The princess and the pea
Once upon a time there was a prince who wanted to marry a princess;
but she would have to be a real princess. He travelled all over the world to find one,
but nowhere could he get what he wanted. There were princesses enough,
but it was difficult to find out whether they were real ones.
There was always something about them that was not as it should be.
So he came home again and was sad, for he would have liked very much
to have a real princess.
but she would have to be a real princess. He travelled all over the world to find one,
but nowhere could he get what he wanted. There were princesses enough,
but it was difficult to find out whether they were real ones.
There was always something about them that was not as it should be.
So he came home again and was sad, for he would have liked very much
to have a real princess.
One evening a terrible storm came on; there was thunder and lightning,
and the rain poured down in torrents. Suddenly a knocking was heard at the city gate,
and the old king went to open it.
and the rain poured down in torrents. Suddenly a knocking was heard at the city gate,
and the old king went to open it.
It was a princess standing out there in front of the gate.
But, good gracious! what a sight the rain and the wind had made her look.
The water ran down from her hair and clothes; it ran down into the toes of her
shoes and out again at the heels. And yet she said that she was a real princess.
But, good gracious! what a sight the rain and the wind had made her look.
The water ran down from her hair and clothes; it ran down into the toes of her
shoes and out again at the heels. And yet she said that she was a real princess.
“Well, we’ll soon find that out,” thought the old queen. But she said nothing,
went into the bed-room, took all the bedding off the bedstead,
and laid a pea on the bottom; then she took twenty mattresses and laid them
on the pea, and then twenty eider-down beds on top of the mattresses.
went into the bed-room, took all the bedding off the bedstead,
and laid a pea on the bottom; then she took twenty mattresses and laid them
on the pea, and then twenty eider-down beds on top of the mattresses.
On this the princess had to lie all night.
In the morning she was asked how she had slept.
“Oh, very badly!” said she. “I have scarcely closed my eyes all night.
Heaven only knows what was in the bed, but I was lying on something hard,
so that I am black and blue all over my body. It’s horrible!”
Heaven only knows what was in the bed, but I was lying on something hard,
so that I am black and blue all over my body. It’s horrible!”
Now they knew that she was a real princess because she had felt the pea right
through the twenty mattresses and the twenty eider-down beds.
Nobody but a real princess could be as sensitive as that.
So the prince took her for his wife, for now he knew that he had
a real princess; and the pea was put in the museum, where it may still be seen,
if no one has stolen it.
There, that is a true story.
a real princess; and the pea was put in the museum, where it may still be seen,
if no one has stolen it.
There, that is a true story.
Snow white
Once upon a time, a king and a queen had a baby daughter, and when she saw
her black hair, snowy white skin and red red lips she decided to call her Snow White.
Snow White grew up to be a pretty child, but sadly, after a few years, her mother died and her father married again. The new queen, Snow White's stepmother, was a beautiful woman too, but she was very vain. More than anything else she wanted to be certain that she was the most beautiful woman in the world.
her black hair, snowy white skin and red red lips she decided to call her Snow White.
Snow White grew up to be a pretty child, but sadly, after a few years, her mother died and her father married again. The new queen, Snow White's stepmother, was a beautiful woman too, but she was very vain. More than anything else she wanted to be certain that she was the most beautiful woman in the world.
She had a magic mirror, and she used to look at herself in it each clay and say:
-Mirror, mirror on the wall, Who is the fairest one of all?
And the mirror would always reply,
-You, oh Queen, are the fairest one of all.
The queen would smile when she heard this for she knew the mirror never failed
to speak the truth. The years passed. Each year Snow White grew prettier and prettier,
until one day, her stepmother looked in the magic mirror and said,
to speak the truth. The years passed. Each year Snow White grew prettier and prettier,
until one day, her stepmother looked in the magic mirror and said,
-Mirror, mirror on the wall, Who is the fairest one of all?
-You, oh Queen, are fair, but Snow White is fairer than you now.
