白雪公主(格林童話)

很久很久以前，在一個遙遠的王國裡，住著國王與王后。寒冬臘月的一天，王后坐在烏木窗框邊縫著衣裳，針尖不慎刺破了手指，三滴鮮血落在皚皚白雪上，紅得那樣動人。她望著窗外紛飛的雪花，在心裡許下願望：「但願我能生下一個女兒，皮膚潔白如雪，嘴唇紅潤如血，頭髮黑得像這烏木窗框。」

不久之後，王后果真生下一位小公主。她的肌膚真的像初雪一樣瑩白，唇瓣像鮮血一樣紅豔，長髮像烏木一樣濃黑亮麗。國王與王后為她取名「白雪公主」，整座王宮都浸在軟綿綿的喜悅裡。

可惜好景不長，白雪公主出生沒多久，王后便因病離世了。過了一年，國王又娶了一位新王后。這位新王后長得絕美無雙，卻生性高傲善妒，最見不得別人比她美。她有一面神奇的魔鏡，能說出世間所有真相，每天她都會站在鏡前問：「魔鏡魔鏡，誰是這世上最美的女人？」

魔鏡總是回答：「王后您是這世上最美的女人。」王后聽了便心滿意足，因為她知道魔鏡從不說謊。

日子一天天過去，白雪公主漸漸長大，越來越美麗動人。她的心地也像雪一樣純淨，對宮裡的僕人、花園裡的小鳥小兔都溫柔體貼，所有人都喜歡她。

在白雪公主七歲那年，王后又一如往常問起魔鏡。這一次，魔鏡卻說：「王后您很美麗，可是白雪公主比您美上千倍萬倍。」

這句話像一根毒刺紮進王后的心，嫉妒與憤怒像野草般瘋長。她無法容忍世上有比她更美麗的人，立刻找來獵人，惡狠狠地吩咐：「把白雪公主帶到森林深處殺掉，再把她的心臟帶回來作證。辦不到，你就別回來見我！」

獵人領了命令，把白雪公主帶進森林。可當他舉起獵刀，望著公主純真無辜的臉龐，卻怎麼也下不了手。他蹲下身輕聲說：「可憐的孩子，王后要我殺了你。快逃吧，逃得越遠越好，永遠別再回王宮。」

白雪公主含著眼淚道謝，轉身就往森林深處跑去。獵人看著她的背影消失在樹林裡，才殺了一頭小野豬，挖出心臟回宮交差。王后見了心臟，以為白雪公主真的死了，終於放下心來。

可憐的白雪公主在漆黑的森林裡跑了整整一天，樹枝刮破了衣裳，荊棘劃傷了手腳，又餓又累，卻不敢停下腳步。直到夕陽西沉時，她終於看見林間有一座小小的木屋。

她輕輕推開門走進去，屋裡的一切都小巧可愛：鋪著白桌巾的小桌上，擺著七隻小盤子、七隻小杯子、七副刀叉，牆邊還有七張小小的床。原來這是七個小矮人的家，他們白天到山裡採礦，傍晚才會回來。

白雪公主實在太餓了，就從每個盤子裡吃了一點點麵包，從每個杯子裡喝了一小口酒——她不願意獨自吃光一個人的份。吃完之後，她累得癱在第七張小床上，不一會兒就睡熟了。

傍晚時分，七個小矮人扛著鎬頭回來了。一進屋就發現東西被人動過，你一言我一語地說：

「誰坐過我的小凳子？」

「誰咬過我的小麵包？」

「誰喝過我的小酒？」

……

第七個矮人往床上一看，驚呼出聲：「誰睡在我的小床上？」

大家圍過去，只見白雪公主安詳地睡在月光裡，美得像一幅畫。他們不忍心叫醒她，就讓她繼續睡，第七個矮人只好和同伴們擠了一晚。

第二天一早，白雪公主醒來，看見七個和善的小矮人，趕忙把自己的遭遇說了出來。小矮人們聽了都很同情她，說：「如果你願意幫我們料理家務、煮飯鋪床、縫補衣裳，把家裡打掃乾乾淨淨，就可以留下來和我們一起住，我們會盡力保護你。」

