Once upon a time there was a donkey (Es war einmal ein Esel), who carried heavy grain bags (der schwere Säcke mit Korn) to the mill (zu der Mühle trug). After many years (Nach vielen Jahren) it was getting old and weak (wurde er alt und schwach).

One day (Eines Tages) the donkey became so weak (wurde der Esel so schwach), that he could no longer work (dass er nicht mehr arbeiten konnte).

Once upon a time there was a donkey, who carried heavy grain bags to the mill. After many years it was getting old and weak. One day the donkey became so weak, that he could no longer work.

carried – getragen hat, trug

to carry – tragen

could – könnte

can – können

to work - arbeiten

The donkey’s owner (Sein Herr) was considering (überlegte sich) to give him away (ihn wegzugeben), but the donkey ran away (doch der Esel lief weg; to run away – weglaufen). He made his way to Bremen (Er machte sich auf den Weg nach Bremen). There he wanted to become a street musician (Dort wollte er ein Stadtmusikant werden).

On the way (Auf dem Weg) he met (traf er) a dog (einen Hund), who was lying on the street (der auf der Straße lag) and whined (und jaulte).

Why are you whining? (Warum jaulst Du?) Asked the donkey (Fragte der Esel).

The donkey’s owner was considering to give him away, but the donkey ran away. He made his way to Bremen. There he wanted to become a street musician.

On the way he met a dog, who was lying on the street and whined. Why are you whining? Asked the donkey.

ran away – lief weg, to run away – weglaufen

he made his way to – sich auf den Weg machen

met – traf, to meet – treffen

was lying – lag, to lay – liegen

Why? -Warum?

Because I am so old (Weil ich so alt bin) and getting weaker every day (und jeden Tag schwächer werde) and I cannot go hunting any more (und ich nicht mehr auf die Jagd gehen kann), my master wanted (wollte mein Meister) to give me away (mich weggeben). Then I ran away (Dann bin ich weggelaufen; to run away - weglaufen). But how shall I now (Aber wie soll ich jetzt) to earn my living? (meinen Lebensunterhalt verdienen?)

You know what (Weißt du was), said the donkey (sagte der Esel). I am going to Bremen (Ich gehe nach Bremen) to become a town musician (um Stadtmusikant zu werden). Come with me (Komm mit mir).

Because I am so old and getting weaker every day and I cannot go hunting any more, my master wanted to give me away. Then I ran away. But how shall I now to earn my living?

You know what, said the donkey. I am going to Bremen to become a town musician. Come with me.

to want - wollen

should (shall) – sollen

you know – weißt du; to know – wissen

to become - werden

I could play the guitar (Ich könnte Gitarre spielen), and you could beat the drums (und du könntest Schlagzeug schlagen).

The dog was happy with this (Der Hund war damit zufrieden), and they went ontogether (und sie gingen zusammen weiter).

Suddenly, they saw a cat (Plötzlich sahen sie eine Katze) sitting at the roadside (am Straßenrand sitzen) with very sad face (mit sehr traurigem Gesicht). “What happened to you? (Was ist mit dir passiert?)“ asked the donkey (fragte der Esel).

I could play the guitar, and you could beat the drums. The dog was happy with this, and they went on together.

Suddenly, they saw a cat sitting at the roadside with very sad face. “What happened to you?“ asked the donkey.

could - könnte

went – gingen, to go – gehen

saw – sahen, to see – sehen

to sit - sitzen

to ask - fragen

“I am getting older (Ich werde älter), and my teeth are getting blunt (und meine Zähne werden stumpf). So I cannot catch mice anymore (So kann ich keine Mäuse mehr fangen). So my owner Marie wants to give me away (Also will meine Besitzerin Marie mich weggeben). Then I ran away (Deshalb bin ich weggelaufen), but I have nowhere to go (aber ich kann nirgendwo hin)."

„Go with us to Bremen (Komm mit uns nach Bremen), there you can become a street musician (dort kannst Du Stadtmusikant werden).“ The cat thought it was a good idea (Die Katze dachte, es war eine gute Idee) and went with the others (und ging mit den anderen).

