The Ugly Duckling

Out (Draußen) in the country (auf dem Land) it was beautiful (war es wunderschön), it was summer (es war Sommer).

On the bank (Am Ufer) oft he river (vom Fluss) a duck sat (saß eine Ente) in her nest (in ihrem Nest), hatching her eggs (und brütete ihre Eier aus).

She grew (Sie wurde) more and more impatient (immer ungeduldiger), because it was taking so long (weil es so lange dauerte). 

Out in the country it was beautiful, it was summer.

On the bank of the river a duck sat in her nest, hatching her eggs.

She grew more and more impatient because it was taking so long.

„I have to (Ich muss) sit (sitzen) here (hier) all alone (ganz allein)! And nobody (Und niemand) comes (kommt) to visit me (mich zu besuchen)“ But what (Aber was) could she do? (sie machen?). A mother duck (Eine Entenmama) has to keep her eggs warm (muss ihre Eier warmhalten) until they hatch (bis sie schlüpfen).

Finally (Endlich) the eggs began (fingen die Eier an) to crack (zu platzen). One after the other, (Eins nach dem anderen) little yellow ducklings (kleine gelbe Entleine) came out (kamen raus) of their eggshells (aus ihren Eierschalen).

"I have to sit here all alone! And nobody comes to visit me.“ But what could she do? A mother duck has to keep her eggs warm until they hatch.

Finally the eggs began to crack. One after the other, little yellow ducklings came out of their eggshells.

"Look at you (Schaut euch an): you are all (ihr seid alle) so sweet (so süß)! “ said Mama Duck (sagte Mama Ente).

„Peep, peep (Piep, piep)!“ answered (antworteten) little ducklings (die kleinen Entleine).

Mama Duck said (Mama Ente sagte) „All of you come to me (Kommt alle zu mir). We will all (Wir alle werden) go down tot he lake (unter zum See gehen) for your (für euren) first swim (erstes Schwimmen).“ She counted (Sie zählte) „ one, two, three, four, five (eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf)“.

"Look at you: you are all so sweet!" said Mama Duck.

 "Peep, peep!" answered the little ducklings.

Mama Duck said, "all of you come to me. We will all go down to the lake for your first swim." She counted "one, two, three, four, five.

Oh no! (Oh nein!) I’m supposed (Ich soll) to have six ducklings (sechs Entleine haben)!“

The biggest egg (Das größte Ei) is still lying (liegt immer noch) in the nest (im Nest)! How much longer (Wie lange) ist hat going to take? (soll denn das noch dauern?) She said (Sagte sie) and sat back down (und setzte sich zurück) on her nest (auf ihr Nest).

Finally (Endlich) the big egg (das große Ei) cracked (platzte). „Peep, peep! (Piep, piep!)“ said the young one (sagte das Junge).

Oh no! I'm supposed to have six ducklings!"

The biggest egg is still lying in the nest! How much longer is that going to take? She said and sat back down on her nest.

Finally the big egg cracked. "Peep, peep!" said the young one.

It was very big (Es war sehr groß), gray (grau), and ugly (und hässlich).

The old duck (Die alte Ente) looked at it (betrachtete es): „That is a terribly big duckling (Das ist ja ein schrecklich großes Entlein)“, she said (sagte sie); „none of the others (keines von den andern) look like that (sieht so aus)“.

One of the yellow ducklings (Eins der gelben Entleine) shoutet (schrie) „What is that? (Was ist das denn?) He can't be (Er kann nicht) one of us! (einer von uns!)“

It was very big, gray, and ugly.

The old duck looked at it: "That is a terribly big duckling," she said; "none of the others look like that."

One of the yellow ducklings shouted "What is that? He can't be one of us!"

All the others (All die anderen) shouted (schrien): „Ugly! Ugly! Ugly! (Hässlich! Hässlich! Hässlich!)“

The ugly duckling (Das hässliche Entlein) did not know (wusste nicht) why (warum) the others (die anderen) were shouting at him (ihn angeschrien haben).

