Сценарий сказки Золушка на английском языке
Декорации и атрибуты: две ширмы (дом Золушки и дворец); метла; лист с перечнем домашних дел, свернутый в рулон; стол; игрушечная посуда; муляжи фруктов; зеркало; стулья; два трона; воздушные шары; часы.
Cinderella ­ Narrator Father Stepmother ­ Elder Sister Younger Sister

Fairy Prince ­ King ­ Little Mice Messenger ­

Дом Золушки

NARRATOR: Cinderella lives in a house with her Stepmother and her two Stepsisters. Her Stepmother never works around the house. Every day she says. (Золушка живет в доме вместе со своей мачехой и двумя сводными сестрами. Ее мачеха никогда не работает по дому. Каждый день она говорит.

STEPMOTHER: Cinderella, wash the dishes, Cinderella, clean the house. Cinderella, work, work, work!. (Золушка, помой посуду, Золушка, убери дом, Золушка, работай, работай, работай!)

NARRATOR: Her Stepmother is not good. She is bad. Cinderella´s Stepsisters are ugly, and they don´t like to work either. (Ее мачеха нехорошая. Она плохая. И сводные сестры не красивы и не любят работать тоже.)

STEPSISTER 1: Cinderella, come here!. (Золушка, подойди сюда!)

STEPSISTER 2: Cinderella sweep the floor!. (Золушка, подмети пол!)

STEPSISTER 1: Cinderella clean my shoes!.(Золушка, почисти мою обувь!)

STEPSISTER 2: Cinderella comb my hair!.(Золушка, расчеши мои волосы!)
Cinderella (обнимает отца): Good morning, Daddy! I love you! (Доброе утро,папочка! Я люблю тебя!)
Father (гладит Золушку по голове): Good morning, dear! How are you? (Доброе утро, дорогая! Как ты?)
Cinderella (улыбается): Fine, Daddy, fine. And you? (Хорошо, папочка, хорошо. Как у тебя?)

Сцена во дворце. Король и Принц.

King: My son, you`re already grown up. It`s high time you married and settled down.

Prince: I don`t want to marry. I enjoy my life as it is now.

King: But you should understand, I`m not getting younger and I want to see my grandchildren.

Prince: Oh, no, I`m not ready to become a father, pa, please, leave me alone!

King: Look, we`ll arrange a great ball and invite all the young girls. So, you can meet them and choose whoever you like!

Prince: Well. Ok.. I give up..

Дом золушки
Stepmother: The table isn’t ready for tea! (Стол не готов для чаепития!)
Elder Sister: It’s 4 o’clock! (Время – 4 часа!)
Younger Sister: It’s tea time. (Время пить чай!)
Both Sisters: What’s happening? (Что происходит?)
Stepmother: Where is she? (Где она?)
Cinderella: I’m here. (Я тут.)
Stepmother: This room is a nightmare! (! А эта комната как ночной кошмар!
Elder Sister: I want my tea!! А я хочу чай!)
Younger Sister: I want my biscuits! (А я хочу мои печенья!)
Stepmother: They want their tea! They want their biscuits! (Они хотят чай! Они хотят печенье!)
Stepmother: Look at this teapot. It’s dirty! Clean it now! (Посмотри на этот чайник! Он грязный! Отмой его сейчас же!)
Elder Sister: Mummy, the table is dirty! (Мам, стол грязный!)
Younger Sister: Mummy, I want my tea! (Мам, я хочу чай!)
Stepmother (обнимая плачущих дочек): Oh, my poor girls! (Ах, бедные мои девочки!)

NARRATOR: Cinderella is very nice, beautiful, and hardworker. She is good to her Stepmother and to her Stepsisters. (Золушка очень хорошая, красивая и трудолюбивая. Она хорошо относится к своей мачехе и сестрам)
(
Stepmother: You lazy girl! (Лентяйка!)
Cinderella: I’m sorry, Stepmother. I’m really sorry. (Извиняюсь, мачеха. Я очень извиняюсь.)
Мачеха и сестры садятся за стол.
Cinderella: I’m coming. Here you are. (Иду. Вот, возьмите.)
Elder Sister: It’s my tea! (Это мой чай!)
Younger Sister: No! It’s my tea! (Нет, это мой чай!)
Сестры дерутся. Мачеха растаскивает их.
Все садятся за стол, едят. Золушка стоит в стороне.
Stepmother: Cinderella, clear the table at once. (Золушка, убери все со стола, сейчас же!)
Cinderella: Yes, Stepmother. Of course, Stepmother. (Да, мачеха. Конечно, мачеха.)
Elder Sister: Mummy! I want her to clean my room first! (Мамочка, я хочу, чтоб она сперва мою комнта убрала!)
Younger Sister: No, Mummy! She’ll clean my room first, or I’ll put frogs in her bed. (Нет, Мам! Она сперва уберет мою комнату, иначе я положу лягушек ей в постель!)
Сестры дерутся.
Stepmother: Girls! Stop fighting, please! (Девочки! Прекратите драться, пжл)
Фонограмма 8. Слышится конский топот и ржание.
Stepmother: There’s somebody at the door! (Кто-то у двери!)
Elder Sister: Who is it? (Кто это?)
Younger Sister: Who is it? (Кто это?)
Фонограмма 9. Громкий стук в дверь.
Cinderella: There’s a strange man at the door. He says that he’s from the palace. (Там странный человек. Он говорит, что он со дворца!)
Elder Sister, Younger Sister: What palace? (Какого дворца?)
Stepmother: You know the palace. Prince Richard lives there. (Вы знаете дворец. Там живет Принц Ричард!)

Входит гонец.
Messenger: Prince Richard invites you all to the palace on Saturday night at 8 o’clock for a big,big, big ball. Here are your invitations. (Принц Ричард приглашает всех вас в субботу в 8 часов на большой, большой прием! Вот ваши приглашения!)
Elder Sister: That’s for me! (Это мне!)
Younger Sister: No! It’s for me! (Нет, Это мне!)
Stepmother:(гонцу): Are you going to stay here all day? (Ты собираешься остаться здесь весь день?)

