Cinderella

Once upon a time there was a gentleman who married for the second time. His new wife was the proudest and most arrogant woman anyone had ever seen.Once there was a gentleman who married, for his second wife, the proudest and most haughty woman that was ever seen. She had two daughters from an earlier marriage, with her own unpleasant temper. They were indeed exactly like her in all things.She had, by a former husband, two daughters of her own humour and they were indeed exactly like her in all things. He too had a young daughter from an earlier marriage. No one could match her goodness and sweet temper. She got these qualities from her mother, who was the best creature in the world.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.

As soon as the wedding was over, the stepmother began to show her true No sooner were the ceremonies of the wedding over, but the stepmother began to shew herself in her colours. She could not bear the good qualities of this pretty girl, especially because they made her own daughters seem even more unpleasantgirl; and the less, because they made her own daughters appear the more odious. She made her do the hardest, dirtiest work in the house. The girl scrubbed the dishes, tables and everything else, and cleaned Madam's bedroom and those of her daughters. She slept in a miserable attic on a poor straw bed. Her sisters slept in fine rooms with inlaid floors, beds in the latest fashion, and mirrors so large they could see themselvesemployed her in the meanest work of the house; she scoured the dishes, tables, &c. and rubbed 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 it all patiently and dared not tell her father, who would have scolded her. His wife controlled him completely.The poor girl bore all patiently, and dared not tell her father, who would have rattled her off; for his wife governed him intirely. When she had done her work, she used to sit among the cinders and ashes in the chimney-corner. This was why she was usually called Cinder-bottom. But the younger sister, who was not so rude and impolite as the elder, called her Cinderella.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 Cinder-breech; but the youngest, who was not so rude and uncivil as the eldest, called her Cinderilla. However, CinderellaCinderilla, despite her shabby clothesnotwithstanding her mean apparel, was a hundred times handsomer than her sisters, thoughtho' they were always dressed very richly.

It happened that the King's son gave a ball and invited all the fashionable people to it. Our young ladies were invited too, for they made quite an impression in high society.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 extremely pleasedmightily delighted at this invitation, and wonderfully busy in choosing the gowns, skirts and headdresses that would suit them bestchusing out such gowns, petticoats, and head-clothes as might best become them. This meant more work for Cinderella, for it was she who ironed her sisters' linen and made small folds in the frills of their clothes. They talked all day long of nothing but how they should dress.This was a new trouble to Cinderilla; 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, "will only wear my usual skirtshall only have my usual petticoat; but then, to make upamends for that, I will put on my coat decorated with gold flowers, and my diamond stomacher, a jewelled panel on the front of my dressmy gold-flowered manteau, and my diamond stomacher, which is far from being the most ordinary one in the world." They sent for the best lady's dresser they could find, to arrange their headdresses and double-pinners,[3] the caps with side-flaps. They also got brushes for their rouge, or red make-up, and beauty patches, false beauty spots, from the fashionable maker.They sent for the best tire-woman they could get, to make up their head-dresses, and adjust their double-pinners,[3] and they had their red brushes, and patches from the fashionable maker.

[3] 'Pinners' were close-fitting capscoifs with two long side-flaps pinned on. 'Double-pinners'—with two side-flaps on each side—accurately translates the French cornettes à deux rangs.

They also called Cinderella up to advise them onCinderilla was likewise called up to them to be consulted in all these matters, for she had excellent taste and always gave good advice. She even offered to arrange their hair, which they gladly acceptednotions, and advised them always for the best, nay and offered her service to dress their heads, which they were very willing she should do. As she was doing this, they said to her:

"CinderellaCinderilla, would you not be glad to go to the ball?"

"Ah!" she saidsaid she, "you are only mocking me. People like me do not go there only jeer at me; it is not for such as I am to go thither."

"You are rightThou art in the right of it," they repliedreplied they, "it would make the people laugh to see a Cinder-bottombreech at a ball."

Anyone but Cinderella would have done their hair badly on purpose. But she was very good and arranged it perfectly well.Any one but Cinderilla would have dressed their heads awry, but she was very good, and dressed them perfectly well. They were so carried away with joy that they went nearly two days without eating. They broke more than a dozen laces trying to pull their clothes tight enough to look slim, and they were constantly at the mirrorThey were almost two days without eating, so much they were transported with joy; they broke above a dozen of 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 watched them for as long as she could. When she lost sight of them, she began to cry.At last the happy day came; they went to Court, and Cinderilla 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 could… I wish I could…" She could not say the rest through her tears and sobs."I wish I could——, I 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:

"You wish you could go to the ball, don't youThou wishest thou couldest go to the ball, is it not so?"

"Y—es," cried CinderellaCinderilla, with a great sigh.

