安徒生童话-第122章
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water flows over them。 Their appearance is verybeautiful； for in each lies a glittering pearl； which would be fit forthe diadem of a queen。
The Sea King had been a widower for many years； and his agedmother kept house for him。 She was a very wise woman； andexceedingly proud of her high birth； on that account she wore twelveoysters on her tail； while others； also of high rank； were onlyallowed to wear six。 She was； however； deserving of very great praise；especially for her care of the little sea…princesses； hergrand…daughters。 They were six beautiful children； but the youngestwas the prettiest of them all； her skin was as clear and delicate as arose…leaf； and her eyes as blue as the deepest sea； but； like allthe 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 amongthe living flowers that grew out of the walls。 The large amber windowswere open； and the fish swam in； just as the swallows fly into ourhouses when we open the windows； excepting that the fishes swam upto the princesses； ate out of their hands； and allowed themselves tobe stroked。 Outside the castle there was a beautiful garden； inwhich grew bright red and dark blue flowers； and blossoms likeflames of fire； the fruit glittered like gold； and the leaves andstems waved to and fro continually。 The earth itself was the finestsand； but blue as the flame of burning sulphur。 Over everything laya peculiar blue radiance； as if it were surrounded by the air fromabove； through which the blue sky shone； instead of the dark depths ofthe sea。 In calm weather the sun could be seen； looking like apurple flower； with the light streaming from the calyx。 Each of theyoung princesses had a little plot of ground in the garden； whereshe might dig and plant as she pleased。 One arranged her flower…bedinto the form of a whale； another thought it better to make herslike the figure of a little mermaid； but that of the youngest wasround like the sun； and contained flowers as red as his rays atsunset。 She was a strange child； quiet and thoughtful； and while hersisters would be delighted with the wonderful things which theyobtained from the wrecks of vessels； she cared for nothing but herpretty red flowers； like the sun； excepting a beautiful marble statue。It was the representation of a handsome boy； carved out of purewhite stone； which had fallen to the bottom of the sea from a wreck。She planted by the statue a rose…colored weeping willow。 It grewsplendidly； and very soon hung its fresh branches over the statue；almost down to the blue sands。 The shadow had a violet tint； and wavedto and fro like the branches； it seemed as if the crown of the treeand the root were at play； and trying to kiss each other。 Nothing gaveher so much pleasure as to hear about the world above the sea。 Shemade her old grandmother tell her all she knew of the ships and of thetowns； the people and the animals。 To her it seemed most wonderful andbeautiful to hear that the flowers of the land should havefragrance； and not those below the sea； that the trees of the forestshould be green； and that the fishes among the trees could sing sosweetly； that it was quite a pleasure to hear them。 Her grandmothercalled the little birds fishes； or she would not have understoodher； for she had never seen birds。
〃When you have reached your fifteenth year；〃 said thegrand…mother； 〃you will have permission to rise up out of the sea；to sit on the rocks in the moonlight； while the great ships aresailing by； and then you will see both forests and towns。〃
In the following year； one of the sisters would be fifteen： but aseach was a year younger than the other； the youngest would have towait five years before her turn came to rise up from the bottom of theocean； and see the earth as we do。 However； each promised to tellthe others what she saw on her first visit； and what she thought themost beautiful； for their grandmother could not tell them enough；there were so many things on which they wanted information。 None ofthem longed so much for her turn to e as the youngest； she whohad the longest time to wait； and who was so quiet and thoughtful。Many nights she stood by the open window； looking up through thedark blue water； and watching the fish as they splashed about withtheir fins and tails。 She could see the moon and stars shiningfaintly； but through the water they looked larger than they do toour eyes。 When something like a black cloud passed between her andthem； she knew that it was either a whale swimming over her head； or aship full of human beings； who never imagined that a pretty littlemermaid was standing beneath them； holding out her white hands towardsthe keel of their ship。
As soon as the eldest was fifteen； she was allowed to rise tothe surface of the ocean。 When she came back； she had hundreds ofthings to talk about； but the most beautiful； she said； was to liein the moonlight； on a sandbank； in the quiet sea； near the coast； andto gaze on a large town nearby； where the lights were twinkling likehundreds of stars； to listen to the sounds of the music； the noiseof carriages； and the voices of human beings； and then to hear themerry bells peal out from the church steeples； and because she couldnot go near to all those wonderful things； she longed for them morethan ever。 Oh； did not the youngest sister listen eagerly to all thesedescriptions？ and afterwards； when she stood at the open windowlooking up through the dark blue water； she thought of the great city；with all its bustle and noise； and even fancied she could hear thesound of the church bells； down in the depths of the sea。
In another year the second sister received permission to rise tothe surface of the water； and to swim about where she pleased。 Sherose just as the sun was setting； and this； she said； was the mostbeautiful sight of all。 The whole sky looked like gold； while violetand rose…colored clouds； which she could not describe； floated overher； and； still more rapidly than the clouds； flew a large flock ofwild swans towards the setting sun； looking like a long white veilacross the sea。 She also swam towards the sun； but it sunk into thewaves； 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 thebanks she saw green hills covered with beautiful vines； palaces andcastles peeped out from amid the proud trees of the forest； sheheard the birds singing； and the rays of the sun were so powerful thatshe was obliged often to dive down under the water to cool her burningface。 In a narrow creek she found a whole troop of little humanchildren； quite naked； and sporting about in the water； she wantedto play with them； but they fled in a great fright； and then alittle black animal came to the water； it was a dog； but she did notknow that； for she had never before seen one。 This animal barked ather so terribly that she became frightened； and rushed back to theopen sea。 But she said she should never forget the beautiful forest；the green hills； and the pretty little children who could swim inthe water； although they had not fish's tails。
The fourth sister was more timid； she remained in the midst of thesea； but she said it was quite as beautiful there as nearer theland。 She could see for so many miles around her； and the sky abovelooked like a bell of glass。 She had seen the ships； but at such agreat distance that they looked like sea…gulls。 The dolphins sportedin the waves； and the great whales spouted water from their nostrilstill it seemed as if a hundred fountains were playing in everydirection。
The fifth sister's birthday occurred in the winter； so when herturn came； she saw what the others had not seen the first time theywent up。 The sea looked quite green； and large icebergs werefloating about； each like a pearl； she said； but larger and loftierthan the churches built by men。 They were of the most singular shapes；and glittered like diamonds。 She had seated herself upon one of thelargest； and let the wind play with her long hair； and she remarkedthat all the ships sailed by rapidly； and steered as far away asthey could from the iceberg； as if they were afraid o
