海的女儿英文全文daughter of the sea

ARoutintheocean,wherethewaterisasblueastheprettiestcornflower,andasclearascrystal,itisvery,verydeep;sodeep,indeed,thatnocablecouldfathomit:manychurchsteeples,piledoneuponanother,wouldnotreachfromthegroundbeneathtothesurfaceofthewaterabove.TheredwelltheSeaKingandhissubjects.Wemustnotimaginethatthereisnothingatthebottomoftheseabutbareyellowsand.No,indeed;themostsingularflowersandplantsgrowthere;theleavesandstemsofwhicharesopliant,thattheslightestagitationofthewatercausesthemtostirasiftheyhadlife.Fishes,bothlargeandsmall,glidebetweenthebranches,asbirdsflyamongthetreeshereuponland.Inthedeepestspotofall,standsthecastleoftheSeaKing.Itswallsarebuiltofcoral,andthelong,gothicwindowsareoftheclearestamber.Theroofisformedofshells,thatopenandcloseasthewaterflowsoverthem.Theirappearanceisverybeautiful,forineachliesaglitteringpearl,whichwouldbefitforthediademofaqueen. TheSeaKinghadbeenawidowerformanyyears,andhisagedmotherkepthouseforhim.Shewasaverywisewoman,andexceedinglyproudofherhighbirth;onthataccountsheworetwelveoystersonhertail;whileothers,alsoofhighrank,wereonlyallowedtowearsix.Shewas,however,deservingofverygreatpraise,especiallyforhercareofthelittlesea-princesses,hergrand-daughters.Theyweresixbeautifulchildren;buttheyoungestwastheprettiestofthemall;herskinwasasclearanddelicateasarose-leaf,andhereyesasblueasthedeepestsea;but,likealltheothers,shehadnofeet,andherbodyendedinafishstail.Alldaylongtheyplayedinthegreathallsofthecastle,oramongthelivingflowersthatgrewoutofthewalls.Thelargeamberwindowswereopen,andthefishswamin,justastheswallowsflyintoourhouseswhenweopenthewindows,exceptingthatthefishesswamuptotheprincesses,ateoutoftheirhands,andallowedthemselvestobestroked.Outsidethecastletherewasabeautifulgarden,inwhichgrewbrightredanddarkblueflowers,andblossomslikeflamesoffire;thefruitglitteredlikegold,andtheleavesandstemswavedtoandfrocontinually.Theearthitselfwasthefinestsand,butblueastheflameofburningsulphur.Overeverythinglayapeculiarblueradiance,asifitweresurroundedbytheairfromabove,throughwhichtheblueskyshone,insteadofthedarkdepthsofthesea.Incalmweatherthesuncouldbeseen,lookinglikeapurpleflower,withthelightstreamingfromthecalyx.Eachoftheyoungprincesseshadalittleplotofgroundinthegarden,whereshemightdigandplantasshepleased.Onearrangedherflower-bedintotheformofawhale;anotherthoughtitbettertomakeherslikethefigureofalittlemermaid;butthatoftheyoungestwasroundlikethesun,andcontainedflowersasredashisraysatsunset.Shewasastrangechild,quietandthoughtful;andwhilehersisterswouldbedelightedwiththewonderfulthingswhichtheyobtainedfromthewrecksofvessels,shecaredfornothingbutherprettyredflowers,likethesun,exceptingabeautifulmarblestatue.Itwastherepresentationofahandsomeboy,carvedoutofpurewhitestone,whichhadfallentothebottomoftheseafromawreck.Sheplantedbythestatuearose-coloredweepingwillow.Itgrewsplendidly,andverysoonhungitsfreshbranchesoverthestatue,almostdowntothebluesands.Theshadowhadaviolettint,andwavedtoandfrolikethebranches;itseemedasifthecrownofthetreeandtherootwereatplay,andtryingtokisseachother.Nothinggavehersomuchpleasureastohearabouttheworldabovethesea.Shemadeheroldgrandmothertellherallsheknewoftheshipsandofthetowns,thepeopleandtheanimals.Toheritseemedmostwonderfulandbeautifultohearthattheflowersofthelandshouldhavefragrance,andnotthosebelowthesea;thatthetreesoftheforestshouldbegreen;andthatthefishesamongthetreescouldsingsosweetly,thatitwasquiteapleasuretohearthem.Hergrandmothercalledthelittlebirdsfishes,orshewouldnothaveunderstoodher;forshehadneverseenbirds.Whenyouhavereachedyourfifteenthyear,saidthegrand-mother,youwillhavepermissiontoriseupoutofthesea,tositontherocksinthemoonlight