A certain man had two children, a boy and a girl: and the boy was as good-looking as the girl was plain. One day, as they were playing together in their mother's chamber, they chanced upon a mirror and saw their own features for the first time. The boy saw what a handsome fellow he was, and began to boast to his Sister about his good looks: she, on her part, was ready to cry with vexation when she was aware of her plainness, and took his remarks as an insult to herself. Running to her father, she told him of her Brother's conceit, and accused him of meddling with his mother's things. He laughed and kissed them both, and said, “My children, learn from now onwards to make a good use of the glass. You, my boy, strive to be as good as it shows you to be handsome; and you, my girl, resolve to make up for the plainness of your features by the sweetness of your disposition.”
有一个人有两个孩子，一个男孩，一个女孩。男孩长得很英俊，但是女孩相貌平平。有一天，他们一起在妈妈的房间里玩，看到了一面镜子，这是他们第一次看到自己的样子。男孩看到自己是个英俊的人，于是便向妹妹炫耀自己的好容貌；而妹妹呢，发现自己相貌平平，又羞又恼，都要哭了，更把哥哥的评价当作了对自己的羞辱。于是她跑去见爸爸，告诉他哥哥的自负，指责他乱动妈妈的东西。父亲笑着，亲了亲两个孩子，说：“孩子们，从现在起学着好好学习使用那面玻璃镜子吧。你，我的儿子，要一直努力保持良好品行，才能配上它显示出的你的美好；而你，我的女儿，要努力保持自己的美好品格，来弥补自己外表上的不足。”