格林童话故事第：白雪公主Snow-white

格林童话故事第53篇：白雪公主Snow-white

　　引导语：《白雪公主》这则格林童话讲述了白雪公主受到继母皇后的虐待，逃到森林里，遇到七个小矮人的故事。下文是相关的中英文版本，与大家分享学习。

　　严冬时节，鹅毛一样的大雪片在天空中到处飞舞着，有一个王后坐在王宫里的一扇窗子边，正在为她的女儿做针线活儿，寒风卷着雪片飘进了窗子，乌木窗台上飘落了不少雪花。 她抬头向窗外望去，一不留神，针刺进了她的手指，红红的鲜血从针口流了出来，有三点血滴落在飘进窗子的雪花上。 她若有所思地凝视着点缀在白雪上的鲜红血滴，又看了看乌木窗台，说道："但愿我小女儿的皮肤长得白里透红，看起来就像这洁白的雪和鲜红的血一样，那么艳丽，那么骄嫩，头发长得就像这窗子的乌木一般又黑又亮!"

　　她的小女儿渐渐长大了，小姑娘长得水灵灵的，真是人见人爱，美丽动人。 她的皮肤真的就像雪一样的白嫩，又透着血一样的红润，头发像乌木一样的黑亮。 所以王后给她取了个名字，叫白雪公主。 但白雪公主还没有长大，她的王后妈妈就死去了。

　　不久，国王爸爸又娶了一个妻子。 这个王后长得非常漂亮，但她很骄傲自负，嫉妒心极强，只要听说有人比她漂亮，她都不能忍受。 她有一块魔镜，她经常走到镜子面前自我欣赏，并问道：

　　"告诉我，镜子，告诉我实话!

　　这儿所有的女人谁最漂亮?

　　告诉我她是谁? "

　　镜子回答道："是你，王后!你就是这儿最漂亮的女人。"

　　听到这样的话，她就会满意地笑起来。 但白雪公主慢慢地长大，并出落得越来越标致漂亮了。 到了七岁时，她长得比明媚的春光还要艳丽夺目，比王后更美丽动人。 直到有一天，王后像往常一样地去问那面魔镜时，镜子作出了这样的回答：

　　"王后，你是美丽漂亮的，但是白雪公主要比你更加漂亮!"

　　她听到了这话，心里充满了愤怒和妒忌，脸也变得苍白起来。 她叫来了一名仆人对他说："给我把白雪公主抓到大森林里去，我再也不希望看到她了。"仆人把白雪公主带走了。 在森林里他正要动手杀死她时，她哭泣着哀求他不要杀害她。 面对楚楚动人的可怜小公主的哀求，仆人的同情之心油然而生，他说道："你是一个人见人爱的孩子，我不会杀害你。"这样，他把她单独留在了森林里。 当仆人决定不再杀害白雪公主，而把她留在那儿时，尽管他知道在那荒无人际的大森林里，她十有八九会被野兽撕成碎片，但想到他不必亲手杀害她，他就觉得压在心上的一块沉重的大石头落了下来。

　　仆人走了以后，白雪公主一个人非常害怕，她在森林里到处徘徊，寻找出去的路。 野兽在她身旁吼叫，但却没有一个去伤害她。 到了晚上，她来到了一间小房子跟前。 当她确定这间房子没有人时，就推门走进去想休息一下，因为她已经实在走不动了。 一进门，她就发现房子里的一切都布置得井井有条，十分整洁干净。 一张桌子上铺着白布，上面摆放着七个小盘子，每个盘子里都装有一块面包和其它一些吃的东西，盘子旁边依次放着七个装满葡萄酒的玻璃杯，七把刀子和叉子等，靠墙还并排放着七张小床。 此时她感到又饿又渴，也顾不得这是谁的了，走上前去从每块面包上切了一小块吃了，又把每只玻璃杯里的酒喝了一点点。 吃过喝过之后，她觉得非常疲倦，想躺下休息休息，于是来到那些床前，七张床的每一张她几乎都试过了，不是这一张太长，就是那一张太短，直到试了第七张床才合适。 她在上面躺下来，很快就睡着了。

