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the little mermaid-第2部分

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    When first the sisters had permission to rise to the surface; they

were each delighted with the new and beautiful sights they saw; but

now; as grown…up girls; they could go when they pleased; and they

had become indifferent about it。 They wished themselves back again

in the water; and after a month had passed they said it was much

more beautiful down below; and pleasanter to be at home。 Yet often; in

the evening hours; the five sisters would twine their arms round

each other; and rise to the surface; in a row。 They had more beautiful

voices than any human being could have; and before the approach of a

storm; and when they expected a ship would be lost; they swam before

the vessel; and sang sweetly of the delights to be found in the depths

of the sea; and begging the sailors not to fear if they sank to the

bottom。 But the sailors could not understand the song; they took it

for the howling of the storm。 And these things were never to be

beautiful for them; for if the ship sank; the men were drowned; and

their dead bodies alone reached the palace of the Sea King。

    When the sisters rose; arm…in…arm; through the water in this

way; their youngest sister would stand quite alone; looking after

them; ready to cry; only that the mermaids have no tears; and

therefore they suffer more。 〃Oh; were I but fifteen years old;〃 said

she: 〃I know that I shall love the world up there; and all the

people who live in it。〃

    At last she reached her fifteenth year。 〃Well; now; you are

grown up;〃 said the old dowager; her grandmother; 〃so you must let

me adorn you like your other sisters;〃 and she placed a wreath of

white lilies in her hair; and every flower leaf was half a pearl。 Then

the old lady ordered eight great oysters to attach themselves to the

tail of the princess to show her high rank。

    〃But they hurt me so;〃 said the little mermaid。

    〃Pride must suffer pain;〃 replied the old lady。 Oh; how gladly she

would have shaken off all this grandeur; and laid aside the heavy

wreath! The red flowers in her own garden would have suited her much

better; but she could not help herself: so she said; 〃Farewell;〃 and

rose as lightly as a bubble to the surface of the water。 The sun had

just set as she raised her head above the waves; but the clouds were

tinted with crimson and gold; and through the glimmering twilight

beamed the evening star in all its beauty。 The sea was calm; and the

air mild and fresh。 A large ship; with three masts; lay becalmed on

the water; with only one sail set; for not a breeze stiffed; and the

sailors sat idle on deck or amongst the rigging。 There was music and

song on board; and; as darkness came on; a hundred colored lanterns

were lighted; as if the flags of all nations waved in the air。 The

little mermaid swam close to the cabin windows; and now and then; as

the waves lifted her up; she could look in through clear glass

window…panes; and see a number of well…dressed people within。 Among

them was a young prince; the most beautiful of all; with large black

eyes; he was sixteen years of age; and his birthday was being kept

with much rejoicing。 The sailors were dancing on deck; but when the

prince came out of the cabin; more than a hundred rockets rose in

the air; making it as bright as day。 The little mermaid was so

startled that she dived under water; and when she again stretched

out her head; it appeared as if all the stars of heaven were falling

around her; she had never seen such fireworks before。 Great suns

spurted fire about; splendid fireflies flew into the blue air; and

everything was reflected in the clear; calm sea beneath。 The ship

itself was so brightly illuminated that all the people; and even the

smallest rope; could be distinctly and plainly seen。 And how

handsome the young prince looked; as he pressed the hands of all

present and smiled at them; while the music resounded through the

clear night air。

    It was very late; yet the little mermaid could not take her eyes

from the ship; or from the beautiful prince。 The colored lanterns

had been extinguished; no more rockets rose in the air; and the cannon

had ceased firing; but the sea became restless; and a moaning;

grumbling sound could be heard beneath the waves: still the little

mermaid remained by the cabin window; rocking up and down on the

water; which enabled her to look in。 After a while; the sails were

quickly unfurled; and the noble ship continued her passage; but soon

the waves rose higher; heavy clouds darkened the sky; and lightning

appeared in the distance。 A dreadful storm was approaching; once

more the sails were reefed; and the great ship pursued her flying

course over the raging sea。 The waves rose mountains high; as if

they would have overtopped the mast; but the ship dived like a swan

between them; and then rose again on their lofty; foaming crests。 To

the little mermaid this appeared pleasant sport; not so to the

sailors。 At length the ship groaned and creaked; the thick planks gave

way under the lashing of the sea as it broke over the deck; the

mainmast snapped asunder like a reed; the ship lay over on her side;