"Well," said her godmother, "just be a good girl, and I will find a way for you tobe but a good girl, and I will contrive that thou shalt go." Then she took her into her roominto her chamber, and said to her:

"Run into the garden, and bring me a pumpkin."

Cinderella immediately picked the finest pumpkin she could find and brought it to her godmother. She could not imagine how this pumpkin could get her to the ball.Cinderilla 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, leaving only the rind. Then she struck it with her wand. The pumpkin instantly turned into a fine coach, covered all over with gold.Her godmother scooped out all the inside of it, leaving 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 looked in her mouse-trap, where she found six mice, all alive. She told Cinderella to lift the trap-door a little. As each mouse came out, she gave it a little tap with her wand, and it instantly became a fine horse. Soon there stood a splendid team of six horses, a beautiful mouse-grey, with round patches on their coatsShe then went to look into her mouse-trap, where she found six mice all alive, and ordered Cinderilla to lift up a little the trap-door, when giving each mouse, as it went out, a little tap with her wand, the mouse was at that moment turned into a fair horse, which altogether made a very fine set of six horses of a beautiful mouse-coloured dapple-grey.

They still needed a coachman.Being at a loss for a coachman, "I will go and see," says CinderellaCinderilla, "whether there is a rat in the rat-trap that we can turn into a coachmanif there be never a rat in the rat-trap, that we may make a coachman of him."

"You areThou art in the right," replied her godmother; "go and look."

CinderellaCinderilla brought the trap to her, and in it there were three huge rats. The Fairy chose the one with the largest beard and touched him with her wand. He turned into a fat,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 coachman, who had the smartest whiskers anyone had ever seeneyes ever beheld.

After that, the Fairy said to Cinderellashe said to her:

"Go again into the garden, and you will find six lizards behind the watering canwatering pot; bring them to me."

As soon as Cinderella brought them, her godmother turned them into six footmen, servants who attended the coach. They immediately skipped up behind it, with their uniforms covered with gold and silver. They clung close to it, as if they had done nothing else their whole lives.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 it, as if they had done nothing else their whole lives. The Fairy then said to CinderellaCinderilla:

"Well, you see here a carriage and attendants fit for going to the ballan equipage fit to go to the ball with; are you not pleased with it?"

"O yes," she criedcried she, "but must I go there as I am, in these horrible dirtythither as I am, in these poison nasty rags?"

Her godmother just touched her with her wand. At that very instant, her clothes turned into cloth of gold and silver, all set with jewels. Then she gave herHer 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,[4] the prettiest in the whole world.

[4] In Perrault's tale: pantoufles de verre. The 1922 editor says there is no doubt thatThere is no doubt thatExplanation: This is the 1922 editor’s confident explanation of a supposed change from fur to glass. It remains historical commentary, rather than an established conclusion here. Perrault’s 1697 title already names a glass slipper. in the medieval versions of this ancient tale CinderellaCinderilla was given pantoufles de vair—that is, slippers of grey, or grey and white, fur. Its exact kind has been debated, but it was probably grey squirrel fur.—i.e., of a grey, or grey and white, fur, the exact nature of which has been a matter of controversy, but which was probably a grey squirrel. Long before the seventeenth century the word vair had passed out of use, except in heraldry, the language of coats of armsexcept as a heraldic termExplanation: Heraldry is the system of symbols used in coats of arms. Vair is a fur pattern in that system., and had ceased to convey any meaning to the people. Thus the pantoufles de vair of the fairy tale became, in the oral tradition, pantoufles de verre, words with the same sound, meaning glass slippersthe homonymous pantoufles de verre, or glass slippers, a delightful improvement on the earlier version.

Dressed like this, she climbed into her coach. Above all, her godmother warned her not to stay past midnight. If she stayed one moment longer, her coach would turn back into a pumpkin, her horses into mice, her coachman into a rat, and her footmen into lizards. Her clothes wouldBeing 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 at the ball one moment longer, her 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 be sure to leave the ball before midnight. Then away she drove, hardly able to contain her joy.She promised her godmother, she would not fail of leaving the ball before midnight; and then away she drove, scarce able to contain herself for joy. The King's son was told that a great Princess whom nobody knew had arrived. He ran out to welcome her and gave her his hand as she stepped out of the coach. Then he led her into the hall among all the guests.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 hall, among all the company. At once there was a deep silence. The dancing stopped and the violins fell silent as everyone gazed at the extraordinary beauty of this unknown newcomerThere was immediately a profound silence, they left off dancing, and the violins ceased to play, so attentive was every one to contemplate the singular beauty of this unknown new comer. All that could be heard was a murmur:Nothing was then heard but a confused noise of,

"Ha! How handsome she is! Ha! How handsome she is!""Ha! how handsome she is! Ha! how handsome she is!"