白雪公主高興地答應了。從此以後，她每天把家裡打理得井井有條，小矮人們白天出去工作，晚上回來就能吃到熱騰騰的飯菜，日子過得溫馨又快樂。他們還再三叮囑：「千萬要小心壞心眼的王后！她很快就會知道你還活著。無論誰來，都絕對別開門，也別相信任何陌生人。」

再說王宮那邊，王后以為白雪公主已死，得意洋洋地又去問魔鏡。誰知魔鏡說：「王后您很美，可是在森林深處，和七個小矮人住在一起的白雪公主，比您美一千倍。」

王后氣得臉色慘白，才知道被獵人騙了。嫉妒的火焰再次燒起來，她絞盡腦汁，發誓一定要除掉白雪公主。

第一次，她把自己打扮成賣絲帶的老太婆，挎著籃子來到小屋前敲門：「好東西喲！漂亮的絲帶喲！快來看看呀！」

白雪公主記得叮囑，隔著門說：「我不能給陌生人開門。」

老太婆笑著說：「看看又不要錢，你開門瞧瞧，這絲帶顏色鮮豔，配你這麼漂亮的姑娘正好！」

白雪公主心動了，打開了門。老太婆走進來，假裝幫她繫絲帶，卻趁她不備，用絲帶使勁勒住她的脖子。白雪公主喘不過氣，暈倒在地。老太婆得意地笑著離開了。

晚上小矮人們回來，看見白雪公主倒在地上，趕忙剪斷絲帶。過了好一會兒，她才緩過氣來。小矮人們搖著頭說：「你看，差點就出大事了！以後絕對不能再給陌生人開門，那老太婆就是壞王后變的！」

可是王后回到宮裡，再問魔鏡，答案依舊。她氣得牙癢癢，又想出第二條毒計。

這一次，她扮成賣梳子的老婆婆，拿著一把塗了劇毒的梳子，又來到門前叫賣。

白雪公主說：「我不能開門，小矮人不讓我相信陌生人。」

老婆婆說：「你就看看這梳子嘛，梳起頭來又順又亮，你這麼美的頭髮，不用好梳子太可惜了。」

白雪公主實在喜歡那把梳子，就打開了門。老婆婆假裝幫她梳頭，梳子剛碰到頭髮，毒藥就發作了。白雪公主眼前一黑，倒在地上不醒人事。王后冷笑一聲，轉身就走。

幸好傍晚小矮人們及時回來，趕忙把梳子從她頭上取下來。過了許久，白雪公主才慢慢甦醒。小矮人們又氣又心疼，再三囑咐她，無論誰來都絕對不能開門。

王后回到宮中，魔鏡卻依然說白雪公主更美。她憤怒得渾身發抖，走進密室，用最毒的草藥做了一個蘋果。這蘋果一半紅一半白，紅的那半塗滿劇毒，白的那半卻無毒，看起來鮮嫩誘人，誰見了都想咬一口。

這一次，王后扮成農婦模樣，提著籃子來到小屋前。

白雪公主隔著門說：「我不能給你開門，小矮人說不可以相信任何人。」

農婦笑著說：「姑娘你怕什麼呀？你看這蘋果多好，我送你一個嘗嘗吧。」

白雪公主搖搖頭：「不行，我不能隨便要別人的東西。」

農婦說：「你這孩子，怎麼這麼小心？難道我還會害你嗎？你看，我把蘋果切開，咱們一人一半，我吃給你看。」

說著，她切開蘋果，拿起白的那半大口大口吃起來，一邊吃一邊說：「你看，甜得很呢，我吃了都沒事。」

白雪公主看著紅豔的蘋果，實在忍不住誘惑，打開門縫接過了紅的那一半。她剛咬了一口，就覺得天旋地轉，「撲通」一聲倒在地上，再也沒有了呼吸。

王后站在門外，得意地看著她，厲聲說：「這一次，誰也救不了你了！」說完轉身就走。回到王宮，魔鏡終於回答她是最美的女人，王后這才心滿意足地笑了。

晚上七個小矮人回到家，看見白雪公主躺在地上，嘴唇發紫，手裡還握著半個蘋果，已經沒有了呼吸。他們傷心極了，圍著她哭了三天三夜，怎麼也不願意相信這麼善良的姑娘就這麼走了。