　　不久，房子的主人们回来了，他们是七个在山里开矿采金子的小矮人。 他们点亮七盏灯，马上发现有人动过房子里的东西。 第一个问："谁坐过我的凳子?"第二个问："谁吃过我盘子里的东西?"第三个问："谁吃过我的面包?"第四个问："谁动了我的调羹?"第五个问："谁用过我的叉子?"第六个问："谁用过我的小刀?"第七个问："谁喝过我的葡萄酒?"第一个接着向四周瞧，走到床前，叫道："是谁在我的床上睡过?"其余的一听都跑过来，紧跟着他们也都叫了起来，因为他们都看得出有人在他们的床上躺过。 第七个矮人一看他的床上正睡着的白雪公主，立刻把他的兄弟们都叫了过来，他们拿来灯，仔细照着白雪公主看了好一阵子，惊奇地感叹道："我的天哪，她是一个多么可爱的孩子呀!"他们欣喜而又爱怜地看着她，生怕将她吵醒了。 晚上，第七个小矮人轮着和其他的几个小矮人每人睡一个小时，度过了这个夜晚。

　　第二天早上，白雪公主醒来后见有七个小矮人围着她，吓了一大跳，但他们非常和气地问她说："你叫什么名字?"看着他们那善良朴实的面孔和热情的目光，她回答说："我叫白雪公主。"小矮人们又问："你是怎样到我们家里来的?"于是，白雪公主向他们讲述了自己的全部经历。 他们听了非常同情，说道："如果你愿意为我们收拾房子、做饭、洗衣服、纺线、缝补衣裳，你可以留在这儿，我们会尽心照料你的。"白雪公主很乐意地说："好的，我非常愿意。"这样，七个小矮人每天到山里寻找金子和银子，白雪公主则待在家里干些家务活。 他们告诫她说："王后不久就会找出你在哪儿的，你千万不要让任何人进屋来。"

　　那个仆人回来复命后，王后以为白雪公主已经死了，这下，她一定是全国最漂亮的女人了，她走到魔镜面前说：

　　"告诉我，镜子，告诉我实话!

　　全国所有的女人谁最漂亮?

　　告诉我她是谁? "

　　镜子回答说：

　　"是你，王后!

　　你是这块地方最漂亮的女人，

　　但是在山的那一边，

　　在那绿色的树荫下，

　　有七个小矮人建造的小房屋，

　　白雪公主就躲藏在那里，

　　哎呀，王后!

　　她比你更漂亮。 "

　　王后听了大吃一惊，因为她知道这面镜子是从不说假话的，一定是那仆人蒙骗了她，她决不能容忍有任何比她更漂亮的人活在这个世上。 所以，她把自己装扮成一个卖杂货的老太婆，翻山越岭来到了那七个小矮人的住处。 她敲着门喊道："卖杂货，多好的杂货呀!"白雪公主从窗户往外看去，说道："老人家，你好!你卖的是什么啊?"她回答道："好东西，好漂亮的东西，有各种颜色的带子和线筒。"白雪公主暗想："这老太婆，好像并不是那种坏人，就让她进来吧。"想到这里，她跑过去打开门。 老太婆进来后说道："哎呀!看你的胸带多差呀，来吧，让我给你系上一根漂亮的新带子。"白雪公主做梦也没想到这会有危险，所以她走上前去站在了老太婆的面前。 老太婆很熟练地将带子给她系在胸前，系着系着，突然，她猛地用力将带子拉紧，白雪公主便被勒得透不过气来，很快失去知觉倒在了地上，就像死去了一样。 看到她的样子，恶毒的王后说道："这下你的美丽该结束了吧!"说完放心地走了。

　　晚上，七个小矮人回来了，当他们看到他们诚实可爱的白雪公主躺在地上一动不动，就像死了一样时，他们的心马上缩紧了，急忙上前将她抬了起来，他们马上剪断了带子。 过了一会儿，白雪公主慢慢地开始呼吸了，不久她又活了过来。 听她讲完事情的经过后，他们说道："那个老太婆就是王后，下次你要当心，在我们离开后，千万不要让任何人进来。"

　　王后一回到家里，就迫不急待地径直走到魔镜面前，像往常一样对着镜子说话。 但令她吃惊的是镜子的回答仍然是这样的：

　　"是你，王后!

