安徒生童话-第66部分

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dren　who　could　swim　inthe　water；　although　they　had　not　fish's　tails。

The　fourth　sister　was　more　timid；　she　remained　in　the　midst　of　thesea；　but　she　said　it　was　quite　as　beautiful　there　as　nearer　theland。　She　could　see　for　so　many　miles　around　her；　and　the　sky　abovelooked　like　a　bell　of　glass。　She　had　seen　the　ships；　but　at　such　agreat　distance　that　they　looked　like　sea…gulls。　The　dolphins　sportedin　the　waves；　and　the　great　whales　spouted　water　from　their　nostrilstill　it　seemed　as　if　a　hundred　fountains　were　playing　in　everydirection。

The　fifth　sister's　birthday　occurred　in　the　winter；　so　when　herturn　came；　she　saw　what　the　others　had　not　seen　the　first　time　theywent　up。　The　sea　looked　quite　green；　and　large　icebergs　werefloating　about；　each　like　a　pearl；　she　said；　but　larger　and　loftierthan　the　churches　built　by　men。　They　were　of　the　most　singular　shapes；and　glittered　like　diamonds。　She　had　seated　herself　upon　one　of　thelargest；　and　let　the　wind　play　with　her　long　hair；　and　she　remarkedthat　all　the　ships　sailed　by　rapidly；　and　steered　as　far　away　asthey　could　from　the　iceberg；　as　if　they　were　afraid　of　it。　Towardsevening；　as　the　sun　went　down；　dark　clouds　covered　the　sky；　thethunder　rolled　and　the　lightning　flashed；　and　the　red　light　glowedon　the　icebergs　as　they　rocked　and　tossed　on　the　heaving　sea。　On　allthe　ships　the　sails　were　reefed　with　fear　and　trembling；　while　she　satcalmly　on　the　floating　iceberg；　watching　the　blue　lightning；　as　itdarted　its　forked　flashes　into　the　sea。

When　first　the　sisters　had　permission　to　rise　to　the　surface；　theywere　each　delighted　with　the　new　and　beautiful　sights　they　saw；　butnow；　as　grown…up　girls；　they　could　go　when　they　pleased；　and　theyhad　bee　indifferent　about　it。　They　wished　themselves　back　againin　the　water；　and　after　a　month　had　passed　they　said　it　was　muchmore　beautiful　down　below；　and　pleasanter　to　be　at　home。　Yet　often；　inthe　evening　hours；　the　five　sisters　would　twine　their　arms　roundeach　other；　and　rise　to　the　surface；　in　a　row。　They　had　more　beautifulvoices　than　any　human　being　could　have；　and　before　the　approach　of　astorm；　and　when　they　expected　a　ship　would　be　lost；　they　swam　beforethe　vessel；　and　sang　sweetly　of　the　delights　to　be　found　in　the　depthsof　the　sea；　and　begging　the　sailors　not　to　fear　if　they　sank　to　thebottom。　But　the　sailors　could　not　understand　the　song；　they　took　itfor　the　howling　of　the　storm。　And　these　things　were　never　to　bebeautiful　for　them；　for　if　the　ship　sank；　the　men　were　drowned；　andtheir　dead　bodies　alone　reached　the　palace　of　the　Sea　King。

When　the　sisters　rose；　arm…in…arm；　through　the　water　in　thisway；　their　youngest　sister　would　stand　quite　alone；　looking　afterthem；　ready　to　cry；　only　that　the　mermaids　have　no　tears；　andtherefore　they　suffer　more。　〃Oh；　were　I　but　fifteen　years　old；〃　saidshe：　〃I　know　that　I　shall　love　the　world　up　there；　and　all　thepeople　who　live　in　it。〃

