SCHNEEWITTCHEN

SNOW WHITE (SCHNEEWITTCHEN)



 

































 Arthur Rackham, Snow White
















SNOW WHITE* - SCHNEEWITTCHEN

[English and German texts below]

* In 2013, the US Patent and Trademark Office issued a trademark to Disney Enterprises, Inc. for the name "Snow White" that covers all live and recorded movie, television, radio, stage, computer, Internet, news, and photographic entertainment uses, excluding literary works of fiction and nonfiction.

 

I provide a short background of the story of Snow White, which the Grimm brothers compiled into their collection of children’s stories and fairy tales in 1812.  It shall be noted that the Disney version of the story, as depicted in the 1937 film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” is quite different. I have added some notes on the story, based on my own thoughts and reactions to it upon re-reading it, as I had not really paid much attention to it for almost seventy years. I include both a German language and an English language version of the original text with a variety of images that are in the public domain.

"Snow White" was published by the Brothers Grimm in 1812, in the first edition of their collection, Jacob Grimm und Wilhelm Grimm, Kinder- und Hausmärchen; Band 1, 7 Ausgabe. Dietrich, Göttingen 1857, [Children and Household Fairy Tales, Volume 1,7^th Edition, Dietrich, Göttingen, 1857] In German, the story was entitled ‘Sneewittchen’ (in modern orthography Schneewittchen) and numbered as Tale 53. The Grimms completed their final revision of the story in 1854.

 

The Brothers Grimm (or Die Brüder Grimm), were Jacob (1785–1863) and Wilhelm (1786–1859), German academics, linguists, cultural researchers, lexicographers and authors who together collected and published folklore. They are among the best-known storytellers of folk tales, popularizing stories such as "Cinderella" "(Aschenputtel)", "The Frog Prince" ("Der Froschkönig"), "Hansel and Gretel" ("Hänsel und Gretel"), " Rapunzel", "Rumpelstiltskin" ("Rumpelstilzchen"), and "Snow White" ("Schneewittchen").   (Wikipedia)

SNOW WHITE (SCHNEEWITTCHEN)

 

The fairy tale features such elements as the magic mirror, the poisoned apple, the glass coffin, and the characters of the evil queen and the seven dwarfs, who were first given individual names in the Broadway play 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: a fairy tale play based on the story of the brothers Grimm' (1912) and then given different names in Walt Disney's 1937 film 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.'

 

Their Walt Disney names are Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Bashful, Sneezy, and Dopey.  The 1912 Broadway play, however, named them Blick, Flick, Glick, Plick, Quee, Snick, and Whick.  It leaves me with the general impression that the dwarfs were never taken very seriously by Disney.

 

PLOT

At the beginning of the story, a queen sits sewing at an open window during a winter snowfall when she pricks her finger with her needle, causing three drops of red blood to drip onto the freshly fallen white snow on the black windowsill. Admiring the beauty of the resulting color combination, she says to herself, "Oh how I wish that I had a daughter that had skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony." Soon after that, the Queen gives birth to a baby girl who is as white as snow, with lips as red as blood and has hair as black as ebony. They name her 'Snow White,' but sadly, the Queen dies after giving birth to her.

After a year has passed, the King takes a new wife, who is beautiful but also unutterably wicked and vain. The new queen possesses a magic mirror which she asks every morning, "Magic mirror in my hand, who is the fairest in the land?" The mirror always replies, "My queen, you are the fairest in the land." The Queen is always pleased with that because the magic mirror never lies. But when Snow White reaches the age of seven, she becomes more beautiful each day and even more beautiful than the Queen, and when the Queen asks her mirror, it responds, "My queen, you are the fairest here so true. But Snow White is a thousand times more beautiful than you."

This gives the queen a great shock. She becomes yellow and green with envy and from that hour on, her heart turns against Snow White, and she hates her more and more each day. Envy and pride, like ill weeds, grow in her heart taller every day, until she has no peace day or night. Eventually, the Queen orders a huntsman to take Snow White into the deepest woods to be killed. As proof that Snow White is dead, the Queen demands that he return with her lungs and liver. The huntsman takes Snow White into the forest. After raising his knife, he finds himself unable to kill her as she sobs heavily and begs him: "Oh, dear huntsman, don't kill me! Leave me with my life; I will run into the forest and never come back!" The huntsman leaves her behind alive, convinced that the girl would be eaten by some wild animal. He instead brings the Queen the lungs and liver of a young boar, which is prepared by the cook and eaten by the Queen.
  

After wandering through the forest for days, Snow White discovers a tiny cottage belonging to a group of seven dwarfs. Since no one is at home, she eats some of the tiny meals, drinks some of their wine and then tests all the beds. Finally the last bed is comfortable enough for her and she falls asleep. When the seven dwarfs return home, they immediately become aware that someone sneaked in secretly, because everything in their home is in disorder. During their loud discussion about who sneaked in, they discover the sleeping Snow White. The girl wakes up and explains to them what happened and the dwarfs take pity on her, saying: "If you will keep house for us, and cook, make beds, wash, sew, and knit, and keep everything clean and orderly, then you can stay with us, and you shall have everything that you want." They warn her to be careful when alone at home and to let no one in when they are away delving in the mountains.