Гонец уходит.
Stepmother (надменно): We’ll go to the ball today. Cinderella, clean this mess and I want a ball dress. (Мы пойдем на бал сегодня. Золушка, убери весь этот беспорядок, и я хочу вечернее платье!)
Elder Stepsister (прихорашивается перед зеркалом): And I want a dress. (И я хочу платье!)
Younger Stepsister (прихорашивается перед зеркалом): And I want a dress.(И я хочу платье!)
Elder Stepsister: Cinderella, what are you doing? Come here.(Золушка, что ты делаешь? Иди сюда!)
Younger Stepsister: Cinderella, come and help us get ready! (Золушка, подойди и помоги на собраться!)
Cinderella: All right. Who’s the first? (Хорошо. Кто первая?)
Younger Stepsister (сидя на том же диване): Cinderella, brush my hair. (Золушка, причеши мои волосы.)
Elder Stepsister (сидя на том же диване): Give me the mirror. (Дай мне зеркало.)
Золушка подает то одной, то другой.
Younger Stepsister (красуясь перед зеркалом): When Prince Richard looks into my eyes, he will die. (Когда принц Ричард заглянет в мои глаза, он умрет!)
Elder Stepsister (хихикая): Exactly! He will die. (Точно. Он умрет!)
Younger Stepsister (красуясь перед зеркалом): When Prince Richard dances with me, he will want to marry me. (Когда Принц Ричард потанцует со мной, он захочет жениться на мне.)

Elder Stepsister: No, he’ll marry me or I will die.(Нет, она на мне женится, или я умру.)
Stepmother (бросает на пол вещи): Cinderella, clean this mess! You can’t go to the ball, until you do this all (Золушка, убери весь этот беспорядок. И ты не сможешь пойти на бал, пока не сделаешь всего этого.)
Дает ей длинный список домашних дел.
Younger Stepsister (хихикая): No, you can’t go to the ball! (Нет, ты не сможешь пойти на бал!)
Elder Stepsister(хихикая): No, you can’t go to the ball, until you do this all! (ты не сможешь пойти на бал, пока не сделаешь всего этого.)
Звучит музыка. Мачеха с дочерьми уходят.
Cinderella (читает вслух): Clean the house, wash the blouse, make food... Oh, it’s no good (Убрать дом, постирать блузку, приготовить еду. Ах, что ж тут хорошего…)
(плачет).

Песня “a dream is a wish your heart makes”
Появляются мышата.
Cinderella: You are nice! But I am sad. (Вы красивы. А я грущу..)
Three mice: Why are you sad? (Почему грустишь?)
Cinderella: Because everybody is going to the ball and I’m not. (Потому что все идут на бал, а я нет.)
Three mice: Do you want to go to the ball? (Ты хочешь пойти на бал?)
Cinderella: Oh, yes, very much. (О, да, очень сильно.)
Three mice: We can help you. (Мы можем тебе помочь!)
Cinderella: Can you really? (Вы сможете на самом деле?)
Three mice: Yes, we can make you a beautiful dress. We can do it. (Да, мы можем сделать тебе прекрасное платье. Мы можем это.) Песня «We can do it». Три мышонка окружают Золушку, поют свою песенку. Готовят платье. И Золушка надевает его. В это время выходят мачеха с сестрами, и увидев Золушку ахают и разрывают ее платье.

Younger Stepsister: That`s my sash!

Elder stepsister: That`s my ribbon!

Cinderella: Oh, no! You can`t do this!

Золушка плачет и убегает.
Фонограмма 12. Звучит музыка. Появляется фея.
Cinderella: Fairy Godmother?
Three mice: Yes, it`s Fairy Godmother!
Fairy: Why are you crying, dear, why? Please, don’t cry! (Почему ты плачешь, дорогая, почему?
Cinderella (плачет): I can’t go to the ball, because my dress is torn off. (Я не могу пойти на бал, потому что мое платье разорвано!)
Fairy: I can help you. Look at me! Close your eyes. One ­two­ three! (Я смогу тебе помочь. Посмотри на меня! Закрой глаза!

Фея поет песню про волшебство. Взмахивает волшебной палочкой.

Cinderella (изумленно смотрит на свое новое красивое платье): I can’t believe this dress is mine! Thank you, fairy, you are so kind. (Не могу поверить, что это платье мое! Спасибо, фея, тыт так добра!)
Fairy (грозит Золушке пальцем): But at twelve o’clock you must be here as everything will be as it was before. (Но в 12 часов ты должна быть здесь.. в это время все станет таким же как прежде.)
Cinderella (радостно): Oh, yes, it’s clear. (Да, это понятно)
Дворец. Король, придворные танцуют, Принц безучастно сидит на троне.

King (обращается к гостям): The ball is on. Let’s dance and have a lot of fun today! (Бал продолжается. Давайте танцевать и веселиться сегодня!)
Звучит музыка. Входят Мачеха, дочери. Мачеха подходит к Принцу.
Prince: Good evening. (Добрый вечер.)
Stepmother: Good evening, your Majesty. Pleased to meet you. (Добрый вечер, Ваше Превосходительство. Рады познакомиться.)
Prince: I am pleased to meet you, too. Where are your beautiful daughters? (Я тоже рад познакомиться. Где ваши красавицы дочери?)
Stepmother: They’re coming. (Они идут.)
Дочерям:
Stepmother: Girls! Girls! This is Prince Richard! (Девочки! Это Принц Ричард)
Дочери окружают Принца.

Появляется Золушка в бальном платье. Все смотрят на нее с восхищением.

King (восхищенно): Look at that girl! She’s so nice and slim! Посмотрите на ту девушку! Она такая красивая и стройная!
Guest 1: Look at her! (Посмотрите на нее!)
Guest 2: Who is she? She’s so beautiful! I have never seen her before. (Кто это? Она такая красивая! Я никогда прежде не видел ее.)

Принц подбегает к Золушке, приглашает на танец, и они начинают танцевать.
Elder sister: Look at him!. He looks happy! (Посмотрите на него! Он выглядит счастливым!)

NARRATOR: Then she heard the clock. (Затем она услышала часы.)

CINDERELLA: I must go. (Я должна идти)

PRINCE: But, you have just arrived. (Но ты только пришла!)

CINDERELLA: Good bye!. I must go!.(До свидания! Я должна идти!)

NARRATOR: And she started running. (И она начала бежать)

PRINCE: No!. Stop!.(Нет, остановись!)

NARRATOR: While Cinderella was still running the magic disappeared, and her dress turned to rags and the coach, horses, coachman, and groom disappeared. The prince followed her, until he lost her. (Когда Золушка бежала, волшебство исчезло и ее платье превратилось в лохмотья, а карета, кучер, лошади и лакей испарились. Принц последовал за ней, пока не потерял ее..)

PRINCE: I lost her!. How will I see her again if I don`t even know her name. (Я потерял ее! Как мне увидеть ее еще раз, если я не знаю даже ее имени.)

NARRATOR: Then he saw something in the floor. (Затем он увидел что-то на полу)

PRINCE: What is this?. Oh, it`s one of her glass slippers. I will look for her throughout the kingdom. (Что это? Это одна из ее хрустальных туфелек.. Я буду искать ее по всему королевству.)