At　last　she　reached　her　fifteenth　year。　〃Well；　now；　you　aregrown　up；〃　said　the　old　dowager；　her　grandmother；　〃so　you　must　letme　adorn　you　like　your　other　sisters；〃　and　she　placed　a　wreath　ofwhite　lilies　in　her　hair；　and　every　flower　leaf　was　half　a　pearl。　Thenthe　old　lady　ordered　eight　great　oysters　to　attach　themselves　to　thetail　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　shewould　have　shaken　off　all　this　grandeur；　and　laid　aside　the　heavywreath！　The　red　flowers　in　her　own　garden　would　have　suited　her　muchbetter；　but　she　could　not　help　herself：　so　she　said；　〃Farewell；〃　androse　as　lightly　as　a　bubble　to　the　surface　of　the　water。　The　sun　hadjust　set　as　she　raised　her　head　above　the　waves；　but　the　clouds　weretinted　with　crimson　and　gold；　and　through　the　glimmering　twilightbeamed　the　evening　star　in　all　its　beauty。　The　sea　was　calm；　and　theair　mild　and　fresh。　A　large　ship；　with　three　masts；　lay　becalmed　onthe　water；　with　only　one　sail　set；　for　not　a　breeze　stiffed；　and　thesailors　sat　idle　on　deck　or　amongst　the　rigging。　There　was　music　andsong　on　board；　and；　as　darkness　came　on；　a　hundred　colored　lanternswere　lighted；　as　if　the　flags　of　all　nations　waved　in　the　air。　Thelittle　mermaid　swam　close　to　the　cabin　windows；　and　now　and　then；　asthe　waves　lifted　her　up；　she　could　look　in　through　clear　glasswindow…panes；　and　see　a　number　of　well…dressed　people　within。　Amongthem　was　a　young　prince；　the　most　beautiful　of　all；　with　large　blackeyes；　he　was　sixteen　years　of　age；　and　his　birthday　was　being　keptwith　much　rejoicing。　The　sailors　were　dancing　on　deck；　but　when　theprince　came　out　of　the　cabin；　more　than　a　hundred　rockets　rose　inthe　air；　making　it　as　bright　as　day。　The　little　mermaid　was　sostartled　that　she　dived　under　water；　and　when　she　again　stretchedout　her　head；　it　appeared　as　if　all　the　stars　of　heaven　were　fallingaround　her；　she　had　never　seen　such　fireworks　before。　Great　sunsspurted　fire　about；　splendid　fireflies　flew　into　the　blue　air；　andeverything　was　reflected　in　the　clear；　calm　sea　beneath。　The　shipitself　was　so　brightly　illuminated　that　all　the　people；　and　even　thesmallest　rope；　could　be　distinctly　and　plainly　seen。　And　howhandsome　the　young　prince　looked；　as　he　pressed　the　hands　of　allpresent　and　smiled　at　them；　while　the　music　resounded　through　theclear　night　air。

It　was　very　late；　yet　the　little　mermaid　could　not　take　her　eyesfrom　the　ship；　or　from　the　beautiful　prince。　The　colored　lanternshad　been　extinguished；　no　more　rockets　rose　in　the　air；　and　the　cannonhad　ceased　firing；　but　the　sea　became　restless；　and　a　moaning；grumbling　sound　could　be　heard　beneath　the　waves：　still　the　littlemermaid　remained　by　the　cabin　window；　rocking　up　and　down　on　thewater；　which　enabled　her　to　look　in。　After　a　while；　the　sails　werequickly　unfurled；　and　the　noble　ship　continued　her　passage；　but　soonthe　waves　rose　higher；　heavy　clouds　darkened　the　sky；　and　lightningappeared　in　the　distance。　A　dreadful　storm　was　approaching；　oncemore　the　sails　were　reefed；　and　the　great　ship　pursued　her　flyingcourse　over　the　raging　sea。　The　waves　rose　mountains　high；　as　ifthey　would　have　overtopped　the　mast；　but　the　ship　dived　like　a　swanbetween　them；　and　then　rose　again　on　their　lofty；　foaming　crests。　Tothe　little　mermaid　this　appeared　pleasant　sport；　not　so　to　thesailors。　At　length　the　ship　groaned　and　creaked；　the　thick　planks　gaveway　under　the　lashing　of　the　sea　as　it　broke　over　the　deck；　themainmast　snapped　asunder　like　a　reed；　the　ship　lay　over　on　her　side；and　the　water　rushed　in。　The　little　mermaid　now　perceived　that　thecrew　were　in　danger；　even　she　herself　was　obliged　to　be　careful　toavoid　the　beams　and　planks　of　the　wreck　which　lay　scattered　on　thewater。　At　one　moment　it　was　so　pitch　dark　that　she　could　not　see　asingle　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；　andshe　was　glad；　for　she　thought　he　would　now　be　with　her；　and　then　sheremembered　that　human　beings　could　not　live　in　the　water；　so　that　whenhe　got　down　to　her　father's　palace　he　would　be　quite　dead。　But　he　mustnot　die。　So　she　swam　about　among　the　beams　and　planks　which　strewedthe　surface　of　the　sea；　forgetting　that　they　could　crush　her　topieces。　Then　she　dived　deeply　under　the　dark　waters；　rising　andfalling　with　the　waves；　till　at　length　she　managed　to　reach　theyoung　prince；　who　was　fast　losing　the　power　of　swimming　in　that　stormysea。　His　limbs　were　failing　him；　his　beautiful　eyes　were　closed；　andhe　would　have　died　had　not　the　little　mermaid　e　to　hisassistance。　She　held　his　head　above　the　water；　and　let　the　waves　driftthem　where　they　would。

