas y stas se deslizaban incontenibles por sus mejillas de oro. Su rostro era tan hermoso a la luz de la luna, que la pequea golondrina se sinti llena de piedad.

"Who are you?" he said.-Quin eres t?- pregunt.

"I am the Happy Prince."-Yo soy el Prncipe Feliz.

"Why are you weeping then?" asked the Swallow; "you have quite drenched me."-Entonces, por qu ests llorando? quiso saber la golondrina Me has dejado completamente empapada.

"When I was alive and had a human heart," answered the statue, "I did not know what tears were, for I lived in the Palace of Sans- Souci, where sorrow is not allowed to enter. In the daytime I played with my companions in the garden, and in the evening I led the dance in the Great Hall. Round the garden ran a very lofty wall, but I never cared to ask what lay beyond it, everything about me was so beautiful. My courtiers called me the Happy Prince, and happy indeed I was, if pleasure be happiness. So I lived, and so I died. And now that I am dead they have set me up here so high that I can see all the ugliness and all the misery of my city, and though my heart is made of lead yet I cannot chose but weep."-Cuando estaba vivo y tena un corazn humano respondi la estatua-, no conoca las lgrimas porque moraba en el palacio del Sans-Souci, en donde la tristeza tena prohibida la entrada. Durante el da, jugaba con mis compaeros en el jardn y al caer la noche bailaba en el gran saln. Rodeando el jardn haba un muro muy alto, pero nunca me preocup en preguntar que se extenda detrs de l; todo cuanto haba a mi alrededor era tan hermoso! Mis cortesanos me llamaban el Prncipe Feliz y yo era dichoso de veras, si es que el placer otorga la felicidad. As viv y as mor. Y ahora que estoy muerto, me han colocado aqu arriba, tan alto, que puedo ver todo lo feo y todo lo miserable de mi ciudad, y aunque mi corazn est hecho de plomo, no puedo dejar de llorar.

Little ThumbPAGE 1/4Charles PerraultPulgarcitoPAGINA 1/4

Once upon a time there lived a woodcutter and his wife; they had seven children, all boys. The eldest was but ten years old, and the youngest only seven. People were astonished that the woodcutter had had so many children in such a short time, but his wife was very fond of children, and never had less than two at a timeErase una vez un leador y una leadora que tenan siete hijos, todos ellos varones. El mayor tena diez aos y el menor, slo siete. Puede ser sorprendente que el leador haya tenido tantos hijos en tan poco tiempo; pero es que a su esposa le cunda la tarea pues los haca de dos en dos.

They were very poor, and their seven children inconvenienced them greatly, because not one of them was able to earn his own way. They were especially concerned, because the youngest was very sickly. He scarcely ever spoke a word, which they considered to be a sign of stupidity, although it was in truth a mark of good sense. He was very little, and when born no bigger than one's thumb, for which reason they called him Little Thumb.Eran muy pobres y sus siete hijos eran una pesada carga ya que ninguno poda an ganarse la vida. Sufran adems porque el menor era muy delicado y no hablaba palabra alguna, interpretando como estupidez lo que era un rasgo de la bondad de su alma. Era muy pequeito y cuando lleg al mundo no era ms gordo que el pulgar, por lo cual lo llamaron Pulgarcito.

The poor child bore the blame of everything that went wrong in the house. Guilty or not, he was always held to be at fault. He was, notwithstanding, more cunning and had a far greater share of wisdom than all his brothers put together. And although he spoke little, he listened well.Este pobre nio era en la casa el que pagaba los platos rotos y siempre le echaban la culpa de todo. Sin embargo, era el ms fino y tena un sentido de sabidura ms agudo que el de todos sus hermanos juntos. Y aunque hablaba poco, escuchaba mucho.

There came a very bad year, and the famine was so great that these poor people decided to rid themselves of their children.Sobrevino un ao muy difcil, y fue tanta la hambruna, que esta pobre pareja resolvi deshacerse de sus hijos.