他們不想把白雪公主埋進冰冷的泥土，就用透明的水晶做了一口棺材，把她安放在裡面，四周點綴著鮮花，抬到了山頂上。每天都會有小鳥飛來，為她唱著哀傷的歌。

就這樣過了很久。有一天，一位鄰國的王子騎馬經過這座山，看見了水晶棺裡的白雪公主。她躺在那裡，就像睡著了一樣，依舊那樣美麗動人。王子看得癡了，心裡生出無限的憐惜與愛慕。

他找到七個小矮人，誠懇地請求：「拜託你們，把這口水晶棺送給我吧。我實在太喜歡這位姑娘了，我會把她當作最珍貴的人對待，每天陪著她。」

小矮人們起初不願意，可看見王子態度真誠又癡情，最後終於答應了。王子吩咐僕人們抬起水晶棺，小心翼翼地往王宮走去。

走在路上，有個僕人不小心被石頭絆了一跤，身子一晃，水晶棺重重地震動了一下。這一震，卡在白雪公主喉嚨裡的那半塊毒蘋果，竟然「咯」的一聲咳了出來。

只見白雪公主輕輕睜開眼睛，坐了起來，茫然地問：「我這是在哪裡？」

王子又驚又喜，衝過去握住她的手說：「你醒了！你終於醒了！」

白雪公主看著眼前溫柔英俊的王子，又看看周圍的一切，終於漸漸明白過來。原來她並沒有死，是這場意外救了她。

後來，王子向白雪公主表白了愛意，白雪公主也喜歡上了善良的王子。他們決定舉行盛大的婚禮，邀請了四面八方的王公貴族，當然也邀請了白雪公主的繼母——那位壞王后。

王后收到邀請，還以為白雪公主早就死了，不知道這位美麗的新娘是誰。她精心打扮一番，又來到魔鏡前問：「魔鏡魔鏡，誰是這世上最美的女人？」

魔鏡說：「王后您很美，可是今天王子的新娘，比您美一千倍。」

王后心裡一驚，滿腹狐疑地趕去參加婚禮。當她走進大殿，看見新娘竟然就是白雪公主時，嚇得呆在原地，臉色蒼白。

這時候，侍衛端來一雙燒得通紅的鐵鞋，放在她面前。這是對惡人的懲罰——王后被逼著穿上灼熱的鐵鞋，在大殿上不停地跳舞，直到倒在地上，再也動彈不得。

從此以後，白雪公主和王子在王國裡過著幸福快樂的生活。她依舊保持著善良純潔的心，對待每一個人都溫柔體貼，受到所有人的愛戴。而七個小矮人也常常來王宮做客，大家永遠都是最好的朋友。

Once upon a time in the middle of winter, when the flakes of snow were falling like feathers from the sky, a queen sat at a window sewing, and the frame of the window was made of black ebony. And whilst she was sewing and looking out of the window at the snow, she pricked her finger with the needle, and three drops of blood fell upon the snow. And the red looked pretty upon the white snow, and she thought to herself, "Would that I had a child as white as snow, as red as blood, and as black as the wood of the window-frame."

Soon after that she had a little daughter, who was as white as snow, and as red as blood, and her hair was as black as ebony; and she was therefore called Little Snow-white. And when the child was born, the Queen died.

After a year had passed the King took to himself another wife. She was a beautiful woman, but proud and haughty, and she could not bear that any one else should surpass her in beauty. She had a wonderful looking-glass, and when she stood in front of it and looked at herself in it, and said—

"Looking-glass, Looking-glass, on the wall,
Who in this land is the fairest of all?"

the looking-glass answered—

"Thou, O Queen, art the fairest of all!"

Then she was satisfied, for she knew that the looking-glass spoke the truth.

