After uttering these words the poor lady died, and her daughter was overwhelmed with grief at the loss of so good and kind a mother.
The father, too, was very unhappy; but he sought to get rid of his sorrow by marrying another wife; and he looked for some amiable2 lady who might be a second mother to his child, and a companion to himself. Unfortunately, his choice fell on a widow lady, of a proud and overbearing temper, who had two daughters by a former marriage, both as haughty3 and bad-tempered4 as herself.
Before marriage this woman had the cunning to conceal5 her bad qualities so well that she appeared to be very amiable; but the marriage was 7scarcely over when her real character showed itself. She could not endure her amiable step-daughter, with all her charming qualifications; for they only made her own daughters appear more hateful. She gave her the most degrading occupations, and compelled her to wash the dishes and clean the stairs, and to sweep her own rooms and those of her sisters-in-law.When the poor girl had finished her work, she used to sit in the 8chimney-corner amongst the cinders6, which made her sisters give her the name of “Cinderella.” However, in her shabby clothes Cinderella was ten times handsomer than her sisters, let them be ever so magnificently dressed.
The poor girl slept in the garret, upon a wretched straw mattress7, whilst the bed-chambers of her sisters were furnished with every luxury and elegance8, and provided with mirrors, in which they could survey themselves from head to foot. The amiable creature bore this ill treatment with patience, and did not venture to complain to her father, who was so completely governed by his wife that he would only have scolded her.
It happened that the king's son sent invitations to a ball, which was to last two nights, and to which all the great people of the land were invited, the two sisters among the rest. This delighted them extremely, and their thoughts were entirely9 occupied in selecting their most becoming dresses for the important occasion. Poor Cinderella had now 9more work to do than ever, as it was her business to iron their linen10, and starch11 their ruffles12. The sisters talked of nothing but preparations for the ball. The eldest13 said, “I shall wear my crimson-velvet dress, and point-lace;” and the younger, “I shall put on my usual dress-petticoat, a mantle14 embroidered15 with gold flowers, and a tiara of diamonds.“ They sent to engage the services of the most fashionable 10hairdresser. They also called Cinderella to their aid; for she had very good taste, and she offered, in the most amiable manner, to arrange their heads herself; of which offer they were only too happy to avail themselves.Whilst so occupied, the eldest said, “Cinderella, should you like to go to the ball?”
“Alas!” said she, “you are ridiculing16 me. I am not likely to go to the ball.”
“You are right,” replied the sister; “people would be amused to see a Cinderella there.”
If Cinderella had been at all unamiable she might have dressed their heads all awry17, for such unkindness; but she returned good for evil, and did it in the best possible style.
The sisters were in such spirits they could scarcely eat for two days. All their time was spent before the looking-glass, and more than a dozen laces were broken in attempts to tighten18 their waists into elegant shapes.
At length the long-wished-for evening arrived, and these proud misses 11stepped into their carriage, and drove away to the palace.
Cinderella looked after the coach as far as she could see, and then returned to the kitchen in tears, where, for the first time, she bewailed her hard and cruel lot, little dreaming that a kind fairy was at the same moment watching over her.She continued sobbing19 in the chimney-corner until a rap at the door aroused her, and she got up to see what had caused it. She12 found a little old woman, hobbling on crutches20, who besought21 her to give her some food.
“I have only part of my own supper for you, Goody, which is no better than a dry crust. But if you will step in and warm yourself by the fire, you can do so, and welcome.”
“Thank you, my dear,” said the old woman, in a feeble, croaking22 voice; and when she had hobbled in, and taken her seat by the fire, she continued, “Hey! dearee me! what are all these tears about, my child?”
And then Cinderella told her of all her griefs,—how her sisters had gone to the ball, and how she should like to have gone also.
“But you shall go,„ exclaimed her visitor, who was suddenly transformed into a beautiful fairy, “or I am not queen of the fairies, or your godmother. Dry up your tears, my dear goddaughter, and do as I bid you, and13 you shall have clothes and horses finer than any one.”
As Cinderella had often heard her father talk of her godmother, and tell her that she was one of those kind fairies who protect good children, her spirits revived, and she wiped away her tears.
The fairy took Cinderella by the hand, and said, “Now, my dear, go into the garden, and fetch me a pumpkin23.”
Cinderella went immediately to gather the best she could find, and carried it to her godmother, though she could not guess how this pumpkin could make her go to the ball. Her godmother took the pumpkin and hollowed it out, leaving only the rind; she then struck it with her wand, and the pumpkin was immediately changed into a beautiful gilt24 coach. She next sent Cinderella for the mouse-trap, wherein were found six mice alive. She directed Cinderella to raise the door of the trap, and as each mouse came out she struck it with her wand, and it was14 immediately changed into a beautiful horse; so that she had now six splendid grays for her gilt coach.The fairy was perplexed25 how to find a coachman, but Cinderella said, “I will go and see if there is a rat in the rat-trap; if there is, he will make a capital coachman.”
