Once upon a time there
lived in a certain village a little country girl, the prettiest creature who
was ever seen. Her mother was excessively fond of her; and her grandmother
doted on her still more. This good woman had a little red riding hood made for her.
It suited the girl so extremely well that everybody called her Little Red
Riding Hood.
One day her mother,
having made some cakes, said to her, "Go, my dear, and see how your
grandmother is doing, for I hear she has been very ill. Take her a cake, and
this little pot of butter."
Little Red Riding Hood
set out immediately to go to her grandmother, who lived in another village.
As she was going through
the wood, she met with a wolf, who had a very great mind to eat her up, but he
dared not, because of some woodcutters working nearby in the forest. He asked
her where she was going. The poor child, who did not know that it was dangerous
to stay and talk to a wolf, said to him, "I am going to see my grandmother
and carry her a cake and a little pot of butter from my mother."
"Does she live far
off?" said the wolf
"Oh I say,"
answered Little Red Riding Hood; "it is beyond that mill you see there, at
the first house in the village."
"Well," said
the wolf, "and I'll go and see her too. I'll go this way and go you that,
and we shall see who will be there first."
The wolf ran as fast as
he could, taking the shortest path, and the little girl took a roundabout way,
entertaining herself by gathering nuts, running after butterflies, and
gathering bouquets of little flowers. It was not long before the wolf arrived
at the old woman's house. He knocked at the door: tap, tap.
"Who's there?"
"Your grandchild,
Little Red Riding Hood," replied the wolf, counterfeiting her voice;
"who has brought you a cake and a little pot of butter sent you by
mother."
The good grandmother, who
was in bed, because she was somewhat ill, cried out, "Pull the bobbin, and
the latch will go up."
The wolf pulled the
bobbin, and the door opened, and then he immediately fell upon the good woman
and ate her up in a moment, for it been more than three days since he had
eaten. He then shut the door and got into the grandmother's bed, expecting
Little Red Riding Hood, who came some time afterwards and knocked at the door:
tap, tap.
"Who's there?"
Little Red Riding Hood,
hearing the big voice of the wolf, was at first afraid; but believing her
grandmother had a cold and was hoarse, answered, "It is your grandchild
Little Red Riding Hood, who has brought you a cake and a little pot of butter mother
sends you."
The wolf cried out to
her, softening his voice as much as he could, "Pull the bobbin, and the
latch will go up."
Little Red Riding Hood
pulled the bobbin, and the door opened.
The wolf, seeing her come
in, said to her, hiding himself under the bedclothes, "Put the cake and
the little pot of butter upon the stool, and come get into bed with me."
Little Red Riding Hood
took off her clothes and got into bed. She was greatly amazed to see how her
grandmother looked in her nightclothes, and said to her, "Grandmother,
what big arms you have!"
"All the better to
hug you with, my dear."
"Grandmother, what
big legs you have!"
"All the better to
run with, my child."
"Grandmother, what
big ears you have!"
"All the better to
hear with, my child."
"Grandmother, what
big eyes you have!"
"All the better to
see with, my child."
"Grandmother, what
big teeth you have got!"
"All the better to
eat you up with."
And, saying these words,
this wicked wolf fell upon Little Red Riding Hood, and ate her all up.
Moral: Children, especially attractive, well bred
young ladies, should never talk to strangers, for if they should do so, they
may well provide dinner for a wolf. I say "wolf," but there are
various kinds of wolves. There are also those who are charming, quiet, polite,
unassuming, complacent, and sweet, who pursue young women at home and in the
streets. And unfortunately, it is these gentle wolves who are the most
dangerous ones of all.
Esta es una de las primeras traducciones de Perrault, sacada de: Andrew
Lang, The Blue Fairy Book, 5th
edition (London: Longmans, Green, and Company, 1891), pp. 51-53
En el original francés viene a decir:
En el original francés viene a decir:
Le Petit Chaperon rouge
Il était une fois une petite fille de Village, la plus jolie qu’on eût su
voir ; sa mère en était folle, et sa mère-grand plus folle encore. Cette bonne
femme lui fit faire un petit chaperon rouge, qui lui seyait si bien, que
partout on l’appelait le Petit Chaperon rouge.
Un jour, sa mère, ayant cuit et fait des galettes, lui dit : Va voir comme
se porte ta mère-grand, car on m’a dit qu’elle était malade. Porte-lui une
galette et ce petit pot de beurre. Le Petit Chaperon rouge partit aussitôt pour
aller chez sa mère-grand, qui demeurait dans un autre Village. En passant dans
un bois elle rencontra compère le Loup, qui eut bien envie de la manger ; mais
il n’osa, à cause de quelques Bûcherons qui étaient dans la Forêt. Il lui
demanda où elle allait ; la pauvre enfant, qui ne savait pas qu’il est
dangereux de s’arrêter à écouter un Loup, lui dit : Je vais voir ma Mère-grand,
et lui porter une galette, avec un petit pot de beurre, que ma Mère lui envoie.
