Classic
Der glückliche Prinz
Oscar Wilde
In each language: The Happy Prince · Der glückliche Prinz · El príncipe feliz · Le Prince heureux · Il principe felice
High on a column above the city stands the gilded statue of the Happy Prince, with sapphires for eyes and a ruby on his sword-hilt. From there he sees the misery of the poor and longs to help. A little Swallow shelters at his feet for one night and agrees to be his messenger.
In English, German, Spanish, French and Italian · about 3,500 words · 20–30 min to read.
Read it
Lees en alemán, a la izquierda. A la derecha tienes el inglés para ayudarte; mientras lees, el botón del ojo lo difumina o lo oculta.
Cada párrafo seguido de su versión en inglés, para tu lector electrónico o tablet, o un PDF en paralelo para imprimir. ¿Qué archivo necesito?
El PDF no necesita cuenta; los archivos para lector electrónico sí, pero es gratuita. Sin pagos y sin instalar nada.
¿Ya tienes una cuenta? Iniciar sesión
Cómo empieza
Hoch über der Stadt, auf einer hohen Säule, stand die Statue des glücklichen Prinzen. Er war ganz mit dünnen Blättern aus feinem Gold überzogen, für Augen hatte er zwei leuchtende Saphire, und ein großer roter Rubin glühte an seinem Schwertgriff.
High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword-hilt.
Er wurde in der Tat sehr bewundert.
He was very much admired indeed.
„Er ist so schön wie ein Wetterhahn“, bemerkte einer der Stadträte, der sich den Ruf erwerben wollte, einen künstlerischen Geschmack zu haben; „nur nicht ganz so nützlich“, fügte er hinzu, aus Angst, die Leute könnten ihn für unpraktisch halten, was er in Wirklichkeit gar nicht war.
“He is as beautiful as a weathercock,” remarked one of the Town Councillors who wished to gain a reputation for having artistic tastes; “only not quite so useful,” he added, fearing lest people should think him unpractical, which he really was not.
Languages
- The Happy Prince · English (original)3,474 words · ~20 min
- Der glückliche Prinz · GermanB1 Intermediate · 3,355 words · ~30 min
- El príncipe feliz · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 3,251 words · ~25 min
- Le Prince heureux · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 3,709 words · ~30 min
- Il principe felice · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 3,100 words · ~25 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).
- Whittington und seine KatzeJoseph Jacobs · B1 · 3,118 words
- Das hässliche EntleinHans Christian Andersen · B1 · 3,694 words
- Das SamtkaninchenMargery Williams · B1 · 3,803 words
- Der KabuliwallahRabindranath Tagore · B1 · 2,902 words
- Eine wiedergewonnene LäuterungO. Henry · B2 · 2,830 words
- Der SchmuckGuy de Maupassant · B2 · 2,791 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 Happy Prince 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 3,474 words: around 20–30 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.