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Золушка. Часть 1

CINDERELLA; OR THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER.

Part 1

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 (бывший муж) two daughters of her own humor (своего нрава), who were, indeed, exactly like her in all things. He had likewise, by another wife, a young daughter, but of unparalleled (не имеющий себе равных) goodness and sweetness of temper, which she took from her mother, who was the best creature in the world.

No sooner were the ceremonies of the wedding over but the mother-in-law began to show herself in her true colors (мачеха начала показывать себя в истинном свете). She could not bear the good qualities of this pretty girl, and the less because they made her own daughters appear the more odious. She employed her in meanest work of the house: she scoured the dishes, tables, etc., and scrubbed madam's chamber (уст.: спальня) and those of misses, her daughters; she lay up in a sorry garret, upon a wretched straw bed, while her sisters lay in fine rooms, with floors all inlaid (с инкрустированным полом), upon beds of the very newest fashion, and where they had 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 rattled her off; for his wife governed him entirely. 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 a cinder maid; but the youngest, who was not so rude and uncivil as the eldest, called her Cinderella. However, Cinderella, notwithstanding her mean apparel (несмотря на ее жалкий наряд), was a hundred times handsomer than her sisters, though they were always dressed very richly.