Meanwhile, the Queen asks her mirror once again: "Magic mirror in my hand, who is the fairest in the land?" The mirror replies: "My queen, you are the fairest here so true. But Snow White beyond the mountains at the seven dwarfs is a thousand times more beautiful than you." The Queen is horrified to learn that the huntsman has betrayed her and that Snow White is still alive. She keeps thinking about how to get rid of Snow White, then she disguises herself as an old peddler. The Queen then walks to the cottage of the dwarfs and offers her colorful, silky laced bodices and convinces the girl to take the most beautiful bodice as a present. Then the Queen laces it so tightly that Snow White faints, causing the Queen to leave her for dead. But the dwarfs return just in time, and Snow White revives when the dwarfs loosen the laces.

The next morning the Queen consults her mirror anew and the mirror reveals Snow White's survival. Now infuriated, the Queen dresses as a comb seller and convinces Snow White to take a beautiful comb as a present. She brushes Snow White's hair with a poisoned comb, and the girl faints again, but she is again revived by the dwarfs. And the next morning the mirror tells the Queen that Snow White is still "a thousand times more beautiful." Now the Queen nearly has a heart attack in shock and rage. As a third and last attempt to rid herself of Snow White, she secretly consults the darkest magic and makes a poisoned apple, and in the disguise of a farmer's wife, she offers it to Snow White. The girl is at first hesitant to accept it, so the Queen cuts the apple in half, eating the white (harmless) half and giving the red (poisoned) half to Snow White. The girl eagerly takes a bite and falls into a state of suspended animation, causing the Queen to triumph. This time the dwarfs are unable to revive the girl because they cannot find the source of Snow White's poor health, and assuming that she is dead, they place her in a glass coffin.

Time passes and a prince traveling through the land sees Snow White. He strides to her coffin and, enchanted by her beauty, instantly falls in love with her. The dwarfs succumb to his entreaties to let him have the coffin, and as his servants carry the coffin away, they stumble on some roots. The tremor caused by the stumbling causes the piece of poisoned apple to dislodge from Snow White's throat, awakening her. The Prince then declares his love for her, and soon a wedding is planned. The couple invite every queen and king to come to the wedding party, including Snow White's stepmother. Meanwhile the Queen, still believing that Snow White is dead, again asks her magical mirror who is the fairest in the land. The mirror says: "You, my queen, are fair so true. But the young Queen is a thousand times fairer than you."

Appalled, in disbelief, and with her heart full of fear and doubts, the Queen is at first hesitant to accept the invitation, but she eventually decides to go. Not knowing that this new queen was indeed her stepdaughter, she arrives at the wedding, and her heart fills with the deepest of dread when she realizes the truth. As a punishment for her attempted murders, a pair of glowing-hot iron shoes are brought forth with tongs and placed before the Queen. She is forced to step into the burning shoes and to dance until she drops dead.

In their first edition, the Brothers Grimm published the version they had first collected, in which the villain of the piece is Snow White's jealous mother. In a version sent to another folklorist prior to the first edition, additionally, she does not order a servant to take her to the woods, but takes her there herself to gather flowers and abandons her; in the first edition, this task was transferred to a servant. It is believed that the change to a stepmother in later editions was to tone down the story for children.

The Brothers Grimm published version is actually an adaptation of "Little Snowdrop" from the "Father Tuck's Play & Pleasure Series", published earlier in 1731 by Raphael Tuck & Sons, Co. Ltd. Published first in New York - London - Paris. The Father Tuck series the "Little Snowdrop" was a collaboration between authors Grace C. Floyd, Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm, Raphael Tuck, Raphael Tuck & Sons. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm from Brothers Grimm later adapted the store into the more popular and revered Snow White story.

The most famous version of Snow White is the 1937 American animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs by Walt Disney. Disney's variation of Snow White gave the dwarfs names and included a singing Snow White. Instead of her lungs and liver, as written in the original, the huntsman is asked by the queen to bring back Snow White’s heart. Snow White is much more mature (about 14). And she is discovered by the dwarfs after cleaning the house, not vandalizing it. Furthermore, in the Disney movie the evil queen tries only once to kill Snow White (by a poisoned apple) and fails. She then dies by falling down a cliff, after the dwarfs had chased her through the forest. In the original, the queen is forced to dance to death.

ALLEGED SOURCES FOR THE TALKING MIRROR TALE

In 1986, Karlheinz Bartels, a German scholar, published an analysis suggesting that the folktale of Snow White was based upon the life of Maria Sophia Margaretha Catherina von Erthal, who was born in Lohr am Main on June 25, 1729, and he bundled together the fairy folk tale to a local tale about a talking mirror.

