The tortoise is in the water,
she lives in and out of the water,
look how she swims, swims,
in order to leave the beach.
She goes slowly, on her way,
with the weight of her cloak
yellow, silver-green
it is so hard to walk.
One, two, three, four,
the tortoise is going.
One, two, three, four,
leave her to her way.
One, two, three, four,
the tortoise now is gone.
One, two, three, four,
I will follow her another time.
The poor tortoise
neither nibbles nor eats,
and has her nest
on the green shore.
One, two, three, four,
the tortoise is going.
One, two, three, four,
leave her to her way.
The tortoise already in her nest
had four little tortoises,
and the four have left
dragging their little feet.
They have gone to the water to swim,
poor little innocents,
oh! that the river, with its current,
may carry them to the sea.