Snow White

Once upon a time, in the middle of winter, flakes of snow fell like feathers from the sky. A queen sat sewing at a window whose frame was made of black ebony.Once upon a time in the middle of winter, when the flakes of snow were falling like feathers from the sky, a queen sat at a window sewing, and the frame of the window was made of black ebony. And while she was sewing and looking out of the window at the snow,And whilst she was sewing and looking out of the window at the snow, she pricked her finger with the needle, and three drops of blood fell upon the snow. And the red looked pretty upon the white snow, and she thought to herself, “I wishWould that I had a child as white as snow, as red as blood, and as black as the wood of the window-frame.”

Soon after that she had a little daughter, who was as white as snow, and as red as blood, and her hair was as black as ebony. That was why she was called Little Snow-white.and her hair was as black as ebony; and she was therefore called Little Snow-white. And when the child was born, the Queen died.

After a year had passed, the King married again. His new wife was a beautiful woman,After a year had passed the King took to himself another wife. She was a beautiful woman, but proud and haughty, and she could not bear anyone being more beautiful than she wasthat anyone else should surpass her in beauty. She had a wonderful mirror. When she stood in front of it, looked at herself and said—She had a wonderful looking-glass, and when she stood in front of it and looked at herself in it, and said—

“MirrorLooking-glass, MirrorLooking-glass, on the wall,
Who in this land is the fairest of all?”

the mirrorlooking-glass answered—

“You, O Queen, areThou, O Queen, art the fairest of all!”

Then she was satisfied, for she knew that the mirrorlooking-glass spoke the truth.

But Snow-white was growing up and becoming more and more beautiful. When she was seven years old, she was as beautiful as the day, and more beautiful than the Queen herself.But Snow-white was growing up, and grew more and more beautiful; and when she was seven years old she was as beautiful as the day, and more beautiful than the Queen herself. And once when the Queen asked her mirrorlooking-glass—

“MirrorLooking-glass, MirrorLooking-glass, on the wall,
Who in this land is the fairest of all?”

it answered—

“Lady Queen, of all here, the fairest is you.
But Snow-white is more beautiful still, in my view.”“Thou art fairer than all who are here, Lady Queen.
But more beautiful still is Snow-white, as I ween.”

Then the Queen was shocked, and turned yellow and green with envy. From that hour, whenever she looked at Snow-white, her heart heaved in her chest, so much did she hate the girlheaved in her breast, she hated the girl so much.

And envy and pride grew higher and higher in her heart like a weed. She had no peace day or night.And envy and pride grew higher and higher in her heart like a weed, so that she had no peace day or night. She called a huntsman, and said, “Take the child away into the forest; I no longer want to see her.I will no longer have her in my sight. Kill her, and bring me back her heart as proofa token.” The huntsman obeyed and took her away. But when he drew his knife and was about to kill innocent Snow-white, she began to weep and said,The huntsman obeyed, and took her away; but when he had drawn his knife, and was about to pierce Snow-white’s innocent heart, she began to weep, and said,Explanation: The huntsman still draws his knife and prepares to kill Snow-white. The detail of piercing her heart is omitted for children in the modernized version. “Ah dear huntsman, spareleave me my life! I will run away into the wild forest, and never come home again.”

And as she was so beautiful the huntsman had pity on her and said, “Run away, then, you poor child.” “The wild beasts will soon have devoured you,” he thought. Yet it seemed as if a stone had been rolled from his heart now that he no longer had to kill her.“The wild beasts will soon have devoured you,” thought he, and yet it seemed as if a stone had been rolled from his heart since it was no longer needful for him to kill her. Just then a young boar came running by. He killed it and took its heart to the Queen as proof that the child was dead.And as a young boar just then came running by he stabbed it, and cut out its heart and took it to the Queen as proof that the child was dead.Explanation: The boar is still killed, and its heart is brought to the Queen. The graphic detail of opening its body is omitted for children in the modernized version. The cook had to salt the heart. The wicked Queen ate it, thinking she had eaten Snow-white’s heart.The cook had to salt this, and the wicked Queen ate it, and thought she had eaten the heart of Snow-white.

But now the poor child was all alone in the great forest, and so terrified that she looked at every leaf of every tree, and did not know what to do. Then she began to run, and ran over sharp stones and through thorns, and the wild beasts ran past her, but did her no harm.

