The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5]
amonth 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 arow .They had more beautiful voices than any human being could_have; and before_the approach of astorm, and when_they expected aship 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 awreath of white lilies in her hair, and every flower leaf was half apearl .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 abubble 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 .alarge ship, with three masts, lay becalmed on_the water, with only_one sail set; for not abreeze stiffed, and_the sailors sat idle on deck or amongst the rigging . there_was music and song on board; and, as darkness came on, ahundred 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 anumber of well-dressed people within .Among them was ayoung 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 ahundred 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 amoaning, 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 awhile, 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 .adreadful 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 aswan 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 areed; 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 asingle object, but aflash 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 asingle 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 aflock of swans were lying upon them .Near the coast were beautiful green forests, and close by stood alarge building, whether achurch or aconvent she_could_not tell .Orange and citron trees grew in_the garden, and before_the door stood lofty palms .The sea here formed alittle 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 anumber 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 ayoung girl approach the spot where he lay .She seemed frightened at first, but only for amoment; then she fetched anumber 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 along 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 apleasure to look at . in_the centre of_the largest saloon afountain 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 anight 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 abroad 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 apleasant 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 aswan, spreading out its wings .On many anight, 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

Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5]