The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck — Page 2

English → It Full Text Level 2/10

[Illustration]

[Illustrazione]

Jemima Puddle-duck was not much in the habit of flying. She ran downhill a few yards flapping her shawl, and then she jumped off into the air.

Jemima Puddle-duck non era molto abituata a volare. Corse in discesa per qualche metro svolazzando con lo scialle, e poi si lanciò in aria.

[Illustration]

[Illustrazione]

She flew beautifully when she had got a good start.

Volava magnificamente quando riusciva a prendere bene il volo.

She skimmed along over the tree-tops until she saw an open place in the middle of the wood, where the trees and brushwood had been cleared.

Scivolò radente sulle cime degli alberi finché non vide uno spazio aperto nel mezzo del bosco, dove gli alberi e i cespugli erano stati tagliati.

[Illustration]

[Illustrazione]

Jemima alighted rather heavily, and began to waddle about in search of a convenient dry nesting-place.

Jemima atterrò piuttosto pesantemente, e cominciò a camminare ondeggiando in cerca di un comodo posto asciutto dove fare il nido.

She rather fancied a tree-stump amongst some tall fox-gloves.

Le piaceva piuttosto un ceppo d'albero tra alcune alte digitali.

But--seated upon the stump, she was startled to find an elegantly dressed gentleman reading a newspaper.

Ma--seduta sul ceppo, fu sorpresa di trovare un gentiluomo elegantemente vestito che leggeva un giornale.

He had black prick ears and sandy coloured whiskers.

Aveva orecchie dritte e nere e baffi color sabbia.

"Quack?" said Jemima Puddle-duck, with her head and her bonnet on one side--"Quack?"

"Qua?" disse Jemima Puddle-duck, con la testa e il cappellino di lato--"Qua?"

[Illustration]

[Illustrazione]

The gentleman raised his eyes above his newspaper and looked curiously at Jemima--

Il gentiluomo alzò gli occhi dal giornale e guardò Jemima con curiosità--

"Madam, have you lost your way?" said he. He had a long bushy tail which he was sitting upon, as the stump was somewhat damp.

"Signora, si è persa?" disse lui. Aveva una lunga coda folta su cui era seduto, poiché il ceppo era alquanto umido.

Jemima thought him mighty civil and handsome. She explained that she had not lost her way, but that she was trying to find a convenient dry nesting-place.

Jemima lo trovò molto cortese e bello. Spiegò che non si era persa, ma che stava cercando un comodo posto asciutto dove fare il nido.

[Illustration]

[Illustrazione]

"Ah! is that so? indeed!" said the gentleman with sandy whiskers, looking curiously at Jemima. He folded up the newspaper, and put it in his coat-tail pocket.

"Ah! davvero? non mi dire!" disse il gentiluomo dai baffi color sabbia, guardando Jemima con curiosità. Piegò il giornale e lo mise nella tasca del frac.

Jemima complained of the superfluous hen.

Jemima si lamentò della gallina di troppo.

"Indeed! how interesting! I wish I could meet with that fowl.

"Davvero! che cosa interessante! Vorrei tanto incontrare quella gallina.