One evening, when the children were all in bed and the woodcutter was sitting with his wife at the fire, he said to her, with his heart ready to burst with grief, "You see plainly that we are not able to keep our children, and I cannot see them starve to death before my face. I am resolved to lose them in the woods tomorrow, which may very easily be done; for, while they are busy in tying up the bundles of wood, we can leave them, without their noticing."Una noche, estando los nios acostados, el leador, sentado con su mujer junto al fuego, le dijo: T ves que ya no podemos alimentar a nuestros hijos; ya no me resigno a verlos morirse de hambre ante mis ojos, y estoy resuelto a dejarlos perderse maana en el bosque, lo que ser bastante fcil pues mientras estn entretenidos haciendo atados de astillas, slo tendremos que huir sin que nos vean.

"Ah!" cried out his wife; "and can you yourself have the heart to take your children out along with you on purpose to abandon them?"Ay! exclam la leadora seras capaz de dejar t mismo perderse a tus hijos?

In vain her husband reminded her of their extreme poverty. She would not consent to it. Yes, she was poor, but she was their mother. However, after having considered what a grief it would be for her to see them perish with hunger, she at last consented, and went to bed in tears.Por mucho que su marido le hiciera ver su gran pobreza, ella no poda permitirlo; era pobre, pero era su madre. Sin embargo, al pensar en el dolor que sera para ella verlos morirse de hambre, consinti y fue a acostarse llorando.

Little Thumb heard every word that had been spoken; for observing, as he lay in his bed, that they were talking very busily, he got up softly, and hid under his father's stool, in order to hear what they were saying without being seen. He went to bed again, but did not sleep a wink all the rest of the night, thinking about what he had to do.Pulgarcito oy todo lo que dijeron pues, habiendo escuchado desde su cama que hablaban de asuntos serios, se haba levantado muy despacio y se desliz debajo del taburete de su padre para orlos sin ser visto. Volvi a la cama y no durmi ms, pensando en lo que tena que hacer.

He got up early in the morning, and went to the riverside, where he filled his pockets with small white pebbles, and then returned home. They all went out, but Little Thumb never told his brothers one syllable of what he knew. They went into a very thick forest, where they could not see one another at ten paces distance. The woodcutter began his work, and the children gathered up the sticks into bundles. Their father and mother, seeing them busy at their work, slipped away from them without being seen, and returned home along a byway through the bushes.Se levant de madrugada y fue hasta la orilla de un riachuelo donde se llen los bolsillos con guijarros blancos, y en seguida regres a casa. Partieron todos, y Pulgarcito no dijo nada a sus hermanos de lo que saba. Fueron a un bosque muy tupido donde, a diez pasos de distancia, no se vean unos a otros. El leador se puso a cortar lea y sus nios a recoger astillas para hacer atados. El padre y la madre, vindolos preocupados de su trabajo, se alejaron de ellos sin hacerse notar y luego echaron a correr por un pequeo sendero desviado.

When the children saw they had been left alone, they began to cry as loudly as they could. Little Thumb let them cry, knowing very well how to get home again, for he had dropped the little white pebbles all along the way. Then he said to them, "Don't be afraid, brothers. Father and mother have left us here, but I will lead you home again. Just follow me."Cuando los nios se vieron solos, se pusieron a bramar y a llorar a mares. Pulgarcito los dejaba gritar, sabiendo muy bien por dnde volveran a casa; pues al caminar haba dejado caer a lo largo del camino los guijarros blancos que llevaba en los bolsillos. Entonces les dijo: No teman, hermanos; mi padre y mi madre nos dejaron aqu, pero yo los llevar de vuelta a casa, no tienen ms que seguirme.

They did so, and he took them home by the very same way they had come into the forest. They dared not go in, but sat down at the door, listening to what their father and mother were saying.Lo siguieron y l los condujo a su morada por el mismo camino que haban hecho hacia el bosque. Al principio no se atrevieron a entrar, pero se pusieron todos junto a la puerta para escuchar lo que hablaban su padre y su madre.

The woodcutter and his wife had just arrived home, when the lord of the manor sent them ten crowns, which he had owed them a long while, and which they never expected. This gave them new life, for the poor people were almost famished. The woodcutter sent his wife immediately to the butcher's. As it had been a long while since they had eaten, she bought three times as much meat as would be needed for two people.En el momento en que el leador y la leadora llegaron a su casa, el seor de la aldea les envi diez escudos que les estaba debiendo desde haca tiempo y cuyo reembolso ellos ya no esperaban. Esto les devolvi la vida ya que los infelices se moran de hambre. El leador mand en el acto a su mujer a la carnicera. Como haca tiempo que no coman, compr tres veces ms carne de la que se necesitaba para la cena de dos personas.