“I am getting older, and my teeth are getting blunt. So I cannot catch mice anymore. So my owner Marie wants to give me away. Then I ran away, but I have nowhere to go ".

„Go with us to Bremen, there you can become a street musician.“ The cat thought it was a good idea and went with the others.

getting – werden

to catch – fangen

ran away – weggelaufen, to run away – weglaufen

thought – dachte, to think - denken

Soon afterwards (Bald darauf), as they were passing by a farmyard (als sie an einem Bauernhof vorbeikamen; passing by - vorbeikommen), they saw a rooster (sahen sie einen Hahn; to see - sehen) sitting on the gate and screaming (auf dem Tor sitzen und schreien). „Bravo!“ said the donkey („Bravo!“ sagte der Esel), „you can be really loud (du kannst wirklich laut sein). What is all this about?“ (Worum geht es hier?)

Well, I heard (Nun, ich habe gehört), that my master wants to give me away tomorrow (dass mein Meister mich morgen weggeben will), because I am too old (weil ich zu alt bin). So, I will sing for the last time as loud as I can (So werde ich zum letzten Mal so laut singen, wie ich kann)."

Soon afterwards, as they were passing by a farmyard, they saw a rooster sitting on the gate and screaming. „Bravo!“ said the donkey, „you can be really loud. What is all this about?“

Well, I heard, that my master wants to give me away tomorrow, because I am too old. So, I will sing for the last time as loud as I can. "

soon – bald

were passing by - vorbeikamen, to pass by - vorbeikommen

heard – habe gehört, hörte; to hear – hören

to sing - singen

„Come on, old redhead! (Komm schon, alter Rotschopf!)“ Said the donkey (Sagte der Esel) „come along with us instead (komm stattdessen mit uns). You have a good voice (Du hast eine gute Stimme) and can sing to our music in Bremen (und kannst zu unserer Musik in Bremen singen).“ The rooster agreed (Der Hahn stimmte zu), and they went together (und sie gingen zusammen).

But in one day (Doch an einem Tag) they could not reach the city of Bremen (konnten sie die Stadt Bremen nicht erreichen).

„Come on, old redhead!“ Said the donkey „come along with us instead. You have a good voice and can sing to our music in Bremen.“ The rooster agreed, and they went together.

But in one day they could not reach the city of Bremen.

come on – komm schon

instead - stattdessen

good – gut

to agree – zustimmen

together - zusammen

So, they came to a forest (Also kamen sie in einen Wald), where they decided (wo sie beschlossen; to decide - beschließen), to spend the night (die Nacht zu verbringen).

The donkey and the dog lay down under a large tree (Der Esel und der Hund legten sich unter einen großen Baum; lay down – sich legen). The cat and rooster went up into the branches (Die Katze und der Hahn gingen in die Äste hinauf).

So, they came to a forest, where they decided, to spend the night.

The donkey and the dog lay down under a large tree. The cat and rooster went up into the branches.

forest – der Wald

to decide – beschließen

to spend – verbringen

to lay down – sich legen

Suddenly, the rooster looked up (Plötzlich blickte der Hahn auf) and saw a little light (und sah ein kleines Licht), shining in the distance (in der Ferne leuchten). So, he called his friends (So rief er seine Freunde), that there must be a house not far away (dass es nicht weit weg ein Haus geben muss).

Then they went toward the light (Dann gingen sie zum Licht), till they came to a robber’s house (bis sie zu einem Räuberhaus kamen).

The donkey approached the window (Der Esel näherte sich dem Fenster) and looked inside (und schaute hinein).

Suddenly, the rooster looked up and saw a little light, shining in the distance. So, he called his friends, that there must be a house not far away.

Then they went toward the light, till they came to a robber’s house. The donkey approached the window and looked inside.

suddenly – plötzlich

saw – sah, to see – sehen

not far away – nicht weit weg

must be – muss geben

„I see a table (Ich sehe einen Tisch), full of food and drinks (voll mit Essen und Getränke) with a band of robbers (und eine Gruppe von Räubern) sitting around and having a good time (die herumsitzen und sich amüsieren)“.