The King himself, old as he was, could not help gazing admiringly at her. He told the Queen softly that it had been a long time since he had seen so beautiful and lovely a creature.The King himself, old as he was, could not help ogling 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 studied her clothes and headdress so they could have copies made the next day, if they could find such fine materials and equally skilledwere busied in considering her clothes and head-dress, that they might have some made next day after the same pattern, provided they could meet with such fine materials, and as able hands to make them.

The King's son led her to the seat of honour, then took her out to dance with him. She danced so very gracefully that everyone admired her more and more.The King's son conducted her to the most honourable seat, and afterwards took her out to dance with him: she danced so very gracefully, that they all more and more admired her. A fine light meal was served, but the young Prince did not eat a bite: he was too busy gazing atcollation was served up, whereof the young Prince ate not a morsel, so intently was he busied in gazing on her. She sat down by her sisters and showed them a thousand signs of politeness. She shared the oranges and citrons the Prince had given her. This surprised them very much, for they did not recognise her.She went and sat down by her sisters, shewing 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 entertaining her sisters, she heard the clock strike a quarter to twelve. She immediately curtsied to the guests and hurried away as fast as she could.While Cinderilla was thus amusing her sisters, she heard the clock strike eleven and three quarters, whereupon she immediately made a curtesy to the company, and hasted away as fast as she could.

When she got home, she ran to find her godmother and thanked her. She said she dearly wished she could go to the ball the next day, because the King's son had invited her.Being 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 everything that had happenedwhatever had passed at the ball, her two sisters knocked at the door. Cinderella ran to open it.her two sisters knocked at the door which Cinderilla ran and opened.

"How long you have stayed!" she cried, yawning, rubbing her eyes and stretching as if she had just woken up. In fact, she had not felt at all sleepy since they left home."How long you have stayed," cried she, gaping, rubbing her eyes, and stretching herself as if she had been just awaked out of her sleep; she had not, however, any manner of inclination to sleep since they went from home.

"If you hadthou hadst been at the ball," said one of her sisters, "you would not have tired of it. The most splendid Princess came, the most beautiful anyone had ever seen. She showed us a thousand signs of politenessthou wouldst not have been tired with it; there came thither the finest Princess, the most beautiful ever was seen with mortal eyes; she shewed us a thousand civilities, and gave us oranges and citrons." Cinderella was overjoyed. She asked them the name of that Princess, but they said they did not know it. They added that the King's son was very anxious to learn it and would give all the world to know who she was. At this, Cinderella smiled and replied:Cinderilla was transported with joy; 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 anxious to learn it, and would give all the world to know who she was. At this Cinderilla, smiling, replied:

"She must be very beautiful indeed! Lord, how happy you must have been! Couldn’t I see her?She must then be very beautiful indeed; Lord! how happy have you been; could not I see her? Ah! dear Miss Charlotte, do lend me your yellow outfitsuit of cloaths which you wear every day!"

"Oh, of courseAy, to be sure!" cried Miss Charlotte, "lend my clothescloaths to a dirty Cinder-bottom like you! Who's the fool then?such a dirty Cinder-breech as thou art; who's the fool then?"

Cinderella had expected an answer like that and was very glad of the refusal. She would have been in a difficult position if her sister had lent her the clothes she had asked for as a joke.Cinderilla, indeed, expected some such answer, and was very glad of the refusal; for she would have been sadly put to it, if her sister had lent her what she asked for jestingly.

The next day the two sisters were at the ball, and so was CinderellaCinderilla, but dressed more magnificently than before. The King's son was always by her, and kept complimenting her and speaking of love. She enjoyed it so much that she forgot her godmother's warning. At last she heard the clock strike twelve, though she had thought it was only eleven. She jumped up and fled as nimblynever ceased his compliments and amorous speeches to her; to whom all this was so far from being tiresome, that she quite forgot what her godmother had recommended to her, so that she, at last, counted the clock striking twelve, when she took it to be no more than eleven; she then rose up, and fled as nimble as a deer.

The Prince followed, but could not overtake her. She left behind one of her glass slippers, which the Prince took up most carefully. She got home, but quite out of breath, without coach or footmen, and in her nasty old clothescloaths, with none of her finery left except the little slipper that matched the one she had having nothing left her of all her finery, but one of the little slippers, fellow to that she dropped. The guards at the palace gate were asked if they had not seen a Princess go out. They said they had seen only a young girl in shabby clothes, who looked more like a poor country girl than a lady; who said, they had seen nobody go out, but a young girl, very meanly dressed, and who had more the air of a poor country wench, than a gentle-woman.