M.B. Kittel, the family chronicler, described her as "a charitable and kind angel", "active against poverty and destitution". Due to her good qualities, the Lohr population came to see her as a kind of fairy.

It appears that the people felt sympathy for Maria Sophia. Besides cruelty at the hands of her stepmother, Maria Sophia suffered from partial blindness since childhood due to the effects of chickenpox.

Whereas Snow White's father was a king, Maria Sophia's father, Philipp Christoph von Erthal, was only a superior 'magus' in Lohr, his official residence and the home of his family.

After the death of Maria Sophia's birth mother in 1741, her father remarried in 1743. The stepmother, Claudia Elisabeth von Reichenstein, was domineering and employed her new position to the advantage of her children from her first marriage.  A mirror, now called "The Talking Mirror", is located at the Spessart Museum in the Lohr Castle, where Maria Sophia was born. It was a product of the Lohr Mirror Manufacture (Kurmainzische Spiegelmanufaktur). These mirrors became a favorite gift of the European crown and aristocratic courts, known for "always speaking the truth." This mirror was a gift from Maria Sophia's father to her stepmother.

The "Talking Mirror" at the Spessart Museum in Lohr am Main.

   

PUSHKIN'S POEM

    

 

    The story in Russian writer Alexander Pushkin's poem "The Tale of the Dead Princess and the Seven Knights" (1833) is similar to that of Snow White, except that the dwarfs are replaced by knights.

       

   

   

   

   

   

FRANZ JÜTTNER'S "EVIL QUEEN" (MAINZ, 1905)

  

   
   

   

  

  
        

  

 

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON SNOW WHITE

In the beginning, there was black, red and white. The frame of black ebony, the white snow and the red (3) drops of blood are the constituent colors of the Queen’s ideal of Beauty.

The witch is black, one half of the apple is red, the other white.

The magic mirror:  It is not a “wonderful looking-glass,” as much as a fantastic mirror that causes wonders, such as its apparent ability to report remote events and provide objective evaluations to its owner.

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

(Da war sie zufrieden, denn sie wußte, daß der Spiegel die Wahrheit sagte)

The mirror did not lie to the Queen while Snow White was a child.  But when the maiden turned seven the Queen began to hate her.  Her faith in the mirror did not waiver, however.

SEVEN

When Snow White turned seven, the Queen began to hate her.  There are seven dwarfs, and she can only fit in the bed of the seventh.
   


 


 ^"Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times, but, until seventy times seven."  (Matthew 18: 21-35)  There are seven dwarfs as there are seven deadly sins and seven times seventy forgivenesses.


 


 

“And the seventh dwarf slept with his companions, one hour with each, and so passed the night.” 

(Der siebente Zwerg aber schlief bei seinen Gesellen, bei jedem eine Stunde, da war die Nacht herum)

BEYOND THE HILLS

The hills of the folk tale have been identified as the Spessart mountains (see above).  There are seven hills.  There have been proven local references of the tale in the area of Lohr, which is currently known as "the Gate of Spessart". The escape path of Snow White, "on seven hills" was the Mountain Trail, the "Wieser Straße". From Lohr on this journey through the seven Spessart hills one could reach the little kingdom of "the Seven Dwarfs".

Those are the hills that the mirror mentions:

"Frau Königin, Ihr seid die Schönste hier,

Aber Schneewittchen über den Bergen

Bei den sieben Zwergen

Ist noch tausendmal schöner als Ihr."

Cannibalism as Hatred: The Huntsman must bring back Snow White’s lung and liver.  He brings back the lung and liver of a young bear.  “The cook had to salt them, and the wicked queen ate them, and thought she had eaten the lung and liver of Snow White.” (Der Koch mußte sie in Salz kochen, und das boshafte Weib aß sie auf und meinte, sie hätte Schneewittchens Lunge und Leber gegessen.)

THE SEVEN DWARFS



 

The Contract:  “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.”  (“Die Zwerge sprachen: "Willst du unsern Haushalt versehen, kochen, betten, waschen, nähen und stricken, und willst du alles ordentlich und reinlich halten, so kannst du bei uns bleiben, und es soll dir an nichts fehlen. "Ja, sagte Schneewittchen, "von Herzen gern!" und blieb bei ihnen.") 



 

The dwarfs are miners, seeking copper and gold, ‘Erz und Gold’.

The dwarfs in Disney’s version are infantilized and made to look like bumbling idiots.


 



 

The Disney dwarfs and Snow White alone at home teach us how to be happy in our work.




