Once upon a time (Es war einmal) there was a prince (ein Prinz) who wanted (der wollte) to marry a princess (eine Prinzessin heiraten); but she would have to (aber sie sollte) be (sein) a real princess (eine wirkliche Prinzessin). He travelled (Er reiste) all over the world (in der ganzen Welt umher) to find one (um eine zu finden), but nowhere could he get (aber nirgends konnte er bekommen) what he wanted (was er wollte). There were plenty of princesses (Prinzessinnen gab es genug), but it was difficult (aber es war schwierig) to find out (herauszufinden) whether they were real ones (ob es wirkliche waren). There was always (Es war immer) something about them (etwas an ihnen) that was not (das nicht so war) as it should be (wie es sein sollte).

Once upon a time there was a prince who wanted to marry a princess; but she would have to be a real princess. He travelled all over the world to find one, but nowhere could he get what he wanted. There were plenty of princesses, but it was difficult to find out whether they were real ones. There was always something about them that was not as it should be.

was – war

wanted – wollte

have to – sollen, müssen

could – konnte

to find – finden

to find out - herausfinden

So he came (Also kam er) home (nach Hause) again (wieder) and was sad (und war traurig), for he would have liked (denn er hätte) very much (so gern) to have a real princess (eine wirkliche Prinzessin gehabt). One evening (Eines Abends) a terrible storm (ein schreckliches Unwetter) came on (zog auf); there was thunder and lightning (es donnerte und blitzte), and the rain poured (und der Regen strömte) down (herab) in torrents (in Strömen). Suddenly (Plötzlich) a knocking (ein Klopfen) was heard (wurde gehört) at the gate (am Tor), and the old king went (und der alte König ging hin) to open it (um es zu öffnen). It was a princess (Es war eine Prinzessin) standing out there in front of the gate (die draußen vor dem Tor stand).

So he came home again and was sad, for he would have liked very much to have a real princess. One evening a terrible storm came on; there was thunder and lightning, and the rain poured down in torrents. Suddenly a knocking was heard at the city gate, and the old king went to open it. It was a princess standing out there in front of the gate.

came – kam, to come - kommen

would have – hätte

came on – zog auf

went – ging, to go – gehen

But, good gracious! (Aber, du lieber Himmel!) what a sight (Was für ein Anblick) the rain and the wind (den der Regen und der Wind) had made her look (aus ihr gemacht hatten). The water (Das Wasser) ran down (lief herab) from her hair (von ihren Haaren) and clothes (und Kleidern); it ran down into the toes of her shoes (es lief in die Spitzen ihrer Schuhe hinein) and out again at the heels (und an den Hacken wieder hinaus). And yet she said (Und doch sagte sie) that she was a real princess (dass sie eine wirkliche Prinzessin sei). “Well (Nun), we will soon (wir werden bald) find that out (das herausfinden),” thought the old queen (dachte die alte Königin).

But, good gracious! what a sight the rain and the wind had made her look. The water ran down from her hair and clothes; it ran down into the toes of her shoes and out again at the heels. And yet she said that she was a real princess. “Well, we’ll soon find that out,” thought the old queen.

had made – hatten gemacht 

to have – haben 

to make – machen

ran down – lief herunter; to run – laufen

thought – dachte, to think - denken

But she said nothing (Aber sie sagte nichts), went into the bedroom (ging ins Schlafzimmer), took all the bedding (nahm das ganze Bettzeug) off the bedstead (vom Bettgestell), and laid a pea on the bottom (und legte eine Erbse auf den Boden); then she took twenty mattresses (dann nahm sie zwanzig Matratzen) and laid them on the pea (und legte sie auf die Erbse), and then twenty (und dann zwanzig) down beds on top of the mattresses (Daunendecken auf die Matratzen). On this (Darauf) the princess (die Prinzessin) had to (musste) lie all night (die ganze Nacht liegen). In the morning (Am Morgen) she (sie) was asked (wurde gefragt) how she had slept (wie sie geschlafen habe). “Oh, very badly! (Oh, sehr schlecht!)” said she (sagte sie).

But she said nothing, went into the bedroom, took all the bedding off the bedstead, and laid a pea on the bottom; then she took twenty mattresses and laid them on the pea, and then twenty down beds on top of the mattresses. On this the princess had to lie all night. In the morning she was asked how she had slept. “Oh, very badly!” said she.

went – ging: to go – gehen

took – nahm; to take – nehmen

laid – legte, to lay – legen

had to – musste; have to – müssen, sollen

had slept – hat geschlafen; to sleep - schlafen

“I have scarcely (Ich habe kaum) closed (geschlossen) my eyes (meine Augen) all night (die ganze Nacht). Heaven only knows (Der Himmel allein weiß) what was (was war) in the bed (im Bett), but I was lying on something hard (aber ich lag auf etwas Hartem), so that I am (sodass ich bin) black and blue (schwarz und blau) all over my body (am ganzen Körper). It’s horrible! (Es ist schrecklich!)” Now they knew (Nun sie wussten) that she (dass sie) was a real princess (war eine wirkliche Prinzessin) because (denn) she had felt (sie hatte gefühlt) the pea (die Erbse) right through (direkt hindurch) the twenty mattresses (die zwanzig Matratzen) and the twenty down beds (und die zwanzig Daunendecken).

“I have scarcely closed my eyes all night. Heaven only knows what was in the bed, but I was lying on something hard, so that I am black and blue all over my body. It’s horrible!” Now they knew that she was a real princess because she had felt the pea right through the twenty mattresses and the twenty down beds.

to close - schliessen

all over – am ganzen, überall

horrible - furchtbar

Nobody (Niemand) but a real princess (außer einer wirklichen Prinzessin) could be as sensitive as that (könnte so empfindlich sein). So (Also) the prince (der Prinz) took her for his wife (nahm sie sich zur Frau), for now he knew (denn nun wusste er) that he had (dass er hatte) a real princess (eine wirkliche Prinzessin); and the pea (die Erbse) was put (wurde gelegt) in the museum (ins Museum), where it may still be seen (wo sie noch heute zu sehen sein mag), if no one has stolen it (wenn sie niemand gestohlen hat).

There, that is a true story (So, das ist eine wahre Geschichte).

Nobody but a real princess could be as sensitive as that. So the prince took her for his wife, for now he knew that he had a real princess; and the pea was put in the museum, where it may still be seen, if no one has stolen it.

There, that is a true story.

could be – könnte; can - können

knew- wusste; to know – wissen

had – hatte; to have – haben

was put – wurde gelegt

has stolen – hat gestohlen; to steal - stehlen