,whilethegreatshipsaresailingby;andthenyouwillseebothforestsandtowns. Inthefollowingyear,oneofthesisterswouldbefifteen:butaseachwasayearyoungerthantheother,theyoungestwouldhavetowaitfiveyearsbeforeherturncametoriseupfromthebottomoftheocean,andseetheearthaswedo.However,eachpromisedtotelltheotherswhatshesawonherfirstvisit,andwhatshethoughtthemostbeautiful;fortheirgrandmothercouldnottellthemenough;thereweresomanythingsonwhichtheywantedinformation.Noneofthemlongedsomuchforherturntocomeastheyoungest,shewhohadthelongesttimetowait,andwhowassoquietandthoughtful.Manynightsshestoodbytheopenwindow,lookingupthroughthedarkbluewater,andwatchingthefishastheysplashedaboutwiththeirfinsandtails.Shecouldseethemoonandstarsshiningfaintly;butthroughthewatertheylookedlargerthantheydotooureyes.Whensomethinglikeablackcloudpassedbetweenherandthem,sheknewthatitwaseitherawhaleswimmingoverherhead,orashipfullofhumanbeings,whoneverimaginedthataprettylittlemermaidwasstandingbeneaththem,holdingoutherwhitehandstowardsthekeeloftheirship. Assoonastheeldestwasfifteen,shewasallowedtorisetothesurfaceoftheocean.Whenshecameback,shehadhundredsofthingstotalkabout;butthemostbeautiful,shesaid,wastolieinthemoonlight,onasandbank,inthequietsea,nearthecoast,andtogazeonalargetownnearby,wherethelightsweretwinklinglikehundredsofstars;tolistentothesoundsofthemusic,thenoiseofcarriages,andthevoicesofhumanbeings,andthentohearthemerrybellspealoutfromthechurchsteeples;andbecauseshecouldnotgoneartoallthosewonderfulthings,shelongedforthemmorethanever.Oh,didnottheyoungestsisterlisteneagerlytoallthesedescriptions?andafterwards,whenshestoodattheopenwindowlookingupthroughthedarkbluewater,shethoughtofthegreatcity,withallitsbustleandnoise,andevenfanciedshecouldhearthesoundofthechurchbells,downinthedepthsofthesea. Inanotheryearthesecondsisterreceivedpermissiontorisetothesurfaceofthewater,andtoswimaboutwhereshepleased.Sherosejustasthesunwassetting,andthis,shesaid,wasthemostbeautifulsightofall.Thewholeskylookedlikegold,whilevioletandrose-coloredclouds,whichshecouldnotdescribe,floatedoverher;and,stillmorerapidlythantheclouds,flewalargeflockofwildswanstowardsthesettingsun,lookinglikealongwhiteveilacrossthesea.Shealsoswamtowardsthesun;butitsunkintothewaves,andtherosytintsfadedfromthecloudsandfromthesea. Thethirdsistersturnfollowed;shewastheboldestofthemall,andsheswamupabroadriverthatemptieditselfintothesea.Onthebanksshesawgreenhillscoveredwithbeautifulvines;palacesandcastlespeepedoutfromamidtheproudtreesoftheforest;sheheardthebirdssinging,andtheraysofthesunweresopowerfulthatshewasobligedoftentodivedownunderthewatertocoolherburningface.Inanarrowcreekshefoundawholetroopoflittlehumanchildren,quitenaked,andsportingaboutinthewater;shewantedtoplaywiththem,buttheyfledinagreatfright;andthenalittleblackanimalcametothewater;itwasadog,butshedidnotknowthat,forshehadneverbeforeseenone.Thisanimalbarkedathersoterriblythatshebecamefrightened,andrushedbacktotheopensea.Butshesaidsheshouldneverforgetthebeautifulforest,thegreenhills,andtheprettylittlechildrenwhocouldswiminthewater,althoughtheyhadnotfishstails. Thefourthsisterwasmoretimid;sheremainedinthemidstofthesea,butshesaiditwasquiteasbeautifulthereasnearertheland.Shecouldseeforsomanymilesaroundher,andtheskyabovelookedlikeabellofglass.Shehadseentheships,butatsuchagreatdistancethattheylookedlikesea-gulls.Thedolphinssportedinthewaves,andthegreatwhalesspoutedwaterfromtheirnostrilstillitseemedasifahundredfountainswereplayingineverydirection. Thefifthsistersbirthdayoccurredinthewinter;sowhenherturncame,shesawwhattheothershadnotseenthefirsttimetheywentup.Thesealookedquitegreen,andlargeicebergswerefloatingabout,eachlikeapearl,