 

There are three murder attempts, and after each one the Queen returns to her mirror, which never lies, and is told that her two initial attempts were unsuccessful, but the third.  In the first try, the Queen is disguised as an old pedlar-woman (eine alte Krämerin), and, hence, un-recognizable (ganz unkenntlich).  She is allowed in the dwarfs’ cottage by Snow White where she attempts unsuccessfully to strangle the girl with the petticoat laces (Schnürriemen) she has just sold her. In the second attempt, which she prepares by using witchcraft (Hexenkünsten), the disguised Queen combs Snow White’s hair with a poisoned comb, which she leaves in place.  In the third attempt, disguised as a farmer-woman, she places the poison in an apple that is half white and half red, the poison being in the red cheek of the apple.  As the Queen eats of the apple, the white hemisphere, in front of Snow White, the girl takes a bite from the red side (der rote Backen) of the apple and is poisoned.

“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." (“Da betrachtete es die Königin mit grausigen Blicken und lachte überlaut und sprach: "Weiß wie Schnee, rot wie Blut, schwarz wie Ebenholz! Diesmal können dich die Zwerge nicht wieder erwecken."”).

The dwarfs wept over Snow White for three days before they put the body in a glass coffin, and yet she is still choking all this time, because the eventual displacement of the apple morsel will cause her to revive without much consequence.  She is therefore not dead, but simply unconscious.  Yet the mirror has told the Queen that Snow White is dead, and she, as always, believes it.  What is going on here?  Why after the third attempt, and after three days, does the mirror lie?  Is it because on the third attempt the girl finally took a bite from the apple?  

Genesis 3:6 (KJV):  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat.

Snow White lies in state for many days, even after she is placed in the glass coffin:

“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.”  (Nun lag Schneewittchen lange, lange Zeit in dem Sarg und verweste nicht, sondern sah aus, als wenn es schliefe, denn es war noch so weiß wie Schnee, so rot wie Blut und so schwarzhaarig wie Ebenholz.)

Snow White appears as if she is sleeping, which is why the son of the King finds her so irresistible that he believes he no longer can live without carrying the coffin with him, for which he offers money to the dwarfs.

The end of the Queen (Step-mother), which does not appear in the Disney version, is formulaic: a grisly ending to the evil antagonist, as in Rumpelstilzchen (Or the wicked witch in The Wizard of Oz), with a reminder of the medieval Ordeal of Truth (Der Feuerprobe), where the innocent would walk away without burns.

“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 had to go to see the young queen. And when she went in she recognized 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.”

The anthropomorphic response of the animals is already present in Grimm, but, unlike the Disney version, it is only an owl, a raven, and a dove that come to Snow White’s bedside, and not the zoo that we see in the Disney film.  “And birds came too, and wept for Snow White, first an owl, then a raven, and last a dove.” (“Und die Tiere kamen auch und beweinten Schneewittchen, erst eine Eule dann ein Rabe. zuletzt ein Täubchen.”)

“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.”   (Wie er so sprach, empfanden die guten Zwerglein Mitleid mit ihm und gaben ihm den Sarg. Der Königssohn ließ ihn nun von seinen Dienern auf den Schultern forttragen. Da geschah es, daß sie über einen Strauch stolperten, und von dem Schüttern fuhr der giftige Apfelgrütz, den Schneewittchen abgebissen hatte, aus dem Hals. Und nicht lange, so öffnete es die Augen, hob den Deckel vom Sarg in die Höhe und richtete sich auf und war wieder lebendig.)

GERMAN TEXT

Brüder Grimm: Die schönsten Kinder- und Hausmärchen - Kapitel 150

Schneewittchen

 

Es war einmal mitten im Winter, und die Schneeflocken fielen wie Federn vom Himmel herab. Da saß eine Königin an einem Fenster, das einen Rahmen von schwarzem Ebenholz hatte, und nähte. Und wie sie so nähte und nach dem Schnee aufblickte, stach sie sich mit der Nadel in den Finger, und es fielen drei Tropfen Blut in den Schnee. Und weil das Rote im weißen Schnee so schön aussah, dachte sie bei sich: Hätt' ich ein Kind, so weiß wie Schnee, so rot wie Blut und so schwarz wie das Holz an dem Rahmen! Bald darauf bekam sie ein Töchterlein, das war so weiß wie Schnee, so rot wie Blut und so schwarzhaarig wie Ebenholz und ward darum Schneewittchen (Schneeweißchen) genannt. Und wie das Kind geboren war, starb die Königin. Über ein Jahr nahm sich der König eine andere Gemahlin. Es war eine schöne Frau, aber sie war stolz und übermütig und konnte nicht leiden, daß sie an Schönheit von jemand sollte übertroffen werden. Sie hatte einen wunderbaren Spiegel; wenn sie vor den trat und sich darin beschaute, sprach sie:

»Spieglein, Spieglein an der Wand,
Wer ist die Schönste im ganzen Land?«

so antwortete der Spiegel:

