El gato con botas

Había un molinero que no dejó más bienes a sus tres hijos que su molino, su asno y su gato. El reparto se hizo pronto. No se llamó ni al escribano ni al abogado, pues se habrían comido todo el pobre patrimonio.

There was a miller, who left no more estate to the three sons he had, than his Mill, his Ass, and his Cat. The partition was soon made. Neither the scrivener nor attorney were sent for. They would soon have eaten up all the poor patrimony.

El mayor se quedó con el molino, el segundo con el asno y el menor solo con el gato.

The eldest had the Mill, the second the Ass, and the youngest nothing but the Cat.

El pobre muchacho estaba desconsolado por haber recibido una parte tan pequeña.

The poor young fellow was quite comfortless at having so poor a lot.

“Mis hermanos”, decía, “podrán ganarse la vida honradamente uniendo sus bienes, pero en cuanto a mí, cuando me haya comido a mi gato y me haya hecho un manguito con su piel, tendré que morir de hambre”.

“My brothers,” said he, “may get their living handsomely enough, by joining their stocks together; but for my part, when I have eaten up my Cat, and made me a muff of his skin, I must die with hunger.”

El gato, que oía todo esto pero fingía no hacerlo, le dijo con aire grave y serio:

The Cat, who heard all this, but made as if he did not, said to him with a grave and serious air:

“No se aflija tanto, mi buen amo; solo tiene que darme un saco y encargarme un par de botas para poder corretear entre el barro y las zarzas, y verá que no le ha tocado una parte tan mala como imagina”.

“Do not thus afflict yourself, my good master; you have only to give me a bag, and get a pair of boots made for me, that I may scamper thro’ the dirt and the brambles, and you shall see that you have not so bad a portion of me as you imagine.”

Aunque el amo del gato no confiaba mucho en lo que decía, le había visto a menudo hacer muchas astucias para atrapar ratas y ratones, como cuando solía colgarse de las patas traseras o esconderse en la harina y fingir estar muerto; así que no perdió del todo la esperanza de que le ayudara en su miserable situación.

Tho’ the Cat’s master did not build very much upon what he said, he had however often seen him play a great many cunning tricks to catch rats and mice; as when he used to hang by the heels, or hide himself in the meal, and make as if he were dead; so that he did not altogether despair of his affording him some help in his miserable condition.

Cuando el gato tuvo lo que pidió, se calzó las botas con mucha gallardía; y poniéndose el saco al cuello, sujetó los cordones con sus dos patas delanteras y se dirigió a una madriguera donde abundaban los conejos.

When the Cat had what he asked for, he booted himself very gallantly; and putting his bag about his neck, he held the strings of it in his two fore paws, and went into a warren where was great abundance of rabbits.

Puso salvado y hierbas en su saco y, estirándose a lo largo como si estuviera muerto, esperó a que algún conejo joven, aún no familiarizado con los engaños del mundo, viniera a hurgar en su saco en busca de lo que había puesto en él.

He put bran and sow-thistle into his bag, and stretching himself out at length, as if he had been dead, he waited for some young rabbit, not yet acquainted with the deceits of the world, to come and rummage his bag for what he had put into it.

Apenas se hubo tumbado, consiguió lo que quería: un conejo joven, imprudente y tonto, saltó dentro de su saco, y el señor Gato, cerrando inmediatamente los cordones, lo atrapó y lo mató sin piedad.

Scarce was he lain down, but he had what he wanted; a rash and foolish young rabbit jumped into his bag, and Monsieur Puss, immediately drawing close the strings, took and killed him without pity.

Orgulloso de su presa, fue con ella al palacio y pidió hablar con su Majestad. Lo hicieron subir a los apartamentos del Rey y, haciendo una profunda reverencia, le dijo:

Proud of his prey, he went with it to the palace, and asked to speak with his Majesty. He was shewed up stairs into the King’s apartment, and, making a low reverence, said to him:

“Le he traído, señor, un conejo de monte que mi noble señor, el Marqués de Carabás” (pues ese era el título que al gato le placía dar a su amo) “me ha ordenado presentar a su Majestad de su parte”.

“I have brought you, sir, a rabbit of the warren which my noble lord the Marquis of Carabas” (for that was the title which Puss was pleased to give his master) “has commanded me to present to your Majesty from him.”