Vocabulary

Illustrazione: il-lus-tra-TSYO-ne — A picture or image accompanying a text.
non: non — Negation word meaning 'not' in Italian.
era: EH-ra — Past tense of 'essere'; meaning 'was' or 'were'.
molto: MOL-to — Adverb meaning 'very' or 'a lot'.
abituata: a-bi-TU-a-ta — Feminine past participle of 'abituarsi'; meaning 'accustomed'.
a: a — Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'.
volare: vo-LA-re — Infinitive verb meaning 'to fly' through the air.
Corse: KOR-se — Past tense of 'correre'; meaning 'she ran'.
in: in — Preposition meaning 'in' or 'into'.
discesa: di-SHE-za — Noun meaning 'descent' or 'downhill slope'.
per: per — Preposition meaning 'for', 'through', or 'in order to'.
qualche: KWAL-ke — Adjective meaning 'some' or 'a few'.
metro: MEH-tro — Unit of measurement; one meter in length.
svolazzando: zvo-lad-DZAN-do — Gerund meaning 'fluttering' or 'flapping' through the air.
con: kon — Preposition meaning 'with'.
lo: lo — Masculine singular definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'it'.
scialle: SHAL-le — Noun meaning 'shawl'; a wrap worn over the shoulders.
e: e — Conjunction meaning 'and'.
poi: poy — Adverb meaning 'then' or 'afterwards'.
si: si — Reflexive pronoun meaning 'oneself' or 'herself'.
lanciò: lan-CHO — Past tense of 'lanciarsi'; meaning 'she launched herself'.
aria: AH-rya — Noun meaning 'air'; the atmosphere around us.
Volava: vo-LA-va — Imperfect tense of 'volare'; meaning 'she was flying'.
magnificamente: ma-nyi-fi-ka-MEN-te — Adverb meaning 'magnificently' or 'splendidly well'.
quando: KWAN-do — Conjunction or adverb meaning 'when'.
riusciva: ryu-SHI-va — Imperfect tense of 'riuscire'; meaning 'she managed to'.
prendere: PREN-de-re — Infinitive verb meaning 'to take' or 'to catch'.
bene: BEH-ne — Adverb meaning 'well'; indicating good quality or manner.
il: il — Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'.
volo: VO-lo — Noun meaning 'flight'; the act of flying.
Scivolò: shi-vo-LO — Past tense of 'scivolare'; meaning 'she glided' or 'slid'.
radente: ra-DEN-te — Adjective meaning 'grazing' or 'skimming' close to a surface.
sulle: SUL-le — Contraction of 'su' and 'le'; meaning 'on the' (feminine plural).
cime: CHI-me — Plural noun meaning 'tops' or 'peaks', especially of trees.
degli: DEL-yi — Contraction of 'di' and 'gli'; meaning 'of the' (masculine plural).
alberi: AL-be-ri — Plural noun meaning 'trees'.
finché: fin-KE — Conjunction meaning 'until' or 'as long as'.
vide: VI-de — Past tense of 'vedere'; meaning 'she saw'.
uno: U-no — Indefinite article or number meaning 'a' or 'one'.
spazio: SPATS-yo — Noun meaning 'space' or 'open area'.
aperto: a-PER-to — Adjective meaning 'open' or 'uncovered'.
nel: nel — Contraction of 'in' and 'il'; meaning 'in the'.
mezzo: MED-dzo — Noun or adjective meaning 'middle' or 'half'.
del: del — Contraction of 'di' and 'il'; meaning 'of the'.
bosco: BOS-ko — Noun meaning 'wood' or 'forest'; a wooded area.
dove: DO-ve — Adverb meaning 'where'.
gli: lyi — Masculine plural definite article meaning 'the'.
i: i — Masculine plural definite article meaning 'the'.
cespugli: che-SPUL-yi — Plural noun meaning 'bushes' or 'shrubs'.
erano: EH-ra-no — Imperfect tense of 'essere'; meaning 'they were'.
stati: STA-ti — Past participle of 'essere'; meaning 'been' (masculine plural).
tagliati: tal-YA-ti — Past participle of 'tagliare'; meaning 'cut' or 'trimmed'.
atterrò: at-ter-RO — Past tense of 'atterrare'; meaning 'she landed'.
piuttosto: pyut-TOS-to — Adverb meaning 'rather' or 'quite'.
pesantemente: pe-zan-te-MEN-te — Adverb meaning 'heavily'; with great weight or force.
cominciò: ko-min-CHO — Past tense of 'cominciare'; meaning 'she began'.
camminare: kam-mi-NA-re — Infinitive verb meaning 'to walk'.
ondeggiando: on-ded-DJAN-do — Gerund meaning 'waddling' or 'swaying' while moving.
cerca: CHER-ka — Noun or verb form meaning 'search' or 'she searches'.
di: di — Preposition meaning 'of' or 'from'.
un: un — Masculine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
comodo: KO-mo-do — Adjective meaning 'comfortable' or 'convenient'.
posto: POS-to — Noun meaning 'place' or 'spot'.
asciutto: a-SHUT-to — Adjective meaning 'dry'; not wet or damp.
fare: Infinitive verb meaning 'to do' or 'to make'.
nido: NI-do — Noun meaning 'nest'; a bird's resting and laying place.
Le: le — Indirect pronoun meaning 'to her' or 'she liked'.
piaceva: pya-CHE-va — Imperfect of 'piacere'; meaning 'she liked' or 'it pleased her'.
ceppo: CHEP-po — Noun meaning 'tree stump'; the base left after cutting.
albero: AL-be-ro — Noun meaning 'tree'.
tra: tra — Preposition meaning 'between' or 'among'.
alcune: al-KU-ne — Indefinite adjective meaning 'some' (feminine plural).
alte: AL-te — Feminine plural adjective meaning 'tall' or 'high'.
digitali: di-ji-TA-li — Plural noun meaning 'foxgloves'; tall flowering plants.
Ma: ma — Conjunction meaning 'but'.
seduta: se-DU-ta — Feminine adjective meaning 'seated' or 'sitting'.