»Frau Königin, Ihr seid die Schönste im Land.«

Da war sie zufrieden, denn sie wußte, daß der Spiegel die Wahrheit sagte. Schneewittchen aber wuchs heran und wurde immer schöner, und als es sieben Jahre alt war, war es so schön, wie der klare Tag und schöner als die Königin selbst. Als diese einmal ihren Spiegel fragte:

»Spieglein, Spieglein an der Wand,
Wer ist die Schönste im ganzen Land?«

so antwortete er:

»Frau Königin, Ihr seid die Schönste hier,
Aber Schneewittchen ist tausendmal schöner als Ihr.«

Da erschrak die Königin und ward gelb und grün vor Neid. Von Stund an, wenn sie Schneewittchen erblickte, kehrte sich ihr das Herz im Leibe herum, so haßte sie das Mädchen. Und der Neid und Hochmut wuchsen wie ein Unkraut in ihrem Herzen immer höher, daß sie Tag und Nacht keine Ruhe mehr hatte. Da rief sie einen Jäger und sprach: »Bring das Kind hinaus in den Wald, ich will's nicht mehr vor meinen Augen sehen. Du sollst es töten und mir Lunge und Leber zum Wahrzeichen mitbringen.« Der Jäger gehorchte und führte es hinaus, und als er den Hirschfänger gezogen hatte und Schneewittchens unschuldiges Herz durchbohren wollte, fing es an zu weinen und sprach: »Ach, lieber Jäger, laß mir mein Leben! Ich will in den wilden Wald laufen und nimmermehr wieder heimkommen.« Und weil es gar so schön war, hatte der Jäger Mitleiden und sprach: »So lauf hin, du armes Kind!« Die wilden Tiere werden dich bald gefressen haben, dachte er, und doch war's ihm, als wäre ein Stein von seinem Herzen gewälzt, weil er es nicht zu töten brauchte. Und als gerade ein junger Frischling dahergesprungen kam, stach er ihn ab, nahm Lunge und Leber heraus und brachte sie als Wahrzeichen der Königin mit. Der Koch mußte sie in Salz kochen, und das boshafte Weib aß sie auf und meinte, sie hätte Schneewittchens Lunge und Leber gegessen.

 

Nun war das arme Kind in dem großen Wald mutterseelenallein, und ward ihm so angst, daß es alle Blätter an den Bäumen ansah und nicht wußte, wie es sich helfen sollte. Da fing es an zu laufen und lief über die spitzen Steine und durch die Dornen, und die wilden Tiere sprangen an ihm vorbei, aber sie taten ihm nichts. Es lief, so lange nur die Füße noch fortkonnten, bis es bald Abend werden wollte. Da sah es ein kleines Häuschen und ging hinein, sich zu ruhen. In dem Häuschen war alles klein, aber so zierlich und reinlich, daß es nicht zu sagen ist. Da stand ein weißgedecktes Tischlein mit sieben kleinen Tellern, jedes Tellerlein mit seinem Löffelein, ferner sieben Messerlein und Gäblelein und sieben Becherlein. An der Wand waren sieben Bettlein nebeneinander aufgestellt und schneeweiße Laken darüber gedeckt. Schneewittchen, weil es so hungrig und durstig war, aß von jedem Tellerlein ein wenig Gemüs' und Brot und trank aus jedem Becherlein einen Tropfen Wein; denn es wollte nicht einem alles wegnehmen. Hernach, weil es so müde war, legte es sich in ein Bettchen, aber keins paßte; das eine war zu lang, das andere zu kurz, bis endlich das siebente recht war; und darin blieb es liegen, befahl sich Gott und schlief ein.

