07-cinderella-第1部分

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CINDERELLA；

OR　THE　LITTLE　GLASS　SLIPPER





ONCE　there　was　a　gentleman　who　married；　for　his

second　wife；　the　proudest　and　most　haughty　woman　that

was　ever　seen。　She　had；　by　a　former　husband；　two

daughters　of　her　own　humor；　who　were；　indeed；　exactly

like　her　in　all　things。　He　had　likewise；　by　another　wife；

a　young　daughter；　but　of　unparalleled　goodness　and

sweetness　of　temper；　which　she　took　from　her　mother；　who　was

the　best　creature　in　the　world。



No　sooner　were　the　ceremonies　of　the　wedding　over　but

the　mother…in…law　began　to　show　herself　in　her　true　colors。

She　could　not　bear　the　good　qualities　of　this　pretty　girl；

and　the　less　because　they　made　her　own　daughters　appear

the　more　odious。　She　employed　her　in　the　meanest

work　of　the　house：　she　scoured　the　dishes；　tables；　etc。；

and　scrubbed　madam's　chamber；　and　those　of　misses；　her

daughters；　she　lay　up　in　a　sorry　garret；　upon　a　wretched

straw　bed；　while　her　sisters　lay　in　fine　rooms；　with　floors

all　inlaid；　upon　beds　of　the　very　newest　fashion；　and

where　they　had　looking…glasses　so　large　that　they　might

see　themselves　at　their　full　length　from　head　to　foot。



The　poor　girl　bore　all　patiently；　and　dared　not　tell　her

father；　who　would　have　rattled　her　off；　for　his　wife

governed　him　entirely。　When　she　had　done　her　work；　she

used　to　go　into　the　chimney…corner；　and　sit　down　among

cinders　and　ashes；　which　made　her　commonly　be　called

Cinderwench；　but　the　youngest；　who　was　not　so　rude　and

uncivil　as　the　eldest；　called　her　Cinderella。　However；

Cinderella；　notwithstanding　her　mean　apparel；　was　a

hundred　times　handsomer　than　her　sisters；　though　they

were　always　dressed　very　richly。



It　happened　that　the　King's　son　gave　a　ball；　and　invited

all　persons　of　fashion　to　it。　Our　young　misses　were　also

invited；　for　they　cut　a　very　grand　figure　among　the　quality。

They　were　mightily　delighted　at　this　invitation；　and

wonderfully　busy　in　choosing　out　such　gowns；　petticoats；

and　head…clothes　as　might　become　them。　This　was　a　new

trouble　to　Cinderella；　for　it　was　she　who　ironed　her

sisters'　linen；　and　plaited　their　ruffles；　they　talked　all　day

long　of　nothing　but　how　they　should　be　dressed。



〃For　my　part；〃　said　the　eldest；　〃I　will　wear　my　red

velvet　suit　with　French　trimming。〃



〃And　I；〃　said　the　youngest；　〃shall　have　my　usual

petticoat；　but　then；　to　make　amends　for　that；　I　will　put　on　my

gold…flowered　manteau；　and　my　diamond　stomacher；

which　is　far　from　being　the　most　ordinary　one　in　the

world。〃



They　sent　for　the　best　tire…woman　they　could　get　to

make　up　their　head…dresses　and　adjust　their　double　pinners；

and　they　had　their　red　brushes　and　patches　from

Mademoiselle　de　la　Poche。



Cinderella　was　likewise　called　up　to　them　to　be

consulted　in　all　these　matters；　for　she　had　excellent　notions；

and　advised　them　always　for　the　best；　nay；　and　offered

her　services　to　dress　their　heads；　which　they　were　very

willing　she　should　do。　As　she　was　doing　this；　they　said　to

her：



〃Cinderella；　would　you　not　be　glad　to　go　to　the　ball？〃



〃Alas！〃　said　she；　〃you　only　jeer　me；　it　is　not　for　such

as　I　am　to　go　thither。〃



〃Thou　art　in　the　right　of　it；〃　replied　they；　〃it　would

make　the　people　laugh　to　see　a　Cinderwench　at　a　ball。〃