Demeure-t-elle bien loin ? lui dit le Loup.
Oh ! oui, dit le Petit Chaperon rouge, c’est par-delà le moulin que vous
voyez tout là-bas, à la première maison du Village. Eh bien, dit le Loup, je
veux l’aller voir aussi ; je m’y en vais par ce chemin-ci, et toi par ce
chemin-là, et nous verrons qui plus tôt y sera. Le loup se mit à courir de
toute sa force par le chemin qui était le plus court, et la petite fille s’en
alla par le chemin le plus long, s’amusant à cueillir des noisettes, à courir
après des papillons, et à faire des bouquets des petites fleurs qu’elle rencontrait.
Le loup ne fut pas longtemps à arriver à la maison de la Mère-grand ; il
heurte : Toc, toc. Qui est là ? C’est votre fille le Petit Chaperon rouge (dit
le Loup, en contrefaisant sa voix) qui vous apporte une galette et un petit pot
de beurre que ma Mère vous envoie. La bonne Mère-grand, qui était dans son lit
à cause qu’elle se trouvait un peu mal, lui cria : Tire la chevillette, la
bobinette cherra. Le Loup tira la chevillette et la porte s’ouvrit. Il se jeta
sur la bonne femme, et la dévora en moins de rien ; car il y avait plus de
trois jours qu’il n’avait mangé. Ensuite il ferma la porte, et s’alla coucher
dans le lit de la Mère-grand, en attendant le Petit Chaperon rouge, qui quelque
temps après vint heurter à la porte. Toc, toc.
Qui est là ? Le Petit Chaperon rouge, qui entendit la grosse voix du Loup
eut peur d’abord, mais croyant que sa Mère-grand était enrhumée, répondit :
C’est votre fille le Petit Chaperon rouge, qui vous apporte une galette et un
petit pot de beurre que ma Mère vous envoie. Le Loup lui cria en adoucissant un
peu sa voix : Tire la chevillette, la bobinette cherra. Le Petit Chaperon rouge
tira la chevillette, et la porte s’ouvrit.
Le Loup, la voyant entrer, lui dit en se cachant dans le lit sous la
couverture : Mets la galette et le petit pot de beurre sur la huche, et viens
te coucher avec moi. Le Petit Chaperon rouge se déshabille, et va se mettre
dans le lit, où elle fut bien étonnée de voir comment sa Mère-grand était faite
en son déshabillé. Elle lui dit : Ma mère-grand, que vous avez de grands bras ?
C’est pour mieux t’embrasser, ma fille.
Ma mère-grand, que vous avez de grandes jambes ? C’est pour mieux courir,
mon enfant. Ma mère-grand, que vous avez de grandes oreilles ? C’est pour mieux
écouter, mon enfant. Ma mère-grand, que vous avez de grands yeux ? C’est pour
mieux voir, mon enfant. Ma mère-grand, que vous avez de grandes dents. C’est
pour te manger. Et en disant ces mots, ce méchant Loup se jeta sur le Petit
Chaperon rouge, et la mangea.
MORALITÉ
On voit ici que de jeunes enfants,
Surtout de jeunes filles
Belles, bien faites, et gentilles,
Font très mal d’écouter toute sorte de gens,
Et que ce n’est pas chose étrange,
S’il en est tant que le Loup mange.
Je dis le Loup, car tous les Loups
Ne sont pas de la même sorte ;
Il en est d’une humeur accorte,
Sans bruit, sans fiel et sans courroux,
Qui privés, complaisants et doux,
Suivent les jeunes Demoiselles
Jusque dans les maisons, jusque dans les ruelles ;
Mais hélas ! qui ne sait que ces Loups doucereux,
De tous les Loups sont les plus dangereux.
Lo que quiere decir, más o menos (traduzco del inglés, no del francés):
Había una vez una niña pequeña, que vivía en una pequeña aldea de un pequeño país, era sin duda la más bonita criatura que jamás fue vista. Su madre estaba superencariñada con ella, y su abuela la quería aún más.
Un día, esta buena mujer le hizo a su nieta una caperucita roja con capa. Y como le sentaba tan bien y estaba tan guapa con ella todo el mundo la llamaba Caperucita Roja.