The queen was angry and jealous. In a terrible rage she decided that Snow White
should be killed. She called for a hunter and told him to take Snow White far into
the forest and to kill her there. In order to prove that Snow White was indeed dead,
she commanded him to cut out Snow White´s heart and bring it back to her.
should be killed. She called for a hunter and told him to take Snow White far into
the forest and to kill her there. In order to prove that Snow White was indeed dead,
she commanded him to cut out Snow White´s heart and bring it back to her.
The hunter was very sad, because he loved Snow White very much, but he knew he
must obey his orders. He took her deep into the forest and, as he drew his knife, but he couldn't kill her. He told her never to come back to the castle, then he killed a young deer and cut out its heart and took this to the queen, pretending it was Snow White's heart.
must obey his orders. He took her deep into the forest and, as he drew his knife, but he couldn't kill her. He told her never to come back to the castle, then he killed a young deer and cut out its heart and took this to the queen, pretending it was Snow White's heart.
Poor Snow White was tired, lonely and hungry in the forest. She wandered through the
trees, until she came to a clearing and found a little house. She opened it and went
inside. There she saw a room with a long table laid with seven places with food, and
she ate a little from each one. Beyond the table were seven little beds. She tried out
some of them, and when she found one that was comfortable, she fell into a deep sleep,
for she was exhausted by her long journey through the forest.
trees, until she came to a clearing and found a little house. She opened it and went
inside. There she saw a room with a long table laid with seven places with food, and
she ate a little from each one. Beyond the table were seven little beds. She tried out
some of them, and when she found one that was comfortable, she fell into a deep sleep,
for she was exhausted by her long journey through the forest.
The cottage was the home of seven dwarfs. All day long they worked in a nearby mine
digging diamonds from deep inside the mountain. When they returned home that
evening, they were amazed to see that someone had been into their cottage and
had taken some food and drink from each place at their table. They were also surprised
to find their beds disturbed, until one dwarf called out that he had found a lovely girl
asleep on his bed.
digging diamonds from deep inside the mountain. When they returned home that
evening, they were amazed to see that someone had been into their cottage and
had taken some food and drink from each place at their table. They were also surprised
to find their beds disturbed, until one dwarf called out that he had found a lovely girl
asleep on his bed.
The next morning Snow White awoke and met the dwarfs, and she told them her story.
When she explained how she now had no home, the dwarfs immediately asked her
whether she would like to stay with them.
When she explained how she now had no home, the dwarfs immediately asked her
whether she would like to stay with them.
Back at the palace the queen welcomed the hunter when he returned with the deer´s
heart. She was happy that now she was once more the most beautiful woman in
the world. As soon as she was alone, she looked n her magic mirror and said, confidently,
heart. She was happy that now she was once more the most beautiful woman in
the world. As soon as she was alone, she looked n her magic mirror and said, confidently,
-Mirror, mirror on the wall, Who is the fairest one of all?
To her horror, the mirror replied,
-You, oh Queen, are fair, ´tis true, But Snow White is fairer still than you.
The queen trembled with anger as she realized that the hunter had tricked her.
She decided that she would now find Snow White and kill her herself. The queen
disguised herself as an old pedlar woman with a basket of apples, and one of them
was poisoned. When she knocked at the cottage door, the queen offered Snow
White an apple as a present. Snow White stretched out her hand for the apple and
also took a bite. At once Snow White was affected by the poison and fell down as
though dead.
She decided that she would now find Snow White and kill her herself. The queen
disguised herself as an old pedlar woman with a basket of apples, and one of them
was poisoned. When she knocked at the cottage door, the queen offered Snow
White an apple as a present. Snow White stretched out her hand for the apple and
also took a bite. At once Snow White was affected by the poison and fell down as
though dead.
That evening when the dwarfs returned they were quite unable to revive her. They
watched over her through the night, but when morning came she still lay without any
sign of life, and they decided she must be dead. Weeping bitterly, they laid herein a
coffin and placed a glass lid over the top so that all could admire her beauty, even
though she was dead. Then they carried the coffin to the top of a hill where they
took turns to stand guard.
watched over her through the night, but when morning came she still lay without any
sign of life, and they decided she must be dead. Weeping bitterly, they laid herein a
coffin and placed a glass lid over the top so that all could admire her beauty, even
though she was dead. Then they carried the coffin to the top of a hill where they
took turns to stand guard.
