French short stories – Learning French through English
Akbar and Birbal – La tige de fer
Once upon a time, there was a rich man called Hasan who wanted to take revenge on an innocent man named Kasiraj. He wanted Kasiraj to get punished for a grudge that he held against him. Hasan accused Kasiraj of stealing his wife’s valuable necklace. He reported this theft to King Akbar.
TranslateIl était une fois un homme riche appelé Hasan qui voulait se venger d’un innocent nommé Kasiraj. Il voulait que Kasiraj soit puni pour une rancune qu’il lui tenait. Hasan a accusé Kasiraj d’avoir volé le précieux collier de sa femme. Il a signalé ce vol au roi Akbar.
Emperor Akbar asked Hasan, “Why do you think that Kasiraj stole the necklace?”
Hasan replied, “My King, I saw him stealing the necklace! I saw him steal it.”
TranslateL’empereur Akbar a demandé à Hasan: «Pourquoi pensez-vous que Kasiraj a volé le collier?»
Hasan a répondu: «Mon roi, je l’ai vu voler le collier! Je l’ai vu le voler.»
Kasiraj said, “My King. I am innocent! I do not know who stole the necklace. Hasan is lying to you.”
TranslateKasiraj a dit: «Mon roi. Je suis innocent! Je ne sais pas qui a volé le collier. Hasan vous ment.»
Hasan smiled and said to the king, “My King, if he is innocent, ask him to prove his innocence by holding a hot iron rod in his hands. If he is able to do so and the rod does not hurt him, then I shall believe that he has not stolen the necklace. If the rod hurts him, he is lying and he stole the necklace.”
TranslateHasan sourit et dit au roi: «Mon roi, s’il est innocent, demande-lui de prouver son innocence en tenant une tige de fer chaud dans ses mains. S’il est capable de le faire et que la baguette ne lui fait pas de mal, alors je croirai qu’il n’a pas volé le collier. Si la tige lui fait mal, il ment et il a volé le collier.»
The rich man told the Emperor that if Kasiraj was telling the truth, then the Gods above would not harm him. It was the best way to test the innocence of Kasiraj.
TranslateL’homme riche a dit à l’empereur que si Kasiraj disait la vérité, les dieux d’en haut ne lui feraient pas de mal. C’était la meilleure façon de tester l’innocence de Kasiraj.
The King agreed to the solution and ordered Kasiraj to come to court the next day. He also asked the rich man Hasan to come to court. Hasan was very happy on hearing this.
TranslateLe roi a accepté la solution et a ordonné à Kasiraj de venir au tribunal le lendemain. Il a également demandé au riche Hasan de se présenter au tribunal. Hasan était très heureux d’entendre cela.
King Akbar asked Birbal to solve the problem. Stealing was a grave crime. Birbal knew from the start that Hasan was lying since he was not convincing at all. Birbal felt that Kasiraj was being honest but he needed proof that the man was telling the truth. Birbal suggested a clever idea to King Akbar.
TranslateLe roi Akbar a demandé à Birbal de résoudre le problème. Voler était un crime grave. Birbal savait dès le début que Hasan mentait car il n’était pas du tout convaincant. Birbal a estimé que Kasiraj était honnête mais il avait besoin de preuves que l’homme disait la vérité. Birbal a suggéré une idée intelligente au roi Akbar.
Kasiraj and Hasan came to court the next day. Kasiraj was trembling and Hasan seemed very happy.
TranslateKasiraj et Hasan sont venus au tribunal le lendemain. Kasiraj tremblait et Hasan semblait très heureux.
King Akbar said, “I can see that Kasiraj and Hasan are both ready for the test. If both are speaking the truth, then the red hot iron should not burn their hands. First let Hasan hold the hot iron rod in his hands. The test will be to see if he saw Kasiraj steal the necklace.”
TranslateLe roi Akbar a déclaré: «Je peux voir que Kasiraj et Hasan sont tous les deux prêts pour le test. Si les deux disent la vérité, le fer rouge ne doit pas se brûler les mains. Laissez d’abord Hasan tenir la tige de fer chaud dans ses mains. Le test sera de voir s’il a vu Kasiraj voler le collier.»
The rich man was speechless! He requested the Emperor Akbar, “My King, I promise you, he stole the necklace. Let him hold the iron rod.”
TranslateLe riche était choqué! Il a demandé à l’empereur Akbar: «Mon roi, je vous le promets, il a volé le collier. Laissez-le tenir la tige de fer.»
King Akbar said, “If you are sure that he stole the necklace, then definitely the iron rod would not burn your hand. Why are you hesitant?”
TranslateLe roi Akbar a déclaré: «Si vous êtes sûr qu’il a volé le collier, alors la tige de fer ne vous brûlera certainement pas la main. Pourquoi êtes-vous hésitant?»
The rich man knew that he was caught. He said, “Please let me go and search for the necklace again in my house. Maybe my wife has misplaced it somewhere in the house itself.”
TranslateLe riche savait qu’il avait été pris. Il a dit: «S’il vous plaît, laissez-moi aller chercher le collier dans ma maison. Peut-être que ma femme l’a égaré quelque part dans la maison elle-même.»
King Akbar said, “You told yesterday that you saw him steal the necklace. You have lied to the court and also to your King. As a punishment, you shall receive 50 lashes with a whip. You shall also give the necklace to Kasiraj as a punishment.”
TranslateLe roi Akbar a dit: «Vous avez dit hier que vous l’aviez vu voler le collier. Vous avez menti à la cour et aussi à votre roi. En guise de punition, vous recevrez 50 coups de fouet avec un fouet. Vous devrez également donner le collier à Kasiraj en guise de punition.»
King Akbar then praised Raja Birbal for his clever idea.
TranslateLe roi Akbar a ensuite félicité Raja Birbal pour son idée intelligente.
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About: Studying through Dual Language immersion is among the best techniques for learning a new language. The objective of this website is to teach yourself how to read and speak French confidently using English as a base 🙂
These French short stories are super cool to read for beginners and also for entertaining children. Akbar and Birbal are among the best stories that can be studied on a daily basis.