Als es ganz dunkel geworden war, kamen die Herren von dem Häuslein, das waren die sieben Zwerge, die in den Bergen nach Erz hackten und gruben. Sie zündeten ihre sieben Lichtlein an, und wie es nun hell im Häuslein ward, sahen sie, daß jemand darin gesessen war, denn es stand nicht alles so in der Ordnung, wie sie es verlassen hatten. Der erste sprach: »Wer hat auf meinem Stühlchen gesessen?« Der zweite: »Wer hat von meinem Tellerchen gegessen?« Der dritte: »Wer hat von meinem Brötchen genommen?« Der vierte: »Wer hat von meinem Gemüschen gegessen?« Der fünfte: »Wer hat mit meinem Gäbelchen gestochen?« Der sechste: »Wer hat mit meinem Messerchen geschnitten?« Der siebente: »Wer hat aus meinem Becherlein getrunken?« Dann sah sich der erste um und sah, daß auf seinem Bett eine kleine Delle war, da sprach er: »Wer hat in mein Bettchen getreten?« Die anderen kamen gelaufen und riefen: »In meinem hat auch jemand gelegen!« Der siebente aber, als er in sein Bett sah, erblickte Schneewittchen, das lag darin und schlief. Nun rief er die andern, die kamen herbeigelaufen und schrien vor Verwunderung, holten ihre sieben Lichtlein und beleuchteten Schneewittchen. »Ei, du mein Gott! Ei, du mein Gott!« riefen sie, »was ist das Kind so schön!« Und hatten so große Freude, daß sie es nicht aufweckten, sondern im Bettlein fortschlafen ließen. Der siebente Zwerg aber schlief bei seinen Gesellen, bei jedem eine Stunde, da war die Nacht herum. Als es Morgen war, erwachte Schneewittchen, und wie es die sieben Zwerge sah, erschrak es. Sie waren aber freundlich und fragten: »Wie heißt du?« »Ich heiße Schneewittchen«, antwortete es. »Wie bist du in unser Haus gekommen?« sprachen weiter die Zwerge. Da erzählte es ihnen, daß seine Stiefmutter es hätte wollen umbringen lassen, der Jäger hätte ihm aber das Leben geschenkt, und da wär' es gelaufen den ganzen Tag, bis es endlich ihr Häuslein gefunden hätte. Die Zwerge sprachen: »Willst du unsern Haushalt versehen, kochen, betten, waschen, nähen und stricken, und willst du alles ordentlich und reinlich halten, so kannst du bei uns bleiben, und es soll dir an nichts fehlen.« »Ja«, sagte Schneewittchen, »von Herzen gern!« und blieb bei ihnen. Es hielt ihnen das Haus in Ordnung. Morgens gingen sie in die Berge und suchten Erz und Gold, abends kamen sie wieder, und da mußte ihr Essen bereit sein. Den ganzen Tag über war das Mädchen allein; da warnten es die guten Zwerglein und sprachen: »Hüte dich vor deiner Stiefmutter, die wird bald wissen, daß du hier bist; laß ja niemand herein!« Die Königin aber, nachdem sie Schneewittchens Lunge und Leber glaubte gegessen zu haben, dachte nicht anders, als sie wäre wieder die Erste und Allerschönste, trat vor ihren Spiegel und sprach:

»Spieglein, Spieglein. an der Wand,
Wer ist die Schönste im ganzen Land?«

Da antwortete der Spiegel:

»Frau Königin, Ihr seid die Schönste hier,
Aber Schneewittchen über den Bergen
Bei den sieben Zwergen
Ist noch tausendmal schöner als Ihr.«

Da erschrak sie, denn sie wußte, daß der Spiegel keine Unwahrheit sprach, und merkte, daß der Jäger sie betrogen hatte und Schneewittchen noch am Leben war. Und da sann und sann sie aufs neue, wie sie es umbringen wollte; denn so lange sie nicht die Schönste war im ganzen Land, ließ ihr der Neid keine Ruhe. Und als sie sich endlich etwas ausgedacht hatte, färbte sie sich das Gesicht und kleidete sich wie eine alte Krämerin und war ganz unkenntlich. In dieser Gestalt ging sie über die sieben Berge zu den sieben Zwergen, klopfte an die Türe und rief: »Schöne Ware feil! feil!« Schneewittchen guckte zum Fenster hinaus und rief: »Guten Tag, liebe Frau! Was habt Ihr zu verkaufen?« »Gute Ware«, antwortete sie, »Schnürriemen von allen Farben«, und holte einen hervor, der aus bunter Seide geflochten war. Die ehrliche Frau kann ich hereinlassen, dachte Schneewittchen, riegelte die Türe auf und kaufte sich den hübschen Schnürriemen. »Kind«, sprach die Alte, »wie du aussiehst! Komm, ich will dich einmal ordentlich schnüren.« Schneewittchen hatte kein Arg, stellte sich vor sie und ließ sich mit dem neuen Schnürriemen schnüren. Aber die Alte schnürte geschwind und schnürte so fest, daß dem Schneewittchen der Atem verging und es für tot hinfiel. »Nun bist du die Schönste gewesen«, sprach sie und eilte hinaus. Nicht lange darauf, zur Abendzeit, kamen die sieben Zwerge nach Haus; aber wie erschraken sie, als sie ihr liebes Schneewittchen auf der Erde liegen sahen, und es regte und bewegte sich nicht, als wäre es tot. Sie hoben es in die Höhe, und weil sie sahen, daß es zu fest geschnürt war, schnitten sie den Schnürriemen entzwei; da fing es an ein wenig zu atmen und ward nach und nach wieder lebendig. Als die Zwerge hörten, was geschehen war, sprachen sie: »Die alte Krämerfrau war niemand als die gottlose Königin. Hüte dich und laß keinen Menschen herein, wenn wir nicht bei dir sind!« Das böse Weib aber, als es nach Haus gekommen war, ging vor den Spiegel und fragte:

»Spieglein, Spieglein an der Wand,
Wer ist die Schönste im ganzen Land?»

