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Der Polizist und der Choral

O. Henry

In each language: The Cop and the Anthem · Der Polizist und der Choral · El policía y el himno · Le Flic et l’Hymne · Il poliziotto e l’inno

As winter closes in on New York, Soapy, who sleeps on a park bench, decides the best shelter for the cold months is three months on the Island, and he sets out to get himself arrested. But however hard he tries, the police will not take him in.

In English, German, Spanish, French and Italian · about 2,300 words · 15 min to read.

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Comment ça commence

GermanEnglish

Auf seiner Bank im Madison Square bewegte sich Soapy unruhig.

On his bench in Madison Square Soapy moved uneasily.

Wenn nachts die Wildgänse hoch oben schnattern und wenn Frauen ohne Nerzmantel gütig zu ihren Ehemännern werden und wenn Soapy auf seiner Bank im Park unruhig hin und her rutscht, dann wissen Sie, dass der Winter vor der Tür steht.

When wild geese honk high of nights, and when women without sealskin coats grow kind to their husbands, and when Soapy moves uneasily on his bench in the park, you may know that winter is near at hand.

Ein welkes Blatt fiel in Soapys Schoß. Das war die Visitenkarte von Väterchen Frost. Väterchen Frost ist gütig zu den Stammbewohnern des Madison Square und kündigt seinen jährlichen Besuch rechtzeitig an.

A dead leaf fell in Soapy’s lap. That was Jack Frost’s card. Jack is kind to the regular denizens of Madison Square, and gives fair warning of his annual call.

Les premiers paragraphes, tels que le lecteur les affiche. Lire la suite

Languages

  • The Cop and the Anthem · English (original)2,269 words · ~15 min
  • Der Polizist und der Choral · GermanB2 Intermediate · 2,285 words · ~15 min
  • El policía y el himno · SpanishB2 Intermediate · 2,373 words · ~15 min
  • Le Flic et l’Hymne · FrenchB2 Intermediate · 2,438 words · ~15 min
  • Il poliziotto e l’inno · ItalianB2 Intermediate · 2,265 words · ~15 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).

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 Cop and the Anthem 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 B2 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.
How long is it?
About 2,269 words: around 15 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.