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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； more than a hundred 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 a moaning；
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 a while； 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。 A dreadful 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 a swan
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 a reed； 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 a
single 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； 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 a
single 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 a flock of swans were lying upon them。 Near the coast
were beautiful green forests； and close by stood a large building；
whether a church or a convent she could not tell。 Orange and citron
trees grew in the garden； and before the door stood lofty palms。 The
sea 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 the
warm sunshine； taking care to raise his head higher than his body。
Then bells sounded in the large white building； and a number 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 a young girl approach the spot where he lay。 She seemed
frightened at first； but only for a moment； then she fetched a
number of people； and the mermaid saw that the prince came to life
again； and smiled upon those who stood