NARRATOR: And he did. He tried the shoe in every maiden there was in the kingdom. Some of them fit into the shoe, but they didn`t have the other one. Then one day he arrived to Cinderella`s house. As soon as he arrived Stepsisters tried on the shoe, but their feet were very big, so it was useless. (И он так и сделал. Он примерял туфельку на каждую девушку в его королевстве. Некоторым она была в пору, но у них не было второй пары. И затем однажды он приехал в дом Золушки. Входит гонец, объявляет:

Messenger: Prince Richard is looking for the beautiful girl from the ball, who left her glass slipper.

Как только он приехал, сестры примеряли туфельку, но их ноги были такие большие, что это было просто бесполезно..

PRINCE: Are there other young maidens here?. (Здесь нет больше молодых девушек?)

STEPMOTHER: No. (Нет.)

NARRATOR: As the prince was getting ready to leave, one of his servants saw that Cinderella was watching them behind the stairs. (Пока Принц собирался уходить, один из его слуг увидел, как Золушка наблюдала за ними изза лестницы)

Messenger: Come here, young girl, and try on this shoe. (Подойди сюда,

Молодая девушка, и примерь эту туфельку)

Younger Stepsister: But… she can`t… she didn`t even go to the ball. (Но она не может. Ее даже не было на балу.)

Elder Stepsister: Besides, she is our maid. (Кроме того, это наша прислуга.)

Messenger: Come here, girl, try it on. (Подойди сюда, девочка, примерь)

NARRATOR: Then Cinderella tried on the shoe, which fit her perfectly. (Золушка примерила обувь, которая ей пришлась в пору.)

PRINCE: You will be my bride!. Will you marry me?. (Ты будешь моей невестой. Ты выйдешь за меня замуж?

CINDERELLA: No..

Prince: No? Why no?

Cinderella: No doubt…. Sure. I will!

Prince: I`m so happy. Let`s go to the palace!

NARRATOR: They went to the palace where they got married, and were happy for ever after.(Они ушли во дворец, где поженились, и жили долго и счастливо.)

ONCE there was a gentleman who married, for his second wife, the proudest and most haughty woman that was ever seen. She had been married before, and already had two daughters who were exactly like her in all things. He had likewise, by his first wife, a young daughter, but of unequalled goodness and sweetness of temper, which she took from her mother, who was the best creature in the world. This sweet little girl missed her mother, who had died, terribly much.

No sooner was the wedding ceremony over, than the new wife began to show herself in her true colors. She could not bear the goodness of the gentleman’s pretty girl, and especially as she made her own daughters appear the more horrid. She made her do the meanest jobs in the house: the girl scoured the dishes and tables, and scrubbed the stepmother’s bathroom, and those of her daughters; she slept in a little attic, upon a wretched straw bed, while her sisters lay upon beds with the softest pillows, in fine rooms, with floors covered with beautiful carpets, and walls on which hung 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 been angry with her; for his new wife ruled him entirely. When the little girl had done her work, she used to go into the chimney-corner, and sit down among cinders and ashes, which led her to be called Cinderwench; but the youngest step-daughter, who was not quite so rude and unkind as the eldest, called her Cinderella. However, Cinderella, even though she was dressed in rags, was a hundred times prettier than her sisters, though they were always dressed very richly.

It happened that the King’s son gave a ball, and invited all finest gentlemen and ladies of the city. Our young misses were also invited, for they were always to be seen at fashionable parties. They were truly delighted at this invitation, and wonderfully busy in choosing such gowns, petticoats, and head-clothes as might suit them. This was a new trouble to Cinderella; for it was she who washed and ironed her sisters’ clothes and got all their things ready. Meanwhile, the sisters talked all day long of nothing but what they should wear to the ball.

«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 gown, and my diamond belt, which is far from being the most ordinary one in the world.”

But in truth, they were still not absolutely sure what would be best to wear to the ball, so they sent for the best fashion designer they could find to advise on their evening dresses, and they had their nails maniqured at Mademoiselle de la Poche.

Cinderella was likewise called up to them for advice, for she had excellent judgement, and advised them always for the best, indeed, and offered her services to make up their hair, 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 a poor girl like me to go there.”

«You’re quite right,” replied they; «it would make the people laugh to see a Cinderwench at a ball.”

Anyone but Cinderella would have dressed their heads all wrong, but she was very good, and dressed them perfectly well.

The step-sisters were almost two days without eating, so much were they thrilled and excited. They broke above a dozen corsettes in trying to be laced up tightly, so 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.

Just then, her fairy-godmother, who used to watch-over her secretly, saw her all in tears, and appeared at her side and asked her what was the matter.

«I wish I could–I wish I could–”; she was not able to speak the rest, being interrupted by her tears and sobbing.

This fairy godmother of hers said to her, «You wish you could go to the ball; is it not so?”

«Y–es,” cried Cinderella, with a great sigh.

«Well,” said her godmother, «be but a good girl, and I will see that you shall go to the ball.” Then she took her into her secret room, 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 the big vegitable, 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 went to look into her mouse-trap, where she found six mice, all alive, and ordered Cinderella to lift up a little the trapdoor. As each mouse went out, she gave it a little tap with her wand, and 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. But they still needed a coachman,

«I will go and see,” says Cinderella, «if there is a rat in the rat-trap–we may make a coachman of him.”

«You’re a smart one,” 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 uniforms 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 have here transport fit to take you to the ball; are you not pleased with it?”

«Oh! yes,” cried she; «but must I go there 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 lovey she is! Ha! how lovely 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 led 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 banquet was served up, of which 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 polite gestures, giving them part of the oranges and lemon blosoms which the Prince had presented her with, which very much surprised them, for they did not recognise 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 you had been at the ball,” said one of her sisters, «you would not have been tired with it. There came there the finest princess, the most beautiful ever was seen with mortal eyes; she was a thousand times nice to us, and gave us orange and lemon blossoms.”

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 clothes which you wear every day.”

«Ay, to be sure!” cried Miss Charlotte; «lend my clothes to such a dirty Cinderwench as you! I should be a fool.”

Cinderella, indeed, expected well 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 jokingly.

The next day the two sisters were at the ball, and so was Cinderella, but dressed more magnificently than before. The King’s son was always by her, and never ceased his compliments and kind 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, and in her nasty old clothes, 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 replied that 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 gentlewoman.

When the two sisters returned from the ball Cinderella asked them: If they had been well diverted, and if the fine lady had been there.

They told her: 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, which the King’s son had taken up; that he had done nothing but look at her all the time at the ball, and that most certainly he was very much in love with the beautiful person who owned the glass slipper.