„Why can’t we do the same (Warum können wir nicht dasselbe tun)“, said the rooster (sagte der Hahn).

The animals exchanged the ideas (Die Tiere tauschten Ideen aus), till they found a good one (bis sie eine gute fanden).

„I see a table, full of food and drinks with a band of robbers sitting around and having a good time“.

„Why can’t we do the same“, said the rooster. The animals exchanged the ideas, till they found a good one.

table – der Tisch

food – das Essen

drinks – die Getränke

idea – die Idee

exchange – austauschen

found – fanden, to find - finden

The donkey would put his front hooves on the window (Der Esel könnte seine vorderen Hufen auf das Fenster legen), the dog would jump on the donkey’s back (der Hund würde auf den Rücken des Esels springen), the cat would climb on the dog (die Katze könnte auf den Hund klettern), and the rooster would fly up and sit on the cat’s head (und der Hahn hochfliegen und sich auf den Kopf der Katze setzen).

So, they all did this (Also taten sie all das), and, at a signal (und nach einem Signal), they began to play their music (begannen sie ihre Musik zu spielen).

The donkey would put his front hooves on the window, the dog would jump on the donkey’s back, the cat would climb on the dog, and the rooster would fly up and sit on the cat’s head.

So, they all did this, and, at a signal, they began to play their music.

to put – legen

to jump – springen

began – begannen, to begin – beginnen

to play music – Musik spielen

The donkey screamed (Der Esel schrie), the dog barked (der Hund bellte), the cat meowed (die Katze miaute) and the rooster crew (und der Hahn krähte).

Then they fell through the window into the room (Dann fielen sie durch das Fenster in den Raum), shattering the window (und zerschmetterten das Fenster), as they went (beim Reinfallen).

The robbers were frightened (Die Räuber haben sich erschrocken), they thought (sie dachten), it must be a ghost (es muss ein Geist sein) and fled into the woods in great fear (und in großer Furcht flohen sie in den Wald).

The donkey screamed, the dog barked, the cat meowed and the rooster crew. Then they fell through the window into the room, shattering the window, as they went.

The robbers were frightened, they thought, it must be a ghost and fled into the woods in great fear.

fell – fielen, to fall - fallen

thought – dachten, to think - denken

it must be – es muss

fled – geflohen; to flee - fliehen

Now the friends sat down at the table (Nun setzten sich die Freunde an den Tisch), they ate and laughed (sie aßen und lachten). When the four musicians (Als die vier Musiker) had finished their meal (ihr Essen beendet hatten), they put out the light (löschten sie das Licht) and looked for a place to sleep (und suchten einen Schlafplatz), each according to his nature (jeder nach seiner Natur). The donkey lay down in the middle (Der Esel legte sich in die Mitte), the dog behind the door (der Hund hinter die Tür), the cat on the warm stove (die Katze neben den warmen Herd) and the rooster sat on a perch (und der Hahn setzte sich draußen auf den Zaun). After their long journey (Nach ihrer langen Reise) they all were very tired (waren sie alle sehr müde) and fell asleep quickly (und schliefen schnell ein).

Now the friends sat down at the table, they ate and laughed. When the four musicians had finished their meal, they put out the light and looked for a place to sleep, each according to his nature. The donkey lay down in the middle, the dog behind the door, the cat on the warm stove and the rooster sat on a perch. After their long journey they all were very tired and fell asleep quickly.

ate – aßen, to eat - essen

to laught - lachen

to look for – suchen

tired – müde

to fall asleep - einschlafen

Sometime after midnight (Irgendwann nach Mitternacht) the robbers noticed (bemerkten die Räuber) from a distance (aus der Ferne) that all lights in the house were out (dass alle Lichter im Haus aus waren), and everything seemed to be quiet (und alles ruhig zu sein schien). So the leader asked (So bat der Anführer) one of the robbers to look after the house (einen der Räuber nach dem Haus zu sehen). The robber found everything quiet (Der Räuber fand alles ruhig vor), went into the kitchen (ging in die Küche) to make a light (um das Licht anzumachen), and confused the cat's shining eyes (und verwechselte die leuchtenden Augen der Katze) with live coals (mit glühenden Kohlen).

