海的女儿英文全文daughter of the sea

《海的女儿英文全文daughter of the sea》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《海的女儿英文全文daughter of the sea（34页珍藏版）》请在装配图网上搜索。

1、ARoutintheocean,wherethewaterisasblueastheprettiestcornflower,andasclearascrystal,itisvery,verydeep;sodeep,indeed,thatnocablecouldfathomit:manychurchsteeples,piledoneuponanother,wouldnotreachfromthegroundbeneathtothesurfaceofthewaterabove.TheredwelltheSeaKingandhissubjects.Wemustnotimaginethattherei

2、snothingatthebottomoftheseabutbareyellowsand.No,indeed;themostsingularflowersandplantsgrowthere;theleavesandstemsofwhicharesopliant,thattheslightestagitationofthewatercausesthemtostirasiftheyhadlife.Fishes,bothlargeandsmall,glidebetweenthebranches,asbirdsflyamongthetreeshereuponland.Inthedeepestspot

3、ofall,standsthecastleoftheSeaKing.Itswallsarebuiltofcoral,andthelong,gothicwindowsareoftheclearestamber.Theroofisformedofshells,thatopenandcloseasthewaterflowsoverthem.Theirappearanceisverybeautiful,forineachliesaglitteringpearl,whichwouldbefitforthediademofaqueen. TheSeaKinghadbeenawidowerformanyye

4、ars,andhisagedmotherkepthouseforhim.Shewasaverywisewoman,andexceedinglyproudofherhighbirth;onthataccountsheworetwelveoystersonhertail;whileothers,alsoofhighrank,wereonlyallowedtowearsix.Shewas,however,deservingofverygreatpraise,especiallyforhercareofthelittlesea-princesses,hergrand-daughters.Theywer

5、esixbeautifulchildren;buttheyoungestwastheprettiestofthemall;herskinwasasclearanddelicateasarose-leaf,andhereyesasblueasthedeepestsea;but,likealltheothers,shehadnofeet,andherbodyendedinafishstail.Alldaylongtheyplayedinthegreathallsofthecastle,oramongthelivingflowersthatgrewoutofthewalls.Thelargeambe

6、rwindowswereopen,andthefishswamin,justastheswallowsflyintoourhouseswhenweopenthewindows,exceptingthatthefishesswamuptotheprincesses,ateoutoftheirhands,andallowedthemselvestobestroked.Outsidethecastletherewasabeautifulgarden,inwhichgrewbrightredanddarkblueflowers,andblossomslikeflamesoffire;thefruitg

7、litteredlikegold,andtheleavesandstemswavedtoandfrocontinually.Theearthitselfwasthefinestsand,butblueastheflameofburningsulphur.Overeverythinglayapeculiarblueradiance,asifitweresurroundedbytheairfromabove,throughwhichtheblueskyshone,insteadofthedarkdepthsofthesea.Incalmweatherthesuncouldbeseen,lookin

8、glikeapurpleflower,withthelightstreamingfromthecalyx.Eachoftheyoungprincesseshadalittleplotofgroundinthegarden,whereshemightdigandplantasshepleased.Onearrangedherflower-bedintotheformofawhale;anotherthoughtitbettertomakeherslikethefigureofalittlemermaid;butthatoftheyoungestwasroundlikethesun,andcont

9、ainedflowersasredashisraysatsunset.Shewasastrangechild,quietandthoughtful;andwhilehersisterswouldbedelightedwiththewonderfulthingswhichtheyobtainedfromthewrecksofvessels,shecaredfornothingbutherprettyredflowers,likethesun,exceptingabeautifulmarblestatue.Itwastherepresentationofahandsomeboy,carvedout

10、ofpurewhitestone,whichhadfallentothebottomoftheseafromawreck.Sheplantedbythestatuearose-coloredweepingwillow.Itgrewsplendidly,andverysoonhungitsfreshbranchesoverthestatue,almostdowntothebluesands.Theshadowhadaviolettint,andwavedtoandfrolikethebranches;itseemedasifthecrownofthetreeandtherootwereatpla

11、y,andtryingtokisseachother.Nothinggavehersomuchpleasureastohearabouttheworldabovethesea.Shemadeheroldgrandmothertellherallsheknewoftheshipsandofthetowns,thepeopleandtheanimals.Toheritseemedmostwonderfulandbeautifultohearthattheflowersofthelandshouldhavefragrance,andnotthosebelowthesea;thatthetreesof