Un día su madre, después de haber hecho unos bollos al horno, le dijo: "Ve, hija mía, a ver cómo está tu abuela, que me han dicho que está muy enferma, y de paso llévale este bollo y este tarrito de mantequilla."
Caperucita Roja se levantó al momento para ir a ver a su abuela, que vivía en otro pueblo.
Pero a poco que se adentró en el bosque, se encontró con un lobo, que tenía unas ganas enormes de comérsela, aunque en ese momento no se atrevió porque había unos leñadores que trabajaban cerca. Entonces le preguntó a dónde iba. La pobre niña, que no sabía que era peligroso quedarse y hablar con un lobo, le dijo: "Voy a ver a mi abuela y a llevarle este bollo y esta tarrito de mantequilla que me ha dado mi madre."
"¿Vive muy lejos?" dijo el lobo
"Oh, no -respondió Caperucita Roja- está más allá del molino que ves allí, en la primera casa en el pueblo."
"Bueno", dijo el lobo, "yo voy a ir también. Voy a ir por este camino, veremos quién llega antes."
El lobo corrió tan rápido como pudo, y por el camino más corto. Mientras la niña se entretenía recogiendo nueces y flores, y persiguiendo mariposas.
Como era de esperar, el lobo llegó antes a la casa de la anciana y llamó a la puerta: toc, toc.
"¿Quién anda ahí?"
"Tu nieta, Caperucita Roja," contestó el lobo, con voz de falsete, "Te he traído un bollo y un tarrito de mantequilla de mi madre."
La buena abuela, que estaba en la cama, porque estaba un poco enferma, exclamó: "Entra, está abierta."
El lobo abrió la puerta, e inmediatamente cayó sobre la buena mujer y se la comió de un bocado, porque llevaba más de tres días sin comer. Luego cerró la puerta y se metió en la cama de la abuela, a la espera de Caperucita Roja, que llegó más tarde y llamó a la puerta: toc, toc.
"¿Quién anda ahí?"
Caperucita roja, al oir la voz ronca del lobo sintió miedo, pero pensó que su abuela tenía un resfriado y estaba ronca, respondió: "Soy tu nieta Caperucita Roja, que te he traído un bollo y un tarrito de mantequila de parte de mi madre."
El lobo, suavizando la voz tanto como pudo, dijo: "Entra, está abierto"
Caperucita Roja abrió la puerta, y el lobo, al verla entrar, le dijo, ocultándose debajo de las sábanas, "Pon el bollo y el tarrito de mantequilla en el taburete, y ven a la cama conmigo."
Caperucita Roja se desnudó y se metió en la cama. Se sorprendió al ver cómo su abuela se embozaba en su ropa de cama, y le dijo: "Abuela, ¡qué brazos tan grandes tienes!"
"Son para abrazarte con cariño mejor".
"Abuela, ¡qué piernas tan grandes tienes!"
"Son para correr mejor, hija mía."
"Abuela, ¡qué orejas tan grandes tienes!"
"Son para escucharte mejor, mi niña."
"Abuela, ¡qué ojos tan grandes tienes!"
"Son para verte mejor, hija mía."
"Abuela, ¡qué dientes tan grandes tienes!"
"¡Son para comerte mejor!"
Y diciendo estas palabras, el malvado lobo cayó sobre Caperucita Roja, y se la comió toda.
Moraleja: Las niñas guapas y bien educadas nunca deben hablar con extraños, ya que si lo hacen bien puede ser la cena de un lobo. Digo "lobo", pero hay varios tipos de lobos. También están aquellos que son encantadores, tranquilos, amables, complacientes y sin pretensiones, y dulces, que persiguen a las mujeres jóvenes en el hogar y en las calles. Y, por desgracia, son estos lobos suaves que son los más peligrosos de todos.
La versión de los hermanos Grimm (Kinder und
Hausmärchen, 1st
ed. (Berlin
Once upon a time there was a sweet little girl. Everyone who saw her liked her, but most of all her grandmother, who did not know what to give the child next. Once she gave her a little cap made of red velvet. Because it suited her so well, and she wanted to wear it all the time, she came to be known as Little Red Cap.
One day her mother said to her, "Come Little Red Cap. Here is a piece of cake and a bottle of wine. Take them to your grandmother. She is sick and weak, and they will do her well. Mind your manners and give her my greetings. Behave yourself on the way, and do not leave the path, or you might fall down and break the glass, and then there will be nothing for your sick grandmother."
Little Red Cap promised to obey her mother. The grandmother lived out in the woods, a half hour from the village. When Little Red Cap entered the woods a wolf came up to her. She did not know what a wicked animal he was, and was not afraid of him.
"Good day to you, Little Red Cap."
"Thank you, wolf."
"Where are you going so early, Little Red Cap?"
