the little mermaid-第6节

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but　their　long　beautiful　hair　waved　no　more　in　the　wind；　and　had

been　cut　off。

　　　　〃We　have　given　our　hair　to　the　witch；〃　said　they；　〃to　obtain

help　for　you；　that　you　may　not　die　to…night。　She　has　given　us　a　knife：

here　it　is；　see　it　is　very　sharp。　Before　the　sun　rises　you　must　plunge

it　into　the　heart　of　the　prince；　when　the　warm　blood　falls　upon　your

feet　they　will　grow　together　again；　and　form　into　a　fish's　tail；　and

you　will　be　once　more　a　mermaid；　and　return　to　us　to　live　out　your

three　hundred　years　before　you　die　and　change　into　the　salt　sea

foam。　Haste；　then；　he　or　you　must　die　before　sunrise。　Our　old

grandmother　moans　so　for　you；　that　her　white　hair　is　falling　off

from　sorrow；　as　ours　fell　under　the　witch's　scissors。　Kill　the

prince　and　come　back；　hasten：　do　you　not　see　the　first　red　streaks

in　the　sky？　In　a　few　minutes　the　sun　will　rise；　and　you　must　die。〃　And

then　they　sighed　deeply　and　mournfully；　and　sank　down　beneath　the

waves。

　　　　The　little　mermaid　drew　back　the　crimson　curtain　of　the　tent；

and　beheld　the　fair　bride　with　her　head　resting　on　the　prince's

breast。　She　bent　down　and　kissed　his　fair　brow；　then　looked　at　the　sky

on　which　the　rosy　dawn　grew　brighter　and　brighter；　then　she　glanced　at

the　sharp　knife；　and　again　fixed　her　eyes　on　the　prince；　who　whispered

the　name　of　his　bride　in　his　dreams。　She　was　in　his　thoughts；　and

the　knife　trembled　in　the　hand　of　the　little　mermaid：　then　she　flung

it　far　away　from　her　into　the　waves；　the　water　turned　red　where　it

fell；　and　the　drops　that　spurted　up　looked　like　blood。　She　cast　one

more　lingering；　half…fainting　glance　at　the　prince；　and　then　threw

herself　from　the　ship　into　the　sea；　and　thought　her　body　was

dissolving　into　foam。　The　sun　rose　above　the　waves；　and　his　warm

rays　fell　on　the　cold　foam　of　the　little　mermaid；　who　did　not　feel

as　if　she　were　dying。　She　saw　the　bright　sun；　and　all　around　her

floated　hundreds　of　transparent　beautiful　beings；　she　could　see

through　them　the　white　sails　of　the　ship；　and　the　red　clouds　in　the

sky；　their　speech　was　melodious；　but　too　ethereal　to　be　heard　by

mortal　ears；　as　they　were　also　unseen　by　mortal　eyes。　The　little

mermaid　perceived　that　she　had　a　body　like　theirs；　and　that　she

continued　to　rise　higher　and　higher　out　of　the　foam。　〃Where　am　I？〃

asked　she；　and　her　voice　sounded　ethereal；　as　the　voice　of　those　who

were　with　her；　no　earthly　music　could　imitate　it。

　　　　〃Among　the　daughters　of　the　air；〃　answered　one　of　them。　〃A　mermaid

has　not　an　immortal　soul；　nor　can　she　obtain　one　unless　she　wins　the

love　of　a　human　being。　On　the　power　of　another　hangs　her　eternal

destiny。　But　the　daughters　of　the　air；　although　they　do　not　possess　an

immortal　soul；　can；　by　their　good　deeds；　procure　one　for　themselves。

We　fly　to　warm　countries；　and　cool　the　sultry　air　that　destroys

mankind　with　the　pestilence。　We　carry　the　perfume　of　the　flowers　to

spread　health　and　restoration。　After　we　have　striven　for　three　hundred

years　to　all　the　good　in　our　power；　we　receive　an　immortal　soul　and

take　part　in　the　happiness　of　mankind。　You；　poor　little　mermaid；

have　tried　with　your　whole　heart　to　do　as　we　are　doing；　you　have

suffered　and　endured　and　raised　yourself　to　the　spirit…world　by　your

good　deeds；　and　now；　by　striving　for　three　hundred　years　in　the　same

way；　you　may　obtain　an　immortal　soul。〃

　　　　The　little　mermaid　lifted　her　glorified　eyes　towards　the　sun；

and　felt　them；　for　the　first　time；　filling　with　tears。　On　the　ship；　in

which　she　had　left　the　prince；　there　were　life　and　noise；　she　saw

him　and　his　beautiful　bride　searching　for　her；　sorrowfully　they

gazed　at　the　pearly　foam；　as　if　they　knew　she　had　thrown　herself

into　the　waves。　Unseen　she　kissed　the　forehead　of　her　bride；　and

fanned　the　prince；　and　then　mounted　with　the　other　children　of　the　air

to　a　rosy　cloud　that　floated　through　the　aether。

　　　　〃After　three　hundred　years；　thus　shall　we　float　into　the　kingdom

of　heaven；〃　said　she。　〃And　we　may　even　get　there　sooner；〃　whispered

one　of　her　companions。　〃Unseen　we　can　enter　the　houses　of　men；　where

there　are　children；　and　for　every　day　on　which　we　find　a　good　child；

who　is　the　joy　of　his　parents　and　deserves　their　love；　our　time　of

probation　is　shortened。　The　child　does　not　know；　when　we　fly　through

the　room；　that　we　smile　with　joy　at　his　good　conduct；　for　we　can　count

one　year　less　of　our　three　hundred　years。　But　when　we　see　a　naughty　or

a　wicked　child；　we　shed　tears　of　sorrow；　and　for　every　tear　a　day　is

added　to　our　time　of　trial！〃





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　END

。