Cinderella
Once upon a time, there was a gentleman who married for the second time a woman, the haughtiest and proudest that anyone had ever seen. She had two daughters of her temperament, and who resembled her in every way. The husband had on his side a young daughter, but one of unexampled gentleness and goodness; she got that from her mother, who was the best person in the world. The wedding was no sooner concluded than the mother-in-law expressed her bad humor; she could not tolerate the good qualities of this young child, which made her daughters even more hateful. She charged her with the most vile occupations of the house: it was she who cleaned the dishes and the stairs, who scrubbed the room of Madame, and those of her daughters; she slept at the top of the house, in an attic, on a nasty pallet, while her sisters were in rooms with parquet floors, where they had the most fashionable beds, and mirrors where they could see themselves from the ground up. 'in the head.
The poor girl suffered everything with patience and did not dare to complain to her father who would have scolded her because his wife ruled him entirely. When she had done her work, she would go to the corner of the fireplace and sit in the ashes, which was why she was commonly called Cucendron in the house. The youngest, who was not so dishonest as her eldest, called her Cinderella; However, Cinderella, with her wicked clothes, was still a hundred times more beautiful than her sisters, although dressed very magnificently.
The poor girl suffered everything with patience and did not dare to complain to her father who would have scolded her because his wife ruled him entirely. When she had done her work, she would go to the corner of the fireplace and sit in the ashes, which was why she was commonly called Cucendron in the house. The youngest, who was not so dishonest as her eldest, called her Cinderella; However, Cinderella, with her wicked clothes, was still a hundred times more beautiful than her sisters, although dressed very magnificently.
It happened that the king's son gave a ball, and he asked all people of quality to come: our two young ladies were also asked because they made a great figure in the country. Here they are, very comfortable and busy choosing the clothes and hairstyles that suit them best; new trouble for Cinderella, because it was she who ironed her sisters' linen and gadrooned their cuffs. We only talked about how we would dress.
“Me,” said the eldest, “I will put on my red velvet coat and my English trimmings.
— I said the youngest, I will only have my ordinary skirt; but as a reward, I will put on my coat with gold flowers, and my barrier of diamonds, which is not the most indifferent. »
They sent for a good hairdresser to set up the two-row cornets, and they bought flies from the good maker: they called Cinderella to ask her opinion because she had good taste. Cinderella gave them the best advice in the world, and even offered to do their hair; whatever they wanted. While having her hair done, they said to her: “Cinderella, would you like to go to the ball?”
— Alas, ladies, you're making fun of me, that's not what I need.
— You're right, we'd have a good laugh if we saw a Cucendron going to the ball. »
Anyone other than Cinderella would have had their hair wrong, but she was good, and she styled it perfectly well. They went almost two days without eating, they were so transported with joy. More than twelve laces were broken by tightening them to make their waists appear smaller, and they were still in front of their mirror. Finally, the happy day arrived, they left, and Cinderella followed them with her eyes as long as she could; when she no longer saw them, she began to cry.
“Me,” said the eldest, “I will put on my red velvet coat and my English trimmings.
— I said the youngest, I will only have my ordinary skirt; but as a reward, I will put on my coat with gold flowers, and my barrier of diamonds, which is not the most indifferent. »
They sent for a good hairdresser to set up the two-row cornets, and they bought flies from the good maker: they called Cinderella to ask her opinion because she had good taste. Cinderella gave them the best advice in the world, and even offered to do their hair; whatever they wanted. While having her hair done, they said to her: “Cinderella, would you like to go to the ball?”
— Alas, ladies, you're making fun of me, that's not what I need.
— You're right, we'd have a good laugh if we saw a Cucendron going to the ball. »
Anyone other than Cinderella would have had their hair wrong, but she was good, and she styled it perfectly well. They went almost two days without eating, they were so transported with joy. More than twelve laces were broken by tightening them to make their waists appear smaller, and they were still in front of their mirror. Finally, the happy day arrived, they left, and Cinderella followed them with her eyes as long as she could; when she no longer saw them, she began to cry.
Her godmother, who saw her all in tears, asked her what was wrong with her. "I would like... I would like..." She was crying so hard that she couldn't finish. Her godmother, who was a fairy, said to her: “You would like to go to the ball, wouldn’t you?”
“Alas, yes,” said Cinderella, sighing.
— Well, will you be a good girl? said her godmother, I will make you go there. »
She took her to her room and said to her: “Go into the garden and bring me a pumpkin. » Cinderella immediately went to pick the most beautiful one she could find, and took it to her godmother, not being able to guess how this pumpkin could get her to go to the ball. Her godmother dug it, and having left only the bark, struck it with her wand, and the pumpkin was immediately changed into a beautiful golden carriage.
“Alas, yes,” said Cinderella, sighing.