She ran as long as her feet would carry her, until it was almost evening. Then she saw a little cottage and went inside to rest.She ran as long as her feet would go until it was almost evening; then she saw a little cottage and went into it to rest herself. Everything in the cottage was small, but so neat and clean that words could hardly describe itneater and cleaner than can be told. There was a table with a white cover and seven little plates. On each plate lay a little spoon. There were also seven little knives and forks, and seven little mugs.There was a table on which was a white cover, and seven little plates, and on each plate a little spoon; moreover, there were seven little knives and forks, and seven little mugs. Against the wall stood seven little beds, side by side and covered with snow-white bedspreads.Against the wall stood seven little beds side by side, and covered with snow-white counterpanes.

Little Snow-white was so hungry and thirsty that she ate some vegetables and bread from each plate and drank a drop of wine out of each mug, for she did not wish to take all from one only. Then, because she was so tired, she lay down on one of the little beds. But none of them suited her: one was too long, another too short. At last she found that the seventh was right. She stayed in it, said a prayer and went to sleep.Then, as she was so tired, she laid herself down on one of the little beds, but none of them suited her; one was too long, another too short, but at last she found that the seventh one was right, and so she remained in it, said a prayer and went to sleep.

When it was quite dark, the owners of the cottage came back. They were seven dwarfs who dug in the mountains for ore, rock from which metal is extracted.When it was quite dark the owners of the cottage came back; they were seven dwarfs who dug and delved in the mountains for ore. They lit their seven candles. Now that the cottage was lit, they saw that someone had been there: things were not arranged as they had left them.They lit their seven candles, and as it was now light within the cottage they saw that someone had been there, for everything was not in the same order in which they had left it.

The first said, “Who has been sitting on my chair?”

The second, “Who has been eating off my plate?”

The third, “Who has been taking some of my bread?”

The fourth, “Who has been eating my vegetables?”

The fifth, “Who has been using my fork?”

The sixth, “Who has been cutting with my knife?”

The seventh, “Who has been drinking out of my mug?”

Then the first looked round, saw a small hollow in his bed and said,Then the first looked round and saw that there was a little hole on his bed, and he said, “Who has been getting into my bed?” The others came up and each called out, “Somebody has been lying in my bed too.” But when the seventh looked at his bed, he saw little Snow-white lying asleep in it.But the seventh when he looked at his bed saw little Snow-white, who was lying asleep therein. He called the others, who came running up. They cried out in astonishment, brought their seven little candles and let the light fall on little Snow-white.And he called the others, who came running up, and they cried out with astonishment, and brought their seven little candles and let the light fall on little Snow-white. “Oh, heavens! Oh, heavens!” they cried. “What a lovely child!” They were so glad that they did not wake her, but let her sleep on in the bed.“Oh, heavens! oh, heavens!” cried they, “what a lovely child!” and they were so glad that they did not wake her up, but let her sleep on in the bed. And the seventh dwarf slept with his companions, one hour with each, and so got through the night.

In the morning, little Snow-white awoke and was frightened when she saw the seven dwarfs.When it was morning little Snow-white awoke, and was frightened when she saw the seven dwarfs. But they were friendly and asked her what her name was. “My name is Snow-white,” she answered. “How have you come to our house?” said the dwarfs. Then she told them that her stepmother had wanted her killed, but the huntsman had spared her life. She had run all day until at last she found their dwelling.Then she told them that her step-mother had wished to have her killed, but that the huntsman had spared her life, and that she had run for the whole day, until at last she had found their dwelling. The dwarfs said, “If you take care of our house, cook, make the beds, wash, sew and knit, and keep everything neat and clean, you can stay with us and have everything you need.If you will take care of our house, cook, make the beds, wash, sew, and knit, and if you will keep everything neat and clean, you can stay with us and you shall want for nothing.” “Yes,” said Snow-white, “with all my heart.” And she stayed with them.“Yes,” said Snow-white, “with all my heart,” and she stayed with them. She kept the house in order for them. In the mornings they went to the mountains to look for copper and gold. In the evenings they came home, and their supper had to be ready.She kept the house in order for them; in the mornings they went to the mountains and looked for copper and gold, in the evenings they came back, and then their supper had to be ready. The girl was alone the whole day, so the good dwarfs warned her and said, “Beware of your stepmother. She will soon know you are here. Be sure to let no one come in.Beware of your step-mother, she will soon know that you are here; be sure to let no one come in.”