The next day (Am nächsten Tag) the weather was wonderful (war herrliches Wetter). The mother duck (Die Entleinmutter) went down (ging hinunter) tot he water (zum Wasser) with her whole family (mit ihrer ganzen Familie). Splash! (Platsch!) Theres he jumped (Da sprang sie) into the water (ins Wasser).

All the others shouted: "Ugly! Ugly! Ugly!"

The ugly duckling did not know why the others were shouting at him.

The next day the weather was wonderful. The mother duck went down to the water with her whole family. Splash! There she jumped into the water.

„Quick, quick! (Schnell, schnell!)“ she said (sagte sie), and one duckling (und ein Entlein) after another (nach dem anderen) jumped in (sprangen hinein), even (selbst) the ugly gray young one (das hässliche graue Junge) swam along (schwamm mit).

„Quick, quick! (Schnell, schnell!) Come (Kommt) with me now (jetzt mit mir), then (dann) I will introduce you to the world (werde ich euch in die Welt einführen) and present you in the duck yard (und euch im Entenhof vorstellen).

"Quick, quick!" she said, and one duckling after another jumped in, even the ugly gray young one swam along.

"Quick, quick! Come with me now, then I will introduce you to the world and present you in the duck yard.

But stay (Aber haltet euch) close to me (in meiner Nähe), so that no one steps on you (damit auf euch niemand tritt), and beware of the cat (und nehmt euch vor der Katze in Acht).“

„Now use your legs (Nun gebraucht eure Beine).“

But stay close to me, so that no one steps on you, and beware of the cat."

"Now use your legs."

The young ducklings did that (Das taten die jungen Entleine); buth the other ducks (aber die anderen Enten) around them (um sie herum) looked at them (betrachteten sie) and said (und sprachen): „Ugh (Pfui), what an ugly duckling! (was für ein hässliches Entlein!) We will not (Wir werden nicht) tolerate (dulden) that among us (es unter uns)!“

And immediate (Und sogleich) a duck (eine Ente) flew over (flog hin) and bit it (und biss es) on the neck (in den Nacken).

The young ducklings did that; but the other ducks around them looked at them and said: "Ugh, what an ugly duckling! We will not tolerate that among us!"

And immediately a duck flew over and bit it on the neck.

„Leave it alone! (Lasst es in Ruhe!)“ said the mother (sagte die Mutter). „It's not hurting anyone! (Es tut ja niemandem etwas zuleid!)“

So now they were (So waren sie nun) at home (zu Hause) in the duck yard (auf dem Entenhof).

But the poor duckling (Aber das arme Entlein), which had crawled out of the egg last (das zuletzt aus dem Ei gekrochen) and was so ugly (und so hässlich war), was bitten (wurde gebissen), pushed (gepufft) and teased (gehänselt) by the ducks (und von den Enten) as well as by the chickens (wie von den Hühnern).

"Leave it alone!" said the mother. "It's not hurting anyone!"

So now they were at home in the duck yard.

But the poor duckling, which had crawled out of the egg last and was so ugly, was bitten, pushed, and teased by the ducks as well as by the chickens.

„It is too big (Es ist zu groß)“, they all said (sagten sie alle).

That's how it went (So ging es) on the first day (am ersten Tag), and later (und später) it got worse and worse (wurde es immer schlimmer). The poor duckling (Das arme Entlein) was chased by everyone (wurde von allen gejagt), even its brothers (selbst seine Brüder) and sisters (und Schwestern) were naughty to it (waren unartig gegen es) and always said (und sagten immer): „If only the cat would get you! (Wenn dich nur die Katze holen würde!) You ugly thing! (Du hässliches Ding!)“

"It is too big," they all said.

That's how it went on the first day, and later it got worse and worse. The poor duckling was chased by everyone, even its brothers and sisters were naughty to it and always said: "If only the cat would get you! You ugly thing!"