12、theforestshouldbegreen;andthatthefishesamongthetreescouldsingsosweetly,thatitwasquiteapleasuretohearthem.Hergrandmothercalledthelittlebirdsfishes,orshewouldnothaveunderstoodher;forshehadneverseenbirds.Whenyouhavereachedyourfifteenthyear,saidthegrand-mother,youwillhavepermissiontoriseupoutofthesea,to

13、sitontherocksinthemoonlight,whilethegreatshipsaresailingby;andthenyouwillseebothforestsandtowns. Inthefollowingyear,oneofthesisterswouldbefifteen:butaseachwasayearyoungerthantheother,theyoungestwouldhavetowaitfiveyearsbeforeherturncametoriseupfromthebottomoftheocean,andseetheearthaswedo.However,each

14、promisedtotelltheotherswhatshesawonherfirstvisit,andwhatshethoughtthemostbeautiful;fortheirgrandmothercouldnottellthemenough;thereweresomanythingsonwhichtheywantedinformation.Noneofthemlongedsomuchforherturntocomeastheyoungest,shewhohadthelongesttimetowait,andwhowassoquietandthoughtful.Manynightsshe

15、stoodbytheopenwindow,lookingupthroughthedarkbluewater,andwatchingthefishastheysplashedaboutwiththeirfinsandtails.Shecouldseethemoonandstarsshiningfaintly;butthroughthewatertheylookedlargerthantheydotooureyes.Whensomethinglikeablackcloudpassedbetweenherandthem,sheknewthatitwaseitherawhaleswimmingover

16、herhead,orashipfullofhumanbeings,whoneverimaginedthataprettylittlemermaidwasstandingbeneaththem,holdingoutherwhitehandstowardsthekeeloftheirship. Assoonastheeldestwasfifteen,shewasallowedtorisetothesurfaceoftheocean.Whenshecameback,shehadhundredsofthingstotalkabout;butthemostbeautiful,shesaid,wastol

17、ieinthemoonlight,onasandbank,inthequietsea,nearthecoast,andtogazeonalargetownnearby,wherethelightsweretwinklinglikehundredsofstars;tolistentothesoundsofthemusic,thenoiseofcarriages,andthevoicesofhumanbeings,andthentohearthemerrybellspealoutfromthechurchsteeples;andbecauseshecouldnotgoneartoallthosew

18、onderfulthings,shelongedforthemmorethanever.Oh,didnottheyoungestsisterlisteneagerlytoallthesedescriptions?andafterwards,whenshestoodattheopenwindowlookingupthroughthedarkbluewater,shethoughtofthegreatcity,withallitsbustleandnoise,andevenfanciedshecouldhearthesoundofthechurchbells,downinthedepthsofth

19、esea. Inanotheryearthesecondsisterreceivedpermissiontorisetothesurfaceofthewater,andtoswimaboutwhereshepleased.Sherosejustasthesunwassetting,andthis,shesaid,wasthemostbeautifulsightofall.Thewholeskylookedlikegold,whilevioletandrose-coloredclouds,whichshecouldnotdescribe,floatedoverher;and,stillmorer

20、apidlythantheclouds,flewalargeflockofwildswanstowardsthesettingsun,lookinglikealongwhiteveilacrossthesea.Shealsoswamtowardsthesun;butitsunkintothewaves,andtherosytintsfadedfromthecloudsandfromthesea. Thethirdsistersturnfollowed;shewastheboldestofthemall,andsheswamupabroadriverthatemptieditselfintoth

21、esea.Onthebanksshesawgreenhillscoveredwithbeautifulvines;palacesandcastlespeepedoutfromamidtheproudtreesoftheforest;sheheardthebirdssinging,andtheraysofthesunweresopowerfulthatshewasobligedoftentodivedownunderthewatertocoolherburningface.Inanarrowcreekshefoundawholetroopoflittlehumanchildren,quitena