But Snow-white was growing up, and grew more and more beautiful; and when she was seven years old she was as beautiful as the day, and more beautiful than the Queen herself. And once when the Queen asked her looking-glass—

"Looking-glass, Looking-glass, on the wall,
Who in this land is the fairest of all?"

it answered—

"Thou art fairer than all who are here, Lady Queen.
But more beautiful still is Snow-white, as I ween."

Then the Queen was shocked, and turned yellow and green with envy. From that hour, whenever she looked at Snow-white, her heart heaved in her breast, she hated the girl so much.

And envy and pride grew higher and higher in her heart like a weed, so that she had no peace day or night. She called a huntsman, and said, "Take the child away into the forest; I will no longer have her in my sight. Kill her, and bring me back her heart as a token." The huntsman obeyed, and took her away; but when he had drawn his knife, and was about to pierce Snow-white's innocent heart, she began to weep, and said, "Ah, dear huntsman, leave me my life! I will run away into the wild forest, and never come home again."

And as she was so beautiful the huntsman had pity on her and said, "Run away, then, you poor child." "The wild beasts will soon have devoured you," thought he, and yet it seemed as if a stone had been rolled from his heart since it was no longer needful for him to kill her. And as a young boar just then came running by he stabbed it, and cut out its heart and took it to the Queen as a proof that the child was dead. The cook had to salt this, and the wicked Queen ate it, and thought she had eaten the heart of Snow-white.

But now the poor child was all alone in the great forest, and so terrified that she looked at every leaf of every tree, and did not know what to do. Then she began to run, and ran over sharp stones and through thorns, and the wild beasts ran past her, but did her no harm. She ran as long as her feet would go until it was almost evening; then she saw a little cottage and went into it to rest herself. Everything in the cottage was small, but neater and cleaner than can be told. There was a table on which was a white cover, and seven little plates, and on each plate a little spoon; moreover, there were seven little knives and forks, and seven little mugs. Against the wall stood seven little beds side by side, and covered with snow-white counterpanes.

Little Snow-white was so hungry and thirsty that she ate some vegetables and bread from each plate and drank a drop of wine out of each mug, for she did not wish to take all from one only. Then, as she was so tired she laid herself down on one of the little beds, but none of them suited her; one was too long, another too short, but at last she found that the seventh one was right, and so she remained in it, said a prayer and went to sleep.

When it was quite dark the owners of the cottage came back; they were seven dwarfs who dug and delved in the mountains for ore. They lit their seven candles, and as it was now light within the cottage they saw that some one had been there, for everything was not in the same order in which they had left it.

The first said, "Who has been sitting on my chair?"

The second, "Who has been eating off my plate?"

The third, "Who has been taking some of my bread?"

The fourth, "Who has been eating 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 mug?"

Then the first looked round and saw that there was a little hole on his bed, and he said, "Who has been getting into my bed?" The others came up and each called out "Somebody has been lying in my bed too." But the seventh when he looked at his bed saw little Snow-white who was lying asleep therein. And he called the others who came running up, and they cried out with astonishment, and brought their seven little candles and let the light fall on little Snow-white. "Oh, heavens! oh heavens!" cried they, "what a lovely child!" and they were so glad that they did not wake her up, but let her sleep on in the bed. And the seventh dwarf slept with his companions, one hour with each, and so got through the night.

When it was morning little Snow-white awoke, and was frightened when she saw the seven dwarfs. But they were friendly and asked her what her name was. "My name is Snow-white," she answered. "How have you come to our house?" said the dwarfs. Then she told them that her step-mother had wished to have her killed, but that the huntsman had spared her life, and that she had run for the whole day, until at last she had found their dwelling. The dwarfs said, "If you will take care of our house, cook, make the beds, wash, sew, and knit, and if you will keep everything neat and clean, you can stay with us and you shall want for nothing." "Yes," said Snow-white, "with all my heart," and she stayed with them. She kept the house in order for them; in the mornings they went to the mountains and looked for copper and gold, in the evenings they came back, and then their supper had to be ready. The girl was alone the whole day, so the good dwarfs warned her and said, "Beware of your step-mother, she will soon know that you are here; be sure to let no one come in."