What they said was very true; for a few days after the King’s son commanded it to be proclaimed, by sound of trumpet, that he would marry the young woman whose foot would perfectly fit the slipper. He sent out his most trusted advsiers from the palace, who began to try it upon the princesses, then the duchesses and all the Court, but in vain; it was brought to the two sisters, who each did all that she possibly could to thrust her foot into the slipper, but neither sister could manage to do so. Cinderella, who saw all this, and knew her slipper, said to them, laughing:

«Let me see if it will not fit me.”

Her sisters burst out a-laughing, and began to tease her. The gentleman who was sent to try the slipper looked earnestly at Cinderella, and, finding her very handsome, said: it was only right that that she should try, and that he had orders to let every girl try.

He asked Cinderella 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. The astonishment her two sisters were in was excessively great, but still abundantly greater when Cinderella pulled out of her pocket the other slipper, and put it on her foot. Thereupon, in came her godmother, who, having touched with her wand Cinderella’s clothes, made them richer and more magnificent than any of those she had before.

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 ill- treatment they had dished out to her. Cinderella took them up, and, as she embraced them, cried:

That she forgave them with all her heart, and desired them always to love her.

She was brought by carriage to the young prince, dressed as she was; he thought her more charming than ever, and, a few days after, married her. Cinderella, who was no less good than beautiful, gave her two sisters rooms in the palace, and that very same day matched them with two great lords of the Court.

Cinderella lives with her step-mother and two bad and ugly step-sisters. She has to work all day while her sisters do nothing but play and try on new dresses and shoes. There is a ball at the prince"s palace tonight and Cinderella"s sisters are ready to go to it. Cinderella is very sad. She is not allowed to go to the ball.

Suddenly, a Fairy Godmother comes to the house. "Do not worry, Cinderella", — she says. She waves her magic wand. In a moment a very beautiful dress appears and there is a coach with two horses ready to take her to the ball. "But remember, — says the Fairy Godmother. — You must come back before midnight".

Cinderella is in the palace. There are many nice-looking young ladies but she is the prettiest of all. The prince dances with Cinderella all the time, but nobody knows the name of the beauty. When the clock strikes twelve, Cinderella runs away without saying goodbye. She leaves a beautiful little slipper on the stairs in a hurry.

The prince and his men travel through the kingdom looking for the beautiful lady from the ball. They come to Cinderella"s house. Cinderella"s sisters are ready to try on the little slipper. But their feet are too big. The step-mother is furious. Then Cinderella puts on the slipper. It is just right. "Now I know, — the prince says. — You are my beautiful dancer. I want you to be my wife!"

There was a big wedding party at the palace. Cinderella and prince were very happy. They had so many guests! There were the king, the queen and the Fairy Godmother. They all danced and had a lot of fun. The prince and Cinderella lived long and happily ever after.

Золушка живёт вместе с мачехой и двумя злыми и безобразными сестрами. Она должна целый день работать, а её сестры только веселятся да примеряют новые платья и туфли. Сегодня во дворце короля бал, и Золушкины сестры собираются пойти туда. Золушка очень печальна. Она не может пойти на бал. Неожиданно в дом приходит добрая фея.

“Не волнуйся, Золушка”, — говорит она. Она достаёт свою волшебную палочку. Через мгновение у Золушки появляется прекрасное платье и карета с двумя лошадьми, готовыми отвезти её на бал. “Но помни, — говорит фея. — Ты должна вернуться домой до полуночи”.

Золушка во дворце. Там много прекрасных молодых девушек, но она самая красивая из всех. Принц танцует с ней весь вечер. Никто не знает имени прекрасной незнакомки. Когда часы бьют двенадцать, Золушка убегает, не попрощавшись ни с кем. В спешке она оставляет на лестнице красивую маленькую туфельку.

Принц и его слуги ищут прекрасную незнакомку по всему королевству. Они приезжают в дом Золушки. Её сестры примеряют башмачок, но их ноги слишком велики. Мачеха вне себя от гнева. Тогда башмачок примеряет Золушка. Он приходится ей впору.”Теперь я знаю, —говорит принц, — ты та девушка, с которой танцевал на балу. Будь моей женой!”

Во дворце праздновали помолвку Золушки и принца. Золушка и принц были очень счастливы.У них собралось столько гостей! Там были король с королевой и добрая фея. Все танцевали и веселились. Золушка и принц жили долго и счастливо.

Cinderella

Once upon a time…: there lived an unhappy young girl. Unhappy she was, for her mother was dead, her father had married another woman, a widow with two daughters, and her stepmother didn"t like her one little bit. All the nice things, kind thoughts and loving touches were for her own daughters. And not just the kind thoughts and love, but also dresses, shoes, shawls, delicious food, comfy beds, as well as every home comfort. All this was laid on for her daughters. But, for the poor unhappy girl, there was nothing at all. No dresses, only her stepsisters" hand-me-downs. No lovely dishes, nothing but scraps. No nice rests and comfort. For she had to work hard all day, and only when evening came was she allowed to sit for a while by the fire, near the cinders. That is how she got her nickname, for everybody called her Cinderella. Cinderella used to spend long hours all alone talking to the cat. The cat said, "Miaow", which really meant, "Cheer up! You have something neither of your stepsisters have and that is beauty."

It was quite true. Cinderella, even dressed in rags with a dusty gray face from the cinders, was a lovely girl. While her stepsisters, no matter how splendid and elegant their clothes, were still clumsy, lumpy and ugly and always would be.

One day, beautiful new dresses arrived at the house. A ball was to be held at Court and the stepsisters were getting ready to go to it. Cinderella, didn"t even dare ask, "What about me?" for she knew very well what the answer to that would be:

"You? My dear girl, you"re staying at home to wash the dishes, scrub the floors and turn down the beds for your stepsisters. They will come home tired and very sleepy." Cinderella sighed at the cat.

"Oh dear, I"m so unhappy!" and the cat murmured "Miaow".

Suddenly something amazing happened. In the kitchen, where Cinderella was sitting all by herself, there was a burst of light and a fairy appeared.

"Don"t be alarmed, Cinderella," said the fairy. "The wind blew me your sighs. I know you would love to go 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... Cinderella found herself wearing the most beautiful dress, the loveliest ever seen in the realm.

"Now that we have settled the matter of the dress," said the fairy, "we"ll need to get you a coach. A real lady would never go to a ball on foot!"

"Quick! Get me a pumpkin!" she ordered.

"Oh of course," said Cinderella, rushing away. Then the fairy turned to the cat.

"You, bring me seven mice!"

"Seven mice!" said the cat. "I didn"t know fairies ate mice too!"

"They"re not for eating, silly! Do as you are told!... and, remember they must be alive!"

