Hapo zamani za kale kulikuwa na watoto kumi na wawili wa mfalme – wavulana kumi na mmoja na dada yao mkubwa, Eliza.

Once upon a time there were twelve royal children – eleven brothers and one older sister, Elisa.

Siku moja mama yao alifariki, na muda baadaye mfalme alioa tena. Hata hivyo, mke mpya alikuwa mchawi mbaya.

One day the mother died, and some time later the king married again. The new wife, however, was an evil witch.

Kwa uchawi aliwageuza watoto kumi na mmoja wa kiume wa mfalme kuwa mabata maji, na kuwapeleka katika nchi ya mbali sana nje ya msitu mkubwa.

She turned the eleven princes into swans and sent them far away to a distant land beyond the large forest.

Alimvalisha msichana matambara na alimpaka mafuta usoni ambayo yalimbadilisha kuwa mbaya sana kiasi kwamba hata baba yake alishindwa kumtambua, na alimfukuza nje ya ngome.