— Well, will you be a good girl? said her godmother, I will make you go there. »
She took her to her room and said to her: “Go into the garden and bring me a pumpkin. » Cinderella immediately went to pick the most beautiful one she could find, and took it to her godmother, not being able to guess how this pumpkin could get her to go to the ball. Her godmother dug it, and having left only the bark, struck it with her wand, and the pumpkin was immediately changed into a beautiful golden carriage.
Next, she went to look in the mousetrap, where she found six mice, all alive; she told Cinderella to raise the mousetrap trap a little, and to each mouse that came out, she gave a tap with her wand, and the mouse was immediately changed into a beautiful horse; which made a beautiful team of six horses, of a beautiful dappled mouse gray. As she was at a loss as to what she would make a coachman: "I'll see," said Cinderella, "if there isn't a rat in the rat trap, we'll make a coachman out of it."
— You're right, said her godmother, go and see. »
Cinderella brought him the dobby, in which there were three big rats. The fairy took one of the three, because of his master beard, and once touched, he was changed into a big coachman, who had one of the most beautiful mustaches that had ever been seen. Then she said to him: “Go into the garden, you will find six lizards behind the watering can, bring them to me. » Cinderella had no sooner brought them than the godmother changed them into six lackeys, who immediately got behind the carriage with their colorful clothes, and who remained attached to it, as if they had done nothing else all their lives.
— You're right, said her godmother, go and see. »
Cinderella brought him the dobby, in which there were three big rats. The fairy took one of the three, because of his master beard, and once touched, he was changed into a big coachman, who had one of the most beautiful mustaches that had ever been seen. Then she said to him: “Go into the garden, you will find six lizards behind the watering can, bring them to me. » Cinderella had no sooner brought them than the godmother changed them into six lackeys, who immediately got behind the carriage with their colorful clothes, and who remained attached to it, as if they had done nothing else all their lives.
The fairy then said to Cinderella: "Well, that's enough to go to the ball, aren't you very happy?"
— Yes, but will I go like that with my ugly clothes? »
Her godmother only touched her with her wand, and at the same time her clothes were changed into clothes of cloth of gold and silver all adorned with precious stones; she then gave him a pair of leather slippers, the prettiest in the world. When Cinderella was thus adorned, she got into the carriage; but her godmother recommended to her above all things not to pass midnight, warning her that if she stayed at the ball a moment longer, her carriage would turn into a pumpkin again, her horses into mice, her lackeys into lizards, and that her old clothes would return to their former state. shape. She promised her godmother that she would be sure to leave the ball before midnight. She left, not feeling happy.
— Yes, but will I go like that with my ugly clothes? »
Her godmother only touched her with her wand, and at the same time her clothes were changed into clothes of cloth of gold and silver all adorned with precious stones; she then gave him a pair of leather slippers, the prettiest in the world. When Cinderella was thus adorned, she got into the carriage; but her godmother recommended to her above all things not to pass midnight, warning her that if she stayed at the ball a moment longer, her carriage would turn into a pumpkin again, her horses into mice, her lackeys into lizards, and that her old clothes would return to their former state. shape. She promised her godmother that she would be sure to leave the ball before midnight. She left, not feeling happy.
The king's son, who was informed that a great princess had just arrived who was not known, ran to receive her; he gave her his hand as she got out of the carriage, and led her into the room where the company was. There was then a great silence, we stopped dancing and the violins no longer played, so attentive were we in contemplating the great beauties of this unknown woman. All we could hear was a confused noise: “Ah, how beautiful she is!” » The king himself, old as he was, never stopped looking at her, and whispering to the queen that it had been a long time since he had seen such a beautiful and amiable person.
All the ladies were careful to consider her hairstyle and her clothes, to have similar ones the next day, provided that there were beautiful enough fabrics and skilled enough workers. The king's son put her in the most honorable place and then took her to lead her dancing. She danced with so much grace that we admired her even more. A very fine snack was brought, which the young prince did not eat, as he was so busy looking at the princess. She went and sat down with her sisters, and was honest with them: she told them about the oranges and lemons that the prince had given her, which surprised them greatly because they did not know her.
All the ladies were careful to consider her hairstyle and her clothes, to have similar ones the next day, provided that there were beautiful enough fabrics and skilled enough workers. The king's son put her in the most honorable place and then took her to lead her dancing. She danced with so much grace that we admired her even more. A very fine snack was brought, which the young prince did not eat, as he was so busy looking at the princess. She went and sat down with her sisters, and was honest with them: she told them about the oranges and lemons that the prince had given her, which surprised them greatly because they did not know her.