“You are right,” said the godmother; “go and see.” Cinderella brought the rat-trap, in which there were three large rats. The fairy selected one, on account of its beautiful whiskers, and, having touched it, it was changed into a fat coachman, with the finest pair of whiskers that ever were seen. She then said, “You must now go into the garden, where you will find six lizards26, behind the watering-pot; bring them to me.” These were no sooner brought than the godmother changed them into six tall footmen, in handsome liveries, with cocked hats and gold-headed canes27, who jumped up behind the coach just as if they had been accustomed to it all their lives.
The coachman and postilion having likewise taken their places, the fairy said to Cinderella, “Well, my dear girl, is not this as fine an equipage as you could desire, to go to the ball with? Tell me, now, are you pleased with it?”
“O yes, dear godmother,” replied Cinderella; and then, with a good deal of hesitation28, she added, “but how can I make my appearance among so many finely-dressed people in these shabby clothes?”
“Give yourself no uneasiness about that, my dear. The most difficult part of our task is already accomplished29, and it will be hard if I cannot make your dress correspond with your coach and servants.”
On saying this, the fairy touched Cinderella with her magic wand, and her clothes were instantly changed into a most magnificent ball-dress,ornamented with the most costly30 jewels.The fairy now took from her pocket a beautiful pair of elastic31 glass slippers32, which she caused Cinderella to put on; and when she had thus completed her work, and Cinderella stood before her, arrayed in her beautiful clothes, the fairy was much pleased, and desired her to get into the carriage with all expedition, as the ball had already commenced. Two of the footmen then sprang and opened the carriage-door, and assisted Cinderella into it. Her godmother, however, before she took leave, strictly34 charged her on no account whatever to stay at the ball after the clock had struck the hour of midnight;and then added that if she stopped but a single moment beyond that time her fine coach would again become a gourd35, her horses mice, her footmen lizards, and her old clothes resume their former appearance.
Cinderella promised faithfully to attend to everything that the fairy had mentioned; and then, quite overjoyed, gave the direction to the footman, who bawled36 out, in a loud voice, to the coachman, “To the royal palace!”
The coachman touched his prancing37 horses lightly with his whip, and swiftly the carriage started off, and in a short time reached the palace.
The arrival of so splendid an equipage as Cinderella's could not fail to attract general notice at the palace gates, and as it drove up to the marble portico38 the servants, in great numbers, came out to see it.The king's son, to whom it was announced that an unknown princess had arrived, hastened to receive her. He handed her out of the carriage, and led her to the ball-room. Immediately she entered the dancing ceased, and the violins stopped playing; so much was every one struck with the extreme beauty of the unknown princess; and the only sound heard was that of admiration39. The king, old as he was, could not take his eyes off her, and said, in a low voice to the queen, that he had not seen such a beautiful person for many years. All the ladies began examining her dress, that they might have similar ones the next evening, if it was possible to obtain equally rich stuffs, and work-people skilled enough to make them. The king's son conducted her to the most distinguished40 place, and invited her to dance. She danced with such grace that everybody was in raptures41 with her; and when supper was served the prince could partake of nothing, so much was he occupied in contemplating42 the beauty of the fair stranger.
Seated close to her sisters, Cinderella showed them marked attention, and divided with them the oranges and citrons which the prince had given her; all of which surprised them greatly, as they did not recognize her.
When Cinderella saw that it wanted but a quarter of an hour of midnight she left as quickly as possible, making a low courtesy to all the company.
On reaching home she found her godmother there, thanked her for the delightful43 evening she had spent, and begged permission to go to the ball the following night, as the prince had desired her company. The fairy kindly44 granted her request, on condition21 that she would return before twelve. She then caused her clothes to resume their usual plainness, that her sisters might not know of her adventure.
Whilst Cinderella was occupied in relating all that had passed at the ball to her godmother, the two sisters knocked at the door, and as she went to open it for them the fairy disappeared.O, how late you are in coming home,” said Cinderella, rubbing her eyes, as if just awakened45.
“If you had been at the ball,” said one of the sisters, “you would not have been tired; for there was there the most beautiful princess that ever was seen, who paid us much attention, and gave us oranges and citrons.”
Cinderella could scarcely contain herself for joy. She asked the name of the princess, but they said it was not known, and that the king's son was therefore much distressed46, and would give anything he had to know who she could be.
Cinderella smiled, and said, “Was she, then, so very beautiful? Could not I see her? O, Javotte, do lend me your yellow dress, that you wear every day, that I may go to the ball, and have a peep at this wonderful princess!”
“Indeed,” said Javotte, “I am not so silly as to lend my dress to a wretched Cinderella like you.”
Cinderella expected this refusal, and was very glad of it; for she would have been greatly embarrassed if her sister had lent her the dress.
The next evening the sisters again went to the ball, and Cinderella soon made her appearance, more magnificently dressed than before. The king's son was constantly at her side, saying the most agreeable things; so that Cinderella did not notice how the time passed, and had quite forgot her godmother's injunctions. While she therefore thought it was scarcely eleven o'clock, she was startled by the first stroke of midnight. She rose very hastily, and fled as lightly as a fawn47, the prince following, though he could not overtake her. In her flight she let one of her glass slippers fall, which the prince picked up with the greatest care.
