English Original
Once there was a gentleman who married, for his second wife, the proudest and most haughty woman that was ever seen. She had, by a former husband, two daughters who were exactly like her in all things. He had likewise, by another wife, a young daughter, but of unparalleled goodness and sweetness of temper.
No sooner were the ceremonies of the wedding over but the stepmother began to show herself in her true colors. She could not bear the good qualities of this pretty girl. She employed her in the meanest work of the house: she scoured the dishes and tables, and scrubbed the chambers. She lay up in a sorry garret, upon a wretched straw bed, while her sisters lay in fine rooms.
The poor girl bore all patiently. When she had done her work, she used to go into the chimney-corner, and sit down among cinders and ashes, which made her commonly be called Cinderwench; but the youngest sister called her Cinderella. However, Cinderella, notwithstanding her mean apparel, was a hundred times handsomer than her sisters.
It happened that the King's son gave a ball, and invited all persons of fashion to it. The sisters were mightily delighted and busy in choosing gowns and head-clothes. This was a new trouble to Cinderella; for it was she who ironed her sisters' linen and plaited their ruffles.
Cinderella was called up to be consulted, for she had excellent notions. As she was dressing their heads, 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 such as I am to go thither."
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 was a fairy, asked her what was the matter. "Thou wishest thou couldst go to the ball; is it not so?"
"Yes," cried Cinderella.
"Well," said her godmother, "be but a good girl, and I will contrive that thou shalt go." She took a pumpkin, scooped it out, struck it with her wand, and it turned into a fine coach, gilded all over with gold. She then turned six mice into fine horses, a rat into a coachman, and six lizards into footmen.
Her godmother then touched Cinderella with her wand, and her clothes turned into cloth of gold and silver, all beset with jewels. She gave her a pair of glass slippers, the prettiest in the whole world. But she commanded her not to stay till after midnight, or everything would turn back.
Cinderella promised and drove away, scarce able to contain herself for joy. The King's son ran out to receive her. There was immediately a profound silence as everyone admired the unknown newcomer.
The King's son conducted her to the most honorable seat, and took her out to dance with him; she danced so very gracefully that they all more and more admired her.
She went and sat down by her sisters, showing them civilities. While thus amusing them, she heard the clock strike eleven and three-quarters, whereupon she immediately made a courtesy and hasted away.
The next day she went to the ball again, dressed more magnificently. The King's son was always by her, and she quite forgot her godmother's warning. She 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, leaving behind one of her glass slippers.
A few days after, the King's son proclaimed that he would marry her whose foot the slipper would just fit. It was brought to the two sisters, who tried in vain to thrust their foot into it.
Cinderella, who saw all this, said to them, laughing: "Let me see if it will not fit me."
Her sisters burst out a-laughing. But the gentleman sent to try the slipper obliged Cinderella to sit down, and found it went on very easily, and fitted her as if it had been made of wax. Then Cinderella pulled out of her pocket the other slipper.
Thereupon, in came her godmother, who touched Cinderella's clothes, making them richer than before. Her sisters threw themselves at her feet to beg pardon. Cinderella forgave them with all her heart.
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 gave her two sisters lodgings in the palace, and matched them with two great lords of the Court.
中文翻译
从前，有一位绅士娶了第二任妻子，她是有史以来最骄傲、最傲慢的女人。她与前夫有两个女儿，各方面都和她一模一样。他同样也有一位前妻留下的年轻女儿，但她性情无比善良温柔。
婚礼仪式刚结束，继母就开始显露本性。她无法忍受这个漂亮女孩的好品质。她让女孩做家里最卑贱的活：擦洗盘子和桌子，打扫房间。她睡在简陋阁楼里的破草垫上，而她的姐姐们却住在精美的房间里。
这个可怜的女孩耐心地忍受着一切。干完活后，她常常走到烟囱角落，坐在煤渣和灰烬中，因此大家常叫她“煤灰妞”；但最小的姐姐叫她“灰姑娘”。然而，尽管衣着寒酸，灰姑娘比她的姐姐们漂亮百倍。
碰巧，国王的儿子举办了一场舞会，邀请了所有时尚人士。姐姐们欣喜若狂，忙着挑选礼服和头饰。这对灰姑娘来说是个新麻烦；因为正是她为姐姐们熨烫亚麻衣物、给她们的褶边打褶。
灰姑娘被叫去咨询，因为她很有品味。当她为她们整理头发时，她们对她说：“灰姑娘，你难道不想去参加舞会吗？”
“唉！”她说，“你们只是在嘲笑我；像我这样的人是不配去那里的。”
快乐的日子终于到来；她们去了宫廷，灰姑娘目送她们直到看不见为止，然后哭了起来。
她的教母是一位仙女，问她怎么了。“你希望自己能去参加舞会，是不是？”
“是的，”灰姑娘哭着说。
“好吧，”她的教母说，“只要你做个好女孩，我就想办法让你去。”她拿了一个南瓜，挖空里面，用魔杖敲了一下，它就变成了一辆精美的马车，通体镀金。然后她把六只老鼠变成了骏马，一只老鼠变成了车夫，六只蜥蜴变成了仆人。
接着，教母用魔杖碰了碰灰姑娘，她的衣服变成了金银布料，镶满了珠宝。她给了灰姑娘一双玻璃鞋，是全世界最漂亮的。但她命令灰姑娘不能在午夜之后逗留，否则一切都会变回原样。
灰姑娘答应了，驾车离开，几乎无法抑制内心的喜悦。国王的儿子跑出来迎接她。现场立刻一片寂静，每个人都赞叹着这位陌生的新来者。
国王的儿子将她引到最尊贵的座位，并邀请她共舞；她舞姿如此优雅，大家越来越钦佩她。
她走过去坐在姐姐们旁边，对她们彬彬有礼。正当她这样逗她们开心时，她听到钟敲响了十一点三刻，于是她立即行了个屈膝礼，匆匆离开了。
第二天，她穿着更加华丽的衣服再次参加了舞会。国王的儿子一直陪在她身边，她完全忘记了教母的警告。她以为钟才敲十一点，结果却敲了十二点；她立刻起身，像鹿一样敏捷地逃走了，留下了一只玻璃鞋。
几天后，国王的儿子宣布，他将娶那只鞋正好合脚的女子为妻。鞋子被带到两个姐姐那里，她们徒劳地试图把脚塞进去。
灰姑娘看到这一切，笑着对她们说：“让我看看它是否合我的脚。”
她的姐姐们大笑起来。但奉命试鞋的绅士让灰姑娘坐下，发现鞋子很容易就穿上了，合脚得仿佛是用蜡做的一样。然后灰姑娘从口袋里拿出了另一只鞋。
就在这时，她的教母进来了，她碰了碰灰姑娘的衣服，让它们变得比以前更华丽。她的姐姐们跪倒在她脚下请求原谅。灰姑娘全心全意地原谅了她们。
她被引见给年轻的王子，穿着那身衣服；他觉得她比以往任何时候都更迷人，几天后，就娶了她。灰姑娘让她的两个姐姐住在宫殿里，并将她们许配给了宫廷里的两位大贵族。