Yes, even the mother said (Ja, selbst die Mutter sagte): „I wish (Ich wünsche mir) you were (du wärest) far away! (weit weg!)“

Then it ran away (Da lief es fort) and flew (und flog) over the fence (über den Zaun), where the little birds (wo die kleinen Vöglein) flew up (aufflogen) from the bushes (von den Büschen aufflogen) in fright (erschrocken).

Yes, even the mother said: "I wish you were far away!"

Then it ran away and flew over the fence, where the little birds flew up from the bushes in fright.

„Oh (Ach), my ugliness (meine Hässlichkeit) is to blame (ist schuld) for that too! (auch daran!)“ thought the duckling (dachte das Entlein) and squeezed its eyes shut (und kniff die Augen zusammen), but continued to run (lief aber trotzdem weiter). Thus it reached (So gelangte es) the great moor (bis zu dem großen Moor), where the wild ducks lived (wo die Wildenten wohnten) …

Now it became autumn (Nun wurde es Herbst); the leaves (die Blätter) in the forest (im Wald) turned yellow (wurden gelb) and brown (und braun); the storm (der Sturm) carried them away (відривало його) and swirled them around (und wirbelte sie umher).

"Oh, my ugliness is to blame for that too!" thought the duckling and squeezed its eyes shut, but continued to run. Thus it reached the great moor, where the wild ducks lived...

Now it became autumn; the leaves in the forest turned yellow and brown; the storm carried them away and swirled them around.

The cold (Die Kälte) took over (nahm überhand). Heavy clouds (Schwere Wolken) hung (hingen) in the sky (am Himmel), and on the fence (und auf dem Zaun) stood (stand) a raven (ein Rabe) and cried (und schrie): „Caw, caw! (Krah, krah!)“ and Ow! (und: „Au!“) from the sheer cold (vor lauter Kälte).

Yes (Ja), one would freeze (es fror einen schon), just thinking about it (wenn man nur daran dachte).

The poor duckling (Dem armen Entlein) was really not doing well (ging es wirklich nicht gut).

The cold took over. Heavy clouds hung in the sky, and on the fence stood a raven and cried: "Caw, caw!" and: "Ow!" from the sheer cold.

Yes, one would freeze just thinking about it.

The poor duckling was really not doing well.

One evening (Eines Abends) – the sun (die Sonne) was just setting beautifully (ging gerade wunderschön unter) – a flock (ein Schwarm) of large magnificent birds (großer prächtiger Vögel), the likes of which the duckling had never seen before (wie sie das Entlein noch nicht gesehen hatte), emerged from the bushes (kam aus dem Gebüsch hervor).

They were (Sie waren) dazzlingly white (blendend weiß) and had long (und hatten lange), supple necks (geschmeidige Hälse): they were swans (es waren Schwäne).

One evening – the sun was just setting beautifully – a flock of large magnificent birds, the likes of which the duckling had never seen before, emerged from the bushes.

They were dazzlingly white and had long, supple necks: they were swans.

They uttered (Sie stießen) a peculiar sound (einen sonderbaren Laut aus), raised (erhoben) their magnificent (ihre prächtigen), large wings (großen Flügel) and flew (und flogen) away from the cold region (aus der kalten Gegend fort) towards the warm countries (nach den warmen Ländern), to open lakes (nach offenen Seen).

They rose so high (Sie stiegen so hoch), so high (so hoch), that the ugly young duckling (dass dem hässlichen jungen Entlein) felt quite strange about it (ganz merkwürdig dabei zu Mute wurde).

They uttered a peculiar sound, raised their magnificent, large wings and flew away from the cold region towards the warm countries, to open lakes.

They rose so high, so high, that the ugly young duckling felt quite strange about it.