"To grandmother's."
"And what are you carrying under your apron?"
"Grandmother is sick and weak, and I am taking her some cake and wine. We baked yesterday, and they should give her strength."
"Little Red Cap, just where does your grandmother live?"
"Her house is a good quarter hour from here in the woods, under the three large oak trees. There's a hedge of hazel bushes there. You must know the place," said Little Red Cap.
The wolf thought to himself, "Now there is a tasty bite for me. Just how are you going to catch her?" Then he said, "Listen, Little Red Cap, haven't you seen the beautiful flowers that are blossoming in the woods? Why don't you go and take a look? And I don't believe you can hear how beautifully the birds are singing. You are walking along as though you were on your way to school in the village. It is very beautiful in the woods."
Little Red Cap opened her eyes and saw the sunlight breaking through the trees and how the ground was covered with beautiful flowers. She thought, "If a take a bouquet to grandmother, she will be very pleased. Anyway, it is still early, and I'll be home on time." And she ran off into the woods looking for flowers. Each time she picked one she thought that she could see an even more beautiful one a little way off, and she ran after it, going further and further into the woods. But the wolf ran straight to the grandmother's house and knocked on the door.
"Who's there?"
"Little Red Cap. I'm bringing you some cake and wine. Open the door for me."
"Just press the latch," called out the grandmother. "I'm too weak to get up."
The wolf pressed the latch, and the door opened. He stepped inside, went straight to the grandmother's bed, and ate her up. Then he took her clothes, put them on, and put her cap on his head. He got into her bed and pulled the curtains shut.
Little Red Cap had run after flowers, and did not continue on her way to grandmother's until she had gathered all that she could carry. When she arrived, she found, to her surprise, that the door was open. She walked into the parlor, and everything looked so strange that she thought, "Oh, my God, why am I so afraid? I usually like it at grandmother's." Then she went to the bed and pulled back the curtains. Grandmother was lying there with her cap pulled down over her face and looking very strange.
"Oh, grandmother, what big ears you have!"
"All the better to hear you with."
"Oh, grandmother, what big eyes you have!"
"All the better to see you with."
"Oh, grandmother, what big hands you have!"
"All the better to grab you with!"
"Oh, grandmother, what a horribly big mouth you have!"
"All the better to eat you with!" And with that he jumped out of bed, jumped on top of poor Little Red Cap, and ate her up. As soon as the wolf had finished this tasty bite, he climbed back into bed, fell asleep, and began to snore very loudly.
A huntsman was just passing by. He thought it strange that the old woman was snoring so loudly, so he decided to take a look. He stepped inside, and in the bed there lay the wolf that he had been hunting for such a long time. "He has eaten the grandmother, but perhaps she still can be saved. I won't shoot him," thought the huntsman. So he took a pair of scissors and cut open his belly.
He had cut only a few strokes when he saw the red cap shining through. He cut a little more, and the girl jumped out and cried, "Oh, I was so frightened! It was so dark inside the wolf's body!"
And then the grandmother came out alive as well. Then Little Red Cap fetched some large heavy stones. They filled the wolf's body with them, and when he woke up and tried to run away, the stones were so heavy that he fell down dead.
The three of them were happy. The huntsman took the wolf's pelt. The grandmother ate the cake and drank the wine that Little Red Cap had brought. And Little Red Cap thought to herself, "As long as I live, I will never leave the path and run off into the woods by myself if mother tells me not to."
They also tell how Little Red Cap was taking some baked things to her grandmother another time, when another wolf spoke to her and wanted her to leave the path. But Little Red Cap took care and went straight to grandmother's. She told her that she had seen the wolf, and that he had wished her a good day, but had stared at her in a wicked manner. "If we hadn't been on a public road, he would have eaten me up," she said.
"Come," said the grandmother. "Let's lock the door, so he can't get in."
Soon afterward the wolf knocked on the door and called out, "Open up, grandmother. It's Little Red Cap, and I'm bringing you some baked things."
They remained silent, and did not open the door. The wicked one walked around the house several times, and finally jumped onto the roof. He wanted to wait until Little Red Cap went home that evening, then follow her and eat her up in the darkness. But the grandmother saw what he was up to. There was a large stone trough in front of the house.
"Fetch a bucket, Little Red Cap," she said. "Yesterday I cooked some sausage. Carry the water that I boiled them with to the trough." Little Red Cap carried water until the large, large trough was clear full. The smell of sausage arose into the wolf's nose. He sniffed and looked down, stretching his neck so long that he could no longer hold himself, and he began to slide. He slid off the roof, fell into the trough, and drowned. And Little Red Cap returned home happily and safely.