Not long after this a prince came riding through the forest and came to the hill where
Snow White lay in her glass-topped coffin. She looked so beautiful that he loved her
at once and he asked the dwarfs if he could kiss her. As the prince kissed Snow White
gently, he moved her head. The piece of poisoned apple fell from her lips. Slowly she
came back to life. Snow White saw the handsome prince kneeling on the ground beside
her, and fell in love with him straight away.
Snow White lay in her glass-topped coffin. She looked so beautiful that he loved her
at once and he asked the dwarfs if he could kiss her. As the prince kissed Snow White
gently, he moved her head. The piece of poisoned apple fell from her lips. Slowly she
came back to life. Snow White saw the handsome prince kneeling on the ground beside
her, and fell in love with him straight away.
Then the queen far away in the palace heard from the mirror,
-You, oh Oueen, are fair, tis true, But Snow White is fairer still than you.
She was furious that Snow White had escaped death once more. And now the
king discovered what mischief she had been up to, and banished her from his land.
No one ever saw her or her mirror again. As for Snow White, she said farewell to her
kind friends the dwarfs, and rode away on the back of the prince's horse.
At his castle they were married and they both lived happily forever afterwards.
king discovered what mischief she had been up to, and banished her from his land.
No one ever saw her or her mirror again. As for Snow White, she said farewell to her
kind friends the dwarfs, and rode away on the back of the prince's horse.
At his castle they were married and they both lived happily forever afterwards.
Pinocchio
Once upon a time lived a wood carver named Geppetto. He made puppets from
pieces of wood, and he called his favorite puppet Pinocchio.
pieces of wood, and he called his favorite puppet Pinocchio.
- I would love to be a father to a real boy like Pinocchio- he wished.
That night, the blue fairy, who knew Geppetto was a good man, cost a magic spell
over Pinocchio. The very next day, Gappetto awake and was very happy to find that
Pinocchio could walk, sit and talk like a real boy.
over Pinocchio. The very next day, Gappetto awake and was very happy to find that
Pinocchio could walk, sit and talk like a real boy.
Geppetto wanted to send Pinocchio to school. He sold his only coat for a spelling book.
- Now you can go to school like a real boy -s aid Gappetto as we waved goodbye
to Pinocchio.
to Pinocchio.
On the way to school, Pinocchio stopped to wacth a puppet show in a town.
- How would you like to join my puppet show? - asked the evil puppet master.
Pinocchio happily agreed. He was locked inside the evil puppet master’s caravan.
He wished he was safe with Geppetto. The blue fairy suddenly appeared. She had
heard Pinocchio’s wish and set him free. Pinocchio is happy to be free.
He wished he was safe with Geppetto. The blue fairy suddenly appeared. She had
heard Pinocchio’s wish and set him free. Pinocchio is happy to be free.
- I’m going straight to school- he said.
But he met an evil fox who told him all about a wonderful place called fun island.
Pinocchio forgot all about school and gave the fox his spelling book in return for a
ticket to Fun island.
Pinocchio forgot all about school and gave the fox his spelling book in return for a
ticket to Fun island.
- Where are you going, Pinocchio?- asked the b fairy.
- I’m on the way to school - lied Pinocchio.
Pinocchio‘s nose grew very, very long. He wished he hadn’t told a lie. The fairy called
a bird to peck of his long nose because Pinocchio was very sorry. Pinocchio promised
never to be naughty ever again and went straight to school.
a bird to peck of his long nose because Pinocchio was very sorry. Pinocchio promised
never to be naughty ever again and went straight to school.
At school, Pinocchio told his friend all about fun island. His friend wanted to go with him.
Pinocchio and his hurriedly climbed aboard a ship that was going to Fun Island. On the
island they didn’t know that little boys were turned into donkeys and used for
very hardwork.