shesaid,butlargerandloftierthanthechurchesbuiltbymen.Theywereofthemostsingularshapes,andglitteredlikediamonds.Shehadseatedherselfupononeofthelargest,andletthewindplaywithherlonghair,andsheremarkedthatalltheshipssailedbyrapidly,andsteeredasfarawayastheycouldfromtheiceberg,asiftheywereafraidofit.Towardsevening,asthesunwentdown,darkcloudscoveredthesky,thethunderrolledandthelightningflashed,andtheredlightglowedontheicebergsastheyrockedandtossedontheheavingsea.Onalltheshipsthesailswerereefedwithfearandtrembling,whileshesatcalmlyonthefloatingiceberg,watchingthebluelightning,asitdarteditsforkedflashesintothesea. Whenfirstthesistershadpermissiontorisetothesurface,theywereeachdelightedwiththenewandbeautifulsightstheysaw;butnow,asgrown-upgirls,theycouldgowhentheypleased,andtheyhadbecomeindifferentaboutit.Theywishedthemselvesbackagaininthewater,andafteramonthhadpassedtheysaiditwasmuchmorebeautifuldownbelow,andpleasantertobeathome.Yetoften,intheeveninghours,thefivesisterswouldtwinetheirarmsroundeachother,andrisetothesurface,inarow.Theyhadmorebeautifulvoicesthananyhumanbeingcouldhave;andbeforetheapproachofastorm,andwhentheyexpectedashipwouldbelost,theyswambeforethevessel,andsangsweetlyofthedelightstobefoundinthedepthsofthesea,andbeggingthesailorsnottofeariftheysanktothebottom.Butthesailorscouldnotunderstandthesong,theytookitforthehowlingofthestorm.Andthesethingswerenevertobebeautifulforthem;foriftheshipsank,themenweredrowned,andtheirdeadbodiesalonereachedthepalaceoftheSeaKing. Whenthesistersrose,arm-in-arm,throughthewaterinthisway,theiryoungestsisterwouldstandquitealone,lookingafterthem,readytocry,onlythatthemermaidshavenotears,andthereforetheysuffermore.Oh,wereIbutfifteenyearsold,saidshe:IknowthatIshalllovetheworldupthere,andallthepeoplewholiveinit. Atlastshereachedherfifteenthyear.Well,now,youaregrownup,saidtheolddowager,hergrandmother;soyoumustletmeadornyoulikeyourothersisters;andsheplacedawreathofwhiteliliesinherhair,andeveryflowerleafwashalfapearl.Thentheoldladyorderedeightgreatoysterstoattachthemselvestothetailoftheprincesstoshowherhighrank.Buttheyhurtmeso,saidthelittlemermaid. Pridemustsufferpain,repliedtheoldlady.Oh,howgladlyshewouldhaveshakenoffallthisgrandeur,andlaidasidetheheavywreath!Theredflowersinherowngardenwouldhavesuitedhermuchbetter,butshecouldnothelpherself:soshesaid,Farewell,androseaslightlyasabubbletothesurfaceofthewater.Thesunhadjustsetassheraisedherheadabovethewaves;butthecloudsweretintedwithcrimsonandgold,andthroughtheglimmeringtwilightbeamedtheeveningstarinallitsbeauty.Theseawascalm,andtheairmildandfresh.Alargeship,withthreemasts,laybecalmedonthewater,withonlyonesailset;fornotabreezestiffed,andthesailorssatidleondeckoramongsttherigging.Therewasmusicandsongonboard;and,asdarknesscameon,ahundredcoloredlanternswerelighted,asiftheflagsofallnationswavedintheair.Thelittlemermaidswamclosetothecabinwindows;andnowandthen,asthewavesliftedherup,shecouldlookinthroughclearglasswindow-panes,andseeanumberofwell-dressedpeoplewithin.Amongthemwasayoungprince,themostbeautifulofall,withlargeblackeyes;hewassixteenyearsofage,andhisbirthdaywasbeingkeptwithmuchrejoicing.Thesailorsweredancingondeck,butwhentheprincecameoutofthecabin,morethanahundredrocketsroseintheair,makingitasbrightasday.Thelittlemermaidwassostartledthatshedivedunderwater;andwhensheagainstretchedoutherhead,itappearedasifallthestarsofheavenwerefallingaroundher,shehadneverseensuchfireworksbefore.Greatsunsspurtedfireabout,splendidfirefliesflewintotheblueair,andeverythingwasreflectedintheclear,calmseabeneath.Theshipitselfwassobrightlyilluminatedthatallthepeople,andeventhesmallestrope,couldbedistinctlyandplainlyseen.Andhowhandsometheyoungprincelooked,ashepressedthehandsofallpresentandsmiledatthem,whilethemusicresoundedthroughtheclearnightair. Itwasverylate;yetthelittlemermaidcouldnottakehereyesfromtheship,orfromthebeautifulprince.Thecoloredlanternshadbeenextinguished,nomorerocketsroseintheair,andthecannonhadceasedfiring;buttheseabecamerestless,andamoaning,grumblingsoundcouldbeheardbeneaththewaves:stillthelittlemermaidremainedbythecabinwindow,rockingupanddownonthewater,whichenabledhertolookin.Afterawhile,thesailswerequicklyunfurled,andthenobleshipcontinuedherpassage;butsoonthewavesrosehigher,heavycloudsdarkenedthesky,andlightningappearedinthedistance.Adreadfulstormwasapproaching;oncemorethesailswerereefed,andthegreatshippursuedherflyingcourseovertheragingsea.Thewavesrosemountainshigh,asiftheywouldhaveovertoppedthemast;buttheshipdivedlikeaswanbetweenthem,andthenroseagainontheirlofty,foamingcrests.Tothelittlemermaidthisappearedpleasantsport;notsotothesailors.Atlengththeshipgroanedandcreaked;thethickplanksgavewayunderthelashingoftheseaasitbrokeoverthedeck;themainmastsnappedasunderlikeareed;theshiplayoveronherside;andthewaterrushedin.Thelittlemermaidnowperceivedthatthecrewwereindanger;evensheherselfwasobligedtobecarefultoavoidthebeamsandplanksofthewreckwhichlayscatteredonthewater.Atonemomentitwassopitchdarkthatshecouldnotseeasingleobject,butaflashoflightningrevealedthewholescene;shecouldseeeveryonewhohadbeenonboardexceptingtheprince;whentheshipparted,shehadseenhimsinkintothedeepwaves,andshewasglad,forshethoughthewouldnowbewithher;andthensherememberedthathumanbeingscouldnotliveinthewater,sothatwhenhegotdowntoherfatherspalacehewouldbequitedead.Buthemustnotdie.Sosheswamaboutamongthebeamsandplankswhichstrewedthesurfaceofthesea,forgettingthattheycouldcrushhertopieces.Thenshediveddeeplyunderthedarkwaters,risingandfallingwiththewaves,tillatlengthshemanagedtoreachtheyoungprince,whowasfastlosingthepowerofswimminginthatstormysea.Hislimbswerefailinghim,hisbeautifuleyeswereclosed,andhewouldhavediedhadnotthelittlemermaidcometohisassistance.Sheheldhisheadabovethewater,andletthewavesdriftthemwheretheywould.Inthemorningthestormhadceased;butoftheshipnotasinglefragmentcouldbeseen.Thesunroseupredandglowingfromthewater,anditsbeamsbroughtbackthehueofhealthtotheprincescheeks;buthiseyesremainedclosed.Themermaidkissedhishigh,smoothforehead,andstrokedbackhiswethair;heseemedtoherlikethemarblestatueinherlittlegarden,andshekissedhimagain,andwishedthathemightlive.Presentlytheycameinsightofland;shesawloftybluemountains,onwhichthewhitesnowrestedasifaflockofswanswerelyinguponthem.Nearthecoastwerebeautifulgreenforests,andclosebystoodalargebuilding,whetherachurchoraconventshecouldnottell.Orangeandcitrontreesgrewinthegarden,andbeforethedoorstoodloftypalms.Theseahereformedalittlebay,inwhichthewaterwasquitestill,butverydeep;sosheswamwiththehandsomeprincetothebeach,whichwascoveredwithfine,whitesand,andthereshelaidhiminthewarmsunshine,takingcaretoraisehisheadhigherthanhisbody.Thenbellssoundedinthelargewhitebuilding,andanumberofyounggirlscameintothegarden.Thelittlemermaidswamoutfartherfromtheshoreandplacedherselfbetweensomehighrocksthatroseoutofthewater;thenshecoveredherheadandneckwiththefoamoftheseasothatherlittlefacemightnotbeseen,andwatchedtoseewhatwouldbecomeofthepoorprince.Shedidnotwaitlongbeforeshesawayounggirlapproachthespotwherehelay.Sheseemedfrightenedatfirst,butonlyforamoment;thenshefetchedanumberofpeople,andthemermaidsawthattheprincecametolifeagain,andsmileduponthosewhostoodroundhim.Buttoherhesentnosmile;heknewnotthatshehadsavedhim.Thismadeherveryunhappy,andwhenhewasledawayintothegreatbuilding,shediveddownsorrowfullyintothewater,andreturnedtoherfathersc