SurLaLune Fairy Tales: Marian Roalfe Cox: Cinderella: Three Hundred and Forty-five Variants of Cinderella, Catskin, and Cap O' Rushes, abstracted and tabulated

Ill-treated heroine (by sisters)--Menial heroine cooks fish for sisters' supper, who then go to ball. Little tench, for heroine's supper, jumps into sink and becomes transformed into lovely lady--Fairy aid--Magic dresses--Meeting-place (ball)--Three fold flight--Money and (third time) shoe thrown to pursuers-- Shoe marriage test--Happy marriage.

TABULATION

(1) There are three sisters, the youngest of whom is hated by the others because of her great beauty. They call her "Cenerentola", and make her do all the menial work. One day they buy some fine fish for themselves, and amongst them a tiny little tench for heroine. They order her to cook fish for their supper, telling her they are then going to a ball, and she must remain at home.-- (2) Heroine puts on her apron to wash dishes, when the little tench leaps out of basket into sink-hole. She puts it back, saying, "Poor me what a supper!" She cooks fish and serves it to sisters, who go in splendour to the ball. Heroine, left alone, begins to weep, when she hears noise in sink. She goes to see what it is, and finds tench coming out of the hole, and is about to catch it, when all of a sudden she sees it no more, but in its place a lovely lady, who says the knows sisters ill-treat heroine, because jealous of her beauty, but the time will come when they will bite their fingers in their rage.-- (3) She then learns that heroine would like to go to ball, and striking sink with her wand, causes to appear a magnificent dress of flame-colour trimmed with gold and silver. Heroine dons this, and finds a carriage waiting in the street to take her to ball. Prince falls in love with her beauty. When she leaves he keeps her in sight, and follows her for some time. She is frightened, and commends herself to her protectress, who, without showing herself, whispers in her ear, "Throw away the golden flower-bud, and the prince will follow no more." Heroine obeys, and whilst the prince is picking up the flower-bud the carriage gets out of sight. Heroine dons usual clothes on her return, and sisters, to make her jealous, tell her of beautiful lady at ball. Heroine says, "That was I." "What are you muttering, stupid?" "Oh, nothing. I was talking to the cat."-- (4) Next day sisters go again to the ball. Heroine is feeling sad, when she hears noise in the water again, and turning, sees her benefactress, who gives her dress like the sun, bidding her return from ball at midnight, and if anyone follows, throw purse of money out of carriage. Heroine goes to ball as before; prince is still more entranced; she leaves a little before midnight. Prince has ordered servants to follow and find out where she lives. Heroine scatters money, and vanishes whilst they are picking it up. Again sisters tell of lovely stranger, and heroine says it was herself, and gets same reproof.-- (5) Third night heroine goes as before to ball, wearing this time dress like the moon, and shoes spangled with jewels, the like of which had never before been seen. She is told to throw one of these shoes from carriage if she is followed again. King has told servants that ill will betide them if they fail to follow her. But they lose sight of her in picking up shoe, which they take to the prince, who determines to go from house to house to find owner.-- (6) In this way he comes at last to house of the three sisters. Elder sisters try the shoe in vain. Prince asks if they have not a sister. They say yes, but she is dirty and ugly, and certainly could never wear a shoe only fit for a queen. Prince has her called, and she appears dressed as at last ball, and wearing one shoe.-- (7) Prince recognises her, and takes her for his queen. Sisters bite their fingers with rage, as foretold.

Cox, Marian Roalfe. Cinderella: Three Hundred and Forty-five Variants of Cinderella, Catskin, and Cap O' Rushes, abstracted and tabulated. London: David Nutt for the Folklore Society, 1893.

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