In　the　morning　the　storm　had　ceased；　but　of　the　ship　not　asingle　fragment　could　be　seen。　The　sun　rose　up　red　and　glowing　fromthe　water；　and　its　beams　brought　back　the　hue　of　health　to　theprince's　cheeks；　but　his　eyes　remained　closed。　The　mermaid　kissedhis　high；　smooth　forehead；　and　stroked　back　his　wet　hair；　he　seemed　toher　like　the　marble　statue　in　her　little　garden；　and　she　kissed　himagain；　and　wished　that　he　might　live。　Presently　they　came　in　sightof　land；　she　saw　lofty　blue　mountains；　on　which　the　white　snowrested　as　if　a　flock　of　swans　were　lying　upon　them。　Near　the　coastwere　beautiful　green　forests；　and　close　by　stood　a　large　building；whether　a　church　or　a　convent　she　could　not　tell。　Orange　and　citrontrees　grew　in　the　garden；　and　before　the　door　stood　lofty　palms。　Thesea　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　thewarm　sunshine；　taking　care　to　raise　his　head　higher　than　his　body。Then　bells　sounded　in　the　large　white　building；　and　a　number　ofyoung　girls　came　into　the　garden。　The　little　mermaid　swam　outfarther　from　the　shore　and　placed　herself　between　some　high　rocks　thatrose　out　of　the　water；　then　she　covered　her　head　and　neck　with　thefoam　of　the　sea　so　that　her　little　face　might　not　be　seen；　and　watchedto　see　what　would　bee　of　the　poor　prince。　She　did　not　wait　longbefore　she　saw　a　young　girl　approach　the　spot　where　he　lay。　She　seemedfrightened　at　first；　but　only　for　a　moment；　then　she　fetched　anumber　of　people；　and　the　mermaid　saw　that　the　prince　came　to　lifeagain；　and　smiled　upon　those　who　stood　round　him。　But　to　her　he　sentno　smile；　he　knew　not　that　she　had　saved　him。　This　made　her　veryunhappy；　and　when　he　was　led　away　into　the　great　building；　she　diveddown　sorrowfully　into　the　water；　and　returned　to　her　father'scastle。　She　had　always　been　silent　and　thoughtful；　and　now　she　wasmore　so　than　ever。　Her　sisters　asked　her　what　she　had　seen　duringher　first　visit　to　the　surface　of　the　water；　but　she　would　tell　themnothing。　Many　an　evening　and　morning　did　she　rise　to　the　place　whereshe　had　left　the　prince。　She　saw　the　fruits　in　the　garden　ripen　tillthey　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　fort　to　sit　inher　own　little　garden；　and　fling　her　arm　round　the　beautiful　marblestatue　which　was　like　the　prince；　but　she　gave　up　tending　her　flowers；and　they　grew　in　wild　confusion　over　the　paths；　twining　their　longleaves　and　stems　round　the　branches　of　the　trees；　so　that　the　wholeplace　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　thesecret；　and　very　soon　it　became　known　to　two　mermaids　whose　intimatefriend　happened　to　know　who　the　prince　was。　She　had　also　seen　thefestival　on　board　ship；　and　she　told　them　where　the　prince　camefrom；　and　where　his　palace　stood。