It turned around (drehte es sich herum) in the water (im Wasser) like a wheel (wie ein Rad), stretched its neck out (streckte den Hals) towards them (nach ihnen aus) and let out such a peculiar cry (und stieß einen so eigentümlichen Schrei aus), that it was properly (dass es sich ordentlich) afraid of itself (vor sich selbst fürchtete) …

It became (Es wurde) a bitterly cold winter (ein bitterkalter Winter). The duckling (Das Entlein) had to (musste) swim tirelessly around (unermüdlich umherschwimmen) in the pond (im Teich) to prevent it from freezing (um das Einfrieren zu verhindern).

It turned around in the water like a wheel, stretched its neck out towards them and let out such a peculiar cry that it was properly afraid of itself...

It became a bitterly cold winter. The duckling had to swim tirelessly around in the pond to prevent it from freezing.

But every night (Aber jede Nacht)  the hole (das Loch) in which it swam (in dem es schwamm) became smaller and smaller (wurde kleiner und kleiner).

It was so cold (Es war so kalt), that the sheet of ice (dass die Eisdecke) creaked (knirschte) and cracked (und krachte), and the duckling (und das Entlein) had to (musste) constantly (fortwährend) use it legs (die Beine gebrauchen), so that the hole (damit das Loch) would not close completely (sich nicht völlig schloss).

But every night the hole in which it swam became smaller and smaller.

It was so cold that the sheet of ice creaked and cracked, and the duckling had to constantly use its legs so that the hole would not close completely.

Finally (Endlich) it was (war es) completely exhausted (völlig erschöpft), lay quite still (lag ganz still) and froze fast in the ice (und fror schnell im Eis fest).

The next morning (Am nächsten Morgen) a farmer came by (kam ein Bauer vorbei), and saw (und sah) the poor animal (das arme Tier). He went over (Er ging hin), broke the ice (zerschlug das Eis) with his shoe (mit seinem Schuh), took the duckling out (nahm das Entlein heraus) and carried it home (und trug es heim) to his wife (zu seiner Frau).

Finally it was completely exhausted, lay quite still and froze fast in the ice.

The next morning a farmer came by and saw the poor animal.

He went over, broke the ice with his shoe, took the duckling out and carried it home to his wife.

Then it came back to life (Da lebte es wieder auf).

The children (Die Kinder) wanted (wollten) to play with it (mit ihm spielen). But the duckling (Aber das Entlein) thought (dachte), they wanted to harm it (sie wollten ihm ein Leid zufügen), and out of fear (und vor Angst) it jumped right (sprang es direkt) into the milk bowl (in die Milchschüssel), so that the milk (so dass die Milch) splashed around the room (im Zimmer umherspritzte).

Then it came back to life.

The children wanted to play with it. But the duckling thought they wanted to harm it, and out of fear it jumped right into the milk bowl, so that the milk splashed around the room.

The woman (Die Frau) clapped her hands over the head (klatschte die Hände über den Kopf zusammen) in horror (entsetzt); and now the duckling flew (und nun flog das Entlein) first into the butter churn (zuerst in das Butterfass), then from there (dann von hier) into the flour sack (in den Mehlsack hinein), and then up again (und dann wieder in die Höhe).

Oh dear (O weh), how it looked! (wie sah es aus!)

The woman screamed (Die Frau schrie) and hit at it (und schlug nach ihm) with the kitchen towel (mit dem Küchentuch).

The woman clapped her hands over the head in horror; and now the duckling flew first into the butter churn, then from there into the flour sack, and then up again.

Oh dear, how it looked!

The woman screamed and hit at it with the kitchen towel.

The children (Die Kinder) ran over each other (rannten einander über den Haufen), laughing (lachten) and making noise (und lärmten).

Luckily (Zum Glück) the door was open (stand die Tür offen), so the duckling could run out (so konnte das Entlein hinausrennen) between the bushes (zwischen den Sträuchern) into the freshly fallen snow (in den frisch gefallenen Schnee), and there it lay (und da lag es), exhausted to death (zum Tode erschöpft).

