The Lady or the Tiger (1/3) - "A Dama ou o Tigre" - English Reading for Beginners - Uma leitura guiada em inglês
Cover Art Designed by Tania Walker
Part I
The King
Long, long ago there lived a king. He lived far away, but not too far. His royal ideas were influenced by European neighbors who were more progressive in their ideas and behavior. So, compared to other kings of that time, the king in our story was only “semi-barbaric”. Even so, he still had ideas that revealed his true barbaric side. He was an intelligent king, and he had a very active imagination. He was also a very decisive king, and as king he had the power to turn his imagination into reality. The moment the king decided something, he made that thing a law. When everyone around him acted correctly, he was a calm and agreeable king. But if something went wrong, he became even calmer and more agreeable, because he was the happiest when he could use his authority to fix the problem.
One of the ideas our semi-barbaric king took from his progressive neighbors was the idea of the public arena. In other kingdoms, the public arena was a place where wild animals and gladiators fought to entertain the citizens. But our king did not build his arena for the people to watch courageous fighters or battles between man and beast. The king used his arena as a courtroom, a tribunal for citizens accused of crimes, where guilty criminals were punished and innocent citizens were rewarded by pure and impartial chance.
When a citizen was accused of a crime, the king made an announcement: on a day he decided, the accused citizen was brought to the tribunal in the king’s arena in front of all the citizens of the city. But how does the public arena represent the barbaric side of the king’s nature, you ask?
Well, on the day of the trial, after all the people arrive in the arena, and the king is sitting on his royal throne, he gives a signal. When the king gives his signal, a door below him on the floor of the arena opens, and the accused person walks out onto the sand of the amphitheater. Directly opposite the accused person, on the other side of the arena, there are two doors, side-by-side. The doors are identical - in shape and design and color - you cannot tell the difference between one door and the other. It is the responsibility of the person on trial to walk directly to these doors and open one of them. He can choose to open either door. No one guides him or influences him except impartial and incorruptible chance. Behind one of the identical doors is a tiger! The strongest and cruelest tiger the king can find. When the accused person opens that door, the tiger jumps out and immediately catches him and rips him to pieces! This is the “punishment” for his guilt. The moment the case of the criminal is decided like this, melancholy bells ring in the city, and the large audience walks slowly home. The people are sad that a citizen so young and handsome, or so old and respected, is guilty and had to die.
But, if the accused person opens the other door, a beautiful woman comes out! The king chooses the most appropriate woman for the age and position of the person on trial. The man then immediately marries the woman, as a reward for his innocence. It does not matter if he already has a wife and family, or if he is already in love with a different person he chose himself. The king does not care about that, and he does not allow any previous arrangements to interfere with his great idea of punishment and reward. This wedding takes place immediately in the center of the arena, in front of the king and all his citizens. Another door opens below the king. A priest and many musicians and dancing girls come from the door. They approach the innocent man and the woman, and quickly and happily perform the wedding ceremony. Then bells of celebration ring in the city! The people shout with happiness, and the innocent man takes his new bride to his home.
This is how our semi-barbaric king administered justice. To him, it was perfectly fair. The criminal opened the door the criminal wanted. And he did not have any idea if he was going to be killed and eaten by a hungry tiger or married to a beautiful woman. Sometimes the tiger came out of one door, and other times it came out of the other door. The decisions of these tribunals were not only fair, they were immediate and definite. The accused person was instantly punished if he found himself guilty, or he was rewarded on the spot if he found himself innocent, whether he liked it or not. The accused person could not escape the decisions of the king's arena.
The citizens liked these trials very much. When they came to the arena on trial days, they never knew if they were going to watch a horrible, bloody death or a wonderful, joyful wedding. This element of unpredictability made the occasion especially interesting. In this way, the king entertained his people and they were happy. Even the citizens who had doubts about this kind of justice could not say that the trial was unfair - the accused person was able to make the decision for himself, wasn’t he?
To be continued…
Part 1
Parte 1
The king
o rei
Long, long ago there lived a king. He lived far away, but not too far.
Há muito, muito tempo atrás vivia um rei. Ele morava longe, mas não muito longe.
His royal ideas were influenced by European neighbors who were more progressive in their ideas and behavior.
Suas ideias reais foram influenciadas por vizinhos europeus que eram mais progressistas em suas ideias e comportamento.