But the Queen, believing that she had eaten Snow-white's heart, could not but think that she was again the first and most beautiful of all; and she went to her looking-glass and said—

"Looking-glass, Looking-glass, on the wall,
Who in this land is the fairest of all?"

and the glass answered—

"Oh, Queen, thou art fairest of all I see,
But over the hills, where the seven dwarfs dwell,
Snow-white is still alive and well,
And none is so fair as she."

Then she was astounded, for she knew that the looking-glass never spoke falsely, and she knew that the huntsman had betrayed her, and that little Snow-white was still alive.

And so she thought and thought again how she might kill her, for so long as she was not the fairest in the whole land, envy let her have no rest. And when she had at last thought of something to do, she painted her face, and dressed herself like an old pedler-woman, and no one could have known her. In this disguise she went over the seven mountains to the seven dwarfs, and knocked at the door and cried, "Pretty things to sell, very cheap, very cheap." Little Snow-white looked out of the window and called out, "Good-day, my good woman, what have you to sell?" "Good things, pretty things," she answered; "stay-laces of all colours," and she pulled out one which was woven of bright-coloured silk. "I may let the worthy old woman in," thought Snow-white, and she unbolted the door and bought the pretty laces. "Child," said the old woman, "what a fright you look; come, I will lace you properly for once." Snow-white had no suspicion, but stood before her, and let herself be laced with the new laces. But the old woman laced so quickly and laced so tightly that Snow-white lost her breath and fell down as if dead. "Now I am the most beautiful," said the Queen to herself, and ran away.

Not long afterwards, in the evening, the seven dwarfs came home, but how shocked they were when they saw their dear little Snow-white lying on the ground, and that she neither stirred nor moved, and seemed to be dead. They lifted her up, and, as they saw that she was laced too tightly, they cut the laces; then she began to breathe a little, and after a while came to life again. When the dwarfs heard what had happened they said, "The old pedler-woman was no one else than the wicked Queen; take care and let no one come in when we are not with you."

But the wicked woman when she had reached home went in front of the glass and asked—

"Looking-glass, Looking-glass, on the wall,
Who in this land is the fairest of all?"

and it answered as before—

"Oh, Queen, thou art fairest of all I see,
But over the hills, where the seven dwarfs dwell,
Snow-white is still alive and well,
And none is so fair as she."

When she heard that, all her blood rushed to her heart with fear, for she saw plainly that little Snow-white was again alive. "But now," she said, "I will think of something that shall put an end to you," and by the help of witchcraft, which she understood, she made a poisonous comb. Then she disguised herself and took the shape of another old woman. So she went over the seven mountains to the seven dwarfs, knocked at the door, and cried, "Good things to sell, cheap, cheap!" Little Snow-white looked out and said, "Go away; I cannot let any one come in." "I suppose you can look," said the old woman, and pulled the poisonous comb out and held it up. It pleased the girl so well that she let herself be beguiled, and opened the door. When they had made a bargain the old woman said, "Now I will comb you properly for once." Poor little Snow-white had no suspicion, and let the old woman do as she pleased, but hardly had she put the comb in her hair than the poison in it took effect, and the girl fell down senseless. "You paragon of beauty," said the wicked woman, "you are done for now," and she went away.

But fortunately it was almost evening, when the seven dwarfs came home. When they saw Snow-white lying as if dead upon the ground they at once suspected the stepmother, and they looked and found the poisoned comb. Scarcely had they taken it out when Snow-white came to herself, and told them what had happened. Then they warned her once more to be upon her guard and to open the door to no one.

The Queen, at home, went in front of the glass and said—

"Looking-glass, Looking-glass, on the wall,
Who in this land is the fairest of all?"

then it answered as before—

"Oh, Queen, thou art fairest of all I see,
But over the hills, where the seven dwarfs dwell,
Snow-white is still alive and well,
And none is so fair as she."

When she heard the glass speak thus she trembled and shook with rage. "Snow-white shall die," she cried, "even if it costs me my life!"

Thereupon she went into a quite secret, lonely room, where no one ever came, and there she made a very poisonous apple. Outside it looked pretty, white with a red cheek, so that every one who saw it longed for it; but whoever ate a piece of it must surely die.