Da antwortete er wie sonst:

»Frau Königin, Ihr seid die Schönste hier,
Aber Schneewittchen über den Bergen
Bei den sieben Zwergen
Ist noch tausendmal schöner als Ihr.«

 

Als sie das hörte, lief ihr alles Blut zum Herzen, so erschrak sie, denn sie sah wohl, daß Schneewittchen wieder lebendig geworden war. »Nun aber«, sprach sie«, will ich etwas aussinnen, das dich zugrunde richten soll«, und mit Hexenkünsten, die sie verstand, machte sie einen giftigen Kamm. Dann verkleidete sie sich und nahm die Gestalt eines anderen alten Weibes an. So ging sie hin über die sieben Berge zu den sieben Zwergen, klopfte an die Türe und rief: »Gute Ware feil! feil!« Schneewittchen schaute heraus und sprach: »Geht nur weiter, ich darf niemand hereinlassen!« »Das Ansehen wird dir doch erlaubt sein«, sprach die Alte, zog den giftigen Kamm heraus und hielt ihn in die Höhe. Da gefiel er dem Kinde so gut, daß es sich betören ließ und die Türe öffnete. Als sie des Kaufs einig waren, sprach die Alte: »Nun will ich dich einmal ordentlich kämmen.« Das arme Schneewittchen dachte an nichts, ließ die Alte gewähren, aber kaum hatte sie den Kamm in die Haare gesteckt, als das Gift darin wirkte und das Mädchen ohne Besinnung niederfiel. »Du Ausbund von Schönheit«, sprach das boshafte Weib, »jetzt ist's um dich geschehen«, und ging fort. Zum Glück aber war es bald Abend, wo die sieben Zwerglein nach Haus kamen. Als sie Schneewittchen wie tot auf der Erde liegen sahen, hatten sie gleich die Stiefmutter in Verdacht, suchten nach und fanden den giftigen Kamm. Und kaum hatten sie ihn herausgezogen, so kam Schneewittchen wieder zu sich und erzählte, was vorgegangen war. Da warnten sie es noch einmal, auf seiner Hut zu sein und niemand die Türe zu öffnen. Die Königin stellte sich daheim vor den Spiegel und sprach:

»Spieglein, Spieglein an der Wand,
Wer ist die Schönste im ganzen Land?«

Da antwortete er wie vorher:

»Frau Königin, Ihr seid die Schönste hier,
Aber Schneewittchen über den Bergen
Bei den sieben Zwergen
Ist noch tausendmal schöner als Ihr.«

Als sie den Spiegel so reden hörte, zitterte und bebte sie vor Zorn. »Schneewittchen soll sterben«, rief sie, »und wenn es mein eigenes Leben kostet!« Darauf ging sie in eine ganz verborgene, einsame Kammer, wo niemand hinkam, und machte da einen giftigen Apfel. Äußerlich sah er schön aus, weiß mit roten Backen, daß jeder, der ihn erblickte, Lust danach bekam, aber wer ein Stückchen davon aß, der mußte sterben. Als der Apfel fertig war, färbte sie sich das Gesicht und verkleidete sich in eine Bauersfrau, und so ging sie über die sieben Berge zu den sieben Zwergen. Sie klopfte an. Schneewittchen streckte den Kopf zum Fenster heraus und sprach: »Ich darf keinen Menschen einlassen, die sieben Zwerge haben mir's verboten!« »Mir auch recht«, antwortete die Bäuerin, »meine Äpfel will ich schon loswerden. Da, einen will ich dir schenken.« »Nein«, sprach Schneewittchen, »ich darf nichts annehmen!« »Fürchtest du dich vor Gift?« sprach die Alte, »siehst du, da schneide ich den Apfel in zwei Teile; den roten Backen iß, den weißen will ich essen » Der Apfel war aber so künstlich gemacht, daß der rote Backen allein vergiftet war. Schneewittchen lusterte den schönen Apfel an, und als es sah, daß die Bäuerin davon aß, so konnte es nicht länger widerstehen, streckte die Hand hinaus und nahm die giftige Hälfte. Kaum aber hatte es einen Bissen davon im Mund, so fiel es tot zur Erde nieder. Da betrachtete es die Königin mit grausigen Blicken und lachte überlaut und sprach: »Weiß wie Schnee, rot wie Blut, schwarz wie Ebenholz! Diesmal können dich die Zwerge nicht wieder erwecken.« Und als sie daheim den Spiegel befragte:

»Spieglein, Spieglein an der Wand,
Wer ist die Schönste im ganzen Land?«

so antwortete er endlich:

»Frau Königin, Ihr seid de Schönste im Land.«

Da hatte ihr neidisches Herz Ruhe, so gut ein neidisches Herz Ruhe haben kann.