Cinderella arrived at home out of breath, without carriage or servants, in her shabby clothes, and had nothing remaining of all her former magnificence except one of her little glass slippers,—the fellow of that she had lost.Upon inquiry48 being made of the guards, at the palace gates, as to whether the princess25 had gone out, they replied that they had seen no one go out but a young girl, very poorly dressed, who looked more like a peasant than a fine lady.
When the two sisters returned from the ball Cinderella asked if they had enjoyed themselves, and if the beautiful lady had again been there. They told her that she had been there, but that when the clock struck twelve she had started off so quickly that she let one of her pretty glass slippers fall off; that the prince, who quickly followed her, had picked it up, and had done nothing but look at it all the rest of the evening; and that he was evidently very much in love with the beautiful creature to whom it belonged, and would spare no pains to find her.
This was indeed the case; for, a few days after, the prince caused it to be published, with the sound of trumpets49, that he would marry the lady whose foot would exactly fit the slipper33.
So the slipper was first tried on by all the princesses, then by all the duchesses, and next by all the ladies belonging to the court; but in vain. It was then taken to the two sisters, who tried every possible way of getting their foot into it, but without success.
Cinderella, who was looking at them, and now recognized her slipper, said, laughingly, “Let me see if it will fit me.”
The sisters immediately began to laugh, and to ridicule50 her; but the gentleman who had been appointed to try on the slipper, having looked attentively51 at Cinderella, and finding her very pretty, said she was quite right in her request; for he was ordered to try it on to everybody.
He desired her to sit down, and at once found that the slipper would go on her foot, without any trouble, and, indeed, fitted her like wax.
The astonishment52 of the sisters was very great, but still greater when Cinderella drew28 from her pocket the fellow-slipper, and, to the great delight of the gentleman, placed it upon her other foot.
Her godmother now made her appearance, and, having touched Cinderella with her wand, she made her look even more magnificent than on either of the former occasions.
The sisters now recognized in Cinderella the beautiful person they had seen at the ball, and threw themselves at her feet, to implore53 forgiveness for all the ill-treatment they had shown her. Cinderella raised them up, and, embracing them, said she forgave them, with all her heart, their unkindness to her, and hoped that for the future they would be more kind in their behavior to every one about them. She told them she had never forgotten the last words of her mother, on her death-bed:—“My child, always be good, and bear with patience everything that occurs to you; then, whatever toils54 and troubles you may suffer during29 life, happiness will be your lot in the end.”
These words now proved to be true; for, having borne unkindness and cruelty with patience ever since her father's second marriage, she was now going to be the wife of the king's son.
Cinderella then explained the visit of her godmother, the queen of the fairies; and how her magic wand had furnished her with dresses, carriages, and attendants; and how, by forgetting the good fairy's orders, she was obliged to quit the ball-room so suddenly; and how, in her haste, she lost her little glass slipper, and, for her disobedience, was deprived of all her fine clothes.
Cinderella being now betrothed55 to the prince, she was taken to the palace, dressed in all her splendor56; and, being as amiable as she was beautiful, invited her sisters to live in the palace with her, where they were soon married to two great lords belonging to the court.
The prince thought Cinderella more beautiful than ever, and in a few days married her. She was most happy in the love of her husband, the esteem57 of the court, and the good-will of all who knew her.
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1
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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bad-tempered
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| adj.脾气坏的 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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cinders
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| n.煤渣( cinder的名词复数 )；炭渣；煤渣路；煤渣跑道 | |
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mattress
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| n.床垫，床褥 | |
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elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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10
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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starch
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| n.淀粉；vt.给...上浆 | |
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ruffles
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| 褶裥花边( ruffle的名词复数 ) | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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15
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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16
ridiculing
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| v.嘲笑，嘲弄，奚落( ridicule的现在分词 ) | |
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17
awry
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| adj.扭曲的，错的 | |
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18
tighten
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| v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧 | |
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sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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20
crutches
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| n.拐杖, 支柱 v.支撑 | |
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21
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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22
croaking
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的现在分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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23
pumpkin
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| n.南瓜 | |
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gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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lizards
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| n.蜥蜴( lizard的名词复数 ) | |
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canes
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| n.（某些植物，如竹或甘蔗的）茎( cane的名词复数 )；（用于制作家具等的）竹竿；竹杖 | |
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28
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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29
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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31
elastic
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| n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的 | |
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slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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slipper
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| n.拖鞋 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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gourd
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| n.葫芦 | |
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bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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prancing
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| v.（马）腾跃( prance的现在分词 ) | |
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38
portico
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| n.柱廊，门廊 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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raptures
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| 极度欢喜( rapture的名词复数 ) | |
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42
contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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43
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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44
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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45
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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46
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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47
fawn
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| n.未满周岁的小鹿；v.巴结，奉承 | |
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48
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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49
trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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50
ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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51
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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52
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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53
implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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54
toils
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| 网 | |
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55
betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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56
splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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57
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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