Золушка / Cinderella

When the big day finally came, Cinderella accompanied her stepmother and stepsisters to the Court and couldn’t help but burst into tears as she watched them enter the beautiful ball[9 - couldn’t help but burst into tears as she watched them enter the beautiful ball – не могла сдержать слез при виде того, как они оказались на прекрасном балу].

As she wept, Cinderella’s fairy godmother appeared.

“Cinderella, why are you crying?” she asked.

“You wish to attend the ball, is that not so?”

“Yes,” cried Cinderella, between sobs.

The fairy godmother smiled and said, “Well, run into the garden and bring me a pumpkin.”

Cinderella immediately went to get the finest pumpkin she could find.

When she brought it, her godmother struck the pumpkin with her wand, instantly turning it into a fine coach plated with gold and silver.

Next, she had Cinderella find some mice[10 - had Cinderella find some mice – заставила Золушку найти нескольких мышей], and when she brought the furry little creatures back, the fairy godmother tapped them each with her wand, turning[11 - turning – превращая] them into six fine horses and a coachman.

“Well, what do you say? Do you still think you are not able to attend the ball?” asked her godmother.

“Oh yes!” cried Cinderella, “but should I go looking like this, in these rags?[12 - but should I go looking like this, in these rags? – но как я буду выглядеть в этих лохмотьях?]”

Her godmother only touched her with her wand, and instantly Cinderella’s rags turned into a dress of white and silver, sparkling with jewels.

To top it off[13 - To top it off – для завершения образа], fairy godmother gave Cinderella a pair of glass slippers[14 - glass slippers – зд. хрустальные туфельки], the prettiest in the whole world.

“The spell only lasts until midnight, so promise you will leave the ball before then,” said the Godmother.

Cinderella promised to return before midnight, thanked her again, and drove off to the ball.

When Cinderella entered the castle, the dancing and music stopped as everyone turned to gaze at her beauty.

No one recognized her; she was a complete mystery.

The Prince rushed up to greet her, led her to the most honorable seat, and later took her out for a dance[15 - took her out for a dance – пригласил ее на танец].

Cinderella even made time to approach her step-sisters, who still did not recognize her, and shared some of the oranges the prince had presented to her as a gift.