Translated by L.L. Weedon.
Grimm's Fairy Tales. London:
Ernest Nister, [1898], pp. 9-20.
Long, long
ago, in the winter-time, when the snowflakes were falling like little white
feathers from the sky, a beautiful Queen sat beside her window, which was
framed in black ebony, and stitched. As she worked, she looked sometimes at the
falling snow, and so it happened that she pricked her finger with her needle,
so that three drops of blood fell upon the snow. How pretty the red blood
looked upon the dazzling white! The Queen said to herself as she saw it,
"Ah me! If only I had a dear little child as white as the snow, as rosy as
the blood, and with hair as black as the ebony window-frame."
Soon
afterwards a little daughter came to her, who was white as snow, rosy as the
blood, and whose hair was as black as ebony--so she was called "Little
Snow-White."
But
alas! When the little one came, the good Queen dies.
A
year passed away, and the King took another wife. She was very beautiful, but
so proud and haughty that she could not bear to be surpassed in beauty by
anyone. She possessed a wonderful mirror which could answer her when she stood
before it and said-
"Mirror,
mirror upon the wall, Who is the fairest of all?"
The
mirror answered-
"Thou,
O Queen, art the fairest of all," and the Queen was contented, because she
knew the mirror could speak nothing but the truth.
But
as time passed on, Little Snow-White grew more and more beautiful, until when
she was seven years old, she was as lovely as the bright day, and still more
lovely than the Queen herself, so that when the lady one day asked her mirror-
"Mirror,
mirror upon the wall, Who is the fairest fair of all?" it answered-
"O
Lady Queen, though fair ye be, Snow-White is fairer far to see."
The
Queen was horrified, and from that moment envy and pride grew in her heart like
rank weeds, until one day she called a huntsman and said "Take the child
away into the woods and kill her, for I can no longer bear the sight of her.
And when you return bring with you her heart, that I may know you have obeyed
my will."
The
huntsman dared not disobey, so he led Snow-White out into the woods and placed
an arrow in his bow to pierce her innocent heart, but the little maid begged
him to spare her life, and the child's beauty touched his heart with pity, so
that he bade her run away.
Then
as a young wild boar came rushing by, he killed it, took out its heart, and
carried it home to the Queen.
Poor
little Snow-White was now all alone in the wild wood, and so frightened was she
that she trembled at every leaf that rustled. So she began to run, and ran on
and on until she came to a little house, where she went in to rest.
In
the little house everything she saw was tiny, but more dainty and clean than
words can tell.
Upon
a white-covered table stood seven little plates and upon each plate lay a
little spoon, besides which there were seven knives and forks and seven little
goblets. Against the wall, and side by side, stood seven little beds covered
with snow-white sheets.
Snow-White
was so hungry and thirsty that she took a little food from each of the seven
plates, and drank a few drops of wine from each goblet, for she did not wish to
take everything away from one. Then, because she was so tired, she crept into
one bed after the other, seeking for rest, but one was too long, another too
short, and so on, until she came to the seventh, which suited her exactly; so
she said her prayers and soon fell fast asleep.
When
night fell the masters of the little house came home. They were seven dwarfs,
who worked with a pick-axe and spade, searching for cooper and gold in the
heart of the mountains.
They lit their
seven candles and then saw that someone had been to visit them. The first said,
"Who has been sitting on my chair?"
The
second said, "Who has been eating from my plate?"
The
third, "Who has taken a piece of my bread?"
The
fourth, "Who has taken some of my vegetables?"
The
fifth, "Who has been using my fork?"
The
sixth, "Who has been cutting with my knife?"
The
seventh, "Who has been drinking out of my goblet?"
The
first looked round and saw that his bed was rumpled, so he said, "Who has
been getting into my bed?"
Then
the others looked round and each one cried, "Someone has been on my bed
too?"
But
the seventh saw little Snow-White lying asleep in his bed, and called the
others to come and look at her; and they cried aloud with surprise, and fetched
their seven little candles, so that they might see her the better, and they
were so pleased with her beauty that they let her sleep on all night.
When
the sun rose Snow-White awoke, and, oh! How frightened she was when she saw the
seven little dwarfs. But they were very friendly, and asked what her name was.
"My name is Snow-White," she answered.
"And
how did you come to get into our house?" questioned the dwarfs.
Then
she told them how her cruel step-mother had intended her to be killed, but how
the huntsman had spared her life and she had run on until she reached the
little house. And the dwarfs said, "If you will take care of our house,
cook for us, and make the beds, wash, mend, and knit, and keep everything neat
and clean, then you may stay with us altogether and you shall want for
nothing."
