The Empty Pot
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"The Empty Pot" is an enchanting tale that takes us on a journey into the heart of honesty, integrity, and courage. Set in ancient China, “The Empty Pot” follows the story of a young boy named Ping who loved taking care of his garden and making flowers bloom. One day, the Emperor of China announced a special contest to choose the next ruler of China. He gave all the children seeds and said they must grow the most beautiful plant. The winner would become the new Emperor. “The Empty Pot” was written by Demi, a children’s book author and illustrator. It was published in 1990. During her career Demi has published over 300 titles.
"The Empty Pot" teaches us that it's better to be honest, even if we face challenges or failures. Being true to ourselves and standing by our principles is more important than pretending to be something we're not. Ping's story shows us the value of honesty, courage, and being genuine in everything we do. So, remember, it's okay to make mistakes or face difficulties. Be honest, stay true to yourself, and have the courage to be who you are. That's what makes someone truly special.
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"O Pote Vazio" é um conto encantador que nos leva a uma viagem ao coração da honestidade, integridade e coragem. Situado na China antiga, “O Pote Vazio” segue a história de um menino chamado Ping, que adorava cuidar de seu jardim e fazer as flores desabrocharem. Um dia, o imperador da China anunciou um concurso especial para escolher o próximo imperador da China. Ele deu sementes a todas as crianças e disse que deveriam cultivar a planta mais bonita. O vencedor se tornaria o novo imperador. "O Pote Vazio" foi escrito por Demi, autora e ilustradora de livros infantis. Foi publicado em 1990. Durante sua carreira, Demi publicou mais de 300 títulos."O Pote Vazio" nos ensina que é melhor ser honesto, mesmo que enfrentemos desafios ou fracassos. Ser fiel a nós mesmos e defender nossos princípios é mais importante do que fingir ser algo que não somos. A história de Ping nos mostra o valor da honestidade, da coragem e da autenticidade em tudo o que fazemos. Então, lembre-se, não há problema em cometer erros ou enfrentar dificuldades. Seja honesto, permaneça fiel a si mesmo e tenha a coragem de ser quem você é. É isso que torna alguém verdadeiramente especial.
A TRADUÇÃO em PORTUGUÊS está no final do texto
The Empty Pot
1
A long time ago in China there was a boy named Ping who loved flowers. Anything he planted burst into bloom. Up came flowers, bushes, and even big fruit trees, as if by magic!
2
Everyone in the kingdom loved flowers too.
3
They planted them everywhere, and the air smelled like perfume.
4
The Emperor loved birds and animals, but flowers most of all, and he tended his own garden every day.
5
But the Emperor was very old. He needed to choose a successor to the throne.
6
Who would his successor be? And how would the Emperor choose? Because the Emperor loved flowers so much, he decided to let the flowers choose.
7
The next day a proclamation was issued: All the children in the land were to come to the palace. There they would be given special flower seeds by the Emperor. "Whoever can show me their best in a year's time," he said, "will succeed me to the throne."
8
This news created great excitement throughout the land! Children from all over the country swarmed to the palace to get their flower seeds.
9
All the parents wanted their children to be chosen Emperor, and all the children hoped they would be chosen too!
10
When Ping received his seed from the Emperor, he was the happiest child of all. He was sure he could grow the most beautiful flower.
11
Ping filled a flowerpot with rich soil. He planted the seed in it very carefully.
12
He watered it every day. He couldn't wait to see it sprout, grow, and bloom into a beautiful flower!
13
Day after day passed, but nothing grew in his pot.
14
Ping was very worried. He put new soil into a bigger pot.
15
Then he transferred the seed into the rich black soil.
16
Another two months he waited. Still nothing happened.
17
By and by the whole year passed.
18
Spring came, and all the children put on their best clothes to greet the Emperor.
19
They rushed to the palace with their beautiful flowers, eagerly hoping to be chosen.
20
Ping was ashamed of his empty pot. He thought the other children would laugh at him because for once he couldn't get a flower to grow.
21
His clever friend ran by, holding a great big plant. "Ping!" he said. "You're not really going to the Emperor with an empty pot, are you? Couldn't you grow a great big flower like mine?"
"I've grown lots of flowers better than yours," Ping said. "It's just this seed that won't grow."