Cinderella soon returned with a fine pumpkin and the cat with seven mice he had caught in the cellar.

"Good!" exclaimed the fairy. With a flick of her magic wand... wonder of wonders! The pumpkin turned into a sparkling coach and the mice became six white horses, while the seventh mouse turned into a coachman, in a smart uniform and carrying a whip. Cinderella could hardly believe her eyes.

"I shall present you at Court. You will soon see that the Prince, in whose honor the ball is being held, will be enchanted by your loveliness. But remember! You must leave the ball at midnight and come home. For that is when the spell ends. Your coach will turn back into a pumpkin, the horses will become mice again and the coachman will turn back into a mouse... and you will be dressed again in rags and wearing clogs instead of these dainty little slippers! Do you understand?" Cinderella smiled and said, "Yes, I understand!"

When Cinderella entered the ballroom at the palace, a hush fell. Everyone stopped in mid-sentence to admire her elegance, her beauty and grace.

"Who can that be?" people asked each other. The two stepsisters also wondered who the newcomer was, for never in a month of Sundays, would they ever have guessed that the beautiful girl was really poor Cinderella who talked to the cat!

When the prince set eyes on Cinderella, he was struck by her beauty. Walking over to her, he bowed deeply and asked her to dance. And to the great disappointment of all the young ladies, he danced with Cinderella all evening.

"Who are you, fair maiden?" the Prince kept asking her. But Cinderella only replied:

"What does it matter who I am! You will never see me again anyway."

"Oh, but I shall, I"m quite certain!" he replied.

Cinderella had a wonderful time at the ball... But, all of a sudden, she heard the sound of a clock: the first stroke of midnight! She remembered what the fairy had said, and without a word of goodbye she slipped from the Prince"s arms and ran down the steps. As she ran she lost one of her slippers, but not for a moment did she dream of stopping to pick it up! If the last stroke of midnight were to sound... oh... what a disaster that would be! Out she fled and vanished into the night.

The Prince, who was now madly in love with her, picked up her slipper and said to his ministers, "Go and search everywhere for the girl whose foot this slipper fits. I will never be content until I find her!" So the ministers tried the slipper on the foot of all the girls... and on Cinderella"s foot as well... Surprise! The slipper fitted perfectly.

"That awful untidy girl simply cannot have been at the ball," snapped the stepmother. "Tell the Prince he ought to marry one of my two daughters! Can"t you see how ugly Cinderella is! Can"t you see?"

Suddenly she broke off, for the fairy had appeared.

"That"s enough!" she exclaimed, raising her magic wand. In a flash, Cinderella appeared in a splendid dress, shining with youth and beauty. Her stepmother and stepsisters gaped at her in amazement, and the ministers said,"Come with us, fair maiden! The Prince awaits to present you with his engagement ring!" So Cinderella joyfully went with them, and lived happily ever after with her Prince. And as for the cat, he just said "Miaow"!

>Шарль Перро/ Charles Perrault "Золушка/ Cinderella or the Little Glass Slipper"

Сказка Шарля Перро - Cinderella or the Little Glass Slipper (Золушка) на английском и русском языках

На английском языке

Cinderella or the Little Glass Slipper

Once upon a time there was a gentleman who married, for his second wife, the proudest and most haughty woman that ever was seen. She had two daughters of her own, who were, indeed, exactly like her in all things. The gentleman had also a young daughter, of rare goodness and sweetness of temper, which she took from her mother, who was the best creature in the world.

The wedding was scarcely over, when the stepmother"s bad temper began to show itself. She could not bear the goodness of this young girl, because it made her own daughters appear the more odious. The stepmother gave her the meanest work in the house to do; she had to scour the dishes, tables, etc., and to scrub the floors and clean out the bedrooms. The poor girl had to sleep in the garret, upon a wretched straw bed, while her sisters lay in fine rooms with inlaid floors, upon beds of the very newest fashion, and where they had looking-glasses so large that they might see themselves at their full length. The poor girl bore all patiently, and dared not complain to her father, who would have scolded her if she had done so, for his wife governed him entirely.

When she had done her work, she used to go into the chimney corner, and sit down among the cinders, hence she was called Cinderwench. The younger sister of the two, who was not so rude and uncivil as the elder, called her Cinderella. However, Cinderella, in spite of her mean apparel, was a hundred times more handsome than her sisters, though they were always richly dressed.

It happened that the King"s son gave a ball, and invited to it all persons of fashion. Our young misses were also invited, for they cut a very grand figure among the people of the country-side. They were highly delighted with the invitation, and wonderfully busy in choosing the gowns, petticoats, and head-dresses which might best become them. This made Cinderella"s lot still harder, 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 elder, "I will wear my red velvet suit with French trimmings."

"And I," said the younger, "shall wear my usual skirt; but then, to make amends for that I will put on my gold-flowered mantle, and my diamond stomacher, which is far from being the most ordinary one in the world." They sent for the best hairdressers they could get to make up their hair in fashionable style, and bought patches for their cheeks. Cinderella was consulted in all these matters, for she had good taste. She advised them always for the best, and even offered her services to dress their hair, 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?"

"Young ladies," she said, "you only jeer at me; it is not for such as I am to go there."

"You are right," they replied; "people would laugh to see a Cinderwench at a ball."

Any one but Cinderella would have dressed their hair awry, but she was good-natured, and arranged it 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 lace themselves tight, 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 could--I wish I could--" but she could not finish for sobbing.

Her godmother, who was a fairy, said to her, "You wish you could go to the ball; is it not so?"

"Alas, yes," said Cinderella, sighing.

"Well," said her godmother, "be but a good girl, and I will see that you go." Then she took her into her chamber, and said to her, "Run into the garden, and bring me a pumpkin."

Cinderella went at once to gather the finest she could get, and brought it to her godmother, not being able to imagine how this pumpkin could help her to go to the ball. Her godmother scooped out all the inside of it, leaving nothing but the rind. Then she struck it with her wand, and the pumpkin was instantly turned into a fine gilded coach.

She then went to look into the mouse-trap, where she found six mice, all alive. She ordered Cinderella to lift the trap-door, when, giving each mouse, as it went out, a little tap with her wand, it was that moment turned into a fine horse, and the six mice made a fine set of six horses of a beautiful mouse-colored, dapple gray.

Being at a loss for a coachman, Cinderella said, "I will go and see if there is not a rat in the rat-trap--we may make a coachman of him."

"You are right," replied her godmother; "go and look."

Cinderella brought the rat-trap to her, and in it there were three huge rats. The fairy chose the one which had the largest beard, and, having touched him with her wand, he was turned into a fat coachman with the finest mustache and whiskers ever seen.