The children ran over each other, laughing and making noise.

Luckily the door was open, so the duckling could run out between the bushes into the freshly fallen snow, and there it lay, exhausted to death.

But it would be truly too sad (Aber es wäre wirklich zu traurig), to tell about (zu erzählen über) all the hardship (all die Not und das Elend), the duckling (die das Entlein) had to endure (erdulden musste) during the hard winter (in dem harten Winter).

– It lay (Es lag) among the reeds in the moor (zwischen dem Schilf im Moor), when the sun (als die Sonne) began to shine again (wieder zu scheinen begann), when the larks sang (als die Lerchen sangen) and it became spring (und es Frühling wurde).

But it would be truly too sad to tell of all the hardship and misery the duckling had to endure during the hard winter.

– It lay among the reeds in the moor, when the sun began to shine again, when the larks sang and it became spring.

Then it could (Da konnte es) finally (endlich) spread its wings (seine Flügel ausbreiten).

They rustled (Sie rauschten) more strongly (stärker) than ever bevore (als je zuvor) and carried it away powerfully (und trugen es kräftig weg).

Then it could finally spread its wings.

They rustled more strongly than ever before and carried it away powerfully.

And before the duckling (Und ehe das Entlein) quite knew what was happening to it (recht wusste, wie ihm geschah), it found itself in a large garden (befand es sich in einem großen Garten), where the apple trees (wo die Apfelbäume) were in full bloom (in voller Blüte standen), where the lilac bushes (wo die Fliedersträucher) were fragrant (dufteten) and their long green branches (und ihre langen grünen Zweige) stretched out (ausstreckten) the gently meandering streams and canals (über die sich sanft schlängelnden Bäche und Kanäle).

Oh, how beautiful (O wie schön) it was here (war es hier), how wonderful! (wie wundervoll!)

And before the duckling quite knew what was happening to it, it found itself in a large garden, where the apple trees were in full bloom, where the lilac bushes were fragrant and their long green branches stretched out over the gently meandering streams and canals.

Oh, how beautiful it was here, how wonderful!

And right in front of it (Und gerade vor ihm) three large beautiful swans (drei große schöne Schwäne) came swimming out of the thicket (kamen aus dem Dickicht angeschwommen). They rustled their wings (Sie rauschten mit ihren Flügeln) and glided lightly (und glitten leicht) and gracefully (und anmutig) over the water (über das Wasser hin).

The duckling (Das Entlein) recognized (erkannte) the magnificent animals (die prächtigen Tiere) and was seized by a peculiar sadness (und wurde von einer eigentümlichen Traurigkeit ergriffen).

And right in front of it, three large beautiful swans came swimming out of the thicket. They rustled their wings and glided lightly and gracefully over the water.

The duckling recognized the magnificent animals and was seized by a peculiar sadness.

„I want to fly to them (Ich will zu ihnen hinfliegen), to these royal birds (zu diesen königlichen Vögeln). They will surely bite me to death (Sie werden mich bestimmt totbeißen), because I (weil ich), the ugly animal (das hässliche Tier), dare to approach them (es wage, mich ihnen zu nähern); but for all I care! (aber meinetwegen!) Better to be killed by them (Besser von ihnen getötet), than to be pinched by the ducks (als von den Enten gezwickt), pecked by the chickens (von den Hühnern gepickt), pushed by the people (von den Menschen gestoßen zu werden), and to have to suffer in the winter! (und im Winter leiden zu müssen!)“

"I want to fly to them, to these royal birds. They will surely bite me to death, because I, the ugly animal, dare to approach them; but for all I care! Better to be killed by them, than to be pinched by the ducks, pecked by the chickens, pushed by the people and to have to suffer want in the winter!"