But the Queen believed she had eaten Snow-white’s heart and could not help thinking she was once again the first and most beautiful of all. She went to her mirror and said—But the Queen, believing that she had eaten Snow-white’s heart, could not but think that she was again the first and most beautiful of all; and she went to her looking-glass and said—

“MirrorLooking-glass, MirrorLooking-glass, on the wall,
Who in this land is the fairest of all?”

and the glass answered—

“Oh, Queen, you arethou art fairest of all I see,
But over the hills, where the seven dwarfs dwell,
Snow-white is still alive and well,
And none is so fair as she.”

Then she was astounded. She knew the mirror never lied, so she knew the huntsman had betrayed her and little Snow-white was still alive.Then she was astounded, for she knew that the looking-glass never spoke falsely, and she knew that the huntsman had betrayed her, and that little Snow-white was still alive.

And so she thought and thought again about how to kill Snow-white. As long as she was not the fairest in the whole land, envy gave her no rest.And so she thought and thought again how she might kill her, for so long as she was not the fairest in the whole land, envy let her have no rest. At last she thought of something to do. She painted her face and dressed like an old travelling saleswoman, so no one could recognise her.And when she had at last thought of something to do, she painted her face, and dressed herself like an old peddler-woman, and no one could have known her. In this disguise she crossed the seven mountains to the seven dwarfs. She knocked at the door and cried,In this disguise she went over the seven mountains to the seven dwarfs, and knocked at the door and cried, “Pretty things to sell, very cheap, very cheap.” Little Snow-white looked out of the window and called out, “Good day, my good woman. What have you to sell?”“Good-day my good woman, what have you to sell?” “Good things, pretty things,” she answered. “Laces for fastening a corset, in every colour.” She pulled out one woven of brightly coloured silk.“Good things, pretty things,” she answered; “stay-laces of all colours,” and she pulled out one which was woven of bright-coloured silk.Explanation: Stays are a corset: a fitted garment worn around the body and tightened with laces. Tightening it too much prevents Snow-white from breathing. “I may let the worthy old woman in,” thought Snow-white. She unbolted the door and bought the pretty laces.“I may let the worthy old woman in,” thought Snow-white, and she unbolted the door and bought the pretty laces. “Child,” said the old woman, “what a mess you look! Come, I will lace you properly for once.”“Child,” said the old woman, “what a fright you look; come, I will lace you properly for once.” Snow-white had no suspicion, but stood before her, and let the woman tighten her corset with the new laceslet herself be laced with the new laces. But the old woman tightened the laces so quickly and so tightly that Snow-white could no longer breathethe old woman laced so quickly and so tightly that Snow-white lost her breath and fell down as if dead. “Now I am the most beautiful,” said the Queen to herself, and ran away.

Not long afterwards, in the evening, the seven dwarfs came home. How shocked they were to see their dear little Snow-white lying on the ground! She neither stirred nor moved, and seemed to be dead.Not long afterwards, in the evening, the seven dwarfs came home, but how shocked they were when they saw their dear little Snow-white lying on the ground, and that she neither stirred nor moved, and seemed to be dead. They lifted her up. Seeing that she was laced too tightly, they cut the laces. Then she began to breathe a little, and after a while came to life again.They lifted her up, and, as they saw that she was laced too tightly, they cut the laces; then she began to breathe a little, and after a while came to life again. When the dwarfs heard what had happened they said, “The old travelling saleswoman was the wicked Queen herself. Take care, and let no one come in when we are not with you.The old peddler-woman was no one else than the wicked Queen; take care and let no one come in when we are not with you.”

But when the wicked woman reached home, she went in front of the glass and asked—But the wicked woman when she had reached home went in front of the glass and asked—

“MirrorLooking-glass, MirrorLooking-glass, on the wall,
Who in this land is the fairest of all?”

and it answered as before—

“Oh, Queen, you arethou art fairest of all I see,
But over the hills, where the seven dwarfs dwell,
Snow-white is still alive and well,
And none is so fair as she.”