　　你是这块地方最漂亮的女人，

　　但是在山的那一边，

　　在那绿色的树荫下，

　　有七个小矮人建造的小房屋，

　　白雪公主就躲在那里，

　　哎呀，王后!

　　她比你更漂亮。 "

　　知道白雪公主仍然活着，恼怒与怨恨使王后浑身血气翻涌，心里却凉透了。 她不甘心，不能忍受，于是又对自己进行打扮，这次的伪装尽管还是一个老太婆，但却完全不同于上次。 伪装好后，她带上一把有毒的梳子，翻山越岭来到了七个小矮人的房门前，敲着门喊道："买不买东西哟!"白雪公主在里面听到了，把门握开一条缝说道："我可不敢让别人进来了。"王后连忙说道："你只要看看我这把漂亮的梳子就行了。"说完把那把有毒的梳子递了进去。 梳子看起来的确很漂亮，白雪公主拿过梳子，想在头上试着梳一梳，但就在梳子刚碰到她的头时，梳子上的毒力发作了，她倒在地上，失去了知觉。 王后冷笑着说道："你早该这样躺着了。"说完就走了。

　　幸运的是这天晚上，小矮人们回来得很早，当他们看见白雪公主躺在地上时，知道一定又发生了不幸的事情，急忙将她抱起来查看，很快就发现了那把有毒的梳子。 他们将它拔了出来，不久，白雪公主恢复了知觉，醒了过来。 接着，她把事情发生的经过告诉了他们，七个小矮人再次告诫她，任何人来了都不要再开门。

　　此刻，王后已回到王宫，站在了魔镜前，询问着镜子，但听到的竟还是和上次相同的回答。 这下，她气得浑身都哆嗦起来了，她无法忍受这样的回答，狂叫道："白雪公主一定要死，即使以我的生命为代价也在所不惜!"她悄悄地走进一间偏僻的房子里，精心制做了一个毒苹果。 这苹果的外面看起来红红的，非常诱人，但只要吃一点就会要人的命。 接着，她将自己装扮成一个农妇，翻山越岭又来到了小矮人的房舍，伸手敲了敲门。 白雪公主把头从窗户里探出来说道："我不敢让人进来，因为小矮人们告诫我，任何人来了都不要开门。""就随你吧，"老农妇拿出那个毒苹果说道，"可是这苹果实在是太漂亮可爱了，我就作一个礼物送给你吧。"白雪公主说道："不，我可不敢要。"老农妇急了："你这傻孩子，你担心什么?难道这苹果有毒吗?来!你吃一半，我吃一半。"说完就将苹果分成了两半。 其实，王后在做毒苹果时，只在苹果的一边下了毒，另一边却是好的。 白雪公主看了看那苹果，很想尝一尝，因为那苹果看起来很甜美。 她看见那农妇吃了那一半，就再也忍不住了，接过另一半苹果咬了一口。 苹果刚一进口，她就倒在地上死去了。 王后一见，脸上露出了快意的狞笑，说道："这次再没有人能救你的命了!"她回到王宫，来到魔镜前，问道：

　　"告诉我，镜子，告诉我实话!

　　全国所有的女人谁最漂亮?

　　告诉我她是谁? "

　　镜子回答道：

　　"是你，王后!

