灰姑娘Cinderella英語故事

Cinderella:AnEnglishFairyTale

Onceuponatime,inalandnotsofaraway,therelivedayounggirlnamedCinderella.Shewasknownforhergentlespiritandkindheart,butherlifewasfarfromafairytale.Afterthedeathofherbelovedmother,Cinderella'sfatherremarried,andhernewstepmotherwasacoldandcruelwoman.

Cinderella'sstepsisters,equallyasheartlessastheirmother,treatedherwithdisdain.Theyforcedhertoperformallthechoresaroundthehouse,fromcookingandcleaningtotendingthefires.Heronlyfriendswerethemicethatscurriedthroughthekitchen,andtheywouldlistentohersingassheworked.

Oneday,aproclamationwasmadethroughoutthekingdom.Theprince,ahandsomeandnobleyoungman,washostingagrandball.Everyeligibleyoungladyinthelandwasinvitedtoattend,inhopesthattheprincewouldchooseabride.

Cinderella'sheartfilledwithhopeatthethoughtofattendingtheball.Shedreamedofdancingwiththeprinceandescapingherdrearylife,ifonlyforonenight.However,herstepmotherandstepsistershadnointentionofallowinghertogo.TheyridiculedherdreamsandtoreapartabeautifuldressthatCinderella'smotherhadlefther,adressthatshehadhopedtoweartotheball.

Devastated,Cinderellaretreatedtothegardentoweep.Hertearsfellupontheearth,anditwasthenthata奇跡occurred.Ashimmeringlightappeared,andfromitemergedherfairygodmother.

"Dearchild,donotdespair,"thefairygodmothersaidwithagentlesmile."Youshallgototheball."

Cinderella'sheartsoaredasshesteppedintothecoach,butherfairygodmotherwarnedher,"Remember,Cinderella,thismagicwillonlylastuntilthestrokeofmidnight.Atthefinalchime,everythingwillreturntohowitwas."

Withthat,Cinderellawasofftotheball,herheartfullofexcitementandherdreamswithinreach.Littledidsheknow,herlifewasabouttochangeforever.

Astheclockstruckeight,Cinderella'scoachrolleduptothepalace,itswheelssilentonthecobblestonepath.Thefootmen,oncemerelizards,stoodtallandproudastheyopenedthecarriagedoor.Cinderellasteppedout,hergowncascadingdowninwavesofelegance,theglassslipperscatchingthelightofthelanternsthatlinedtheentrance.

Theprince,whohadbeenentertaininghisguests,turnedatthesoundofthecollectivegaspthatfilledtheroom.HiseyesmetCinderella's,andinthatmoment,itwasasiftimeitselfpaused.Hecrossedtheroom,hisgazeneverleavinghers,andboweddeeply.

"MayIhavethehonorofthisdance?"heasked,hisvoicefilledwithgenuineadmiration.

Cinderellasmiled,herheartflutteringlikeabirdinflight."Iwouldbedelighted,"shereplied,takinghisoutstretchedhand.

Astheydanced,theprincewasenchantedCinderella'sgraceandhergentlelaughter.Shespokeofdreamsandhopes,andhefoundhimselfsharinghisownaspirations.Thenightwasawhirlwindofdancesandstolenglances,thehoursslippingawaylikesandthroughanhourglass.

Butasthenightworeon,Cinderella'sjoywastemperedthetickingoftheclock.Sheknewthemagicwasfleeting,andwitheachchime,hertimewasslippingaway.Astheclocknearedmidnight,sheexcusedherselfandfledtheballroom,herheartpoundinginherchest.

Theprince,realizingshewasgone,rushedafterher,onlytofindtheglassslippershehadlostinherhaste.Asthefinalchimeofmidnightechoedthroughthepalace,thecoach,thehorses,andthefootmenvanished,leavingonlythepumpkinandthelizardsbehind.

Cinderellaarrivedhome,hergownonceagainrags,herslippersgone.Sheslippedintoherroom,herheartheavywiththememoryofthenight'smagic.Theprince,determinedtofindthemysteriouswomanwhohadcapturedhisheart,tooktheglassslipperandvowedtotryitoneveryeligiblewomaninthekingdomuntilhefoundhistruelove.

Daysturnedintoweeks,andtheprince'ssearchtookhimfromthegrandestofmanorstothehumblestofcottages.WhenhefinallyarrivedatCinderella'shome,herstepmotherandstepsisterswereeagertotryontheslipper,buttonoavail.ItwasonlywhenCinderellashylysteppedforwardthattheslipperfitperfectly.

Theprincelookedintohereyes,recognizingthebeautyhehaddancedwithattheball.Joyfully,hedeclared,"Youaremytruelove,andIwillmarrynooneelse."

Andso,Cinderella'sfairytalecametrue.Shemarriedtheprince,andtheylivedhappilyeverafter,herkindnessandgentlespiritabeaconoflightinthekingdom.Herstorybecamealegend,areminderthateveninthedarkestoftimes,alittlemagicandalotofcouragecanchangetheworld.

ThepalaceitselfseemedtobloomunderCinderella'spresence.Hergentlenatureandwarmsmilebecametheheartoftheroyalcourt,drawingpeopletoherlikemot