白雪公主英文版

A long time ago, and far away there lived a King and a Queen. They were very

happy, except for one thing -- they both longed for a child.

The Queen sat sewing by her window one winters day when she suddenly pricked

her finger. A drop of blood fell on the snow by the window.

"Oh, I wish I had a daughter with skin as white as snow, hair as black as ebony and

red, red lips," she sighed.

Happily the Queens wish came true. In the autumn that year a baby girl was born.

Sadly, the Queen died soon after.

The little Princess was called Snow White and she grew to be a lovely girl.

After many years the King married again. His new wife was beautiful and proud.

She liked to use magic and had a magic mirror. She would say:

"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all"

And the mirror would answer:

"You, Queen, are the fairest in the land."

The Queen was very proud.

One day the Queen spoke to the mirror as usual, but this time the answer was

different.

"You, Queen, are fair, but the fairest of all is Snow White."

The Queen was very angry to hear this. She plotted and schemed and decided to

kill Snow White. "Huntsman," she said, one day. " I want you to take Snow White into the forest

and kill her. Bring back her heart to prove she is dead."

"Your Majesty," said the huntsman, bowing. He was horrified. He didnt want to kill

the Princess.

"Come," he said to Snow White. "We are going into the forest." He took Snow

White deeper and deeper into the forest, then he spoke to her.

"Beware of you stepmother," he said. "She wants you killed. Those were my orders.

But I cant kill you. Go deeper into the forest and one day you will be able to return.

But be careful. She may find out that youre alive."

The huntsman then killed a small deer and took its heart back to the queen. The

Queen was very happy. She was now the fairest in the land.

Meanwhile, Snow White ran deeper and deeper into the forest. Finally, when it

was growing dark she came to a small cottage.

She knocked but there was no answer.

"I wonder who lives here," she said. She pushed the door open.

What a sight met her eyes! The little house was very untidy, plates and cups were

waiting to be washed up and the table was still laid for breakfast.

"What a mess," said Snow White, and she bustled around and cleaned the house

from top to bottom. She was very surprised to find that there was seven of

everything: seven cups, seven plates, seven knives, seven forks and seven beds and

chairs. Then Snow White had some bread and cheese. She was very tired, so she went

upstairs to the newly cleaned bedroom, and fell asleep on one of the beds.

Later on, when the owners of the cottage returned, they couldnt believe their eyes!

Their little home was spotless.

"Who can have done this" they asked.

They looked around. Dinner was cooking in the oven and the table was laid.

"Its a girl," called one, from the top of the stairs. "Shes asleep in our room."

Snow White woke up to find seven little men standing by the bed. They were

seven dwarfs and they worked in a mine in the nearby hills.

"Dont be scared," they told her. "How did you find this place Were a long way into

the forest."

Snow White told her story. The dwarfs were horrified.

"You must stay here," they said. "Youll be safe here."

"Thank you," said Snow White.

Snow White was very happy in the forest, and the dwarfs were delighted to look

after her. For many days only six dwarfs went to work, because one would stay

behind with Snow White, but after a while Snow White convinced them that she

would be all right.

"Promise us that you will keep the door locked," said the dwarfs. "The Queen may

find out that youre with us and try to harm you." "The door will stay shut all the time," said Snow White. "I wont open it to anyone."

The dwarfs were happy with this and they all went off to their work in the mine.

Meanwhile, the Queen, Snow Whites stepmother, was happy in the knowledge

that she was the fairest in the land, but one day she thought shed just make sure.

"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all" she asked.

"You, Queen, are fair, but Snow White is the fairest of all." The mirror showed a

picture of Snow White deep in the forest, with the seven dwarfs.

The Queen was furious. The huntsman had lied to her.

"Ill find her myself," muttered the Queen. She used a little magic to make herself

look very old. Then she dressed herself in peasant clothes and made her way to the

forest.

When she was there, she waited for the seven dwarfs to go off to the mine. Snow

White stayed inside the house as shed promised the dwarfs.

"Combs for sale! Combs and ribbons for sale!" called an old peasant woman.