爱华网灰姑娘的英文原文：Cinderella
Once upon a time there lived an unhappy young girl. Her motherwas dead and her father had married a widow with two daughters. Herstepmother didn't like her one little bit. All her kind thoughtsand loving touches were for her own daughters. Nothing was too goodfor them - dresses, shoes, delicious food, soft beds, and everyhome comfort
But, for the poor unhappy girl, there was nothing at all. Nodresses, only her stepsisters’ hand-me-downs. No lovely dishes,nothing but scraps. No rest and no comfort. She had to work hardall day. Only when evening came was she allowed to sit for a whileby the fire, near the cinders. That’s why everybody called herCinderella
Cinderella used to spend long hours all alone talking to thecat. The cat said, . Miaow. , which really meant, . Cheer up! Youhave something neither of your stepsisters has and that is beauty..It was quite true. Cinderella, even dressed in old rags, was alovely girl. While her stepsisters, no matter how splendid andelegant their clothes, were still clumsy, lumpy and ugly and alwayswould be.
One day, beautiful new dresses arrived at the house. A ballwas to be held at the palace and the stepsisters were getting readyto go. Cinderella didn't even dare ask if she could go too. Sheknew very well what the answer would be: . You? You're staying athome to wash the dishes, scrub the floors and turn down the bedsfor your stepsisters. They will come home tired and very sleepy..Cinderella sighed, . Oh dear, I'm so unhappy!. and the cat murmured. Miaow..
Suddenly something amazing happened. As Cinderella was sittingall alone, there was a burst of light and a fairy appeared. . Don'tbe alarmed, Cinderella,. said the fairy. . I know you would love togo to the ball. And so you shall!. . How can I, dressed in rags?.Cinderella replied. . The servants will turn me away!.
The fairy smiled. With a flick of her magic wand Cinderellafound herself wearing the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. .Now for your coach,. said the fairy; "A real lady would never go toa ball on foot! Quick! Get me a pumpkin!. . Oh of course,. saidCinderella, rushing away. Then the fairy turned to the cat. . You,bring me seven mice, and, remember they must be alive!.
Cinderella soon returned with the pumpkin and the cat withseven mice he had caught in the cellar. With a flick of the magicwand the pumpkin turned into a sparkling coach and the micebecame six white horses, while the seventh mouse turnedinto a coachman in a smart uniform and carrying a whip. Cinderellacould hardly believe her eyes.
Cinderella had a wonderful time at the ball until she heardthe first stroke of midnight! She remembered what the fairy hadsaid, and without a word of goodbye she slipped from the Prince. sarms and ran down the steps. As she ran she lost one of herslippers, but not for a moment did she dream of stopping to pick itup! If the last stroke of midnight were to sound... oh... what adisaster that would be! Out she fled and vanished into thenight.
The Prince, who was now madly in love with her, picked up theslipper and said to his ministers, “Go and search everywhere forthe girl whose foot this slipper fits. I will never be contentuntil I find her!”
So the ministers tried the slipper on the foot of every girlin the land until only Cinderella was left.
That awful untidy girl simply cannot have been at the ball,.snapped the stepmother. . Tell the Prince he ought to marry one ofmy two daughters! Can't you see how ugly Cinderella is?. But, toeveryone. s amazement, the shoe fitted perfectly.
Suddenly the fairy appeared and waved her magic wand. In aflash, Cinderella appeared in a splendid dress, shining with youthand beauty. Her stepmother and stepsisters gaped at her inamazement, and the ministers said, "Come with us Cinderella! ThePrince is waiting for you." So Cinderella married the Prince andlived happily ever. As for the cat, he just said "Miaow!"
灰姑娘的作者
格林兄弟：雅科布·格林、威廉·格林
他们都是德国民间文学搜集整编者。出身官员家庭，均曾在马尔堡大学学法律，又同在卡塞尔图书馆工作和任格延根大学教授，1841年同时成为格林科学院院士。他俩共同编成《儿童与家庭童话集》(1857年出最后一版，共216篇故事)。其中的《灰姑娘》、《白雪公主》、《小红帽》、《勇敢的小裁缝》……等名篇，已成为世界各国儿童喜爱的杰作。此外，格林兄弟从1808年起，开始搜集德国民间传说，出版《德国传说》两卷，共585篇。他们还编写了《德语语法》(1819～1837)、《德国语言史》(1848)及《德语大辞典》(1852)前4卷等学术著作，为日尔曼语言学的发展做出了贡献
