《灰姑娘》英文版

　　灰姑娘（英汉对照）

　　Longago,inalandfaraway,therelivedabeautifulyounggirl.Shewasverysad.Hermotherhaddiedandherfatherhadmarriedagain.Hisnewwifehadtwouglydaughters,EsmereldaandGriselda.Soonafter,herfatheralsodiedandlifeimmediatelychangedforthegirl."Youwillbeourservant,"saidherstepmother."Youwilldoeverythingwesay.""Youmustsleepinthekitchens,bythefire,"saidthestepsisters.Aftertendingthefire,andcookingandleaning,thegirl'sclotheswereverydirty.Shewascalledtoclearawaydishes."Therearecindersalloveryourclothes!"exclaimedthestepmother."CindersforCinderella.That'syournewname.Clearthesethingsaway,Cinderella.""Cinderella!Cinderella!"sangEsmereldaandGriselda."Oh,howcleveryouare,Mama!"Cinderellahadtoworkveryhard,asalltheotherservantsweredismissed.Oneday,aninvitationarrivedfromthepalace."Girls,listentothis,"saidthestepmother.Cinderellawasservingthebreakfast.Shelistenedasherstepmotherreadtheinvitation."TheKingishavingaball,"shesaid,excitedly."HeislookingforawifeforthePrince!Oh,mydears,thisiswonderful.Hewillprobablychooseoneofyou,butitwillbesuchahardchoicetomake."AmIinvitedtoo,stepmother?"askedCinderella."You!Certainlynot!"exclaimedherstepmother."Thethoughtofsuchathing.Ascruffyservantgoingtoaball,whenonlybeautifulladiesareinvited!""Hah!Hah!"laughedthestepsisters."Beautiful!Thatdoesn'tincludeyou,Cinderella!""Youmayhelpmytwolovelygirlstogetready,"saidherstepmother."Oh,"saidCinderella,sadly."Weshallallhavenewdresses,girls,andweshallgoshoppingtoday.Clearawaythesethings,Cinderella."'Oh,IwishIcouldgototheball,'thoughtCinderella.ThedayoftheballarrivedandthewholedaywasspentpreparingEsmereldaandGriselda.Cinderelladidherbesttomakethesisterslookpretty,butitwasanimpossibletask.Finally,thecoacharrivedtocollectthegirlsandtheirmother.Cinderellawasverytiredandshewanderedbacktothekitchens."Oh,Ididsowanttogo,"shesighedasshesatdownbythefire."What'stostopyou?"askedavoice."Who'sthat?"askedCinderella,lookingaround."I'mherebythedoor."AstrangewomanwalkeduptoCinderella."Iheardyoutheotherday,wishingyoucouldgototheball.Well,theballisthisevening,andyou'regoing.""Buthow?"askedCinderella."Whatcanyoudo?""AnythingIwantto,"saidthewoman."I'myourfairygodmother,andI'mheretosendyoutotheball.Shesatdown."Comenow,"shesaid."Drythosetears.Wehaveworktodo.Ineedalargepumpkin,tworats,twomiceandafrog.Canyoufindthese?""Yes,"saidCinderella,mystifiedbytherequest."Offyougo,then."WhenCinderellafoundallthethings,herfairygodmothertookthemalloutside."Nowforthemagic,"shesaid.Shewavedherhandsandtheairbegantotwinkleandsparkle.Thepumpkinbegantogrowandchange,untilstandingtherewasaglitteringcoach.Themicechangedintotwofinefootmen,thefrogintothedriver,andtheratsintotwobeautifulhorsestopullthecoach.Cinderellaclappedherhands."It'sbeautiful!"shecried."Inyouget,"saidherfairygodmother."ButIcan'tgolikethis,"saidCinderella."Likewhat?"askedthefairygodmother."Youlooklovelytome."CinderellalookedatherselfWhilethemagichadbeenworkingonthepumpkin,ithadalsobeenworkingonher.Insteadofherraggeddresssheworeabeautifulballgown