So, compared to other kings of that time, the king in our story was only “semi-barbaric”.
Então, comparado a outros reis da época, o rei da nossa história era apenas “semi-bárbaro”.
Even so, he still had ideas that revealed his true barbaric side.
Mesmo assim, ele ainda tinha ideias que revelavam seu lado bárbaro verdadeiro.
He was an intelligent king, and he had a very active imagination.
Ele era um rei inteligente e tinha uma imaginação muito ativa.
He was also a very decisive king, and as king he had the power to turn his imagination into reality.
Ele também era um rei muito decisivo e, como rei, tinha o poder de transformar sua imaginação em realidade.
The moment the king decided something, he made that thing a law.
No momento em que o rei decidia algo, ele fazia daquela coisa uma lei.
When everyone around him acted correctly, he was a calm and agreeable king.
Quando todos ao seu redor agiam corretamente, ele era um rei calmo e agradável.
But if something went wrong, he became even calmer and more agreeable, because he was the happiest when he could use his authority to fix the problem.
Mas se algo desse errado, ele ficava ainda mais calmo e agradável, porque ficava mais feliz quando podia usar sua autoridade para resolver o problema.
One of the ideas our semi-barbaric king took from his progressive neighbors was the idea of the public arena.
Uma das ideias que nosso rei semi-bárbaro tirou de seus vizinhos progressistas foi a ideia da arena pública.
In other kingdoms, the public arena was a place where wild animals and gladiators fought to entertain the citizens.
Em outros reinos, a arena pública era um lugar onde animais selvagens e gladiadores lutavam para entreter os cidadãos.
But our king did not build his arena for the people to watch courageous fighters or battles between man and beast.
Mas nosso rei não construiu sua arena para o povo assistir a lutadores corajosos ou batalhas entre homem e animal.
The king used his arena as a courtroom, a tribunal for citizens accused of crimes, where guilty criminals were punished and innocent citizens were rewarded by pure and impartial chance.
O rei usava sua arena como um tribunal, um tribunal para cidadãos acusados de crimes, onde criminosos culpados eram punidos e cidadãos inocentes eram recompensados pelo puro e imparcial acaso.
When a citizen was accused of a crime, the king made an announcement:
Quando um cidadão foi acusado de um crime, o rei fazia um anúncio:
on a day he decided, the accused citizen was brought to the tribunal in the king’s arena in front of all the citizens of the city.
em um dia que ele decidiu, o cidadão acusado foi levado ao tribunal na arena do rei na frente de todos os cidadãos da cidade.
But how does the public arena represent the barbaric side of the king’s nature, you ask?
Mas como a arena pública representa o lado bárbaro da natureza do rei, você pergunta?
Well, on the day of the trial, after all the people arrive in the arena, and the king is sitting on his royal throne, he gives a signal.
Bem, no dia do julgamento, depois que todas as pessoas chegam na arena, e o rei está sentado em seu trono real, ele dá um sinal.
When the king gives his signal, a door below him on the floor of the arena opens, and the accused person walks out onto the sand of the amphitheater.
Quando o rei dá seu sinal, uma porta abaixo dele no chão da arena se abre e o acusado sai para a areia do anfiteatro.
Directly opposite the accused person, on the other side of the arena, there are two doors, side-by-side.
Em frente ao acusado, do outro lado da arena, há duas portas, lado a lado.
The doors are identical - in shape and design and color - you cannot tell the difference between one door and the other.
As portas são idênticas - em forma, design e cor - você não pode ver a diferença entre uma porta e outra.
It is the responsibility of the person on trial to walk directly to these doors and open one of them.
É responsabilidade da pessoa em julgamento caminhar diretamente para essas portas e abrir uma delas.
He can choose to open either door.
Ele pode escolher abrir qualquer uma das portas.
No one guides him or influences him except impartial and incorruptible chance.
Ninguém o guia ou influencia, exceto o acaso imparcial e incorruptível.
Behind one of the identical doors is a tiger! The strongest and cruelest tiger the king can find.
Atrás de uma das portas idênticas está um tigre! O tigre mais forte e cruel que o rei pode encontrar.
When the accused person opens that door, the tiger jumps out and immediately catches him and rips him to pieces!
Quando o acusado abre aquela porta, o tigre salta e imediatamente o pega e o rasga em pedaços!
This is the “punishment” for his guilt.
