the little mermaid-第2章

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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　tapestry；　while　the

walls　were　covered　with　beautiful　paintings　which　were　a　pleasure　to

look　at。　In　the　centre　of　the　largest　saloon　a　fountain　threw　its

sparkling　jets　high　up　into　the　glass　cupola　of　the　ceiling；　through

which　the　sun　shone　down　upon　the　water　and　upon　the　beautiful

plants　growing　round　the　basin　of　the　fountain。　Now　that　she　knew

where　he　lived；　she　spent　many　an　evening　and　many　a　night　on　the

water　near　the　palace。　She　would　swim　much　nearer　the　shore　than　any

of　the　others　ventured　to　do；　indeed　once　she　went　quite　up　the　narrow

channel　under　the　marble　balcony；　which　threw　a　broad　shadow　on　the

water。　Here　she　would　sit　and　watch　the　young　prince；　who　thought

himself　quite　alone　in　the　bright　moonlight。　She　saw　him　many　times　of

an　evening　sailing　in　a　pleasant　boat；　with　music　playing　and　flags

waving。　She　peeped　out　from　among　the　green　rushes；　and　if　the　wind

caught　her　long　silvery…white　veil；　those　who　saw　it　believed　it　to　be

a　swan；　spreading　out　its　wings。　On　many　a　night；　too；　when　the

fishermen；　with　their　torches；　were　out　at　sea；　she　heard　them

relate　so　many　good　things　about　the　doings　of　the　young　prince；

that　she　was　glad　she　had　saved　his　life　when　he　had　been　tossed　about

half…dead　on　the　waves。　And　she　remembered　that　his　head　had　rested　on

her　bosom；　and　how　heartily　she　had　kissed　him；　but　he　knew　nothing　of

all　this；　and　could　not　even　dream　of　her。　She　grew　more　and　more　fond

of　human　beings；　and　wished　more　and　more　to　be　able　to　wander　about

with　those　whose　world　seemed　to　be　so　much　larger　than　her　own。

They　could　fly　over　the　sea　in　ships；　and　mount　the　high　hills　which

were　far　above　the　clouds；　and　the　lands　they　possessed；　their　woods

and　their　fields；　stretched　far　away　beyond　the　reach　of　her　sight。

There　was　so　much　that　she　wished　to　know；　and　her　sisters　were　unable

to　answer　all　her　questions。　Then　she　applied　to　her　old

grandmother；　who　knew　all　about　the　upper　world；　which　she　very

rightly　called　the　lands　above　the　s