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

Heroine is daughter of exiled prince must earn her living-- Sorceress-godmother aid -- Magic dresses in nuts -- Menial heroine (in nobleman's service)--Meeting-place (ball)--Heroine neglects to get horse ready; master's son strikes her with (1) bridle, (2) saddle, (3) stirrups--Token objects named--Threefold flight--Heroine strikes master's son with whip; throws sand in his eyes--Love-sick prince--[Recognition food]--Heroine asks to prepare food; is not allowed; dons magic dress; appears to invalid--Happy marriage.

TABULATION

(1) Poor, exiled prince has beautiful daughter, whose godmother is a sorceress. Family must earn their living. One day, when heroine is seeking work in the town, her godmother appears to her, gives her a walnut, an almond, and a hazel-nut, which she is to use at her need, then vanishes.-- (2) Finding no work to do, heroine determines to take service, and is engaged by a wealthy nobleman. She dresses shabbily and goes unwashed in order to look ugly, and is quite unrecognisable.-- (3) One day master gives grand ball in one of his palaces. His son orders servant to saddle his horse. Heroine puts on bridle instead of saddle, and asks mistress to let her go and see ball. She is refused. Master's son is getting ready to start, and finding his horse not saddled, calls servant and gives her good blow with bridle sending her in tears to mistress, who consoles her. Encouraged by her kindness, heroine again asks to be allowed to go to ball, but mistress cannot permit it, as it is not the thing for servants to go, and she is too dirty. When evening comes heroine determines to go, cracks the walnut, and takes out a lovely dress with pattern on it like the sea and fishes. She combs her hair, and instantly it becomes golden and falls in ringlets on her shoulders. Her shoes are also golden. She finds a horse ready to take her. Everyone in the ballroom is struck with her beauty. Master's son would dance with her, and asks her name. She will not answer. He asks whence she comes. "From the Land of Reins," she says, and leaves suddenly and mounts her horse. Young man tries in vain to follow her. After the ball he tells mother he has fallen in love with beautiful girl and will die if he does not see her again. Mother recommends his giving a second ball on the chance of her coming again. Preparations are made.-- (4) Heroine is again refused permission to look on at ball, and goes weeping to her room. Master's son ready to start, and finding horse saddled but not bridled, calls her down and hits her with saddle, then goes off. Heroine cracks almond, and finds inside a dress with the sun embroidered on it. At the ball she again refuses to tell her name, but says she comes from "the Land of the Saddle". She is about to withdraw; but master's son retains her arm, conducts her to horse, and helps her mount. Drawing a whip from her pocket, she gives him a cut across the eyes and disappears. He again confides in his mother, who advises third ball.-- (5) When he is about to start to ball there are no stirrups, he fetches them himself and throws them in heroine's face. She goes to complain to mother, who excuses her son, saying that his behaviour is due to his being unhappy, and that he will give no ball after to-night, and if he does not find his lady-love he will put an end to himself. Heroine begs to go, since this is the last ball, and promises to keep out of sight. Mistress gives permission. Heroine cracks the hazel-nut, and lovely dress falls out with moon embroidered upon it. Everyone admires her; she is more beautiful than ever. Young master implores her to tell who she is and whence she comes. She comes from "Stirrup-Land", but will not tell her name. She leaves; the prince (sic) follows her. To get rid of him, she takes handful of sand from her pocket and throws it in his face, then vanishes. He is in despair, and tells mother the several answers he has received from the lovely girl.-- (6) From that day he falls ill; no restores him. Servant asks his mother to let her prepare his meals for him; perhaps he will take them then. Mother says, "How dare she ask such a thing?" Heroine goes to her room and keeps out of sight. But in the evening, at the hour of the ball, she dons the moon dress and presents herself before the invalid, he recognises her. She explains that she kept him in ignorance because he struck her before starting to the fete, and because his mother would not let her go to it.-- (7) She relates her history, tends him till he is well, then marries him.

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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