sul: sul — Contraction of 'su' and 'il'; meaning 'on the'.
fu: fu — Past tense of 'essere'; meaning 'she was' (historic past).
sorpresa: sor-PRE-za — Noun or adjective meaning 'surprise' or 'surprised'.
trovare: tro-VA-re — Infinitive verb meaning 'to find'.
gentiluomo: jen-ti-LWO-mo — Noun meaning 'gentleman'; a refined, well-mannered man.
elegantemente: e-le-gan-te-MEN-te — Adverb meaning 'elegantly'; in a stylish, refined manner.
vestito: ves-TI-to — Past participle of 'vestire'; meaning 'dressed' or 'wearing clothes'.
che: ke — Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that', 'who', or 'which'.
leggeva: led-JE-va — Imperfect of 'leggere'; meaning 'was reading'.
giornale: jor-NA-le — Noun meaning 'newspaper'; a daily publication of news.
Aveva: a-VE-va — Imperfect of 'avere'; meaning 'he/she had'.
orecchie: o-REK-kye — Plural noun meaning 'ears'.
dritte: DRIT-te — Feminine plural adjective meaning 'straight' or 'upright'.
nere: NE-re — Feminine plural adjective meaning 'black'.
baffi: BAF-fi — Plural noun meaning 'whiskers' or 'moustache'.
color: ko-LOR — Noun meaning 'color'; often used before a color descriptor.
sabbia: SAB-bya — Noun meaning 'sand'; granular material on beaches.
Qua: kwa — Adverb meaning 'here'; indicating this place or location.
disse: DIS-se — Past tense of 'dire'; meaning 'she said' or 'he said'.
la: la — Feminine singular definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'her'.
testa: TES-ta — Noun meaning 'head'.
cappellino: kap-pel-LI-no — Noun meaning 'little hat'; a small decorative bonnet.
lato: LA-to — Noun meaning 'side'; one of the flanks of something.
Il: il — Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'.
alzò: al-TSO — Past tense of 'alzare'; meaning 'he raised' or 'lifted'.
occhi: OK-ki — Plural noun meaning 'eyes'.
dal: dal — Contraction of 'da' and 'il'; meaning 'from the'.
guardò: gwar-DO — Past tense of 'guardare'; meaning 'he looked at' or 'watched'.
curiosità: ku-ryo-zi-TA — Noun meaning 'curiosity'; desire to know or learn something.
Signora: sin-YO-ra — Noun meaning 'Madam' or 'Mrs.'; polite address for a woman.
è: e — Present tense of 'essere'; meaning 'is'.
persa: PER-sa — Feminine past participle of 'perdere'; meaning 'lost'.
lui: LU-i — Personal pronoun meaning 'he' or 'him'.
una: U-na — Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
lunga: LUN-ga — Feminine adjective meaning 'long'.
coda: KO-da — Noun meaning 'tail'; the rear appendage of an animal.
folta: FOL-ta — Feminine adjective meaning 'thick' or 'bushy'.
su: su — Preposition meaning 'on' or 'upon'.
cui: kwi — Relative pronoun meaning 'which' or 'whom'.
seduto: se-DU-to — Masculine past participle of 'sedere'; meaning 'seated' or 'sitting'.
poiché: poy-KE — Conjunction meaning 'since' or 'because'.
alquanto: al-KWAN-to — Adverb meaning 'somewhat' or 'rather'.
umido: U-mi-do — Adjective meaning 'damp' or 'moist'.
trovò: tro-VO — Past tense of 'trovare'; meaning 'he/she found'.
cortese: kor-TE-ze — Adjective meaning 'polite' or 'courteous'.
bello: BEL-lo — Adjective meaning 'beautiful' or 'handsome'.
Spiegò: spye-GO — Past tense of 'spiegare'; meaning 'he/she explained'.
ma: ma — Conjunction meaning 'but'.
stava: STA-va — Imperfect of 'stare'; meaning 'was' or 'was doing'.
cercando: cher-KAN-do — Gerund of 'cercare'; meaning 'looking for' or 'searching'.
davvero: dav-VE-ro — Adverb meaning 'really' or 'truly'.
mi: mi — Reflexive or indirect pronoun meaning 'me' or 'to me'.
dire: DI-re — Infinitive verb meaning 'to say' or 'to tell'.
dai: dai — Informal interjection meaning 'come on' or 'go on'.
guardando: gwar-DAN-do — Gerund of 'guardare'; meaning 'looking at' or 'watching'.
Piegò: pye-GO — Past tense of 'piegare'; meaning 'he folded' or 'bent'.
mise: MI-ze — Past tense of 'mettere'; meaning 'he put' or 'placed'.
nella: NEL-la — Contraction of 'in' and 'la'; meaning 'in the' (feminine singular).
tasca: TAS-ka — Noun meaning 'pocket'; a small pouch in clothing.
frac: frak — Noun meaning 'tailcoat'; a formal coat with long tails.
lamentò: la-men-TO — Past tense of 'lamentarsi'; meaning 'he complained'.
della: DEL-la — Contraction of 'di' and 'la'; meaning 'of the' (feminine singular).
gallina: gal-LI-na — Noun meaning 'hen'; a female domestic chicken.
troppo: TROP-po — Adverb or adjective meaning 'too much' or 'too many'.
Davvero: dav-VE-ro — Adverb meaning 'really' or 'indeed'; emphasizing truth.
cosa: KO-za — Noun meaning 'thing'; also used in questions as 'what'.
interessante: in-te-res-SAN-te — Adjective meaning 'interesting'; capturing one's attention.
Vorrei: vor-REI — Conditional of 'volere'; meaning 'I would like'.
tanto: TAN-to — Adverb or adjective meaning 'so much' or 'a lot'.
incontrare: in-kon-TRA-re — Infinitive verb meaning 'to meet' or 'to encounter'.
quella: KWEL-la — Feminine demonstrative adjective meaning 'that'.

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