by Hans Christian Andersen

translation by H P Paull (1872)

FAR out ocean, where the water is as blue prettiest cornflower, and as clear as crystal, very, very deep; so deep, indeed, that no cable could fathom it: many church steeples, piled one upon another, reach ground beneath surface water above There dwell the Sea King subjects not imagine nothing bottom sea but bare yellow sand No, indeed; the most singular flowers and plants grow there; the leaves and stems are so pliant, slightest agitation water causes them to stir as had life Fishes, both large and small, glide branches, as birds fly trees here upon land deepest spot of all, stands the castle Sea King Its walls are built of coral, long, gothic windows are clearest amber The roof is formed of shells, that open and close water flows over them Their appearance is very beautiful, for in each lies glittering pearl, which fit diadem of queen

The Sea King widower for many years, aged mother kept house for him She was very wise woman, and exceedingly proud of her high birth; 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 little sea-princesses, her grand-daughters They were six beautiful children; but the youngest prettiest all; her skin was as clear and delicate as rose-leaf, and her eyes as blue deepest sea; but, like all the others, she had no feet, and her body ended in fish's tail All day long they played great halls castle, or living flowers that grew walls The large amber windows were open, fish swam in, just swallows fly into our houses when we open the windows, excepting fishes swam princesses, ate out hands, and allowed themselves stroked Outside the castle beautiful garden, grew bright red and dark blue flowers, and blossoms like flames of fire; the fruit glittered like gold, leaves and stems waved to and fro continually The earth itself finest sand, but blue flame of burning sulphur Over everything lay peculiar blue radiance, it were surrounded air from above, through which the blue sky shone, instead dark depths sea In calm weather the sun seen, looking like purple flower, light streaming calyx Each young princesses had little plot of ground garden, where she might dig and plant as she pleased One arranged her flower-bed form of whale; another thought it better hers like the figure of little mermaid; but that youngest was round like the sun, and contained flowers as red as his rays at sunset She was strange child, quiet and thoughtful; and while her sisters delighted wonderful things which they obtained wrecks of vessels, she cared for nothing but her pretty red flowers, like the sun, excepting beautiful marble statue It representation of handsome boy, carved out of pure white stone, which had fallen bottom sea from wreck She planted statue rose-colored weeping willow It grew splendidly, and hung its fresh branches over the statue, almost down blue sands The shadow had violet tint, and waved to and fro like the branches; it seemed as crown tree root were at play, and trying to kiss Nothing gave her pleasure hear world above the sea She made her old grandmother tell her all she knew ships and towns, the people animals To her it seemed most wonderful and beautiful to hear flowers land fragrance, and not those below the sea; trees forest green; and fishes trees could sing so sweetly, quite pleasure to hear them Her grandmother called the little birds fishes, or not have understood her; for she had never seen birds

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

following year, sisters fifteen: but as each was year younger other, the youngest to wait five years before her turn came to rise up bottom ocean, the earth do However, each promised the others what she saw on her first visit, and what she thought the most beautiful; for their grandmother tell them enough; there were things they wanted information longed for her turn youngest, she who had the longest time to wait, and who was so quiet and thoughtful Many nights she stood open window, looking up dark blue water, and watching the fish splashed about with their fins and tails She the moon and stars shining faintly; but water they looked larger than to our eyes When something like black cloud passed between her and them, she knew either whale swimming over her head, or ship full of human beings, who never imagined that pretty little mermaid was standing beneath them, holding out her white hands towards the keel ship

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

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

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

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

The fifth sister's birthday occurred winter; so when her turn came, she saw what the others seen the first time they went up The sea looked quite green, and large icebergs were floating about, each like pearl, she said, but larger and loftier churches built by men They were most singular shapes, and glittered like diamonds She had seated herself upon 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 iceberg, as were afraid of it Towards evening, sun went down, dark clouds covered the sky, the thunder rolled lightning flashed, red light glowed icebergs rocked and tossed heaving sea On all the ships the sails were reefed with fear and trembling, while she sat calmly floating iceberg, watching the blue lightning, as it darted its forked flashes sea