Este é o “castigo” por sua culpa.
The moment the case of the criminal is decided like this, melancholy bells ring in the city, and the large audience walks slowly home.
No momento em que o caso do criminoso é decidido assim, os sinos melancólicos tocam na cidade, e a grande platéia caminha lentamente para casa.
The people are sad that a citizen so young and handsome, or so old and respected, is guilty and had to die.
As pessoas estão tristes que um cidadão tão jovem e bonito, ou tão velho e respeitado, seja culpado e tenha que morrer.
But, if the accused person opens the other door, a beautiful woman comes out!
Mas, se o acusado abre a outra porta, sai uma linda mulher!
The king chooses the most appropriate woman for the age and position of the person on trial.
O rei escolhe a mulher mais apropriada para a idade e posição da pessoa em julgamento.
The man then immediately marries the woman, as a reward for his innocence.
O homem então se casa imediatamente com a mulher, como recompensa por sua inocência.
It does not matter if he already has a wife and family, or if he is already in love with a different person he chose himself.
Não importa se ele já tem esposa e família, ou se já está apaixonado por outra pessoa que ele mesmo escolheu.
The king does not care about that, and he does not allow any previous arrangements to interfere with his great idea of punishment and reward.
O rei não se importa com isso e não permite que nenhum arranjo anterior interfira em sua grande ideia de punição e recompensa.
This wedding takes place immediately in the center of the arena, in front of the king and all his citizens.
Este casamento ocorre imediatamente no centro da arena, na frente do rei e de todos os seus cidadãos.
Another door opens below the king.
Outra porta se abre abaixo do rei.
A priest and many musicians and dancing girls come from the door.
Um sacerdote e muitos músicos e dançarinas vêm da porta.
They approach the innocent man and the woman, and quickly and happily perform the wedding ceremony.
Eles se aproximam do homem inocente e da mulher e realizam a cerimônia de casamento rápida e alegremente.
Then bells of celebration ring in the city!
Então os sinos de celebração tocam na cidade!
The people shout with happiness, and the innocent man takes his new bride to his home.
O povo grita de felicidade, e o homem inocente leva sua nova noiva para sua casa.
This is how our semi-barbaric king administered justice.
É assim que nosso rei semi-bárbaro administrava a justiça.
To him, it was perfectly fair.
Para ele, era perfeitamente justo.
The criminal opened the door the criminal wanted.
O criminoso abriu a porta que o criminoso queria.
And he did not have any idea if he was going to be killed and eaten by a hungry tiger or married to a beautiful woman.
E ele não fazia ideia se seria morto e comido por um tigre faminto ou casado com uma bela mulher.
Sometimes the tiger came out of one door, and other times it came out of the other door.
Às vezes o tigre saía por uma porta, e outras vezes saía pela outra porta.
The decisions of these tribunals were not only fair, they were immediate and definite.
As decisões desses tribunais não eram apenas justas, eram imediatas e definitivas.
The accused person was instantly punished if he found himself guilty, or he was rewarded on the spot if he found himself innocent, whether he liked it or not.
O acusado era punido instantaneamente se ele se considerasse culpado, ou era recompensado na hora se ele se considerasse inocente, gostasse ou não.
The accused person could not escape the decisions of the king's arena.
O acusado não poderia escapar das decisões da arena do rei.
The citizens liked these trials very much.
Os cidadãos gostaram muito desses julgamentos.
When they came to the arena on trial days, they never knew if they were going to watch a horrible, bloody death or a wonderful, joyful wedding.
Quando eles vinham para a arena nos dias de julgamento, eles nunca sabiam se iriam assistir a uma morte horrível e sangrenta ou a um casamento maravilhoso e alegre.
This element of unpredictability made the occasion especially interesting.
Esse elemento de imprevisibilidade tornou a ocasião especialmente interessante.
In this way, the king entertained his people and they were happy.
Desta forma, o rei entreteve seu povo e eles ficaram felizes.
Even the citizens who had doubts about this kind of justice could not say that the trial was unfair - the accused person was able to make the decision for himself, wasn’t he?
Mesmo os cidadãos que tinham dúvidas sobre esse tipo de justiça não podiam dizer que o julgamento foi injusto - o acusado foi capaz de tomar a decisão por si mesmo, não foi?
TO BE CONTINUED…
CONTINUA…