When she heard that, all her blood rushed to her heart with fear. It was clear that little Snow-white was alive again.When she heard that, all her blood rushed to her heart with fear, for she saw plainly that little Snow-white was again alive. “But now,” she said, “I will think of something that will put an end to you.” Using the witchcraft she knew, she made a poisonous comb.“But now,” she said, “I will think of something that shall put an end to you,” and by the help of witchcraft, which she understood, she made a poisonous comb. Then she disguised herself and took the shape of another old woman. So she crossed the seven mountains to the seven dwarfs, knocked at the door and cried,So she went over the seven mountains to the seven dwarfs, knocked at the door, and cried, “Good things to sell, cheap, cheap!” Little Snow-white looked out and said, “Go away; I cannot let any one come in.” “I suppose you can look,” said the old woman. She pulled out the poisonous comb and held it up.“I suppose you can look,” said the old woman, and pulled the poisonous comb out and held it up. The girl liked it so much that she let herself be temptedIt pleased the girl so well that she let herself be beguiled, and opened the door. When they had agreed on a price, the old woman said,When they had made a bargain the old woman said, “Now I will comb your hairyou properly for once.” Poor little Snow-white suspected nothing and let the old woman do as she pleased. But as soon as the woman put the comb in Snow-white’s hair, the poison took effect and the girl fell down unconscious.Poor little Snow-white had no suspicion, and let the old woman do as she pleased, but hardly had she put the comb in her hair than the poison in it took effect, and the girl fell down senseless. “You perfect beauty,” said the wicked woman, “you are done for now.” And she went away.“You paragon of beauty,” said the wicked woman, “you are done for now,” and she went away.

But fortunately it was almost evening, and the seven dwarfs came home.But fortunately it was almost evening, when the seven dwarfs came home. When they saw Snow-white lying as if dead on the ground, they immediately suspected the Queen. They looked and found the poisoned comb.When they saw Snow-white lying as if dead upon the ground they at once suspected the step-mother, and they looked and found the poisoned comb. As soon as they took it out, Snow-white regained consciousness and told them what had happened.Scarcely had they taken it out when Snow-white came to herself, and told them what had happened. Then they warned her once more to be onupon her guard and to open the door to no one.

The Queen, at home, went in front of the glass and said—

“MirrorLooking-glass, MirrorLooking-glass, on the wall,
Who in this land is the fairest of all?”

then it answered as before—

“Oh, Queen, you arethou art fairest of all I see,
But over the hills, where the seven dwarfs dwell,
Snow-white is still alive and well,
And none is so fair as she.”

When she heard the glass say thisWhen she heard the glass speak thus she trembled and shook with rage. “Snow-white shall die,” she cried, “even if it costs me my life!”

Then she went into a hidden, isolated room where no one ever came. There she made a very poisonous apple.Thereupon she went into a quite secret, lonely room, where no one ever came, and there she made a very poisonous apple. Outside it looked pretty, white with a red cheek, so that everyone who saw it longed for it; but anyone who ate a piece wouldwhoever ate a piece of it must surely die.

When the apple was ready, she painted her face and dressed like a countrywoman. Then she crossed the seven mountains to the seven dwarfs.When the apple was ready she painted her face, and dressed herself up as a country-woman, and so she went over the seven mountains to the seven dwarfs. She knocked at the door. Snow-white put her head out of the window and said, “I cannot let any one in; the seven dwarfs have forbidden me.” “It is all the same to me,” answered the woman. “I shall soon get rid of my apples.“It is all the same to me,” answered the woman, “I shall soon get rid of my apples. There, I will give you one.”

“No,” said Snow-white, “I dare not take anything.” “Are you afraid of poison?” said the old woman; “Look, I will cut the apple in two. You eat the red cheek, and I will eat the white.”“look, I will cut the apple in two pieces; you eat the red cheek, and I will eat the white.” The apple was so cunningly made that only the red cheek was poisoned. Snow-white longed for the fine apple. When she saw the woman eating part of it, she could resist no longer. She stretched out her hand and took the poisonous half.Snow-white longed for the fine apple, and when she saw that the woman ate part of it she could resist no longer, and stretched out her hand and took the poisonous half. But as soon as she had a piece in her mouth,hardly had she a bit of it in her mouth than she fell down dead. Then the Queen gave her a dreadful look, laughed aloud and said,Then the Queen looked at her with a dreadful look, and laughed aloud and said, “White as snow, red as blood, black as ebony-wood! This timeblack as ebony-wood! this time the dwarfs cannot wake you up again.”

And when she asked the Mirror at homeasked of the Looking-glass at home—

“MirrorLooking-glass, MirrorLooking-glass, on the wall,
Who in this land is the fairest of all?”

it answered at last—

“Oh, Queen, in this land you arethou art fairest of all.”

Then her envious heart had rest, so far as an envious heart can have rest.