After that, she said to her:--

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

She had no sooner done so than her godmother turned them into six footmen, who skipped up immediately behind the coach, with their liveries all trimmed with gold and silver, and they held on as if they had done nothing else their whole lives.

The fairy then said to Cinderella, "Well, you see here a carriage fit to go to the ball in; are you not pleased with it?"

"Oh, yes!" she cried; "but must I go as I am in these rags?"

Her godmother simply touched her with her wand, and, at the same moment, her clothes were turned into cloth of gold and silver, all decked with jewels. This done, she gave her a pair of the prettiest glass slippers in the whole world. Being thus attired, she got into the carriage, her godmother commanding her, above all things, not to stay till after midnight, and 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 would become just as they were before.

She promised her godmother she would not fail to leave the ball before midnight. She drove away, 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 from the coach, and led her into the hall where the company were assembled. There was at once a profound silence; every one left off dancing, and the violins ceased to play, so attracted was every one by the singular beauties of the unknown newcomer. Nothing was then heard but a confused sound of voices saying:--

"Ha! how beautiful she is! Ha! how beautiful she is!"

The King himself, old as he was, could not keep his eyes off her, and he told the Queen under his breath that it was a long time since he had seen so beautiful and lovely a creature.

All the ladies were busy studying her clothes and head-dress, so that they might have theirs made next day after the same pattern, provided they could meet with such fine materials and able hands to make them.

The King"s son conducted her to the seat of honor, and afterwards took her out to dance with him. She danced so very gracefully that they all admired her more and more. A fine collation was served, but the young Prince ate not a morsel, so intently was he occupied with her.

She went and sat down beside her sisters, showing them a thousand civilities, and giving them among other things part of the oranges and citrons with which the Prince had regaled her. This very much surprised them, for they had not been presented to her.

Cinderella heard the clock strike a quarter to twelve. She at once made her adieus to the company and hastened away as fast as she could.

As soon as she got home, she ran to find her godmother, and, after having thanked her, she said she much wished she might go to the ball the next day, because the King"s son had asked her to do so. As she was eagerly telling her godmother all that happened at the ball, her two sisters knocked at the door; Cinderella opened it. "How long you have stayed!" said she, yawning, rubbing her eyes, and stretching herself as if she had been just awakened. She had not, however, had any desire to sleep since they went from home.

"If you had been at the ball," said one of her sisters, "you would 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 did not show any pleasure at this. Indeed, she asked them the name of the princess; but they told her they did not know it, and that the King"s son was very much concerned, and would give all the world to know who she was. At this Cinderella, smiling, replied:--

"Was she then so very beautiful? How fortunate you have been! Could I not see her? Ah! dear Miss Charlotte, do lend me your yellow suit of clothes which you wear every day."

"Ay, to be sure!" cried Miss Charlotte; "lend my clothes to such a dirty Cinderwench as thou art! I should be out of my mind to do so."

Cinderella, indeed, expected such an answer and was very glad of the refusal; for she would have been sadly troubled if her sister had lent her what she jestingly asked for. The next day the two sisters went to the ball, and so did Cinderella, but dressed more magnificently than before. The King"s son was always by her side, and his pretty speeches to her never ceased. These by no means annoyed the young lady. Indeed, she quite forgot her godmother"s orders to her, so that she heard the clock begin to strike twelve when she thought it could not be 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 her carriage, and in her old clothes, having nothing left her of all her finery but one of the little slippers, fellow to the one she had dropped. The guards at the palace gate were asked if they had not seen a princess go out, and they replied they had seen nobody go out but a young girl, very meanly dressed, and who had more the air of a poor country girl than of a young lady.

When the two sisters returned from the ball, Cinderella asked them if they had had a pleasant time, and if the fine lady had been there. They told her, yes; but that she hurried away the moment it struck twelve, and with so much haste that she dropped one of her little glass slippers, the prettiest in the world, which the King"s son had taken up. They said, further, that he had done nothing but look at her all the time, and that most certainly he was very much in love with the beautiful owner of the glass slipper.

What they said was 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 fit exactly. They began to try it on the princesses, then on the duchesses, and then on all the ladies of the Court; but in vain. It was brought to the two sisters, who did all they possibly could to thrust a foot into the slipper, but they could not succeed. Cinderella, who saw this, and knew her slipper, said to them, laughing:--

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

Her sisters burst out a-laughing, and began to banter her. The gentleman who was sent to try the slipper looked earnestly at Cinderella, and, finding her very handsome, said it was but just that she should try, and that he had orders to let every lady try it on.

He obliged Cinderella to sit down, and, putting the slipper to her little foot, he found it went on very easily, and fitted her as if it had been made of wax. The astonishment of her two sisters was great, but it was still greater when Cinderella pulled out of her pocket the other slipper and put it on her foot. Thereupon, in came her godmother, who, having touched Cinderella"s clothes with her wand, made them more magnificent than those she had worn before.

And now her two sisters found her to be that beautiful lady they had seen at the ball. They threw themselves at her feet to beg pardon for all their ill treatment of her. Cinderella took them up, and, as she embraced them, said that she forgave them with all her heart, and begged them to love her always.

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. Cinderella, who was as good as she was beautiful, gave her two sisters a home in the palace, and that very same day married them to two great lords of the Court.

На русском языке

Золушка

Жил-был один почтенный и знатный человек. Первая жена его умерла, и он женился во второй раз, да на такой сварливой и высокомерной женщине, какой свет еще не видывал.

У нее были две дочери, очень похожие на свою матушку и лицом, и умом, и характером.

У мужа тоже была дочка, добрая, приветливая, милая - вся в покойную мать. А мать ее была женщина самая красивая и добрая.

И вот новая хозяйка вошла в дом. Тут-то и показала она свой нрав. Все было ей не по вкусу, но больше всего невзлюбила она свою падчерицу. Девушка была так хороша, что мачехины дочки рядом с нею казались еще хуже.

Бедную падчерицу заставляли делать всю самую грязную и тяжелую работу в доме: она чистила котлы и кастрюли, мыла лестницы, убирала комнаты мачехи и обеих барышень - своих сестриц.

Спала она на чердаке, под самой крышей, на колючей соломенной подстилке. А у обеих сестриц были комнаты с паркетными полами цветного дерева, с кроватями, разубранными по последней моде, и с большими зеркалами, в которых модою было увидеть себя с головы до ног.

Бедная девушка молча сносила все обиды и не решалась пожаловаться даже отцу. Мачеха так прибрала его к рукам, что он теперь на все смотрел ее глазами и, наверно, только побранил бы дочку за неблагодарность и непослушание.

Вечером, окончив работу, она забиралась в уголок возле камина и сидела там на ящике с золой. Поэтому сестры, а за ними и все в доме прозвали ее Золушкой.

