The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen
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the little mermaid

by Hans Christian Andersen

translation by H .P .Paull (1872)

far out in_the ocean, where the water is as blue as_the prettiest cornflower, and as clear as crystal, it_is very, very deep; so deep, indeed, that no cable could fathom it: many church steeples, piled one upon another, would_not reach from_the ground beneath to_the surface of_the water above . there dwell the sea king and_his subjects . we_must not imagine that_there_is nothing at_the bottom of_the sea but bare yellow sand . no, indeed; the most singular flowers and plants grow there; the leaves and stems of_which are so pliant, that_the slightest agitation of_the water causes them to stir as if_they had life .Fishes, both large and small, glide between_the branches, as birds fly among_the trees here upon land . in_the deepest spot of all, stands the castle of_the sea king . its walls are built of coral, and_the long, Gothic windows are of_the clearest amber . the roof is formed of shells, that open and close as_the water flows over them . their appearance is very beautiful, for in each lies aglittering pearl, which would_be fit for_the diadem of a queen .

the sea king had_been a widower for many years, and_his aged mother kept house for him . she was a very wise woman, and exceedingly proud of her high birth; on_that account she wore twelve oysters on her tail; while others, also of high rank, were only allowed to wear six . she was, however, deserving of very great praise, especially for her care of_the little sea-princesses, her grand-daughters . they were six beautiful children; but the youngest was_the prettiest of_them all; her skin was as clear and delicate as a rose- leaf, and her eyes as blue as_the deepest sea; but, like all the others, she had no feet, and her body ended in a fish's tail . all day long they played in_the great halls of_the castle, or among_the living flowers that grew out_of_the walls . the large amber windows were open, and_the fish swam in, just as_the swallows fly into our houses when we open the windows, excepting that_the fishes swam up_to_the princesses, ate out of_their hands, and allowed themselves to_be stroked . outside the castle there_was a beautiful garden, in_which grew bright red and dark blue flowers, and blossoms like flames of fire; the fruit glittered like gold, and_the leaves and stems waved to and fro continually . the earth itself was_the finest sand, but blue as_the flame of burning sulphur . over everything lay a peculiar blue radiance, as_if it were surrounded by_the air from above, through which the blue sky shone, instead of_the dark depths of_the sea . in calm weather the sun could_be seen, looking like a purple flower, with_the light streaming from_the calyx . each of_the young princesses had a little plot of ground in_the garden, where she might dig and plant as she pleased . one arranged her flower- bed into_the form of a whale; another thought it better to_make hers like the figure of a little mermaid; but that of_the youngest was round like the sun, and contained flowers as red as his rays at sunset . she was a strange child, quiet and thoughtful; and while her sisters would_be delighted with_the wonderful things which they obtained from_the wrecks of vessels, she cared for nothing but her pretty red flowers, like the sun, excepting a beautiful marble statue . it was_the representation of a handsome boy, carved out of pure white stone, which had fallen to_the bottom of_the sea from a wreck . she planted by_the statue a rose- colored weeping willow . it grew splendidly, and very_soon hung its fresh branches over the statue, almost down to_the blue sands . the shadow had a violet tint, and waved to and fro like the branches; it seemed as if_the crown of_the tree and_the root were at play, and trying to kiss each_other . nothing gave her so_much pleasure as_to hear about_the world above the sea . she made her old grandmother tell her all she knew of_the ships and of_the towns, the people and_the animals . to her it seemed most wonderful and beautiful to hear that_the flowers of_the land should_have fragrance, and not those below the sea; that_the trees of_the forest should_be green; and_that the fishes among_the trees could sing so sweetly, that_it_was quite a pleasure to hear them . her grandmother called the little birds fishes, or she_would not have understood her; for she had never seen birds .