and the water rushed in。 The little mermaid now perceived that the

crew were in danger; even she herself was obliged to be careful to

avoid the beams and planks of the wreck which lay scattered on the

water。 At one moment it was so pitch dark that she could not see a

single object; but a flash of lightning revealed the whole scene;

she could see every one who had been on board excepting the prince;

when the ship parted; she had seen him sink into the deep waves; and

she was glad; for she thought he would now be with her; and then she

remembered that human beings could not live in the water; so that when

he got down to her father's palace he would be quite dead。 But he must

not die。 So she swam about among the beams and planks which strewed

the surface of the sea; forgetting that they could crush her to

pieces。 Then she dived deeply under the dark waters; rising and

falling with the waves; till at length she managed to reach the

young prince; who was fast losing the power of swimming in that stormy

sea。 His limbs were failing him; his beautiful eyes were closed; and

he would have died had not the little mermaid come to his

assistance。 She held his head above the water; and let the waves drift

them where they would。

    In the morning the storm had ceased; but of the ship not a

single fragment could be seen。 The sun rose up red and glowing from

the water; and its beams brought back the hue of health to the

prince's cheeks; but his eyes remained closed。 The mermaid kissed

his high; smooth forehead; and stroked back his wet hair; he seemed to

her like the marble statue in her little garden; and she kissed him

again; and wished that he might live。 Presently they came in sight

of land; she saw lofty blue mountains; on which the white snow

rested as if a flock of swans were lying upon them。 Near the coast

were beautiful green forests; and close by stood a large building;

whether a church or a convent she could not tell。 Orange and citron

trees grew in the garden; and before the door stood lofty palms。 The

sea here formed a little bay; in which the water was quite still;

but very deep; so she swam with the handsome prince to the beach;

which was covered with fine; white sand; and there she laid him in the

warm sunshine; taking care to raise his head higher than his body。

Then bells sounded in the large white building; and a number of

young girls came into the garden。 The little mermaid swam out

farther from the shore and placed herself between some high rocks that

rose out of the water; then she covered her head and neck with the

foam of the sea so that her little face might not be seen; and watched

to see what would become of the poor prince。 She did not wait long

before she saw a young girl approach the spot where he lay。 She seemed

frightened at first; but only for a moment; then she fetched a

number of people; and the mermaid saw that the prince came to life

again; and smiled upon those who stood round him。 But to her he sent

no smile; he knew not that she had saved him。 This made her very

unhappy; and when he was led away into the great building; she dived

down sorrowfully into the water; and returned to her father's

castle。 She had always been silent and thoughtful; and now she was

more so than ever。 Her sisters asked her what she had seen during

her first visit to the surface of the water; but she would tell them

nothing。 Many an evening and morning did she rise to the place where

she had left the prince。 She saw the fruits in the garden ripen till

they were gathered; the snow on the tops of the mountains melt away;

but she never saw the prince; and therefore she returned home;

always more sorrowful than before。 It was her only comfort to sit in

her own little garden; and fling her arm round the beautiful marble

statue which was like the prince; but she gave up tending her flowers;

and they grew in wild confusion over the paths; twining their long

leaves and stems round the branches of the trees; so that the whole

place became dark and gloomy。 At length she could bear it no longer;

and told one of her sisters all about it。 Then the others heard the

secret; and very soon it became known to two mermaids whose intimate

friend happened to know who the prince was。 She had also seen the

festival on board ship; and she told them where the prince came

from; and where his palace stood。

    〃Come; little sister;〃 said the other princesses; then they

entwined their arms and rose up in a long row to the surface of the

water; close by the spot where they knew the prince's palace stood。 It

was built of bright yellow shining stone; with long flights of

marble steps; one of which reached quite down to the sea。 Splendid

gilded cupolas rose over the roof; and between the pillars that

surrounded the whole building stood life…like statues of marble。

Through the clear crystal of the lofty windows could be seen noble

rooms; with costly silk curtains and hangings of 
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