"With
all my heart," answered Snow-White; and so she stayed.
She
kept the house neat and clean for the dwarfs, who went off early in the morning
to search for copper and gold in the mountains, and who expected their meal to
be standing ready for them when they returned at night.
All
day long Snow-White was alone, and the good little dwarfs warned her to be
careful to let no one into the house. "For," said they, "your
step-mother will soon discover that you are living here."
The
Queen, believing, of course, that Snow-White was dead, and that therefore she
was again the most beautiful lady in the land, went to her mirror, and said-
"Mirror,
mirror upon the wall, Who is the fairest fair of all?"
Then
the mirror answered-
"O
Lady Queen, though fair ye be, Snow-White is fairer far to see. Over the hills
and far away, She dwells with seven dwarfs to-day."
How
angry she was, for she knew that the mirror spoke the truth, and that the
huntsman must have deceived her. She thought and thought how she might kill
Snow-White, for she knew she would have neither rest nor peace until she really
was the most beautiful lady in the land. At length she decided what to do. She
painted her face and dressed herself like an old pedlar-woman, so that no one
could recognize her, and in this disguise she climbed the seven mountains that
lay between her and the dwarfs' house, and knocked at their door and cried,
"Good wares to sell-very cheap to-day!"
Snow-White
peeped from the window and said, "Good day, good-wife, and what are your
wares?"
"All
sorts of pretty things, my dear," answered the woman. "Silken laces
of every colour," and she held up a bright-coloured one, made of plaited
silks.
"Surely
I might let this honest old woman come in?" thought Snow-White, and
unbolted the door and bought the pretty lace.
"Dear,
dear, what a figure you are, child," said the old woman; "come, let
me lace you properly for once."
Snow-White
had no suspicious thoughts, so she placed herself in front of the old woman
that she might fasten her dress with the new silk lace. But in less than no
time the wicked creature had laced her so tightly that she could not breathe,
but fell down upon the ground as though she were dead. "Now," said
the Queen, "I am once more the most beautiful lady in the land," and
she went away.
When
the dwarfs came home they were very grieved to find their dear little
Snow-White lying upon the ground as though she were dead. They lifted her
gently and, seeing that she was too tightly laced, they cut the silken cord,
when she drew a long breath and then gradually came back to life.
When
the dwarfs heard all that had happened they said, "The pedlar-woman was
certainly the wicked Queen. Now, take care in future that you open the door to
none when we are not with you."
The
wicked Queen had no sooner reached home than she went to her mirror, and said-
"Mirror,
mirror upon the wall, Who is the fairest fair of all?"
And
the mirror answered as before-
"O
Lady Queen, though fair ye be, Snow-White is fairer far to see. Over the hills and
far away, She dwells with seven dwarfs to-day."
The
blood rushed to her face as she heard these words, for she knew that Snow-White
must have come to life again.
"But
I will manage to put an end to her yet," she said, and then, by means of
her magic, she made a poisonous comb.
Again
she disguised herself, climbed the seven mountains, and knocked at the door of
the seven dwarfs' cottage, crying, "Good wares to sell-very cheap
today!"
Snow-White
looked out of the window and said, "Go away, good woman, for I dare not
let you in."
Surely
you can look at my goods," answered the woman, and held up the poisonous
comb, which pleased Snow-White so well that she opened the door and bought it.
"Come,
let me comb your hair in the newest way," said the woman, and the poor
unsuspicious child let her have her way, but no sooner did the comb touch her
hair than the poison began to work, and she fell fainting to the ground.
"There,
you model of beauty," said the wicked woman, as she went away, "you
are done for at last!"
But
fortunately it was almost time for the dwarfs to come home, and as soon as they
came in and found Snow-White lying upon the ground they guessed that her wicked
step-mother had been there again, and set to work to find out what was wrong.
They
soon saw the poisonous comb, and drew it out, and almost immediately Snow-White
began to recover, and told them what had happened.
Once
more they warned her to be on her guard, and to open the door to no one.
When
the Queen reached home, she went straight to the mirror and said-
"Mirror,
mirror on the wall, Who is the fairest fair of all?"
And
the mirror answered-
"O
Lady Queen, though fair ye be, Snow-White is fairer far to see. Over the hills
and far away, She dwells with seven dwarfs to-day."
When
the Queen heard these words she shook with rage. "Snow-White shall
die," she cried, "even if it costs me my own life to manage it."
