Polish · Intermediate
Adapted from The Tinderbox
A soldier finds a magical tinderbox that summons three powerful dogs.
Read and listen in Polish, with English alongside.
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Scene 1 · Intermediate
Główną drogą maszerował żołnierz, powtarzając w rytm kroków: „Lewa, prawa, lewa, prawa”. Niósł na plecach tornister, a przy boku miał szablę. Wracał właśnie do domu po wojnie.
A soldier marched along the main road, repeating in time with his steps, “Left, right, left, right.” He carried a knapsack on his back and had a sabre at his side. He was on his way home after the war.
Po drodze spotkał starą czarownicę. Wyglądała przerażająco: dolna warga zwisała jej aż na pierś. Zatrzymała się przed nim i powiedziała: – Dobry wieczór, żołnierzu! Piękna szabla, duży tornister… Widać, że jesteś prawdziwym żołnierzem. Dostaniesz tyle pieniędzy, ile tylko zechcesz.
On the way, he met an old witch. She looked terrifying: her lower lip hung all the way down to her chest. She stopped in front of him and said: “Good evening, soldier! What a fine sabre, what a big knapsack… You can tell you’re a real soldier. You’ll get as much money as you want.”
– Dziękuję ci, stara czarownico – odpowiedział.
“Thank you, old witch,” he replied.
– Widzisz to wielkie drzewo? – Wskazała drzewo stojące obok. – W środku jest całkiem puste. Wespniesz się na szczyt i znajdziesz tam otwór. Przez niego zejdziesz głęboko do wnętrza drzewa. Obwiążę cię liną, a kiedy zawołasz, wyciągnę cię z powrotem.
“Do you see that big tree?” She pointed to the tree standing beside them. “It’s completely hollow inside. Climb to the top and you’ll find an opening there. Go down through it, deep into the tree. I’ll tie a rope around you, and when you call out, I’ll pull you back up.”
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