А все-таки Золушка в своем стареньком платьице, перепачканном золою, была во сто раз милее, чем ее сестрицы, разодетые в бархат и шелк.

И вот как-то раз сын короля той страны устроил большой бал и созвал на него всех знатных людей с женами и дочерьми.

Золушкины сестры тоже получили приглашение на бал. Они очень обрадовались и сейчас же принялись выбирать наряды и придумывать, как бы причесаться, чтобы удивить всех гостей и понравиться принцу.

У бедной Золушки работы и заботы стало еще больше, чем всегда. Ей пришлось гладить сестрам платья, крахмалить их юбки, плоить воротники и оборки.

В доме только и разговору было, что о нарядах.

Я, - говорила старшая, - надену красное бархатное платье и драгоценный убор, который мне привезли из-за моря.

А я, - говорила младшая, - надену самое скромное платье, но зато у меня будет накидка, расшитая золотыми цветами, и бриллиантовый пояс, какого нет ни у одной знатной дамы.

Послали за искуснейшей модисткой, чтобы она соорудила им чепчики с двойной оборкой, а мушки купили у самой лучшей мастерицы в городе.

Сестры то и дело подзывали Золушку и спрашивали у нее, какой выбрать гребень, ленту или пряжку. Они знали, что Золушка лучше понимает, что красиво и что некрасиво.

Никто не умел так искусно, как она, приколоть кружева или завить локоны.

А что, Золушка, хотелось бы тебе поехать на королевский бал? - спрашивали сестры, пока она причесывала их перед зеркалом.

Ах, что вы, сестрицы! Вы смеетесь надо мной! Разве меня пустят во дворец в этом платье и в этих башмаках!

Что правда, то правда. Вот была бы умора, если бы такая замарашка явилась на бал!

Другая на месте Золушки причесала бы сестриц как можно хуже. Но Золушка была добра: она причесала их как можно лучше.

За два дня до бала сестрицы от волнения перестали обедать и ужинать. Они ни на минуту не отходили от зеркала и разорвали больше дюжины шнурков, пытаясь потуже затянуть свои талии и сделаться потоньше и постройнее.

И вот наконец долгожданный день настал. Мачеха и сестры уехали.

Золушка долго смотрела им вслед, а когда их карета исчезла за поворотом, она закрыла лицо руками и горько заплакала.

Ее крестная, которая как раз в это время зашла навестить бедную девушку, застала ее в слезах.

Что с тобой, дитя мое? - спросила она. Но Золушка так горько плакала, что даже не могла ответить.

Тебе хотелось бы поехать на бал, не правда ли? - спросила крестная.

Она была фея - волшебница - и слышала не только то, что говорят, но и то, что думают.

Правда, - сказала Золушка, всхлипывая.

Что ж, будь только умницей, - сказала фея, - а уж я позабочусь о том, чтобы ты могла побывать сегодня во дворце. Сбегай-ка на огород да принеси мне оттуда большую тыкву!

Золушка побежала на огород, выбрала самую большую тыкву и принесла крестной. Ей очень хотелось спросить, каким образом простая тыква поможет ей попасть на королевский бал. но она не решилась.

А фея, не говоря ни слова, разрезала тыкву и вынула из нее всю мякоть. Потом она прикоснулась к ее желтой толстой корке своей волшебной палочкой, и пустая тыква сразу превратилась в прекрасную резную карету, позолоченную от крыши до колес.

Затем фея послала Золушку в кладовую за мышеловкой. В мышеловке оказалось полдюжины живых мышей.

Фея велела Золушке приоткрыть дверцу и выпустить на волю всех мышей по очереди, одну за другой. Едва только мышь выбегала из своей темницы, фея прикасалась к ней палочкой, и от этого прикосновения обыкновенная серая мышка сейчас же превращалась в серого, мышастого коня.

Не прошло и минуты, как перед Золушкой уже стояла великолепная упряжка из шести статных коней в серебряной сбруе.

Не хватало только кучера.

Заметив, что фея призадумалась, Золушка робко спросила:

Что, если посмотреть, не попалась ли в крысоловку крыса? Может быть, она годится в кучера?

Твоя правда, - сказала волшебница. - Поди посмотри.

Золушка принесла крысоловку, из которой выглядывали три большие крысы.

Фея выбрала одну из них, самую крупную и усатую, дотронулась до нее своей палочкой, и крыса сейчас же превратилась в толстого кучера с пышными усами, - таким усам позавидовал бы даже главный королевский кучер.

А теперь, - сказала фея, - ступай в сад. Там за лейкой, на куче песка, ты найдешь шесть ящериц. Принеси-ка их сюда.

Не успела Золушка вытряхнуть ящериц из фартука, как фея превратила их в выездных лакеев, одетых в зеленые ливреи, украшенные золотым галуном.

Все шестеро проворно вскочили на запятки кареты с таким важным видом, словно всю свою жизнь служили выездными лакеями и никогда не были ящерицами...

Ну вот, - сказала фея, - теперь у тебя есть свой выезд, и ты можешь, не теряя времени, ехать во дворец. Что, довольна ты?

Очень! - сказала Золушка. - Но разве можно ехать на королевский бал в этом старом, испачканном золой платье?

Фея ничего не ответила. Она только слегка прикоснулась к Золушкиному платью своей волшебной палочкой, и старое платье превратилось в чудесный наряд из серебряной и золотой парчи, весь усыпанный драгоценными камнями.

Последним подарком феи были туфельки из чистейшего хрусталя, какие и не снились ни одной девушке.

Когда Золушка была уже совсем готова, фея усадила ее в карету и строго-настрого приказала возвратиться домой до полуночи.

Если ты опоздаешь хоть на одну минутку, - сказала она. - твоя карета снова сделается тыквой, лошади - мышами, лакеи - ящерицами, а твой пышный наряд опять превратится в старенькое, залатанное платьице.

Не беспокойтесь, я не опоздаю! - ответила Золушка и, не помня себя от радости, отправилась во дворец.

Принц, которому доложили, что на бал приехала прекрасная, но никому не известная принцесса, сам выбежал встречать ее. Он подал ей руку, помог выйти из кареты и повел в зал, где уже находились король с королевой и придворные.

Все сразу стихло. Скрипки замолкли. И музыканты, и гости невольно загляделись на незнакомую красавицу, которая приехала на бал позже всех.

“Ах, как она хороша!” - говорили шепотом кавалер кавалеру и дама даме.

Даже король, который был очень стар и больше дремал, чем смотрел по сторонам, и тот открыл глаза, поглядел на Золушку и сказал королеве вполголоса, что давно уже не видел такой обворожительной особы.