　　你就是全国最漂亮的女人。 "

　　听到这句话，王后的嫉妒心才安定下来，感到十分愉快和幸福。 夜幕降临时，小矮人都回到了家里，他们发现白雪公主躺在地上，嘴里没有了呼吸。 他们不相信她真的死了，将她抱了起来，给她梳头发，用酒和水为她洗脸，但一切都是徒劳的，因为小姑娘看来已真的死了。 他们极为伤心地将她放在棺木上，七个小矮人坐在旁边守着。 他们悲痛欲绝，整整守了三天三夜。 最后他们绝望了，准备将她入土掩埋，但看到白雪公主的脸色红润依旧，栩栩如生，他们说："我们不能把她埋在阴冷黑暗的地下。"所以，他们做了一口从外面也能看见她的玻璃棺材把她放了进去，棺材上用金子嵌着白雪公主的名字及铭文。 小矮人们将棺材安放在一座小山上面，由一个小矮人永远坐在旁边看守。 天空中飞来不少鸟儿，首先是一只猫头鹰，接着是一只渡鸦，最后飞来的是一只鸽子，它们都来为白雪公主的死而痛哭。

　　白雪公主就这样一直被安放在小山上，过了很久很久，她的样子看起来仍然像是在那儿安睡，皮肤仍然如雪一样的白嫩，脸色仍然透着血一般的红润，头发仍然如乌木一样又黑又亮。 直到有一天，一个王子来到了小矮人的房子前，拜访了七个小矮人。 在小山上，他看到了白雪公主及棺材上的铭文，心里非常激动，一刻也不能平静。 他对小矮人说要付给他们金钱，求他们让他把白雪公主和棺材带走。 但小矮人说："就是用世界上所有的金子来换，我们也不会同意让她离我们而去的。"王子不停地恳求，甚至哀求。 看到他如此真心诚意，他们终于被他的虔诚所感动，同意让他把棺材带走。 但就在他叫人把棺材抬起准备回家时，棺材被撞了一下，那块毒苹果突然从她嘴里吐了出来，白雪公主马上醒了。 她茫然问道："我这是在哪儿呀?"王子回答说："你好端端地与我在一块儿。"接着，把发生的一切都告诉了她，最后说道："我爱你胜过爱世界上的一切，走吧!与我到我父亲的王宫去，我将娶你做我的妻子。"白雪公主同意了，并与王子一同回了家。 在将一切准备好，将王宫装饰得富丽堂皇后，他们就要举行婚礼了，他们邀请了许多客人来参加婚礼。

　　在他们邀请的客人当中，其中就有白雪公主的继母王后，她将自己打扮得富贵典雅，对着魔镜说道：

　　"告诉我，镜子，告诉我实话!

　　全国所有的女人谁最漂亮?

　　告诉我她是谁? "

　　镜子回答说：

　　"是你，我想这儿是你最漂亮，

　　但是王子的新娘比你漂亮得多。 "

　　听到这些话，她又勃然大怒起来，但又无可奈何。 嫉妒心与好奇心使她决定去看看这位新娘。 当她到达举行婚礼的地方，才知道这新娘不是别人，正是她认为已经死去很久的白雪公主。 看到白雪公主，她气得昏了过去，自此便一病不起，不久就在嫉妒、愤恨与痛苦的自我煎熬中死去了。 白雪公主和王子结婚后，美满的生活充满了欢乐和幸福，他们一辈子都快快乐乐地在一起。

　　白雪公主英文版：

　　Snow-white

　　It was the middle of winter, and the snow-flakes were falling like feathers from the sky, and a queen sat at her window working, and her embroidery-frame was of ebony. And as she worked, gazing at times out on the snow, she pricked her finger, and there fell from it three drops of blood on the snow. And when she saw how bright and red it looked, she said to herself, "Oh that I had a child as white as snow, as red as blood, and as black as the wood of the embroidery frame!" Not very long after she had a daughter, with a skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony, and she was named Snow-white. And when she was born the queen died. After a year had gone by the king took another wife, a beautiful woman, but proud and overbearing, and she could not bear to be surpassed in beauty by any one. She had a magic looking-glass, and she used to stand before it, and look in it, and say,

　　"Looking-glass upon the wall,

　　Who is fairest of us all?"

　　And the looking-glass would answer,

　　"You are fairest of them all."

　　And she was contented, for she knew that the looking-glass spoke the truth. Now, Snow-white was growing prettier and prettier, and when she was seven years old she was as beautiful as day, far more so than the queen herself. So one day when the queen went to her mirror and said,

　　"Looking-glass upon the wall,

　　Who is fairest of us all?"

