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Scene 1 · Intermediate
Die böse Stiefmutter
The wicked stepmother
German
Weit entfernt, in dem Land, in das die Schwalben im Winter fliegen, lebte ein König mit elf Söhnen und seiner Tochter Elisa. Die Prinzen gingen mit einem Stern auf der Brust und einem Schwert an der Seite zur Schule. Sie schrieben mit Diamantstiften auf goldenen Tafeln und lernten so mühelos, dass jeder ihre königliche Herkunft erkennen konnte.
English translation
Far away, in the land where the swallows fly in winter, there lived a king with eleven sons and a daughter named Elisa. The princes went to school with a star on their chests and a sword at their sides. They wrote with diamond pens on golden tablets and learned so effortlessly that anyone could tell they were of royal birth.
German
Elisa saß auf einem kleinen Hocker aus Spiegelglas. Ihr Bilderbuch hatte so viel gekostet wie ein halbes Königreich.
English translation
Elisa sat on a little stool made of mirror glass. Her picture book had cost as much as half a kingdom.
German
Die Kinder führten ein glückliches Leben. Doch dann heiratete ihr Vater eine böse Königin, die ihre Stiefkinder nicht liebte. Schon am ersten Tag nach der Hochzeit ließ sie sie das spüren. Während im Schloss gefeiert wurde, spielten die Kinder, dass sie Gäste empfingen. Gewöhnlich bekamen sie dafür die übrigen Kuchen und Äpfel.
English translation
The children lived a happy life. But then their father married a wicked queen who did not love her stepchildren. She made them feel it on the very first day after the wedding. While there was a celebration in the castle, the children played at entertaining guests. Usually, they were given the leftover cakes and apples.
German
Diesmal gab ihnen die Königin nur etwas Sand in einer Teetasse.
English translation
This time, the queen gave them only a little sand in a teacup.
German
„Tut so, als wäre es Kuchen“, sagte sie.
English translation
“Pretend it’s cake,” she said.
Continue with Die wilden Schwäne
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