She
went into a secret chamber, where no one else ever entered, and there she made
a poisonous apple, and then she painted her face and disguised herself as a
peasant woman, and climbed the seven mountains and went to the dwarfs' house.
She
knocked at the door. Snow-White put her head out of the window, and said,
"I must not let anyone in; the seven dwarfs have forbidden me to do
so."
"It's
all the same to me," answered the peasant woman; "I shall soon get
rid of these fine apples. But before I go I'll make you a present of one."
"Oh!
No," said Snow-White, "for I must not take it."
"Surely
you are not afraid of poison?" said the woman. "See, I will cut one
in two: the rosy cheek you shall take, and the white cheek I will eat
myself."
Now,
the apple had been so cleverly made that only the rose-cheeked side contained
the poison. Snow-White longed for the delicious-looking fruit, and when she saw
that the woman ate half of it, she thought there could be no danger, and
stretched out her hand and took the other part. But no sooner had she tasted it
than she fell down dead.
The
wicked Queen laughed aloud with joy as she gazed at her. "White as snow,
red as blood, black as ebony," she said, "this time the dwarfs cannot
awaken you."
And
she went straight home and asked her mirror--
"Mirror,
mirror upon the wall, Who is the fairest fair of all?"
And
at length it answered-
"Thou,
O Queen, art fairest of all!"
So
her envious heart had peace-at least, so much peace as an envious heart can
have.
When
the little dwarfs came home at night they found Snow-White lying upon the
ground. No breath came from her parted lips, for she was dead. They lifted her
tenderly and sought for some poisonous object which might have caused the
mischief, unlaced her frock, combed her hair, and washed her with wine and
water, but all in vain-dead she was and dead she remained. They laid her upon a
bier, and all seven of them sat round about it, and wept as though their hearts
would break, for three whole days.
When
the time came that she should be laid in the ground they could not bear to part
from her. Her pretty cheeks were still rosy red, and she looked just as though
she were still living.
"We
cannot hide her away in the dark earth," said the dwarfs, and so they made
a transparent coffin of shining glass, and laid her in it, and wrote her name
upon it in letters of gold; also they wrote that she was a King's daughter.
Then they placed the coffin upon the mountain-top, and took it in turns to
watch beside it. And all the animals came and wept for Snow-White, first an
owl, then a raven, and then a little dove.
For
a long, long time little Snow-White lay in the coffin, but her form did not
wither; she only looked as though she slept, for she was still as white as
snow, as red as blood, and as black as ebony.
It
chanced that a King's son came into the wood, and went to the dwarfs' house,
meaning to spend the night there. He saw the coffin upon the mountain-top, with
little Snow-White lying within it, and he read the words that were written upon
it in letters of gold.
And
he said to the dwarfs, "If you will but let me have the coffin, you may
ask of me what you will, and I will give it to you."
But
the dwarfs answered, "We would not sell it for all the gold in the
world."
Then
said the Prince, "Let me have it as a gift, I pray you, for I cannot live
without seeing little Snow-White, and I will prize your gift as the dearest of
my possessions."
The
good little dwarfs pitied him when they heard these words, and so gave him the
coffin. The King's son then bade his servants place it upon their shoulders and
carry it away, but as they went they stumbled over the stump of a tree, and the
violent shaking shook the piece of poisonous apple which had lodged in
Snow-White's throat out again, so that she opened her eyes, raised the lid of
the coffin, and sat up, alive once more.
"Where
am I?" she cried, and the happy Prince answered, "Thou art with me,
dearest."
Then
he told her all that had happened, and how he loved her better than the whole
world, and begged her to go with him to his father's palace and be his wife.
Snow-White consented, and went with him, and the wedding was celebrated with
great splendour and magnificence.
Little
Snow-White's wicked step-mother was bidden to the feast, and when she had
arrayed herself in her most beautiful garments, she stood before her mirror,
and said-
"Mirror,
mirror upon the wall, Who is the fairest fair of all?"
And
the mirror answered-
"O
Lady Queen, though fair ye be, The young Queen is fairer to see."
Oh!
How angry the wicked woman was then, and so terrified, too, that she scarcely
knew what to do. At first she thought she would not go to the wedding at all,
but then she felt that she could not rest until she had seen the young Queen.
No sooner did she enter the palace than she recognized little Snow-White, and
could not move for terror.
Then
a pair of red-hot iron shoes was brought into the room with tongs and set
before her, and these she was forced to put on and to dance in them until she
could dance no longer, but fell down dead, and that was the end of her.
THE END
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