Classic
Die Nachtigall und die Rose
Oscar Wilde
In each language: The Nightingale and the Rose · Die Nachtigall und die Rose · El ruiseñor y la rosa · Le Rossignol et la Rose · L’usignolo e la rosa
A young student weeps in his garden because he has no red rose, and the girl he loves has said she will dance with him only if he brings her one. A nightingale who has sung night after night of true love hears him, and resolves to get him the rose.
In English, German, Spanish, French and Italian · about 2,300 words · 15–20 min to read.
Read it
Du liest links auf Deutsch. Englisch steht rechts als Hilfe, und beim Lesen kannst du es mit der Augen-Taste verwischen oder ausblenden.
Jeder Absatz mit anschließender Englisch-Fassung für deinen E-Reader oder dein Tablet, oder ein PDF mit beiden Sprachen nebeneinander zum Drucken. Welche Datei brauche ich?
Das PDF braucht kein Konto; E-Reader-Dateien brauchen ein kostenloses. Keine Zahlung, nichts zu installieren.
Du hast schon ein Konto? Anmelden
So fängt es an
„Sie sagte, sie würde mit mir tanzen, wenn ich ihr rote Rosen brächte“, rief der junge Student; „aber in meinem ganzen Garten gibt es keine rote Rose.“
“She said that she would dance with me if I brought her red roses,” cried the young Student; “but in all my garden there is no red rose.”
Von ihrem Nest in der Steineiche aus hörte die Nachtigall ihn, blickte durch die Blätter und wunderte sich.
From her nest in the holm-oak tree the Nightingale heard him, and she looked out through the leaves, and wondered.
„Keine rote Rose in meinem ganzen Garten!“, rief er, und seine schönen Augen füllten sich mit Tränen. „Ach, von welch kleinen Dingen hängt das Glück doch ab!
“No red rose in all my garden!” he cried, and his beautiful eyes filled with tears. “Ah, on what little things does happiness depend!
Languages
- The Nightingale and the Rose · English (original)2,328 words · ~15 min
- Die Nachtigall und die Rose · GermanB1 Intermediate · 2,237 words · ~20 min
- El ruiseñor y la rosa · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 2,282 words · ~20 min
- Le Rossignol et la Rose · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 2,459 words · ~20 min
- L’usignolo e la rosa · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 2,115 words · ~20 min
Open in the reader: German with English · Spanish with English · French with English · Italian with English
More stories at this level
Intermediate stories in German with English beside it (all of them: Intermediate German stories).
- Die Nachricht von morgenDuoText · B1 · 2,229 words
- Nicht für JonasDuoText · B1 · 2,219 words
- SchneewittchenBrothers Grimm · B1 · 2,267 words
- Désirées KindKate Chopin · B2 · 2,201 words
- Zimmer 13DuoText · B1 · 2,199 words
- Der Polizist und der ChoralO. Henry · B2 · 2,285 words
Reading it as a parallel text
A parallel text puts a story next to its translation, paragraph by paragraph. Read in the language you are working on and glance across only when a sentence stops you: the story keeps moving, and the words you look up stay in context. More in how to read with a parallel text.
Questions
- Which languages can I read The Nightingale and the Rose in?
- English, German, Spanish, French and Italian. Pick the language you want to read and the one to keep beside it: every paragraph sits next to its translation, so you can check a sentence without losing your place.
- What level is it?
- In translation, German, Spanish, French and Italian are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.
- How long is it?
- About 2,328 words: around 15–20 min of reading, with the translation beside it. The time depends on the edition's level: an easier edition is read more slowly.
- Is it free?
- Yes. Read it online with no account. The e-reader files (EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account; the PDF doesn't.
- Can I read it on a Kindle or Kobo?
- Yes. Download the EPUB for Kobo, Apple Books and most e-readers, or the AZW3 or MOBI for a Kindle, with each paragraph followed by its translation. There is also a side-by-side PDF to print, and each language on its own.