When the dwarfs came home in the evening, they found Snow-white lying on the ground. She was no longer breathing and was dead.The dwarfs, when they came home in the evening, found Snow-white lying upon the ground; she breathed no longer and was dead. They lifted her up and looked for anything poisonous. They unlaced her, combed her hair and washed her with water and wine. But it was all no use: the poor child was dead and remained dead.They lifted her up, looked to see whether they could find anything poisonous, unlaced her, combed her hair, washed her with water and wine, but it was all of no use; the poor child was dead, and remained dead. They laid her on a bier, a stand for the body of someone who has died. All seven sat round it and wept for her, and wept for three whole days.They laid her upon a bier, and all seven of them sat round it and wept for her, and wept three days long.

Then they were going to bury her. But she still looked as if she were alive and still had her pretty red cheeks.Then they were going to bury her, but she still looked as if she were living, and still had her pretty red cheeks. They said, “We could not bury her in the dark ground.” They had a transparent glass coffin,” and they had a transparent coffin of glass made, so that she could be seen from all sides. They laid her in it, and they laid her in it, and wrote her name upon it in golden letters, along with the wordsand that she was a king’s daughter. Then they put the coffin out upon the mountain, and one of them always stayed by it and watched it. And birds came too, and wept for Snow-white; first an owl, then a raven, and last a dove.

And now Snow-white lay a long, long time in the coffin, and she did not change, but looked as if she were asleep; for she was as white as snow, as red as blood, and her hair was as black as ebony.

It happened, however, that a king’s son came into the forest, and went to the dwarfs’ house to spend the night. He saw the coffin on the mountain and the beautiful Snow-white inside it. He read what was written on it in golden letters.He saw the coffin on the mountain, and the beautiful Snow-white within it, and read what was written upon it in golden letters. Then he said to the dwarfs, “Let me have the coffin. I will give you whatever you want for it.Let me have the coffin, I will give you whatever you want for it.” But the dwarfs answered, “We will not part with it for all the gold in the world.” Then he said, “Let me have it as a gift, for I cannot live without seeing Snow-white. I will honour and treasureprize her as my dearest possession.” As he spoke in this way the good dwarfs took pity upon him, and gave him the coffin.

And now the King’s son had it carried away by his servants on their shoulders. They happened to stumble over a tree stump. The jolt made the poisonous piece of apple that Snow-white had bitten off come out of her throat.And it happened that they stumbled over a tree-stump, and with the shock the poisonous piece of apple which Snow-white had bitten off came out of her throat. And before long she opened her eyes, lifted up the lid of the coffin, sat up, and was once more alive. “Oh, heavens, where am I?” she cried. Full of joy, the King’s son said, “You are with me.” He told her what had happened and said, “I love you more than anything in the world. Come with me to my father’s palace. You shall be my wife.”The King’s son, full of joy, said, “You are with me,” and told her what had happened, and said, “I love you more than everything in the world; come with me to my father’s palace, you shall be my wife.”

And Snow-white was willing and went with him. Their wedding was celebrated with great ceremony and splendour.And Snow-white was willing, and went with him, and their wedding was held with great show and splendour. But the wicked QueenSnow-white’s wicked step-mother was also invitedbidden to the feast. When she had dressedarrayed herself in beautiful clothes she went before the MirrorLooking-glass, and said—

“MirrorLooking-glass, MirrorLooking-glass, on the wall,
Who in this land is the fairest of all?”

the glass answered—

“Oh, Queen, of all here, the fairest is you,
But the young Queen is fairer by far, in my view.”“Oh, Queen, of all here the fairest art thou,
But the young Queen is fairer by far as I trow.”

Then the wicked woman uttered a curse, and was so wretched, so utterly wretched, that she did not knowknew not what to do. At first she would not go to the wedding at all, but she could not rest and had to go and had no peace, and must go to see the young Queen. When she went in, she recognised Snow-white. She stood still with rage and fear and could not move.And when she went in she knew Snow-white; and she stood still with rage and fear, and could not stir. But she was forced to dance as a cruel punishment until she fell down dead.But iron slippers had already been put upon the fire, and they were brought in with tongs, and set before her. Then she was forced to put on the red-hot shoes, and dance until she dropped down dead.Explanation: The Queen is still forced to dance until she dies. The details of the burning iron shoes are omitted for children in the modernized version. Keeps the fatal punishment and the connection between the forced dancing and death.