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

Death-bed promise--Deceased wile's ring test--Unnatural father--Nurse aid--Counter-tasks -- Magic dresses -- Heroine flight--Heroine disguise (pumpkin dress)--Prince takes heroine to palace--Menial heroine--Token objects thrown--Meeting- place (ball)--Heroine names shovel, whip, tongs--Three-fold flight--Love-sick prince--Recognition food (pin, ring, and miniature given at balls)--Happy marriage--Heroine makes herself known to father at wedding; forgives him.

TABULATION

(1) King's wife is dying, and in great distress king says he will never marry again or have ladies about him. Wife says this roust not be, for, as she leaves only one daughter, there is no heir to the throne; but he is to marry only someone who can wear her ring. She dies, and king puts ring in box inside bureau, meaning never to marry again..-- (2) His daughter, who was ten years old at mother's death, is brought up by nurse, and is very beautiful. One day, when she is sixteen years old, she is turning out the bureau, and comes across little box containing ring, which she puts on finger, and runs to show father. He remembers wife's words, and says he must marry daughter.-- (3) She is horrified, and escapes to nurse, who bids her not oppose father, but tell him she will marry him if he first gives her silk dress of the colour of the air, covered with stars of heaven, thinking such cannot possibly be found. King orders dress to be supplied at any cost whatsoever. Servants think king mad, but take quantities of money and ride off in quest of dress. After six months' vain searching, they come to a city full of Jews. They inquire for what they want, and find the very thing, and take it to king. He sends for daughter to fulfil her promise. She runs in dismay to nurse, who bids her tell father she is not content with this dress, and must have another of sea-coloured silk, covered with gold-fish. King's Servants procure dress, after many months, from the same Jew. Daughter, prompted by nurse, demands third dress, covered with little bells and chains of gold. King is vexed, but has dress procured, and gives it to heroine, who falls as though dead. She is carried to nurse's room.-- (4) Nurse comforts her, tells her to make a bundle of the dresses, take a bag of coppers, and escape quickly. Nurse sews strips of dried pumpkin on to a cotton dress, which she puts on heroine, covering her head and hands, so that she looks like a great walking pumpkin. Nurse disguises herself also. They leave the palace at night, and journey through many countries. The people rush out to look at walking pumpkin.-- (5) At last they come to a city, and are seen by king's son, who is on the palace-steps. He laughs at the sight, and asks them questions. Nurse says they have come from afar in search of fortune; her companion is called Zuccaccia. Prince engages her to tend his horse in stable, and be scullion in the kitchen. He talks with her every day. Nurse goes away on her own affairs-- (6) One day p tells heroine that it is his custom to give three balls every year, and invites her to come. Whilst speaking, he taps her on the knees with the shovel in his hand. She says he can only be teasing her; who is she to go to ball? First ball takes place. Suddenly a beautiful lady enters in dress like the star-covered sky. Prince rushes to meet her, dances with her, and asks whence she comes. Heroine replies, "From Rap-Shovel on the Knees." He cannot understand her; begs her to accept gold pin, which she at once puts in her hair. Midnight sounds, and prince goes to get refreshment. He is only absent a little while, but on his return the beauty has gone, no one knows whither.-- (7) Next day prince finds Zuccaccia, and tells her of unknown beauty, and his distress at not understanding whence she comes. He then tells her of second ball to-night, and in speaking, hits her across shoulder with stable-whip in his hand. Heroine appears at second ball in sea-coloured dress, and tells prince she comes from "Whip-cut on the Shoulders", and will tell him nothing further. He puts on her finger a ring, with his name inscribed on it. Whilst he turns to give an order, she disappears.-- (8) Next morning he is talking to Zuccaccia as before, and, when inviting her to third ball, hits her on the feet with the tongs. Heroine goes to third ball, wearing dress with golden bells, which ring as she walks. Tells prince she comes from "Strike-Tongs on the Feet". Prince hides face in his hands, saying it is clear she means to break his heart. When he raises his head she is gone. Whilst dancing, he had given her his portrait to wear round her neck.-- (9) From this night, prince falls ill, will eat nothing, and cannot sleep for thinking of his love. Doctors cannot ease him. One day he sends for his mother, and says he has one wish-- that Zuccaccia shall make him some soup. Mother exclaims it his wanting that dirty thing to make it for him but he persists.-- (10) Heroine puts on clean apron, and makes soup, putting in gold pin, and sends it him by servant. Prince finds pin and calls out. Mother thinks he has found something nasty. He orders more soup, and heroine sends it him twice more, first with the ring in it, and then with the portrait. Prince rushes to find Zuccaccia, and asks who gave her the things, and she replies they were his own gifts-- (11) She then tells everything, takes off disguise, and appears as at last ball. Prince presents her to his mother as his bride.-- (12) Amongst other guests, her own father comes to wedding, and does not recognise her. She asks him if he has no child, and he says he had a daughter, but she fled from his house. Heroine says, "and with good reason, seeing he wanted to marry her." She then makes herself known, and shows mother's ring. Father asks her forgiveness.

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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