Sometime after midnight the robbers noticed from a distance that all lights in the house were out, and everything seemed to be quiet. So the leader asked one of the robbers to look after the house. The robber found everything quiet, went into the kitchen to make a light, and confused the cat's shining eyes with live coals.

midnight – die Mitternacht

to notice – bemerken

found – fand, to find – finden

to confuse with - verwechseln

Then he held a match to them (Dann hielt er ein Streichholz zu ihnen) thinking it would light (denkend, es würde Licht). But the cat was not in a joking mood (Aber die Katze fand das gar nicht lustig) and jumped at his throat (und sprang ihm an die Kehle), spitting and scratching (spuckte und kratzte).

The robber was terrified (Der Räuber war erschrocken) and tried to run out of the back door (und versuchte, aus der Hintertür zu rennen), but the dog (aber der Hund), which was lying there (der dort lag), jumped up and bit him in the leg (sprang auf und biss ihn in sein Bein).

Then he held a match to them thinking it would light. But the cat was not in a joking mood and jumped at his throat, spitting and scratching.

The robber was terrified and tried to run out of the back door, but the dog, which was lying there, jumped up and bit him in the leg.

to jump – springen; to jump up – aufspringen

was terrified – erschrocken

to try - versuchen

to run  - rennen

As he ran past the middle of the place (Als er an der Mitte des Platzes vorbeilief), the donkey hit him with his hind legs (trat der Esel ihn mit seinen Hinterbeinen).

The rooster awakened from sleep (Der aus dem Schlaf gerissene Hahn), screamed „Co-a-doodle-doo!“ (rief „Co-a-doodle-doo!“).

The robber ran at full speed (Der Räuber lief so schnell er konnte) back to his leader (zu seinem Anführer zurück).

„There is a terrible witch in this house (Es gibt eine schreckliche Hexe in diesem Haus), she spat on me (sie hat mich angespuckt) and scratched my face with her long fingers!“ (und mein Gesicht mit ihren langen Fingern zerkratzt!)

As he ran past the middle of the place, the donkey hit him with his hind legs. The rooster awakened from sleep, screamed „Co-a-doodle-doo!“.

The robber ran at full speed back to his leader. „There is a terrible witch in this house, she spat on me and scratched my face with her long fingers!“

ran past – vorbeilief, to run past - vorbeilaufen

to hit – schlagen

to scream – schreien, laut rufen

spat – angespuckt, to spit - spucken

By the door there is a man standing (An der Tür stand ein Mann), who stabbed my leg with his knife (der mit einem Messer in mein Bein gestochen hat).

In the yard (Auf dem Hof) there is a black monster (befindet sich ein schwarzes Monster), which attacked me with a wooden club (das mich mit einem Holzschläger angegriffen hat).

On the roof (Auf dem Dach) a judge sits (sitzt ein Richter), who shouted (der rief): „Bring the villain to me!“ (Bringt den Schurken zu mir!) „So I ran away as fast as I could!“ („Also lief ich so schnell ich konnte davon!“)

By the door there is a man standing, who stabbed my leg with his knife. In the yard there is a black monster, which attacked me with a wooden club das mich mit einem Holzschläger angegriffen hat.

On the roof a judge sits, who shouted: „Bring the villain to me!“ „So I ran away as fast as I could!“

to stand – stehen

to attack – angreifen

as fast as I could – so schnell ich konnte

From then on (Von da an) the robbers didn't dare (trauten sich die Räuber nicht mehr), go near the house (in die Nähe des Hauses zu gehen).

The Bremen musicians (Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten) liked the house very much (mochten das Haus sehr) and did not want to leave again (und wollten nie wieder gehen).

From then on the robbers didn't dare, go near the house. The Bremen musicians liked the house very much and did not want to leave again.

didn’t dare – sich nicht trauen

near – in der Nähe

to like – mögen