Italian short stories – Learning Italian through English
Aesop’s Fables – Mercurio e il Boscaiolo
Once upon a time, there was a poor wood cutter. He used to cut wood in the forests and sell it in the market for some money. He was very happy with his life.
One day the wood cutter cutting wood in the forest. It was a hot day and the wood cutter was very tired. His palms were filled with sweat and his ax was slipping. His hand slipped and the Ax flew from his hand straight into a deep pond.
TranslateC’era una volta un povero taglialegna. Tagliava la legna nelle foreste e la vendeva al mercato per un po’ di soldi. Era molto felice della sua vita.
Un giorno il taglialegna stava tagliando il legno nella foresta. Era una giornata calda e il taglialegna era molto stanco. I suoi palmi erano pieni di sudore e la sua ascia stava scivolando. La sua mano scivolò e l’ascia volò dalla sua mano direttamente in uno stagno profondo.
The wood cutter began to cry. He was very poor. He could not buy another ax. He needed an ax to cut wood. He sat near the pool in despair.
Suddenly, the God Mercury appeared before him from within the pool.
TranslateIl taglialegna iniziò a piangere. Era molto povero. Non poteva comprare un’altra ascia. Aveva bisogno di un’ascia per tagliare la legna. Si sedette vicino allo stagno in preda alla disperazione.
Improvvisamente, il Dio Mercurio apparve davanti a lui dall’interno della piscina.
Mercury asked, “My child, what has happened? Why are you crying?”
The wood cutter said, “My ax has fallen into the deep pool. Without it, I cannot make any more money to eat.”
Mercury said, “Do not worry, I shall fetch your ax for you.”
TranslateMercurio chiese: “Figlio mio, cosa è successo? Perché stai piangendo?”
Il taglialegna disse: “La mia ascia è caduta nella pozza profonda. Senza di essa, non posso guadagnare più soldi per mangiare”.
Mercurio disse: “Non preoccuparti, vado a prendere la tua ascia per te”.
Mercury dived into the pond and when he came out, he had a golden ax in his hand. It was stunning and magnificent.
Mercury asked the wood cutter, “Is this your ax?”
The woodcutter replied, “No. That is not my Ax.”
TranslateMercury si tuffò nello stagno e quando ne uscì aveva un’ascia d’oro in mano. È stato stupendo e magnifico.
Mercury chiese al taglialegna: “Questa è la tua ascia?”
Il taglialegna rispose: “No. Quella non è la mia ascia.”
Mercury laid the golden ax on the bank and dived inside again. When he came out, he had a gleaming silver ax in his hand.
Mercury asked the wood cutter, “Is this your ax?”
The woodcutter replied, “No. That is not my Ax.”
TranslateMercurio posò l’ascia d’oro sulla riva e si tuffò di nuovo dentro. Quando uscì, aveva in mano una scintillante ascia d’argento.
Mercury chiese al taglialegna: “Questa è la tua ascia?”
Il taglialegna rispose: “No. Quella non è la mia ascia.”
Mercury laid the silver ax on the bank and dived inside again. When he came out, he had a wooden ax in his hand.
Mercury asked the wood cutter, “Is this your ax?”
The woodcutter replied, “Yes. That is not my Ax. Thank you so much.”
TranslateMercurio posò l’ascia d’argento sulla riva e si tuffò di nuovo dentro. Quando uscì, aveva in mano un’ascia di legno.
Mercury chiese al taglialegna: “Questa è la tua ascia?”
Il taglialegna rispose: “Sì. Quella è la mia ascia. Grazie mille.”
Mercury said, “I admire your honesty. I shall give you all the three axes.”
Saying so, Mercury gave him all the three axes, dived into the pool and disappeared.
The happy wood cutter narrated this tale to all the wood cutters in the village. They grew jealous and they wanted the gold and silver axes.
TranslateMercury ha detto: “Ammiro la tua onestà. Ti darò tutte e tre le asce. “
Così dicendo, Mercury gli diede tutte e tre le asce, si tuffò nella pozza e scomparve.
L’allegro taglialegna raccontò questa storia a tutti i taglialegna del villaggio. Divennero gelosi e volevano le asce d’oro e d’argento.
They threw their axes into the pond and cried. When Mercury appeared and showed them the golden ax, they said, “Yes, it is my Golden Ax”.
Mercury gave them a hard whack over their head and sent them home. They did not get their wooden ax as well.
TranslateGettarono le loro asce nello stagno e piansero. Quando Mercurio appariva e mostrava loro l’ascia d’oro, hanno detto: “Sì, è la mia ascia d’oro”.
Mercury diede loro un duro colpo in testa e li rimandò a casa. Non ottennero anche la loro ascia di legno.
Moral: “Honesty is the best policy.”
TranslateMorale: “L’onestà è la migliore politica”.
Hope you had fun learning Italian through short stories 🙂 If so leave a comment!!!
For more languages:
Learn German through Short stories: https://childhood-stories.com/German
Learn Spanish through Short stories: https://childhood-stories.com/Spanish
Learn Italian through Short stories: https://childhood-stories.com/Italian
Learn Dutch through Short stories: https://childhood-stories.com/Dutch
Learn French through Short stories: https://childhood-stories.com/French
Learn Portuguese through Short stories: https://childhood-stories.com/Portuguese
Learn Portuguese through Short stories: https://childhood-stories.com/English
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 Italian confidently using English as a base 🙂 These Italian short stories are super cool to read for beginners and also for entertaining children. Aesop tales are among the best stories that can be studied on a daily basis.