〃e；　little　sister；〃　said　the　other　princesses；　then　theyentwined　their　arms　and　rose　up　in　a　long　row　to　the　surface　of　thewater；　close　by　the　spot　where　they　knew　the　prince's　palace　stood。　Itwas　built　of　bright　yellow　shining　stone；　with　long　flights　ofmarble　steps；　one　of　which　reached　quite　down　to　the　sea。　Splendidgilded　cupolas　rose　over　the　roof；　and　between　the　pillars　thatsurrounded　the　whole　building　stood　life…like　statues　of　marble。Through　the　clear　crystal　of　the　lofty　windows　could　be　seen　noblerooms；　with　costly　silk　curtains　and　hangings　of　tapestry；　while　thewalls　were　covered　with　beautiful　paintings　which　were　a　pleasure　tolook　at。　In　the　centre　of　the　largest　saloon　a　fountain　threw　itssparkling　jets　high　up　into　the　glass　cupola　of　the　ceiling；　throughwhich　the　sun　shone　down　upon　the　water　and　upon　the　beautifulplants　growing　round　the　basin　of　the　fountain。　Now　that　she　knewwhere　he　lived；　she　spent　many　an　evening　and　many　a　night　on　thewater　near　the　palace。　She　would　swim　much　nearer　the　shore　than　anyof　the　others　ventured　to　do；　indeed　once　she　went　quite　up　the　narrowchannel　under　the　marble　balcony；　which　threw　a　broad　shadow　on　thewater。　Here　she　would　sit　and　watch　the　young　prince；　who　thoughthimself　quite　alone　in　the　bright　moonlight。　She　saw　him　many　times　ofan　evening　sailing　in　a　pleasant　boat；　with　music　playing　and　flagswaving。　She　peeped　out　from　among　the　green　rushes；　and　if　the　windcaught　her　long　silvery…white　veil；　those　who　saw　it　believed　it　to　bea　swan；　spreading　out　its　wings。　On　many　a　night；　too；　when　thefishermen；　with　their　torches；　were　out　at　sea；　she　heard　themrelate　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　abouthalf…dead　on　the　waves。　And　she　remembered　that　his　head　had　rested　onher　bosom；　and　how　heartily　she　had　kissed　him；　but　he　knew　nothing　ofall　this；　and　could　not　even　dream　of　her。　She　grew　more　and　more　fondof　human　beings；　and　wished　more　and　more　to　be　able　to　wander　aboutwith　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　whichwere　far　above　the　clouds；　and　the　lands　they　possessed；　their　woodsand　their　fields；　stretched　far　away　beyond　the　reach　of　her　sight。There　was　so　much　that　she　wished　to　know；　and　her　sisters　were　unableto　answer　all　her　questions。　Then　she　applied　to　her　oldgrandmother；　who　knew　all　about　the　upper　world；　which　she　veryrightly　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　termof　life　is　even　shorter　than　ours。　We　sometimes　live　to　threehundred　years；　but　when　we　cease　to　exist　here　we　only　bee　the　foamon　the　surface　of　the　water；　and　we　have　not　even　a　grave　down　here　ofthose　we　love。　We　have　not　immortal　souls；　we　shall　never　liveagain；　but；　like　the　green　sea…weed；　when　once　it　has　been　cut　off；　wecan　never　flourish　more。　Human　beings；　on　the　contrary；　have　a　soulwhich　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　neversee。〃

〃Why　have　not　we　an　immortal　soul？〃　asked　the　little　mermaidmournfully；　〃I　would　give　gladly　all　the　hundreds　of　years　that　I　haveto　live；　to　be　a　human　being　only　for　one　day；　and　to　have　the　hope　ofknowing　the　happiness　of　that　glorious　world　above　the　stars。〃

〃You　must　not　think　of　that；〃　said　the　old　woman；　〃we　feelourselves　to　be　much　happier　and　much　better　off　than　human　beings。〃

〃So　I　shall　die；〃　said　the　little　mermaid；　〃and　as　the　foam　of　thesea　I　shall　be　driven　about　never　again　to　hear　the　music　of　thewaves；　or　to　see　the　pretty　flowers　nor　the　red　sun。　Is　there　anythingI　can　do　to　win　an　immortal　soul？〃

〃No；〃　said　the　old　woman；　〃unless　a　man　were　to　love　you　so　muchthat　you　were　more　to　him　than　his　father　or　mother；　and　if　all　histhoughts　and　all　his　love　were　fixed　upon　you；　and　the　priest　placedhis　right　hand　in　yours；　and　he　promised　to　be　true　to　you　here　andhereafter；　then　his　soul　would　glide　into　your　body　and　you　wouldobtain　a　share　in　the　future　happiness　of　mankind。　He　would　give　asoul　to　you　and　retain　his　own　as　well；　but　this　can　never　happen。Your　fish's　tail；　which　amongst　us　is　considered　so　beautiful；　isthought　on　earth　to　be　quite　ugly；　they　do　not　know　any　be