Pinocchio and his hurriedly climbed aboard a ship that was going to Fun Island. On the
island they didn’t know that little boys were turned into donkeys and used for
very hardwork.
Pinocchio cried and wished he hadn’t come the island. He also wished didn’t look
like a silly donkey. The blue fairy had heard his wish and with a wave of her magic
wand his donkey ears and tail disappeared. Pinocchio sad on the shore, sadly looking
out to the sea. He wondered if he would ever see Geppetto again.
like a silly donkey. The blue fairy had heard his wish and with a wave of her magic
wand his donkey ears and tail disappeared. Pinocchio sad on the shore, sadly looking
out to the sea. He wondered if he would ever see Geppetto again.
Suddenly, he saw Geppetto who had sailed out to the sea in search of Pinocchio.
Geppetto didn’t see the huge whale behind him. The whale swallowed Geppetto
and his boat. Pinocchio knew he had to save Geppetto. He jumped into the water and
swam with all his might. As he got closer, the whale open his mouth and Pinocchio
swam right in. Deep inside the whale’s belly, Pinocchio and Geppetto hugged each other,
happy to be together again.
Geppetto didn’t see the huge whale behind him. The whale swallowed Geppetto
and his boat. Pinocchio knew he had to save Geppetto. He jumped into the water and
swam with all his might. As he got closer, the whale open his mouth and Pinocchio
swam right in. Deep inside the whale’s belly, Pinocchio and Geppetto hugged each other,
happy to be together again.
- We must find a way out- said Geppetto - we will make a fire from the wood of my
boat.
boat.
The smoke made the whale sneeze. They shot out of the whale’s mouth and back
into the sea. Pinocchio and Geppetto swam safely to shore. They were both tired.
They laid on the sand and fell asleep. When Geppetto awoke, he saw that the blue
fairy, as a reward for being so brave, had turned Pinocchio into a real boy.
into the sea. Pinocchio and Geppetto swam safely to shore. They were both tired.
They laid on the sand and fell asleep. When Geppetto awoke, he saw that the blue
fairy, as a reward for being so brave, had turned Pinocchio into a real boy.
- At last my wish has come true!- cried Geppetto.
Merlin the Wizard
between them, Arthur, son of king Uther, was born.
The child’s mother, died few after giving birth and the father gave him to the
wizard Merlin in order to educate him. Merlin decided to bring the baby to the
castle of a noble man who had a son of few years called Kay. To guarantee prince
Arthur’s security, Merlin did not give his origins away.
wizard Merlin in order to educate him. Merlin decided to bring the baby to the
castle of a noble man who had a son of few years called Kay. To guarantee prince
Arthur’s security, Merlin did not give his origins away.
Each day, Merlin taught little Arthur all the known sciences and, as he was a wizard,
he even taught him something of the future sciences and certain magical formulae.
he even taught him something of the future sciences and certain magical formulae.
Years went by and king Uther died apparently without issue. Noble men went to Merlin
to find the sucesor. Merlin made appear on a stone a sword firmly stuck on an iron
anvil with a legend which read “This is Excalibur Sword. Whoever pulls it out of this anvil
will be king of England” .
to find the sucesor. Merlin made appear on a stone a sword firmly stuck on an iron
anvil with a legend which read “This is Excalibur Sword. Whoever pulls it out of this anvil
will be king of England” .
Noble men tried fortune but, despite all their efforts, they could not move the sword
not even a millimetre.
not even a millimetre.
Arthur and Kay, who were already two handsome boys, had gone to the city to
attend a tournament in which Kay wanted to participate. As the hour was approaching,
Arthur realised that he had forgotten Kay’s sword in the inn. He went running, but when
he arrived there, the door was closed.
attend a tournament in which Kay wanted to participate. As the hour was approaching,
Arthur realised that he had forgotten Kay’s sword in the inn. He went running, but when
he arrived there, the door was closed.
Arthur did not know what to do. Without sword, Kay could not take part in the
tournament. In his desperation, he looked around and discover the Excalibur swoerd.
tournament. In his desperation, he looked around and discover the Excalibur swoerd.
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