" when_you have reached your fifteenth year," said the grand- mother, " you_will_have permission to rise up out_of_the sea, to sit on_the rocks in_the moonlight, while the great ships are sailing by; and then you_will_see both forests and towns ."

in_the following year, one_of_the sisters would_be fifteen: but as each was a year younger than_the other, the youngest would_have to wait five years before her turn came to rise up from_the bottom of_the ocean, and_see the earth as we_do . however, each promised to_tell the others what she saw on her first visit, and what she thought the most beautiful; for their grandmother could_not tell them enough; there were so_many things on_which they wanted information . none_of_them longed so_much for her turn to_come as_the youngest, she who had the longest time to wait, and who was so quiet and thoughtful . many nights she stood by_the open window, looking up through_the dark blue water, and watching the fish as_they splashed about with their fins and tails . she_could see the moon and stars shining faintly; but through_the water they looked larger than they_do to our eyes . when something like a black cloud passed between her and them, she knew that_it_was either a whale swimming over her head, or a ship full of human beings, who never imagined that a pretty little mermaid was standing beneath them, holding out her white hands towards the keel of_their ship .

as_soon_as_the eldest was fifteen, she was allowed to rise to_the surface of_the ocean . when she came back, she had hundreds of things to_talk about; but the most beautiful, she said, was to lie in_the moonlight, on a sandbank, in_the quiet sea, near the coast, and to gaze on a large town nearby, where the lights were twinkling like hundreds of stars; to listen to_the sounds of_the music, the noise of carriages, and_the voices of human beings, and then to hear the merry bells peal out from_the church steeples; and because she_could_not go near to all those wonderful things, she longed for_them more than ever .Oh, did_not the youngest sister listen eagerly to all these descriptions ? and afterwards, when she stood at_the open window looking up through_the dark blue water, she thought of_the great city, with all its bustle and noise, and even fancied she_could hear the sound of_the church bells, down in_the depths of_the sea .

in another year the second sister received permission to rise to_the surface of_the water, and to swim about where she pleased . she rose just as_the sun was setting, and this, she said, was_the most beautiful sight of all . the whole sky looked like gold, while violet and rose- colored clouds, which she_could_not describe, floated over her; and, still more rapidly than_the clouds, flew a large flock of wild swans towards the setting sun, looking like a long white veil across the sea . she also swam towards the sun; but it sunk into_the waves, and_the rosy tints faded from_the clouds and from_the sea .

the third sister's turn followed; she was_the boldest of_them all, and she swam up a broad river that emptied itself into_the sea . on_the banks she saw green hills covered with beautiful vines; palaces and castles peeped out from amid the proud trees of_the forest; she heard the birds singing, and_the rays of_the sun were so powerful that she was obliged often to dive down under the water to cool her burning face . in a narrow creek she found a whole troop of little human children, quite naked, and sporting about in_the water; she wanted to play with_them, but they fled in a great fright; and then a little black animal came to_the water; it_was a dog, but she did_not know that, for she had never before seen one . this animal barked at her so terribly that she became frightened, and rushed back to_the open sea . but she said she should never forget the beautiful forest, the green hills, and_the pretty little children who_could swim in_the water, although they had_not fish's tails .

the fourth sister was more timid; she remained in_the midst of_the sea, but she said it_was quite as beautiful there as nearer the land . she_could see for so_many miles around her, and_the sky above looked like a bell of glass . she had seen the ships, but at such a great distance that_they looked like sea-gulls . the dolphins sported in_the waves, and_the great whales spouted water from their nostrils till it seemed as_if a hundred fountains were playing in every direction .

the fifth sister's birthday occurred in_the winter; so when her turn came, she saw what the others had_not seen the first time they went up . the sea looked quite green, and large icebergs were floating about, each like a pearl, she said, but larger and loftier than_the churches built by men . they were of_the most singular shapes, and glittered like diamonds . she had seated herself upon one_of_the largest, and let the wind play with her long hair, and she remarked that all the ships sailed by rapidly, and steered as far away as they_could from_the iceberg, as if_they were afraid of it . towards evening, as_the sun went down, dark clouds covered the sky, the thunder rolled and_the lightning flashed, and_the red light glowed on_the icebergs as_they rocked and tossed on_the heaving sea . on all the ships the sails were reefed with fear and trembling, while she sat calmly on_the floating iceberg, watching the blue lightning, as it darted its forked flashes into_the sea .

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,

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