Die Zwerglein, wie sie abends nach Haus kamen, fanden Schneewittchen auf der Erde liegen, und es ging kein Atem mehr aus seinem Mund, und es war tot. Sie hoben es auf suchten, ob sie was Giftiges fänden, schnürten es auf, kämmten ihm die Haare, wuschen es mit Wasser und Wein, aber es half alles nichts; das liebe Kind war tot und blieb tot. Sie legten es auf eine Bahre und setzten sich alle siebene daran und beweinten es und weinten drei Tage lang. Da wollten sie es begraben, aber es sah noch so frisch aus wie ein lebender Mensch und hatte noch seine schönen, roten Backen. Sie sprachen: »Das können wir nicht in die schwarze Erde versenken«, und ließen einen durchsichtigen Sarg von Glas machen, daß man es von allen Seiten sehen konnte, legten es hinein und schrieben mit goldenen Buchstaben seinen Namen darauf und daß es eine Königstochter wäre. Dann setzten sie den Sarg hinaus auf den Berg, und einer von ihnen blieb immer dabei und bewachte ihn. Und die Tiere kamen auch und beweinten Schneewittchen, erst eine Eule dann ein Rabe. zuletzt ein Täubchen. Nun lag Schneewittchen lange, lange Zeit in dem Sarg und verweste nicht, sondern sah aus, als wenn es schliefe, denn es war noch so weiß wie Schnee, so rot wie Blut und so schwarzhaarig wie Ebenholz. Es geschah aber, daß ein Königssohn in den Wald geriet und zu dem Zwergenhaus kam, da zu übernachten. Er sah auf dem Berg den Sarg und das schöne Schneewittchen darin und las, was mit goldenen Buchstaben darauf geschrieben war. Da sprach er zu den Zwergen: »Laßt mir den Sarg, ich will euch geben, was ihr dafür haben wollt » Aber die Zwerge antworteten: »Wir geben ihn nicht für alles Gold in der Welt.« Da sprach er: »So schenkt mir ihn, denn ich kann nicht leben, ohne Schneewittchen zu sehen, ich will es ehren und hochachten wie mein Liebstes.« Wie er so sprach, empfanden die guten Zwerglein Mitleid mit ihm und gaben ihm den Sarg. Der Königssohn ließ ihn nun von seinen Dienern auf den Schultern forttragen. Da geschah es, daß sie über einen Strauch stolperten, und von dem Schüttern fuhr der giftige Apfelgrütz, den Schneewittchen abgebissen hatte, aus dem Hals. Und nicht lange, so öffnete es die Augen, hob den Deckel vom Sarg in die Höhe und richtete sich auf und war wieder lebendig. »Ach Gott, wo bin ich?« rief es. Der Königssohn sagte voll Freude: »Du bist bei mir«, und erzählte, was sich zugetragen hatte, und sprach: »Ich habe dich lieber als alles auf der Welt; komm mit mir in meines Vaters Schloß, du sollst meine Gemahlin werden.« Da war ihm Schneewittchen gut und ging mit ihm, und ihre Hochzeit ward mit großer Pracht und Herrlichkeit angeordnet. Zu dem Feste wurde aber auch Schneewittchens gottlose Stiefmutter eingeladen. Wie sie sich nun mit schönen Kleidern angetan hatte, trat sie vor den Spiegel und sprach:  

»Spieglein, Spieglein an der Wand,
Wer ist die Schönste im ganzen Land?«

Der Spiegel antwortete:

»Frau Königin, Ihr seid die Schönste hier,
Aber die junge Königin ist noch tausendmal schöner als ihr.»

Da stieß das böse Weib einen Fluch aus, und ward ihr so angst, so angst, daß sie sich nicht zu lassen wußte. Sie wollte zuerst gar nicht auf die Hochzeit kommen, doch ließ es ihr keine Ruhe, sie mußte fort und die junge Königin sehen. Und wie sie hineintrat, erkannte sie Schneewittchen, und vor Angst und Schrecken stand sie da und konnte sich nicht regen. Aber es waren schon eiserne Pantoffel über Kohlenfeuer gestellt und wurden mit Zangen hereingetragen und vor sie hingestellt. Da mußte sie in die rotglühenden Schuhe treten und so lange tanzen, bis sie tot zur Erde fiel.

ENGLISH TEXT

SNOW WHITE

 

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 anyone else chould 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 lung and liver 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 bear just then came running by he stabbed it, and cut out its lung and liver and took them to the queen as proof that the child was dead. The cook had to salt them, and the wicked queen ate them, and thought she had eaten the lung and liver of Snow White. 


 

But now the poor child was all alone in the great forest, and so terrified that she looked at all the leaves on the trees, 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 someone 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 hollow 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 passed 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 lung and liver, 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 pedlar-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 colors," and she pulled out one which was woven of bright-colored 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 so tightly that Snow White lost her breath and fell down as if dead. 

"You were 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 pedlar-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 really 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 anyone 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 step-mother, 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 everyone 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 farmer's wife, 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 anyone 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?"

And 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 honor 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 he 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 splendor. 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 had to go to see the young queen. And when she went in she recognized 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.

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