　　It answered,

　　"Queen, you are full fair, 'tis true,

　　But Snow-white fairer is than you."

　　This gave the queen a great shock, and she became yellow and green with envy, and from that hour her heart turned against Snow-white, and she hated her. And envy and pride like ill weeds grew in her heart higher every day, until she had no peace day or night. At last she sent for a huntsman, and said, "Take the child out into the woods, so that I may set eyes on her no more. You must put her to death, and bring me her heart for a token." The huntsman consented, and led her away; but when he drew his cutlass to pierce Snow-white's innocent heart, she began to weep, and to say, "Oh, dear huntsman, do not take my life; I will go away into the wild wood, and never come home again." And as she was so lovely the huntsman had pity on her, and said, "Away with you then, poor child;" for he thought the wild animals would be sure to devour her, and it was as if a stone had been rolled away from his heart when he spared to put her to death. Just at that moment a young wild boar came running by, so he caught and killed it, and taking out its heart, he brought it to the queen for a token. And it was salted and cooked, and the wicked woman ate it up, thinking that there was an end of Snow-white.

　　Now, when the poor child found herself quite alone in the wild woods, she felt full of terror, even of the very leaves on the trees, and she did not know what to do for fright. Then she began to run over the sharp stones and through the thorn bushes, and the wild beasts after her, but they did her no harm. She ran as long as her feet would carry her; and when the evening drew near she came to a little house, and she went inside to rest. Everything there was very small, but as pretty and clean as possible. There stood the little table ready laid, and covered with a white cloth, and seven little plates, and seven knives and forks, and drinking-cups. By the wall stood seven little beds, side by side, covered with clean white quilts. Snow-white, being very hungry and thirsty, ate from each plate a little porridge and bread, and drank out of each little cup a drop of wine, so as not to finish up one portion alone. After that she felt so tired that she lay down on one of the beds, but it did not seem to suit her; one was too long, another too short, but at last the seventh was quite right; and so she lay down upon it, committed herself to heaven, and fell asleep.

　　When it was quite dark, the masters of the house came home. They were seven dwarfs, whose occupation was to dig underground among the mountains. When they had lighted their seven candles, and it was quite light in the little house, they saw that some one must have been in, as everything was not in the same order in which they left it. The first said, "Who has been sitting in my little chair?" The second said, "Who has been eating from my little plate?" The third said, "Who has been taking my little loaf?" The fourth said, "Who has been tasting my porridge?" The fifth said, "Who has been using my little fork?" The sixth said, "Who has been cutting with my little knife?" The seventh said, "Who has been drinking from my little cup?" Then the first one, looking round, saw a hollow in his bed, and cried, "Who has been lying on my bed?" And the others came running, and cried, "Some one has been on our beds too!" But when the seventh looked at his bed, he saw little Snow-white lying there asleep. Then he told the others, who came running up, crying out in their astonishment, and holding up their seven little candles to throw a light upon Snow-white. "O goodness! O gracious!" cried they, "what beautiful child is this?" and were so full of joy to see her that they did not wake her, but let her sleep on. And the seventh dwarf slept with his comrades, an hour at a time with each, until the night had passed. When it was morning, and Snow-white awoke and saw the seven dwarfs, she was very frightened; but they seemed quite friendly, and asked her what her name was, and she told them; and then they asked how she came to be in their house. And she related to them how her step-mother had wished her to be put to death, and how the huntsman had spared her life, and how she had run the whole day long, until at last she had found their little house. Then the dwarfs said, "If you will keep our house for us, and cook, and wash, and make the beds, and sew and knit, and keep everything tidy and clean, you may stay with us, and you shall lack nothing." - "With all my heart," said Snow-white; and so she stayed, and kept the house in good order. In the morning the dwarfs went to the mountain to dig for gold; in the evening they came home, and their supper had to be ready for them. All the day long the maiden was left alone, and the good little dwarfs warned her, saying, "Beware of your step-mother, she will soon know you are here. Let no one into the house." Now the queen, having eaten Snow-white's heart, as she supposed, felt quite sure that now she was the first and fairest, and so she came to her mirror, and said,

　　"Looking-glass upon the wall,

　　Who is fairest of us all?"