When the apple was ready she painted her face, and dressed herself up as a country-woman, and so she went over the seven mountains to the seven dwarfs. She knocked at the door. Snow-white put her head out of the window and said, "I cannot let any one in; the seven dwarfs have forbidden me." "It is all the same to me," answered the woman, "I shall soon get rid of my apples. There, I will give you one."

"No," said Snow-white, "I dare not take anything." "Are you afraid of poison?" said the old woman; "look, I will cut the apple in two pieces; you eat the red cheek, and I will eat the white." The apple was so cunningly made that only the red cheek was poisoned. Snow-white longed for the fine apple, and when she saw that the woman ate part of it she could resist no longer, and stretched out her hand and took the poisonous half. But hardly had she a bit of it in her mouth than she fell down dead. Then the Queen looked at her with a dreadful look, and laughed aloud and said, "White as snow, red as blood, black as ebony-wood! this time the dwarfs cannot wake you up again."

And when she asked of the Looking-glass at home—

"Looking-glass, Looking-glass, on the wall,
Who in this land is the fairest of all?"

it answered at last—

"Oh, Queen, in this land thou art fairest of all."

Then her envious heart had rest, so far as an envious heart can have rest.

The dwarfs, when they came home in the evening, found Snow-white lying upon the ground; she breathed no longer and was dead. They lifted her up, looked to see whether they could find anything poisonous, unlaced her, combed her hair, washed her with water and wine, but it was all of no use; the poor child was dead, and remained dead. They laid her upon a bier, and all seven of them sat round it and wept for her, and wept three days long.

Then they were going to bury her, but she still looked as if she were living, and still had her pretty red cheeks. They said, "We could not bury her in the dark ground," and they had a transparent coffin of glass made, so that she could be seen from all sides, and they laid her in it, and wrote her name upon it in golden letters, and that she was a king's daughter. Then they put the coffin out upon the mountain, and one of them always stayed by it and watched it. And birds came too, and wept for Snow-white; first an owl, then a raven, and last a dove.

And now Snow-white lay a long, long time in the coffin, and she did not change, but looked as if she were asleep; for she was as white as snow, as red as blood, and her hair was as black as ebony.

It happened, however, that a king's son came into the forest, and went to the dwarfs' house to spend the night. He saw the coffin on the mountain, and the beautiful Snow-white within it, and read what was written upon it in golden letters. Then he said to the dwarfs, "Let me have the coffin, I will give you whatever you want for it." But the dwarfs answered, "We will not part with it for all the gold in the world." Then he said, "Let me have it as a gift, for I cannot live without seeing Snow-white. I will honour and prize her as my dearest possession." As he spoke in this way the good dwarfs took pity upon him, and gave him the coffin.

And now the King's son had it carried away by his servants on their shoulders. And it happened that they stumbled over a tree-stump, and with the shock the poisonous piece of apple which Snow-white had bitten off came out of her throat. And before long she opened her eyes, lifted up the lid of the coffin, sat up, and was once more alive. "Oh, heavens, where am I?" she cried. The King's son, full of joy, said, "You are with me," and told her what had happened, and said, "I love you more than everything in the world; come with me to my father's palace, you shall be my wife."

And Snow-white was willing, and went with him, and their wedding was held with great show and splendour. But Snow-white's wicked step-mother was also bidden to the feast. When she had arrayed herself in beautiful clothes she went before the Looking-glass, and said—

"Looking-glass, Looking-glass, on the wall,
Who in this land is the fairest of all?"

the glass answered—

"Oh, Queen, of all here the fairest art thou,
But the young Queen is fairer by far as I trow."

Then the wicked woman uttered a curse, and was so wretched, so utterly wretched, that she knew not what to do. At first she would not go to the wedding at all, but she had no peace, and must go to see the young Queen. And when she went in she knew Snow-white; and she stood still with rage and fear, and could not stir. But iron slippers had already been put upon the fire, and they were brought in with tongs, and set before her. Then she was forced to put on the red-hot shoes, and dance until she dropped down dead.