With that (Damit) it flew (flog es) onto the water (auf das Wasser) and swam (und schwamm) towards the magnificent animals (den prächtigen Tieren entgegen). When they saw the duckling (Als diese das Entlein erblickten), they shot towards it with ruffled feathers (schossen sie mit gesträubten Federn drauflos).

„Yes, just kill me! (Ja, tötet mich nur!)“ said the poor animal (sagte das arme Tier), lowered its head (senkte den Kopf) to the surface of the water (auf den Wasserspiegel) and awaited death (und erwartete den Tod) – but what did it see (aber was sah es) in the clear water? (in dem klaren Wasser?)

With that, it flew onto the water and swam towards the magnificent animals. When they saw the duckling, they shot towards it with ruffled feathers.

"Yes, just kill me!" said the poor animal, lowered its head to the surface of the water and awaited death – but what did it see in the clear water?

It saw (Es sah) its own image (sein eigenes Bild) below it (unter sich): but it was (aber es war) no longer a clumsy (kein plumper), gray (grauer), ugly bird (hässlicher Vogel mehr); it was a swan itself! (es war selbst ein Schwan!)

Now it felt happy (Nun fühlte es sich glücklich) despite (trotz) all the hardship and misery (all den Not und Elend), it had overcome (die es überstanden hatte).

Now it understood (Nun verstand es) how to truly appreciate (recht zu schätzen) its happiness and its life (sein Glück und sein Leben).

It saw its own image below it: but it was no longer a clumsy, gray, ugly bird; it was a swan itself!

Now it felt happy despite all the hardship and misery it had overcome. Now it understood how to truly appreciate its happiness and its life.

And the great swans (Und die großen Schwäne) swam around the duckling (schwammen um das Entlein herum) and stroked it with their beaks (und streichelten es mit ihren Schnäbeln).

Now some small children came (Nun kamen einige kleine Kinder) into the garden (in den Garten). They threw grain (Sie warfen Korn) into the water (in das Wasser), and the youngest called out (und das jüngste rief): „There is a new one! (Da ist ein neuer!)“

They clapped their hands (Sie klatschten in die Hände), danced around (tanzten umher) and brought their father and mother (und holten Vater und Mutter herbei).

And the great swans swam around the duckling and stroked it with their beaks.

Now some small children came into the garden. They threw grain into the water, and the youngest called out: "There is a new one!"

They clapped their hands, danced around and brought their father and mother.

Grain was thrown into the water (Es wurde Korn in das Wasser geworfen), and they all said (und sie sagten alle):

„The new one (Der neue) is the most beautiful (ist der schönste), so young (so jung) and so majestic! (und majestätisch!)“

The young swan (Der junge Schwan) thought of how (dachte daran) he had been persecuted (wie er verfolgt)  and mocked (und verhöhnt worden war), and that now (und dass nun) everyone said (alle sagten) he was the most beautiful (er sei der schönste) of all the beautiful birds (von allen schönen Vögeln).

Grain was thrown into the water, and they all said:

"The new one is the most beautiful, so young and majestic!"

The young swan thought of how he had been persecuted and mocked, and that now everyone said he was the most beautiful of all the beautiful birds.

The lilac bushes (Die Fliedersträucher) bent their branches down (neigten ihre Zweige herunter) to him in the water (zu ihm ins Wasser), and the sun shone warm and glorious (und die Sonne schien warm und herrlich).

Then he ruffled his feathers (Da sträubte er sein Gefieder), raised his slender neck (erhob den schlanken Hals) and rejoiced from the bottom of his heart (und jubelte aus vollem Herzen):

"I would not have dreamed of so much happiness (So viel Glück hätte ich mir nicht träumen lassen), when I was still the ugly duckling! (als ich noch das hässliche Entlein war!)“

The lilac bushes bent their branches down to him in the water, and the sun shone warm and glorious.

Then he ruffled his feathers, raised his slender neck and rejoiced from the bottom of his heart:

"I would not have dreamed of so much happiness when I was still the ugly duckling!"