22
Ping's father overheard this and said, "You did your best, and your best is good enough to present to the Emperor."
23
Holding the empty pot in his hands, Ping went straight away to the palace.
24
The Emperor was looking at the flowers slowly, one by one.
25
How beautiful all the flowers were! But the Emperor was frowning and did not say a word.
26
Finally he came to Ping. Ping hung his head in shame, expecting to be punished.
27
The Emperor asked him, “Why did you bring an empty pot?”
28
Ping started to cry and replied, "I planted the seed you gave me and I watered it every day, but it didn't sprout. I put it in a better pot with better soil, but it still didn't sprout! I tended it all year long, but nothing grew. So today I had to bring an empty pot without a flower. It was the best I could do."
29
When the Emperor heard these words, a smile slowly spread over his face, and he put his arm around Ping. Then he exclaimed to one and all, "I have found him! I have found the one person worthy of being Emperor!”
"Where you got your seeds from, I do not know. For the seeds I gave you had all been cooked. So it was impossible for any of them to grow.”
30
"I admire Ping's great courage to appear before me with the empty truth, and now I reward him with my entire kingdom and make him Emperor of all the land!"
TRADUÇÃO
1.
A long time ago in China there was a boy named Ping who loved flowers. Anything he planted burst into bloom. Up came flowers, bushes, and even big fruit trees, as if by magic!
Há muito tempo, na China, vivia um menino chamado Ping, que adorava flores. Tudo o que ele plantava florescia maravilhosamente. Flores, arbustos e até imensas árvores frutíferas desabrochavam como por encanto.
2.
Everyone in the kingdom loved flowers too.
Todos os habitantes do reino também adoravam flores.
3.
They planted them everywhere, and the air smelled like perfume.
Eles plantavam flores por toda a parte e o ar do país inteiro era perfumado.
4.
The Emperor loved birds and animals, but flowers most of all, and he tended his own garden every day.
O Imperador gostava muito de pássaros e outros animais, mas o que ele mais apreciava eram as flores. Todos os dias ele cuidava de seu próprio jardim.
5.
But the Emperor was very old. He needed to choose a successor to the throne.
Acontece que o Imperador estava muito velho e precisava escolher um sucessor.
6.
Who would his successor be? And how would the Emperor choose? Because the Emperor loved flowers so much, he decided to let the flowers choose.
Quem podia herdar seu trono? Como fazer essa escolha? Já que gostava muito de flores, o Imperador resolveu deixar as flores escolherem.
7.
The next day a proclamation was issued: All the children in the land were to come to the palace. There they would be given special flower seeds by the Emperor. "Whoever can show me their best in a year's time," he said, "will succeed me to the throne."
No dia seguinte, ele mandou anunciar que todas as crianças do reino deveriam comparecer ao palácio. Cada uma delas receberia do Imperador uma semente especial. “Quem provar que fez o melhor possível dentro de um ano,” ele declarou, “será meu sucessor.”
8.
This news created great excitement throughout the land! Children from all over the country swarmed to the palace to get their flower seeds.
A notícia provocou muita agitação. Crianças do país inteiro dirigiram-se ao palácio para pegar suas sementes de flores.
9.
All the parents wanted their children to be chosen Emperor, and all the children hoped they would be chosen too!
Cada um dos pais queria que seu filho fosse escolhido para ser o Imperador, e cada uma das crianças tinha a mesma esperança.
10.
When Ping received his seed from the Emperor, he was the happiest child of all. He was sure he could grow the most beautiful flower.
Ping recebeu sua semente do Imperador e ficou felicíssimo. Tinha certeza de que seria capaz de cultivar a flor mais bonita de todas.
11.
Ping filled a flowerpot with rich soil. He planted the seed in it very carefully.
Ping encheu o vaso com terra de boa qualidade e plantou a semente com muito cuidado.
12.
He watered it every day. He couldn't wait to see it sprout, grow, and bloom into a beautiful flower!
Todos os dias ele regava o vaso. Mal podia esperar o broto surgir, crescer e depois dar uma linda flor.
13.
Day after day passed, but nothing grew in his pot.
Os dias se passaram, mas nada crescia no vaso.
14.
Ping was very worried. He put new soil into a bigger pot.
