Aesop

The Farmer and the Stork

Der Bauer und der Storch

A simple, trusting stork is invited by a cheerful party of cranes to visit a newly planted field. The party ends badly when all the birds are caught in the farmer's net. The stork begs to be spared, insisting he is honest and never knew the cranes meant to steal.

B15 minAudio

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How it begins

EnglishGerman

A stork who was very simple and trusting had been invited by a cheerful group of cranes to visit a field that had just been planted. But the party ended badly, with all the birds tangled in the farmer's net.

Ein Storch, der sehr einfach und gutgläubig war, war von einer fröhlichen Gruppe von Kranichen eingeladen worden, ein Feld zu besuchen, das gerade erst bepflanzt worden war. Aber das Treffen endete böse, und alle Vögel verfingen sich im Netz des Bauern.

The stork begged the farmer to let him go.

Der Storch bat den Bauern, ihn freizulassen.

"Please let me go," he pleaded. "I belong to the stork family, and you know storks are honest birds with a good character. Besides, I didn't know the cranes were going to steal."

„Bitte lass mich frei“, flehte er. „Ich gehöre zur Familie der Störche, und du weißt, dass Störche ehrliche Vögel mit einem guten Charakter sind. Außerdem habe ich nicht gewusst, dass die Kraniche stehlen wollten.“

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Languages

The Farmer and the Stork · English (original)B1 Intermediate · 120 words · ~5 min · Audio
Der Bauer und der Storch · GermanB1 Intermediate · 121 words · ~5 min · Audio
Ο αγρότης και ο πελαργός · GreekB1 Intermediate · 119 words · ~5 min
El granjero y la cigüeña · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 121 words · ~5 min · Audio
Le Fermier et la Cigogne · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 132 words · ~5 min · Audio
किसान और सारस · HindiB1 Intermediate · 147 words · ~5 min
Petani dan Burung Bangau · IndonesianB1 Intermediate · 109 words · ~5 min
Il contadino e la cicogna · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 112 words · ~5 min
農夫とコウノトリ · JapaneseB1 Intermediate
농부와 황새 · KoreanB1 Intermediate · 89 words · ~5 min
De boer en de ooievaar · DutchB1 Intermediate · 121 words · ~5 min
Rolnik i bocian · PolishB1 Intermediate · 103 words · ~5 min
O Fazendeiro e a Cegonha · PortugueseB1 Intermediate · 126 words · ~5 min
Fermierul și barza · RomanianB1 Intermediate · 118 words · ~5 min
Çiftçi ve Leylek · TurkishB1 Intermediate · 87 words · ~5 min
Bác nông dân và con cò · VietnameseB1 Intermediate · 153 words · ~5 min
农夫和鹳 · ChineseB1 Intermediate

Questions

Which languages can I read The Farmer and the Stork in?

English, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish, Vietnamese and Chinese. 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?

The original English is B1 Intermediate. In translation, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish, Vietnamese and Chinese are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from Pre-A1 (starter) to C2.

How long is it?

About 120 words: around 5 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 downloads (PDF, EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account.

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.

The Farmer and the Stork

How it begins

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Questions

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