22、ked,andsportingaboutinthewater;shewantedtoplaywiththem,buttheyfledinagreatfright;andthenalittleblackanimalcametothewater;itwasadog,butshedidnotknowthat,forshehadneverbeforeseenone.Thisanimalbarkedathersoterriblythatshebecamefrightened,andrushedbacktotheopensea.Butshesaidsheshouldneverforgetthebeauti

23、fulforest,thegreenhills,andtheprettylittlechildrenwhocouldswiminthewater,althoughtheyhadnotfishstails. Thefourthsisterwasmoretimid;sheremainedinthemidstofthesea,butshesaiditwasquiteasbeautifulthereasnearertheland.Shecouldseeforsomanymilesaroundher,andtheskyabovelookedlikeabellofglass.Shehadseenthesh

24、ips,butatsuchagreatdistancethattheylookedlikesea-gulls.Thedolphinssportedinthewaves,andthegreatwhalesspoutedwaterfromtheirnostrilstillitseemedasifahundredfountainswereplayingineverydirection. Thefifthsistersbirthdayoccurredinthewinter;sowhenherturncame,shesawwhattheothershadnotseenthefirsttimetheywe

25、ntup.Thesealookedquitegreen,andlargeicebergswerefloatingabout,eachlikeapearl,shesaid,butlargerandloftierthanthechurchesbuiltbymen.Theywereofthemostsingularshapes,andglitteredlikediamonds.Shehadseatedherselfupononeofthelargest,andletthewindplaywithherlonghair,andsheremarkedthatalltheshipssailedbyrapi

26、dly,andsteeredasfarawayastheycouldfromtheiceberg,asiftheywereafraidofit.Towardsevening,asthesunwentdown,darkcloudscoveredthesky,thethunderrolledandthelightningflashed,andtheredlightglowedontheicebergsastheyrockedandtossedontheheavingsea.Onalltheshipsthesailswerereefedwithfearandtrembling,whileshesat

27、calmlyonthefloatingiceberg,watchingthebluelightning,asitdarteditsforkedflashesintothesea. Whenfirstthesistershadpermissiontorisetothesurface,theywereeachdelightedwiththenewandbeautifulsightstheysaw;butnow,asgrown-upgirls,theycouldgowhentheypleased,andtheyhadbecomeindifferentaboutit.Theywishedthemsel

28、vesbackagaininthewater,andafteramonthhadpassedtheysaiditwasmuchmorebeautifuldownbelow,andpleasantertobeathome.Yetoften,intheeveninghours,thefivesisterswouldtwinetheirarmsroundeachother,andrisetothesurface,inarow.Theyhadmorebeautifulvoicesthananyhumanbeingcouldhave;andbeforetheapproachofastorm,andwhe

29、ntheyexpectedashipwouldbelost,theyswambeforethevessel,andsangsweetlyofthedelightstobefoundinthedepthsofthesea,andbeggingthesailorsnottofeariftheysanktothebottom.Butthesailorscouldnotunderstandthesong,theytookitforthehowlingofthestorm.Andthesethingswerenevertobebeautifulforthem;foriftheshipsank,theme

30、nweredrowned,andtheirdeadbodiesalonereachedthepalaceoftheSeaKing. Whenthesistersrose,arm-in-arm,throughthewaterinthisway,theiryoungestsisterwouldstandquitealone,lookingafterthem,readytocry,onlythatthemermaidshavenotears,andthereforetheysuffermore.Oh,wereIbutfifteenyearsold,saidshe:IknowthatIshalllov

31、etheworldupthere,andallthepeoplewholiveinit. Atlastshereachedherfifteenthyear.Well,now,youaregrownup,saidtheolddowager,hergrandmother;soyoumustletmeadornyoulikeyourothersisters;andsheplacedawreathofwhiteliliesinherhair,andeveryflowerleafwashalfapearl.Thentheoldladyorderedeightgreatoysterstoattachthe

32、mselvestothetailoftheprincesstoshowherhighrank.Buttheyhurtmeso,saidthelittlemermaid. Pridemustsufferpain,repliedtheoldlady.Oh,howgladlyshewouldhaveshakenoffallthisgrandeur,andlaidasidetheheavywreath!Theredflowersinherowngardenwouldhavesuitedhermuchbetter,butshecouldnothelpherself:soshesaid,Farewell,

