the little mermaid-第3章
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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 sea。
〃If human beings are not drowned；〃 asked the little mermaid；
〃can they live forever？ do they never die as we do here in the sea？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied the old lady； 〃they must also die； and their term
of life is even shorter than ours。 We sometimes live to three
hundred years； but when we cease to exist here we only become the foam
on the surface of the water； and we have not even a grave down here of
those we love。 We have not immortal souls； we shall never live
again； but； like the green sea…weed； when once it has been cut off； we
can never flourish more。 Human beings； on the contrary； have a soul
which lives forever； lives after the body has been turned to dust。
It rises up through the clear； pure air beyond the glittering stars。
As we rise out of the water； and behold all the land of the earth；
so do they rise to unknown and glorious regions which we shall never
see。〃
〃Why have not we an immortal soul？〃 asked the little mermaid
mournfully； 〃I would give gladly all the hundreds of years that I have
to live； to be a human being only for one day； and to have the hope of
knowing the happiness of that glorious world above the stars。〃
〃You must not think of that；〃 said the old woman； 〃we feel
ourselves to be much happier and much better off than human beings。〃
〃So I shall die；〃 said the little mermaid； 〃and as the foam of the
sea I shall be driven about never again to hear the music of the
waves； or to see the pretty flowers nor the red sun。 Is there anything
I can do to win an immortal soul？〃
〃No；〃 said the old woman； 〃unless a man were to love you so much
that you were more to him than his father or mother； and if all his
thoughts and all his love were fixed upon you； and the priest placed
his right hand in yours； and he promised to be true to you here and
hereafter； then his soul would glide into your body and you would
obtain a share in the future happiness of mankind。 He would give a
soul to you and retain his own as
