Spanish short stories – Learning Spanish through English
Aesop’s Fables – Mercurio y el leñador
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.
TranslateHabía una vez un leñador pobre. Solía cortar madera en los bosques y venderla en el mercado por algo de dinero. Estaba muy feliz con su vida.
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.
TranslateUn día el leñador estaba cortando leña en el bosque. Era un día caluroso y el leñador estaba muy cansado. Tenía las palmas de las manos llenas de sudor y el hacha se le resbalaba. Su hacha resbaló y salió volando de su mano directamente hacia un estanque profundo.
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.
TranslateEl leñador empezó a llorar. Él era muy pobre. No podía comprar otra hacha. Necesitaba un hacha para cortar madera. Se sentó cerca al estanque, desesperado.
Suddenly, the God Mercury appeared before him from within the pool.
Mercury asked, “My child, what has happened? Why are you crying?”
TranslateDe repente, el dios Mercurio apareció frente a él desde el interior del estanque.
Mercurio le preguntó: “Hijo mío, ¿qué ha sucedido? ¿Por qué estás llorando?”.
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.”
TranslateEl leñador dijo: “Mi hacha se ha caído al profundo estanque. Sin ella, ya no puedo ganar más dinero para comer.”. Mercurio dijo: “No te preocupes, traeré tu hacha.”.
Mercury dived into the pond and when he came out, he had a golden ax in his hand. It was stunning and magnificent.
TranslateMercurio se zambulló en el estanque y cuando salió, tenía un hacha dorada en la mano. Era impresionante y magnífica.
Mercury asked the wood cutter, “Is this your ax?”
The woodcutter replied, “No. That is not my Ax.”
TranslateMercury le preguntó al leñador: “¿Es ésta tu hacha?”.
El leñador respondió: “No. Esa no es mi hacha.”.
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.
TranslateMercurio dejó el hacha dorada en la orilla y se sumergió de nuevo. Cuando salió, tenía una reluciente hacha de plata en la mano.
Mercury asked the wood cutter, “Is this your ax?”
The woodcutter replied, “No. That is not my Ax.”
TranslateMercurio le preguntó al leñador: “¿Es ésta tu hacha?”.
El leñador respondió: “No. Esa no es mi hacha.”.
Mercury laid the silver ax on the bank and dived inside again. When he came out, he had a wooden ax in his hand.
TranslateMercurio dejó el hacha plateada en la orilla y se sumergió de nuevo. Cuando salió, tenía un hacha de madera en la mano.
Mercury asked the wood cutter, “Is this your ax?”
The woodcutter replied, “Yes. That is not my Ax. Thank you so much.”
TranslateMercury le preguntó al leñador: “¿Es ésta tu hacha?”.
El leñador respondió: “Sí. Esa es mi hacha. Muchas gracias.”.
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.
TranslateMercury dijo: “Admiro tu honestidad. Te daré las tres hachas.”.
Dicho eso, Mercurio le entregó las tres hachas, se zambulló en el estanque y desapareció.
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.
TranslateEl leñador feliz narró esta historia a todos los leñadores del pueblo. Ellos se pusieron celosos, querían las hachas de oro y plata también.
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”.
TranslateArrojaron sus hachas al estanque y lloraron. Cuando apareció Mercurio y les mostró el hacha dorada, dijeron: “Sí, esa es mi hacha dorada.”.
Mercury gave them a hard whack over their head and sent them home. They did not get their wooden ax as well.
TranslateMercurio les dio un fuerte golpe en la cabeza y los envió a casa. Tampoco recuperaron sus hachas de madera.
Moral: “Honesty is the best policy.”
Translate Moraleja: La honestidad es la mejor política.
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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 Spanish confidently using English as a base 🙂
These Spanish short stories are super cool to read for beginners and also for entertaining children. Aesop’s Fables are among the best stories that can be studied on a daily basis.