Anyone　but　Cinderella　would　have　dressed　their　heads

awry；　but　she　was　very　good；　and　dressed　them　perfectly

well　They　were　almost　two　days　without　eating；　so

much　were　they　transported　with　joy。　They　broke　above

a　dozen　laces　in　trying　to　be　laced　up　close；　that　they

might　have　a　fine　slender　shape；　and　they　were　continually

at　their　looking…glass。　At　last　the　happy　day　came；　they

went　to　Court；　and　Cinderella　followed　them　with　her

eyes　as　long　as　she　could；　and　when　she　had　lost　sight　of

them；　she　fell　a…crying。



Her　godmother；　who　saw　her　all　in　tears；　asked　her

what　was　the　matter。



〃I　wish　I　couldI　wish　I　could〃；　she　was　not　able

to　speak　the　rest；　being　interrupted　by　her　tears　and

sobbing。



This　godmother　of　hers；　who　was　a　fairy；　said　to　her；

〃Thou　wishest　thou　couldst　go　to　the　ball；　is　it　not　so？〃



〃Yes；〃　cried　Cinderella；　with　a　great　sigh。



〃Well；〃　said　her　godmother；　〃be　but　a　good　girl；　and

I　will　contrive　that　thou　shalt　go。〃　Then　she　took　her　into

her　chamber；　and　said　to　her；　〃Run　into　the　garden；　and

bring　me　a　pumpkin。〃



Cinderella　went　immediately　to　gather　the　finest　she

could　get；　and　brought　it　to　her　godmother；　not　being　able

to　imagine　how　this　pumpkin　could　make　her　go　to　the

ball。　Her　godmother　scooped　out　all　the　inside　of　it；

having　left　nothing　but　the　rind；　which　done；　she　struck　it

with　her　wand；　and　the　pumpkin　was　instantly　turned

into　a　fine　coach；　gilded　all　over　with　gold。



She　then　went　to　look　into　her　mouse…trap；　where　she

found　six　mice；　all　alive；　and　ordered　Cinderella　to　lift

up　a　little　the　trapdoor；　when；　giving　each　mouse；　as　it

went　out；　a　little　tap　with　her　wand；　the　mouse　was　that

moment　turned　into　a　fine　horse；　which　altogether　made

a　very　fine　set　of　six　horses　of　a　beautiful　mouse…colored

dapple…gray。　Being　at　a　loss　for　a　coachman；



〃I　will　go　and　see；〃　says　Cinderella；　〃if　there　is　never

a　rat　in　the　rat…trapwe　may　make　a　coachman　of　him。〃



〃Thou　art　in　the　right；〃　replied　her　godmother；　〃go

and　look。〃



Cinderella　brought　the　trap　to　her；　and　in　it　there　were

three　huge　rats。　The　fairy　made　choice　of　one　of　the

three　which　had　the　largest　beard；　and；　having　touched

him　with　her　wand；　he　was　turned　into　a　fat；　jolly　coach…

man；　who　had　the　smartest　whiskers　eyes　ever　beheld。

After　that；　she　said　to　her：



〃Go　again　into　the　garden；　and　you　will　find　six　lizards

behind　the　watering…pot；　bring　them　to　me。〃



She　had　no　sooner　done　so　but　her　godmother　turned

them　into　six　footmen；　who　skipped　up　immediately　behind

the　coach；　with　their　liveries　all　bedaubed　with　gold

and　silver；　and　clung　as　close　behind　each　other　as　if　they

had　done　nothing　else　their　whole　lives。　The　Fairy　then

said　to　Cinderella：



〃Well；　you　see　here　an　equipage　fit　to　go　to　the　ball

with；　are　you　not　pleased　with　it？〃



〃Oh！　yes；〃　cried　she；　〃but　must　I　go　thither　as　I　am；

in　these　nasty　rags？〃



Her　godmother　only　just　touched　her　with　her　wand；

and；　at　the　same　instant；　her　clothes　were　turned　into

cloth　of　gold　and　silver；　all　beset　with　jewels。　This　done；

she　gave　her　a　pair　of　glass　slippers；　the　prettiest　in　the

whole　world。　Being　thus　decked　out；　she　got　up　into　her

coach；　but　her　godmother；　above　all　things；　commanded