　　And the glass answered,

　　"Queen, thou art of beauty rare,

　　But Snow-white living in the glen

　　With the seven little men

　　Is a thousand times more fair."

　　Then she was very angry, for the glass always spoke the truth, and she knew that the huntsman must have deceived her, and that Snow-white must still be living. And she thought and thought how she could manage to make an end of her, for as long as she was not the fairest in the land, envy left her no rest. At last she thought of a plan; she painted her face and dressed herself like an old pedlar woman, so that no one would have known her. In this disguise she went across the seven mountains, until she came to the house of the seven little dwarfs, and she knocked at the door and cried, "Fine wares to sell! fine wares to sell!" Snow-white peeped out of the window and cried, "Good-day, good woman, what have you to sell?" - "Good wares, fine wares," answered she, "laces of all colours;"and she held up a piece that was woven of variegated silk. "I need not be afraid of letting in this good woman," thought Snow-white, and she unbarred the door and bought the pretty lace. "What a figure you are, child!" said the old woman, "come and let me lace you properly for once." Snow-white, suspecting nothing, stood up before her, and let her lace her with the new lace; but the old woman laced so quick and tight that it took Snow-white's breath away, and she fell down as dead. "Now you have done with being the fairest," said the old woman as she hastened away. Not long after that, towards evening, the seven dwarfs came home, and were terrified to see their dear Snow-white lying on the ground, without life or motion; they raised her up, and when they saw how tightly she was laced they cut the lace in two; then she began to draw breath, and little by little she returned to life. When the dwarfs heard what had happened they said, "The old pedlar woman was no other than the wicked queen; you must beware of letting any one in when we are not here!" And when the wicked woman got home she went to her glass and said,

　　"Looking-glass against the wall,

　　Who is fairest of us all?"

　　And it answered as before,

　　"Queen, thou art of beauty rare,

　　But Snow-white living in the glen

　　With the seven little men

　　Is a thousand times more fair."

　　When she heard that she was so struck with surprise that all the blood left her heart, for she knew that Snow-white must still be living. "But now," said she, "I will think of something that will be her ruin." And by witchcraft she made a poisoned comb. Then she dressed herself up to look like another different sort of old woman. So she went across the seven mountains and came to the house of the seven dwarfs, and knocked at the door and cried, "Good wares to sell! good wares to sell!" Snow-white looked out and said, "Go away, I must not let anybody in." - "But you are not forbidden to look," said the old woman, taking out the poisoned comb and holding it up. It pleased the poor child so much that she was tempted to open the door; and when the bargain was made the old woman said, "Now, for once your hair shall be properly combed." Poor Snow-white, thinking no harm, let the old woman do as she would, but no sooner was the comb put in her hair than the poison began to work, and the poor girl fell down senseless. "Now, you paragon of beauty," said the wicked woman, "this is the end of you," and went off. By good luck it was now near evening, and the seven little dwarfs came home. When they saw Snow-white lying on the ground as dead, they thought directly that it was the step-mother's doing, and looked about, found the poisoned comb, and no sooner had they drawn it out of her hair than Snow-white came to herself, and related all that had passed. Then they warned her once more to be on her guard, and never again to let any one in at the door. And the queen went home and stood before the looking-glass and said,

　　"Looking-glass against the wall,

　　Who is fairest of us all?"

　　And the looking-glass answered as before,

　　"Queen, thou art of beauty rare,

　　But Snow-white living in the glen

　　With the seven little men

　　Is a thousand times more fair."