Придворные дамы были заняты только тем, что рассматривали ее платье и головной убор, чтобы завтра же заказать себе что-нибудь похожее, если только им удастся найти таких же искусных мастеров и такую же прекрасную ткань.

Принц усадил свою гостью на самое почетное место, а чуть только заиграла музыка, подошел к ней и пригласил на танец.

Она танцевала так легко и грациозно, что все залюбовались ею еще больше, чем прежде.

После танцев разносили угощение. Но принц ничего не мог есть - он не сводил глаз со своей дамы. А Золушка в это время разыскала своих сестер, подсела к ним и, сказав каждой несколько приятных слов, угостила их апельсинами и лимонами, которые поднес ей сам принц.

Это им очень польстило. Они и не ожидали такого внимания со стороны незнакомой принцессы.

Но вот, беседуя с ними, Золушка вдруг услышала, что дворцовые часы бьют одиннадцать часов и три четверти. Она встала, поклонилась всем и пошла к выходу так быстро, что никто не успел догнать ее.

Вернувшись из дворца, она еще сумела до приезда мачехи и сестер забежать к волшебнице и поблагодарить ее за счастливый вечер.

Ах, если бы можно было и завтра поехать во дворец! - сказала она. - Принц так просил меня...

И она рассказала крестной обо всем, что было во дворце.

Едва только Золушка переступила порог и надела свой старый передник и деревянные башмаки, как в дверь постучали. Это вернулись с бала мачеха и сестры.

Долго же вы, сестрицы, гостили нынче во дворце! - сказала Золушка, зевая и потягиваясь, словно только что проснулась.

Ну, если бы ты была с нами на балу, ты бы тоже не стала торопиться домой, - сказала одна из сестер. - Там была одна принцесса, такая красавица, что и во сне лучше не увидишь! Мы ей, должно быть, очень понравились. Она подсела к нам и даже угостила апельсинами и лимонами.

А как ее зовут? - спросила Золушка.

Ну, этого никто не знает... - сказала старшая сестрица.

А младшая прибавила:

Принц, кажется, готов отдать полжизни, чтобы только узнать, кто она такая. Золушка улыбнулась.

Неужели эта принцесса и вправду так хороша? - спросила она. - Какие вы счастливые!.. Нельзя ли и мне хоть одним глазком посмотреть на нее? Ах, сестрица Жавотта, дайте мне на один вечер ваше желтое платье, которое вы носите дома каждый день!

Этого только не хватало! - сказала Жавотта, пожимая плечами. Дать свое платье такой замарашке, как ты! Кажется, я еще не сошла с ума.

Золушка не ждала другого ответа и нисколько не огорчилась. В самом деле: что бы стала она делать, если бы Жавотта вдруг расщедрилась и вздумала одолжить ей свое платье!

На другой вечер сестры опять отправились во дворец - и Золушка тоже... На этот раз она была еще прекраснее и наряднее, чем накануне.

Принц не отходил от нее ни на минуту. Он был так приветлив, говорил такие приятные вещи, что Золушка забыла обо всем на свете, даже о том, что ей надо уехать вовремя, и спохватилась только тогда, когда часы стали бить полночь.

Она поднялась с места и убежала быстрее лани.

Принц бросился за ней, но ее и след простыл. Только на ступеньке лестницы лежала маленькая хрустальная туфелька. Принц бережно поднял ее и приказал расспросить привратников, не видел ли кто-нибудь из них, куда уехала прекрасная принцесса. Но никто никакой принцессы не видал. Правда, привратники заметили, что мимо них пробежала какая-то бедно одетая девушка, но она скорее была похожа на нищенку, чем на принцессу.

Тем временем Золушка, задыхаясь от усталости, прибежала домой. У нее не было больше ни кареты, ни лакеев. Ее бальный наряд снова превратился в старенькое, поношенное платьице, и от всего ее великолепия только и осталось, что маленькая хрустальная туфелька, точно такая же, как та, которую она потеряла на дворцовой лестнице.

Когда обе сестрицы вернулись домой, Золушка спросила у них, весело ли им было нынче на балу и приезжала ли опять во дворец вчерашняя красавица.

Сестры наперебой стали рассказывать, что принцесса и на этот раз была на балу, но убежала, чуть только часы начали бить двенадцать.

Она так торопилась, что даже потеряла свой хрустальный башмачок, - сказала старшая сестрица.

А принц поднял его и до конца бала не выпускал из рук, - сказала младшая.

Должно быть, он по уши влюблен в эту красавицу, которая теряет на балах башмаки, - добавила мачеха.

И это была правда. Через несколько дней принц приказал объявить во всеуслышание, под звуки труб и фанфар, что девушка, которой придется впору хрустальная туфелька, станет его женой.

Разумеется, сначала туфельку стали мерить принцессам, потом герцогиням, потом придворным дамам, но все было напрасно: она была тесна и герцогиням, и принцессам, и придворным дамам.

Наконец очередь дошла и до сестер Золушки.

Ах, как старались обе сестрицы натянуть маленькую туфельку на свои большие ноги! Но она не лезла им даже на кончики пальцев. Золушка, которая с первого взгляда узнала свою туфельку, улыбаясь, смотрела на эти напрасные попытки.

А ведь она, кажется, будет впору мне, - сказала Золушка.

Сестрицы так и залились злым смехом. Но придворный кавалер, который примерял туфельку, внимательно посмотрел на Золушку и, заметив, что она очень красива, сказал:

Я получил приказание от принца примерить туфельку всем девушкам в городе. Позвольте вашу ножку, сударыня!

Он усадил Золушку в кресло и, надев хрустальную туфельку на ее маленькую ножку, сразу увидел, что больше примерять ему не придется: башмачок был точь-в-точь по ножке, а ножка - по башмачку.

Сестры замерли от удивления. Но еще больше удивились они, когда Золушка достала из кармана вторую хрустальную туфельку - совсем такую же, как первая, только на другую ногу - и надела, не говоря ни слова. В эту самую минуту дверь отворилась, и в комнату вошла фея - Золушкина крестная.

Она дотронулась своей волшебной палочкой до бедного платья Золушки, и оно стало еще пышнее и красивее, чем было накануне на балу.

Тут только обе сестрицы поняли, кто была та красавица, которую они видели во дворце. Они кинулись к ногам Золушки, чтобы вымолить себе прощение за все обиды, которые она вытерпела от них. Золушка простила сестер от всего сердца - ведь она была не только хороша собой, но и добра.

Ее отвезли во дворец к молодому принцу, который нашел, что она стала еще прелестнее, чем была прежде.

А через несколько дней сыграли веселую свадьбу.