her　not　to　stay　till　after　midnight；　telling　her；　at　the　same

time；　that　if　she　stayed　one　moment　longer；　the　coach

would　be　a　pumpkin　again；　her　horses　mice；　her　coachman

a　rat；　her　footmen　lizards；　and　her　clothes　become

just　as　they　were　before。



She　promised　her　godmother　she　would　not　fail　of

leaving　the　ball　before　midnight；　and　then　away　she　drives；

scarce　able　to　contain　herself　for　joy。　The　King's　son

who　was　told　that　a　great　princess；　whom　nobody　knew；

was　come；　ran　out　to　receive　her；　he　gave　her　his　hand　as

she　alighted　out　of　the　coach；　and　led　her　into　the　ball；

among　all　the　company。　There　was　immediately　a　profound

silence；　they　left　off　dancing；　and　the　violins　ceased

to　play；　so　attentive　was　everyone　to　contemplate　the

singular　beauties　of　the　unknown　new…comer。　Nothing

was　then　heard　but　a　confused　noise　of：



〃Ha！　how　handsome　she　is！　Ha！　how　handsome　she　is！〃



The　King　himself；　old　as　he　was；　could　not　help　watching

her；　and　telling　the　Queen　softly　that　it　was　a　long

time　since　he　had　seen　so　beautiful　and　lovely　a　creature。



All　the　ladies　were　busied　in　considering　her　clothes　and

headdress；　that　they　might　have　some　made　next　day

after　the　same　pattern；　provided　they　could　meet　with

such　fine　material　and　as　able　hands　to　make　them。



The　King's　son　conducted　her　to　the　most　honorable

seat；　and　afterward　took　her　out　to　dance　with　him；　she

danced　so　very　gracefully　that　they　all　more　and　more

admired　her。　A　fine　collation　was　served　up；　whereof　the

young　prince　ate　not　a　morsel；　so　intently　was　he　busied

in　gazing　on　her。



She　went　and　sat　down　by　her　sisters；　showing　them　a

thousand　civilities；　giving　them　part　of　the　oranges　and

citrons　which　the　Prince　had　presented　her　with；　which

very　much　surprised　them；　for　they　did　not　know　her。

While　Cinderella　was　thus　amusing　her　sisters；　she　heard

the　clock　strike　eleven　and　three…quarters；　whereupon　she

immediately　made　a　courtesy　to　the　company　and　hasted

away　as　fast　as　she　could。



When　she　got　home　she　ran　to　seek　out　her　godmother；

and；　after　having　thanked　her；　she　said　she　could　not　but

heartily　wish　she　might　go　next　day　to　the　ball；　because

the　King's　son　had　desired　her。



As　she　was　eagerly　telling　her　godmother　whatever　had

passed　at　the　ball；　her　two　sisters　knocked　at　the　door；

which　Cinderella　ran　and　opened。



〃How　long　you　have　stayed！〃　cried　she；　gaping；　rubbing

her　eyes　and　stretching　herself　as　if　she　had　been　just

waked　out　of　her　sleep；　she　had　not；　however；　any　manner

of　inclination　to　sleep　since　they　went　from　home。



〃If　thou　hadst　been　at　the　ball；〃　said　one　of　her　sisters；

〃thou　wouldst　not　have　been　tired　with　it。　There　came

thither　the　finest　princess；　the　most　beautiful　ever　was

seen　with　mortal　eyes；　she　showed　us　a　thousand　civilities；

and　gave　us　oranges　and　citrons。〃



Cinderella　seemed　very　indifferent　in　the　matter；

indeed；　she　asked　them　the　name　of　that　princess；　but　they

told　her　they　did　not　know　it；　and　that　the　King's　son　was

very　uneasy　on　her　account　and　would　give　all　the　world

to　know　who　she　was。　At　this　Cinderella；　smiling；

replied：



〃She　must；　then；　be　very　beautiful　indeed；　how　happy

you　have　been！　Could　not　I　see　her？　Ah！　dear　Miss

Charlotte；　do　lend　me　your　yellow　suit　of　cloth