When they had eaten, the woman said, "Alas! Where are our poor children now? They would make a good feast of what we have left here; but it was you, William, who decided to abandon them. I told you that we would be sorry for it. What are they now doing in the forest? Alas, dear God, the wolves have perhaps already eaten them up. You are very inhuman to have abandoned your children in this way."Cuando estuvieron saciados, la leadora dijo: Ay! qu ser de nuestros pobres hijos? Buena comida tendran con lo que nos queda. Pero tambin, Guillermo, fuiste t el que quisiste perderlos. Bien deca yo que nos arrepentiramos. Qu estarn haciendo en ese bosque? Ay!: Dios mo, quizs los lobos ya se los han comido! Eres harto inhumano de haber perdido as a tus hijos.

The Three Little Pigs

Los Tres Cerditos

In the heart of the forest lived three little pigs who were brothers. The wolf alwayswas chasing them to eat them. In order to escape from the wolf, the pigs decided to make a house each.En el corazn del bosque vivan tres cerditos que eran hermanos. El lobo siempreandaba persiguindolos para comrselos. Para escapar del lobo, cada cerdito decidi hacerse una casa.

The smallest made his from straw, to finish first and go out to play. The middle one built a cottage from wood. Seeing that his little brother hadfinished already, he hurried to go and play with him. The oldest worked on his house of brick.El pequeo la hizo de paja, para acabar antes y poder irse a jugar. El mediano construy una casita de madera. Al ver que su hermano pequeo ya haba terminado, se apresur para irse a jugar con l. El mayor trabajaba en su casa deladrillo.

'You'll soon see what the wolf does with your houses,' he scolded his brothersbut they were having a great time. Ya vern lo que hace el lobo con sus casas reprendi a sus hermanos mientras stos se lo pasaban divirtindose.

Very soon the wolf came behind the smallest pig and heran up to his straw cottage, but the wolf blew and blew and the straw cottage fell down.Sin perder tiempo el lobo sali detrs del cerdito pequeo y ste corri hasta su casita de paja, pero el lobo sopl y sopl y la casita de paja se derrumb.

The wolf chased after the pig through the forest, who ran to take shelter in the house ofhis middle brother. But the wolf blew and blew and the wooden house toppled. The two littlepigswere off like a shot from there.El lobo persigui tambin al cerdito por el bosque, que corri a refugiarse en la casa desu hermano mediano. Pero el lobo sopl y sopl y la casita de madera se vino abajo. Los dos cerditos salieron disparando de all.

Breathless, with the wolf hot on their heels, they arrived at the house of their big brother. Thethreewent inside and firmly closed all the doors and windows.Casi sin aliento, con el lobo pegado a sus talones,llegaron a la casa del hermano mayor. Los tres se metieron dentro y cerraron bientodas las puertas y ventanas.

The wolf stood to think over the house, searching for someplace for him to enter. Using a very long ladder he climbed to the roof, to sneak inby the chimney.El lobo se puso a dar vueltas a la casa, buscando algnsitio por donde entrar. Con una escalera largusima trep hasta el tejado, para colarse por la chimenea.

But the big pig put on the fire a pot of water. The greedy wolfwent down inside the chimney but he fell on the boiling water and scalded himself.Pero el cerdito mayor puso al fuego una olla con agua. El lobo angurriento descendi por el interior de la chimenea pero cay sobre el agua hirviendo y se quem.

He escaped from there giving terrible howls that were heard in all the forest. It is said that he never ever wanted to eat a little pig.Escap de all dando unos terribles aullidos que se oyeron en todo el bosque. Se cuenta que nunca jams quiso comerse a un cerdito.

Fuente:

http://cuentosparachicos.com/BIL/cuentosclasicos/index.htmhttp://www.cuentoseningles.com.ar/shortstories/children/CaperucitaRoja1.htmlhttp://www.virtualberks.com/spanishasasecondlanguage/cuentos.html