33、androseaslightlyasabubbletothesurfaceofthewater.Thesunhadjustsetassheraisedherheadabovethewaves;butthecloudsweretintedwithcrimsonandgold,andthroughtheglimmeringtwilightbeamedtheeveningstarinallitsbeauty.Theseawascalm,andtheairmildandfresh.Alargeship,withthreemasts,laybecalmedonthewater,withonlyonesa

34、ilset;fornotabreezestiffed,andthesailorssatidleondeckoramongsttherigging.Therewasmusicandsongonboard;and,asdarknesscameon,ahundredcoloredlanternswerelighted,asiftheflagsofallnationswavedintheair.Thelittlemermaidswamclosetothecabinwindows;andnowandthen,asthewavesliftedherup,shecouldlookinthroughclear

35、glasswindow-panes,andseeanumberofwell-dressedpeoplewithin.Amongthemwasayoungprince,themostbeautifulofall,withlargeblackeyes;hewassixteenyearsofage,andhisbirthdaywasbeingkeptwithmuchrejoicing.Thesailorsweredancingondeck,butwhentheprincecameoutofthecabin,morethanahundredrocketsroseintheair,makingitasb

36、rightasday.Thelittlemermaidwassostartledthatshedivedunderwater;andwhensheagainstretchedoutherhead,itappearedasifallthestarsofheavenwerefallingaroundher,shehadneverseensuchfireworksbefore.Greatsunsspurtedfireabout,splendidfirefliesflewintotheblueair,andeverythingwasreflectedintheclear,calmseabeneath.

37、Theshipitselfwassobrightlyilluminatedthatallthepeople,andeventhesmallestrope,couldbedistinctlyandplainlyseen.Andhowhandsometheyoungprincelooked,ashepressedthehandsofallpresentandsmiledatthem,whilethemusicresoundedthroughtheclearnightair. Itwasverylate;yetthelittlemermaidcouldnottakehereyesfromtheshi

38、p,orfromthebeautifulprince.Thecoloredlanternshadbeenextinguished,nomorerocketsroseintheair,andthecannonhadceasedfiring;buttheseabecamerestless,andamoaning,grumblingsoundcouldbeheardbeneaththewaves:stillthelittlemermaidremainedbythecabinwindow,rockingupanddownonthewater,whichenabledhertolookin.Aftera

39、while,thesailswerequicklyunfurled,andthenobleshipcontinuedherpassage;butsoonthewavesrosehigher,heavycloudsdarkenedthesky,andlightningappearedinthedistance.Adreadfulstormwasapproaching;oncemorethesailswerereefed,andthegreatshippursuedherflyingcourseovertheragingsea.Thewavesrosemountainshigh,asiftheyw

40、ouldhaveovertoppedthemast;buttheshipdivedlikeaswanbetweenthem,andthenroseagainontheirlofty,foamingcrests.Tothelittlemermaidthisappearedpleasantsport;notsotothesailors.Atlengththeshipgroanedandcreaked;thethickplanksgavewayunderthelashingoftheseaasitbrokeoverthedeck;themainmastsnappedasunderlikeareed;

41、theshiplayoveronherside;andthewaterrushedin.Thelittlemermaidnowperceivedthatthecrewwereindanger;evensheherselfwasobligedtobecarefultoavoidthebeamsandplanksofthewreckwhichlayscatteredonthewater.Atonemomentitwassopitchdarkthatshecouldnotseeasingleobject,butaflashoflightningrevealedthewholescene;shecou

42、ldseeeveryonewhohadbeenonboardexceptingtheprince;whentheshipparted,shehadseenhimsinkintothedeepwaves,andshewasglad,forshethoughthewouldnowbewithher;andthensherememberedthathumanbeingscouldnotliveinthewater,sothatwhenhegotdowntoherfatherspalacehewouldbequitedead.Buthemustnotdie.Sosheswamaboutamongthe

43、beamsandplankswhichstrewedthesurfaceofthesea,forgettingthattheycouldcrushhertopieces.Thenshediveddeeplyunderthedarkwaters,risingandfallingwiththewaves,tillatlengthshemanagedtoreachtheyoungprince,whowasfastlosingthepowerofswimminginthatstormysea.Hislimbswerefailinghim,hisbeautifuleyeswereclosed,andhe