When the two sisters returned from the ball, CinderellaCinderilla asked them if they had enjoyed themselvesbeen well diverted, and if the fine lady had been there. They told her yes, but that she had hurried away as soon as it struck twelve, dropping, Yes, but that she hurried away immediately when it struck twelve, and with so much haste, that she dropped one of her little glass slippers, the prettiest in the world. They added that the King’s son had picked it up and had done nothing but look at it for the rest of the ball. They were certain he was very much in love with the beautiful person who owned the little slipper., and which the King's son had taken up; that he had done nothing but look at it during all the latter part of the ball, and that most certainly he was very much in love with the beautiful person who owned the little slipper.

What they said was very true. A few days later, the King's son had it announced with a trumpet fanfare that he would marry the girl whose foot fitted the slipper exactly.What they said was very true; for a few days after, the King's son caused it to be proclaimed by sound of trumpet, that he would marry her whose foot this slipper would just fit. The people he sent began trying it onThey whom he employed began to try it on upon the Princesses, then the duchesses, and all the Court, but in vain. It was brought to the two sisters, who did all they possibly could to thrust their feet into the slipper, but they could not manageeffect it.

CinderellaCinderilla, who saw all this, and knew her slipper, said to them laughing:

"Let me see if it will fit me.not fit me?"

Her sisters burst out laughing and began to mocka-laughing, and began to banter her. The gentleman sent to try the slipper looked carefully at Cinderella and found her very handsome. He said it was only fair that she should try, and that he had orders to let everyone try.The gentleman who was sent to try the slipper, looked earnestly at Cinderilla, and finding her very handsome, said it was but just that she should try, and that he had orders to let every one make tryal. He invited Cinderella to sit down and put the slipper to her foot. It went on very easily and fitted her as if it had been made of wax.He invited Cinderilla to sit down, and putting the slipper to her foot, he found it went on very easily, and fitted her, as if it had been made of wax. Her two sisters were astonished, and even more soThe astonishment her two sisters were in was excessively great, but still abundantly greater, when CinderellaCinderilla pulled out of her pocket the other slipper, and put it on her foot. Then in came her godmother. She touched Cinderella's clothes with her wand, making them richer and more magnificent than any she had worn before.Thereupon, in came her godmother, who having touched, with her wand, Cinderilla's cloaths, made them richer and more magnificent than any of those she had before.

Now her two sisters recognised her as the fine, beautiful lady they had seen at the ball.And now her two sisters found her to be that fine beautiful lady whom they had seen at the ball. They threw themselves at her feet, to beg pardon for all the cruel treatment they had made her sufferill treatment they had made her undergo. Cinderella helped them up and embraced them. She said she forgave them with all her heart and asked them always to love her.Cinderilla took them up, and as she embraced them, cried that she forgave them with all her heart, and desired them always to love her.

Dressed as she was, she was taken to the young Prince. He thought her more charming than ever and married her a few days later.She was conducted to the young Prince, dressed as she was; he thought her more charming than ever, and, a few days after, married her.

CinderellaCinderilla, who was no less good than beautiful, gave her two sisters lodgings in the palace, and that very same day arranged their marriages tomatched them with two great lords of the court.

The Moral

Beauty is a woman's Beauty's to the sex a treasure,
Still admiredadmir'd beyond all measure,
No admirer has ever grown
Tired of the beauty they have known.And never yet was any known,
By still admiring, weary grown.
But that rare quality calledcall'd grace,
Exceeds, by far, a handsome face;
Its lasting charms surpass the other,
And this rich gift her kind godmother
Gave to CinderellaBestow'd on Cinderilla fair,
Whom she instructed with such care.
She gave her such a graceful mien
That Cinderella became queen.She gave to her such graceful mien,
That she, thereby, became a queen.Explanation: Mien means appearance or bearing. Here the godmother gives Cinderella graceful manners and poise; it is this grace that the moral praises.
For thus (may ever truth prevail)
We draw our moral from this tale.
This quality, fair ladies, know
Prevails much more (you'll find it so)
To winT'ingage and captivate a heart,
Than heads adorned with skilful art.Than a fine head dress'd up with art.
The fairies' gift of greatest worth
Is grace of bearing, not high birth;
Without this gift we'll miss the prize;
This grace gives us the wings to rise.Possession gives us wings to rise.

Another

It is a great advantage to a man,A great advantage 'tis, no doubt, to man,Explanation: Birth here means the social standing of the family a person is born into, rather than simply being born.
To have wit, courage, birth, good sense, and brain,
And other such qualities, which we
Receive from heaven’s kind hand and destiny.And other such-like qualities, which we
Receiv'd from heaven's kind hand, and destiny.
But none of these rich gifts from above
Will help your standing in the world improveBut none of these rich graces from above,
To your advancement in the world will prove
If godmothers and fathers you disobey,If godmothers and sires you disobey,
Or from their strict advice too long you stray.Or 'gainst their strict advice too long you stay.