　　When she heard the looking-glass speak thus she trembled and shook with anger. "Snow-white shall die," cried she, "though it should cost me my own life!" And then she went to a secret lonely chamber, where no one was likely to come, and there she made a poisonous apple. It was beautiful to look upon, being white with red cheeks, so that any one who should see it must long for it, but whoever ate even a little bit of it must die. When the apple was ready she painted her face and clothed herself like a peasant woman, and went across the seven mountains to where the seven dwarfs lived. And when she knocked at the door Snow-white put her head out of the window and said, "I dare not let anybody in; the seven dwarfs told me not." - "All right," answered the woman; "I can easily get rid of my apples elsewhere. There, I will give you one." - "No," answered Snow-white, "I dare not take anything." - "Are you afraid of poison?" said the woman, "look here, I will cut the apple in two pieces; you shall have the red side, I will have the white one." For the apple was so cunningly made, that all the poison was in the rosy half of it. Snow-white longed for the beautiful apple, and as she saw the peasant woman eating a piece of it she could no longer refrain, but stretched out her hand and took the poisoned half. But no sooner had she taken a morsel of it into her mouth than she fell to the earth as dead. And the queen, casting on her a terrible glance, laughed aloud and cried, "As white as snow, as red as blood, as black as ebony! this time the dwarfs will not be able to bring you to life again." And when she went home and asked the looking-glass,

　　"Looking-glass against the wall,

　　Who is fairest of us all?"

　　at last it answered,

　　"You are the fairest now of all."

　　Then her envious heart had peace, as much as an envious heart can have. The dwarfs, when they came home in the evening, found Snow-white lying on the ground, and there came no breath out of her mouth, and she was dead. They lifted her up, sought if anything poisonous was to be found, cut her laces, combed her hair, washed her with water and wine, but all was of no avail, the poor child was dead, and remained dead. Then they laid her on a bier, and sat all seven of them round it, and wept and lamented three whole days. And then they would have buried her, but that she looked still as if she were living, with her beautiful blooming cheeks. So they said, "We cannot hide her away in the black ground." And they had made a coffin of clear glass, so as to be looked into from all sides, and they laid her in it, and wrote in golden letters upon it her name, and that she was a king's daughter. Then they set the coffin out upon the mountain, and one of them always remained by it to watch. And the birds came too, and mourned for Snow-white, first an owl, then a raven, and lastly, a dove. Now, for a long while Snow-white lay in the coffin and never changed, but looked as if she were asleep, for she was still as' white as snow, as red as blood, and her hair was as black as ebony. It happened, however, that one day a king's son rode through the wood and up to the dwarfs' house, which was near it. He saw on the mountain the coffin, and beautiful Snow-white within it, and he read what was written in golden letters upon it. Then he said to the dwarfs, "Let me have the coffin, and I will give you whatever you like to ask for it." But the dwarfs told him that they could not part with it for all the gold in the world. But he said, "I beseech you to give it me, for I cannot live without looking upon Snow-white; if you consent I will bring you to great honour, and care for you as if you were my brethren." When he so spoke the good little dwarfs had pity upon him and gave him the coffin, and the king's son called his servants and bid them carry it away on their shoulders. Now it happened that as they were going along they stumbled over a bush, and with the shaking the bit of poisoned apple flew out of her throat. It was not long before she opened her eyes, threw up the cover of the coffin, and sat up, alive and well. "Oh dear! where am I?" cried she. The king's son answered, full of joy, "You are near me," and, relating all that had happened, he said, "I would rather have you than anything in the world; come with me to my father's castle and you shall be my bride." And Snow-white was kind, and went with him, and their wedding was held with pomp and great splendour. But Snow-white's wicked step-mother was also bidden to the feast, and when she had dressed herself in beautiful clothes she went to her looking-glass and said,

　　"Looking-glass upon the wall,

　　Who is fairest of us all?"

　　The looking-glass answered,

　　''O Queen, although you are of beauty rare,

　　The young bride is a thousand times more fair."

　　Then she railed and cursed, and was beside herself with disappointment and anger. First she thought she would not go to the wedding; but then she felt she should have no peace until she went and saw the bride. And when she saw her she knew her for Snow-white, and could not stir from the place for anger and terror. For they had ready red-hot iron shoes, in which she had to dance until she fell down dead.