44、wouldhavediedhadnotthelittlemermaidcometohisassistance.Sheheldhisheadabovethewater,andletthewavesdriftthemwheretheywould.Inthemorningthestormhadceased;butoftheshipnotasinglefragmentcouldbeseen.Thesunroseupredandglowingfromthewater,anditsbeamsbroughtbackthehueofhealthtotheprincescheeks;buthiseyesrema

45、inedclosed.Themermaidkissedhishigh,smoothforehead,andstrokedbackhiswethair;heseemedtoherlikethemarblestatueinherlittlegarden,andshekissedhimagain,andwishedthathemightlive.Presentlytheycameinsightofland;shesawloftybluemountains,onwhichthewhitesnowrestedasifaflockofswanswerelyinguponthem.Nearthecoastw

46、erebeautifulgreenforests,andclosebystoodalargebuilding,whetherachurchoraconventshecouldnottell.Orangeandcitrontreesgrewinthegarden,andbeforethedoorstoodloftypalms.Theseahereformedalittlebay,inwhichthewaterwasquitestill,butverydeep;sosheswamwiththehandsomeprincetothebeach,whichwascoveredwithfine,whit

47、esand,andthereshelaidhiminthewarmsunshine,takingcaretoraisehisheadhigherthanhisbody.Thenbellssoundedinthelargewhitebuilding,andanumberofyounggirlscameintothegarden.Thelittlemermaidswamoutfartherfromtheshoreandplacedherselfbetweensomehighrocksthatroseoutofthewater;thenshecoveredherheadandneckwiththef

48、oamoftheseasothatherlittlefacemightnotbeseen,andwatchedtoseewhatwouldbecomeofthepoorprince.Shedidnotwaitlongbeforeshesawayounggirlapproachthespotwherehelay.Sheseemedfrightenedatfirst,butonlyforamoment;thenshefetchedanumberofpeople,andthemermaidsawthattheprincecametolifeagain,andsmileduponthosewhosto

49、odroundhim.Buttoherhesentnosmile;heknewnotthatshehadsavedhim.Thismadeherveryunhappy,andwhenhewasledawayintothegreatbuilding,shediveddownsorrowfullyintothewater,andreturnedtoherfatherscastle.Shehadalwaysbeensilentandthoughtful,andnowshewasmoresothanever.Hersistersaskedherwhatshehadseenduringherfirstv

50、isittothesurfaceofthewater;butshewouldtellthemnothing.Manyaneveningandmorningdidsherisetotheplacewhereshehadlefttheprince.Shesawthefruitsinthegardenripentilltheyweregathered,thesnowonthetopsofthemountainsmeltaway;butsheneversawtheprince,andthereforeshereturnedhome,alwaysmoresorrowfulthanbefore.Itwas

51、heronlycomforttositinherownlittlegarden,andflingherarmroundthebeautifulmarblestatuewhichwasliketheprince;butshegaveuptendingherflowers,andtheygrewinwildconfusionoverthepaths,twiningtheirlongleavesandstemsroundthebranchesofthetrees,sothatthewholeplacebecamedarkandgloomy.Atlengthshecouldbearitnolonger

52、,andtoldoneofhersistersallaboutit.Thentheothersheardthesecret,andverysoonitbecameknowntotwomermaidswhoseintimatefriendhappenedtoknowwhotheprincewas.Shehadalsoseenthefestivalonboardship,andshetoldthemwheretheprincecamefrom,andwherehispalacestood. Come,littlesister,saidtheotherprincesses;thentheyentwi

53、nedtheirarmsandroseupinalongrowtothesurfaceofthewater,closebythespotwheretheyknewtheprincespalacestood.Itwasbuiltofbrightyellowshiningstone,withlongflightsofmarblesteps,oneofwhichreachedquitedowntothesea.Splendidgildedcupolasroseovertheroof,andbetweenthepillarsthatsurroundedthewholebuildingstoodlife

54、-likestatuesofmarble.Throughtheclearcrystaloftheloftywindowscouldbeseennoblerooms,withcostlysilkcurtainsandhangingsoftapestry;whilethewallswerecoveredwithbeautifulpaintingswhichwereapleasuretolookat.Inthecentreofthelargestsaloonafountainthrewitssparklingjetshighupintotheglasscupolaoftheceiling,throughwh