Ping começou a ficar preocupado. Pôs terra nova e melhor num vaso maior.
15.
Then he transferred the seed into the rich black soil.
Depois transplantou a semente para aquela terra escura e fértil.
16.
Another two months he waited. Still nothing happened.
Esperou mais dois meses e nada aconteceu.
17.
By and by the whole year passed.
Assim se passou o ano inteiro.
18.
Spring came, and all the children put on their best clothes to greet the Emperor.
Chegou a primavera e todas as crianças vestiram suas melhores roupas para irem cumprimentar o Imperador.
19.
They rushed to the palace with their beautiful flowers, eagerly hoping to be chosen.
Então correram ao palácio com suas lindas flores, ansiosas por serem escolhidas.
20.
Ping was ashamed of his empty pot. He thought the other children would laugh at him because for once he couldn't get a flower to grow.
Ping estava com vergonha de seu vaso sem flor. Achou que as outras crianças zombariam dele porque pela primeira vez na vida não tinha conseguido cultivar uma flor.
21.
His clever friend ran by, holding a great big plant. "Ping!" he said. "You're not really going to the Emperor with an empty pot, are you? Couldn't you grow a great big flower like mine?"
Seu amigo apareceu correndo, trazendo uma planta enorme. “Ping,” disse. “Você vai mesmo se apresentar ao Imperador levando um vaso sem flor? Por que não cultivou uma flor bem grande como a minha?”
"I've grown lots of flowers better than yours," Ping said. "It's just this seed that won't grow."
”Eu já cultivei muitas flores melhores do que a sua,” disse Ping. “Foi essa semente que não deu nada.”
22.
Ping's father overheard this and said, "You did your best, and your best is good enough to present to the Emperor."
O pai de Ping ouviu a conversa e disse, “Você fez o melhor que pôde, e o possível deve ser apresentado ao Imperador.”
23.
Holding the empty pot in his hands, Ping went straight away to the palace.
Ping dirigiu-se ao palácio levando o vaso sem flor.
24.
The Emperor was looking at the flowers slowly, one by one.
O Imperador estava examinando as flores vagarosamente, uma por uma.
25.
How beautiful all the flowers were! But the Emperor was frowning and did not say a word.
Como eram bonitas! Mas o Imperador estava muito sério e não dizia uma palavra.
26.
Finally he came to Ping. Ping hung his head in shame, expecting to be punished.
Finalmente chegou à vez de Ping. O menino estava envergonhado, esperando um castigo.
27.
The Emperor asked him, “Why did you bring an empty pot?”
O Imperador perguntou, “Por que você trouxe um vaso sem flor?”
28.
Ping started to cry and replied, "I planted the seed you gave me and I watered it every day, but it didn't sprout. I put it in a better pot with better soil, but it still didn't sprout! I tended it all year long, but nothing grew. So today I had to bring an empty pot without a flower. It was the best I could do."
Ping começou a chorar e respondeu, “Eu plantei a semente que o senhor me deu e a reguei todos os dias, mas ela não brotou. Eu a coloquei num vaso maior com terra melhor, e mesmo assim ela não brotou. Eu cuidei dela o ano todo, mas não deu nada. Por isso hoje eu trouxe um pote vazio. Foi o melhor que eu pude fazer.”
29.
When the Emperor heard these words, a smile slowly spread over his face, and he put his arm around Ping. Then he exclaimed to one and all, "I have found him! I have found the one person worthy of being Emperor!”
Quando o Imperador ouviu essas palavras, um sorriso foi se abrindo em seu rosto e ele abraçou Ping. Então ele declarou para todos ouvirem, “Encontrei! Encontrei alguém que merece ser Imperador!”
"Where you got your seeds from, I do not know. For the seeds I gave you had all been cooked. So it was impossible for any of them to grow.”
"Não sei onde vocês conseguiram essas sementes, pois as que eu lhes dei estavam todas queimadas. Nenhuma delas poderia ter brotado.”
30.
"I admire Ping's great courage to appear before me with the empty truth, and now I reward him with my entire kingdom and make him Emperor of all the land!"
"Admiro a coragem de Ping, que apareceu diante de mim trazendo a pura verdade. Vou recompensá-lo e torná-lo Imperador deste país.”