While they were talking like this, Cinderella heard a quarter-to-eleven strike: she immediately made a deep bow to the company and left as quickly as she could. As soon as she arrived, she went to find her godmother, and after thanking her, she told her that she would like to go to the ball again the next day because the king's son had asked her to do so. As she was busy telling her godmother everything that had happened at the ball, the two sisters knocked at the door; Cinderella opened the door for them. “How long it takes for you to come back!” » she said to them, yawning, rubbing her eyes, and lying down as if she had only just woken up; however, she had not wanted to sleep since they had parted. “If you had come to the ball,” said one of her sisters, “you would not have been bored there: the most beautiful princess came there, the most beautiful one could ever see; she did us a thousand courtesies, she gave us oranges and lemons. »
Cinderella did not feel happy: she asked them the name of this princess; but they replied that no one knew her, that the king's son was very distressed, and that he would give anything in the world to know who she was. Cinderella smiled and said to them: “So she was very beautiful? Couldn't I see her? Miss Javotte, lend me the yellow coat that you wear every day.
—Really, said Mademoiselle Javotte, I am of this opinion! To lend my clothes to an ugly Cucendron like that: I would have to be very crazy. »
Cinderella fully expected this refusal, and she was very happy about it because she would have been greatly embarrassed if her sister had been willing to lend her her costume.
Cinderella did not feel happy: she asked them the name of this princess; but they replied that no one knew her, that the king's son was very distressed, and that he would give anything in the world to know who she was. Cinderella smiled and said to them: “So she was very beautiful? Couldn't I see her? Miss Javotte, lend me the yellow coat that you wear every day.
—Really, said Mademoiselle Javotte, I am of this opinion! To lend my clothes to an ugly Cucendron like that: I would have to be very crazy. »
Cinderella fully expected this refusal, and she was very happy about it because she would have been greatly embarrassed if her sister had been willing to lend her her costume.
The next day, the two sisters went to the ball, and Cinderella too, but even more dressed than the first time. The king's son was always with her, and never ceased to tell her sweet stories; the young lady was not bored, and forgot what her godmother had recommended to her; so that she heard the first stroke of midnight strike when she did not believe that it was yet eleven o'clock: she got up and fled as lightly as a deer would have done. The prince followed her, but he could not catch her; she dropped one of her leather slippers, which the prince picked up very carefully.
Cinderella arrived home very out of breath, without a carriage, without a lackey, and with her mean clothes, nothing remaining of all her magnificence except one of her little slippers, the same as the one she had dropped. The guards at the palace gate were asked if they had seen a princess leaving; They said that they had seen no one come out, except a very poorly dressed young girl, who looked more like a peasant than a young lady.
Cinderella arrived home very out of breath, without a carriage, without a lackey, and with her mean clothes, nothing remaining of all her magnificence except one of her little slippers, the same as the one she had dropped. The guards at the palace gate were asked if they had seen a princess leaving; They said that they had seen no one come out, except a very poorly dressed young girl, who looked more like a peasant than a young lady.
QWhen her two sisters returned from the ball, Cinderella asked them if they had had a good time again and if the beautiful lady had been there; they told her yes, but that she had run away when midnight struck, and so quickly that she had dropped one of her little leather slippers, the prettiest in the world; that the king's son had picked it up, and that he had only looked at it during the rest of the ball, and that he was undoubtedly very much in love with the beautiful person to whom the little slipper belonged. They spoke the truth because a few days later, the king's son announced with his trumpet that he would marry the one whose foot fits the slipper. They began to try it on princesses, then on duchesses, and the whole court, but to no avail. It was brought to the two sisters, who did everything possible to get their foot into the slipper, but they could not get through it.
Cinderella, who was looking at them, and who recognized her slipper, said laughing: “Let me see if it wouldn’t be good for me!” » Her sisters began to laugh and make fun of her. The gentleman who was trying on the slipper, having looked attentively at Cinderella, and finding her very beautiful, said that it was right and that he had orders to try it on all the girls. He made Cinderella sit down, and putting the slipper close to her little foot, he saw that she fit in without difficulty and that it was just like wax. The astonishment of the two sisters was great, but greater still when Cinderella took from her pocket the other little slipper which she put on her foot.
Cinderella, who was looking at them, and who recognized her slipper, said laughing: “Let me see if it wouldn’t be good for me!” » Her sisters began to laugh and make fun of her. The gentleman who was trying on the slipper, having looked attentively at Cinderella, and finding her very beautiful, said that it was right and that he had orders to try it on all the girls. He made Cinderella sit down, and putting the slipper close to her little foot, he saw that she fit in without difficulty and that it was just like wax. The astonishment of the two sisters was great, but greater still when Cinderella took from her pocket the other little slipper which she put on her foot.
Labove came to the godmother who, having flicked her wand on Cinderella's clothes, made them even more magnificent than all the others. Then her two sisters recognized her for the beautiful person they had seen at the ball. They threw themselves at his feet to ask him for forgiveness for all the mistreatment they had made him suffer. Cinderella raised them, and told them, while kissing them, that she forgave them with a good heart, and that she begged them to love her always. She was taken to the young prince, dressed as she was: he found her even more beautiful than ever, and a few days later, he married her. Cinderella, who was as good as she was beautiful, had her two sisters lodged in the palace and married them that same day to two great lords of the court
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