The Swindler
O Trapaceiro
In a busy kingdom long ago, a charming man named Simon travels from town to town. He dresses in fine clothes and claims to be a wealthy diamond merchant. When Simon meets lonely young women, he shows them pictures of gold and jewels. He takes them to expensive dinners and buys them beautiful gifts. But Simon has a dangerous secret that will change many lives forever.
Listen well, children, to this tale of a clever thief.
Ouçam bem, crianças, esta história de um ladrão esperto.
In a busy kingdom, there lived a man named Simon.
Num reino movimentado, vivia um homem chamado Simon.
He was not rich, but he wanted people to think he was.
Ele não era rico, mas queria que as pessoas pensassem que era.
Simon had many magic talking boxes that could reach people far away.
Simon tinha muitas caixas mágicas que podiam falar com pessoas de longe.
Simon found lonely young women in the kingdom.
O Simon encontrou mulheres jovens solitárias no reino.
He sent them pictures of himself wearing fine clothes.
Ele enviou-lhes fotos dele vestido com roupas finas.
He showed them gold coins and jewels that were not his.
Mostrou-lhes moedas de ouro e jóias que não eram dele.
"I am a diamond merchant," he told them.
"Sou um comerciante de diamantes", disse-lhes.
"I travel to far lands and buy precious stones."
"Viajo para terras longínquas e compro pedras preciosas".
The women thought Simon was wonderful.
As mulheres achavam o Simon maravilhoso.
He was handsome and seemed very rich.
Ele era bonito e parecia muito rico.
He took them to expensive inns for dinner.
Levava-as a jantar em pousadas caras.
He bought them beautiful gifts.
Ele comprou-lhes presentes lindos.
But Simon paid for everything with borrowed money.
Mas o Simon pagou tudo com dinheiro emprestado.
After some weeks, Simon would send urgent messages.
Depois de algumas semanas, Simon enviava mensagens urgentes.
"Help me!
"Ajudem-me!
Bad men are chasing me!
Há homens maus atrás de mim!
They want to steal my diamonds!
Querem roubar os meus diamantes!
I need gold coins quickly, or they will hurt me!"
Eu preciso de moedas de ouro rapidamente, ou eles vão me machucar!"
The women loved Simon.
As mulheres amavam o Simon.
They wanted to save him.
Queriam salvá-lo.
Some women gave him hundreds of gold coins.
Algumas mulheres deram-lhe centenas de moedas de ouro.
Others sold their houses and horses to help him.
Outros venderam suas casas e cavalos para ajudá-lo.
But Simon was lying.
Mas o Simon estava a mentir.
There were no bad men.
Não havia homens maus.
There were no diamonds.
Não havia diamantes.
Simon took the money and disappeared.
O Simon levou o dinheiro e desapareceu.
He moved to new towns and found new women to trick.
Ele mudou-se para novas cidades e encontrou novas mulheres para enganar.
One brave woman named Anna lost all her money to Simon.
Uma mulher corajosa chamada Anna perdeu todo o seu dinheiro com Simon.
She was very angry.
Ela estava muito zangada.
Anna found other women who had been tricked.
A Anna encontrou outras mulheres que tinham sido enganadas.
Together, they went to the king's guards.
Juntos, foram para os guardas do rei.
The guards caught Simon.
Os guardas apanharam o Simon.
He had stolen thousands of gold coins from many women.
Ele tinha roubado milhares de moedas de ouro de muitas mulheres.
Simon went to prison, but most of the women never got their money back.
O Simon foi preso, mas a maioria das mulheres nunca recuperou o dinheiro.
Remember this story, children.
Lembrem-se desta história, crianças.
Pretty words and shiny things do not always tell the truth.
Palavras bonitas e coisas brilhantes nem sempre dizem a verdade.