have the same floating gracefulness of movement； and no dancer will
ever tread so lightly； but at every step you take it will feel as if
you were treading upon sharp knives； and that the blood must flow。
If you will bear all this； I will help you。〃
〃Yes； I will；〃 said the little princess in a trembling voice； as
she thought of the prince and the immortal soul。
〃But think again；〃 said the witch； 〃for when once your shape has
become like a human being； you can no more be a mermaid。 You will
never return through the water to your sisters； or to your father's
palace again； and if you do not win the love of the prince； so that he
is willing to forget his father and mother for your sake； and to
love you with his whole soul； and allow the priest to join your
hands that you may be man and wife； then you will never have an
immortal soul。 The first morning after he marries another your heart
will break； and you will become foam on the crest of the waves。〃
〃I will do it；〃 said the little mermaid； and she became pale as
death。
〃But I must be paid also；〃 said the witch； 〃and it is not a trifle
that I ask。 You have the sweetest voice of any who dwell here in the
depths of the sea； and you believe that you will be able to charm
the prince with it also； but this voice you must give to me； the
best thing you possess will I have for the price of my draught。 My own
blood must be mixed with it； that it may be as sharp as a two…edged
sword。〃
〃But if you take away my voice；〃 said the little mermaid； 〃what is
left for me？〃
〃Your beautiful form； your graceful walk； and your expressive
eyes； surely with these you can enchain a man's heart。 Well； have
you lost your courage？ Put out your little tongue that I may cut it
off as my payment； then you shall have the powerful draught。〃
〃It shall be；〃 said the little mermaid。
Then the witch placed her cauldron on the fire； to prepare the
magic draught。
〃Cleanliness is a good thing；〃 said she； scouring the vessel
with snakes； which she had tied together in a large knot； then she
pricked herself in the breast； and let the black blood drop into it。
The steam that rose formed itself into such horrible shapes that no
one could look at them without fear。 Every moment the witch threw
something else into the vessel； and when it began to boil； the sound
was like the weeping of a crocodile。 When at last the magic draught
was ready； it looked like the clearest water。 〃There it is for you；〃
said the witch。 Then she cut off the mermaid's tongue； so that she
became dumb； and would never again speak or sing。 〃If the polypi
should seize hold of you as you return through the wood；〃 said the
witch； 〃throw over them a few drops of the potion； and their fingers
will be torn into a thousand pieces。〃 But the little mermaid had no
occasion to do this； for the polypi sprang back in terror when they
caught sight of the glittering draught； which shone in her hand like a
twinkling star。
So she passed quickly through the wood and the marsh； and
between the rushing whirlpools。 She saw that in her father's palace
the torches in the ballroom were extinguished； and all within
asleep； but she did not venture to go in to them； for now she was dumb
and going to leave them forever； she felt as if her heart would break。
She stole into the garden； took a flower from the flower…beds of
each of her sisters； kissed her hand a thousand times towards the
palace； and then rose up through the dark blue waters。 The sun had not
risen when she came in sight of the prince's palace； and approached
the beautiful marble steps； but the moon shone clear and bright。
Then the little mermaid drank the magic draught； and it seemed as if a
two…edged sword went through her delicate body： she fell into a swoon；
and lay like one dead。 When the sun arose and shone over the sea；
she recovered； and felt a sharp pain； but just before her stood the
handsome young prince。 He fixed his coal…black eyes upon her so
earnestly that she cast down her own； and then became aware that her
fish's tail was gone； and that she had as pretty a pair of white
legs and tiny feet as any little maiden could have； but she had no
clothes； so she wrapped herself in her long； thick hair。 The prince
asked her who she was； and where she came from； and she looked at
him mildly and sorrowfully with her deep blue eyes； but she could
not speak。 Every step she took was as the witch had said it would
be； she felt as if treading upon the points of needles or sharp
knives； but she bore it willingly； and stepped as lightly by the
prince's side as a soap…bubble； so that he and all who saw her
wondered at her graceful…swaying movements。 She was very soon
arrayed in costly robes of silk and muslin； and was the most beautiful
creature in the palace； but she was dumb； and could neither speak
nor sing。
Beautiful female slaves； dressed in silk and gold； stepped forward
and sang before the prince and his royal parents： one sang better than
all the others； and the prince clapped his hands and smiled at her。
This was great sorrow to the little mermaid； she knew how much more
sweetly she herself could sing once； and she thought； 〃Oh if he
could only know that！ I have given away my voice forever； to be with
him。〃
The slaves next performed some pretty fairy…like dances； to the
sound of beautiful music。 Then the little mermaid raised her lovely
white arms； stood on the tips of her toes； and glided over the
floor； and danced as no one yet had been able to dance。 At each moment
her beauty became more revealed； and her expressive eyes appealed more
directly to the heart than the songs of the slaves。 Every one was
enchanted； especially the prince； who called her his little foundling；
and she danced again quite readily； to please him； though each time
her foot touched the floor it seemed as if she trod on sharp knives。〃
The prince said she should remain with him always； and she
received permission to sleep at his door； on a velvet cushion。 He
had a page's dress made for her； that she might accompany him on
horseback。 They rode together through the sweet…scented woods； where
the green boughs touched their shoulders； and the little birds sang
among the fresh leaves。 She climbed with the prince to the tops of
high mountains； and although her tender feet bled so that even her
steps were marked； she only laughed； and followed him till they
could see the clouds beneath them looking like a flock of birds
travelling to distant lands。 While at the prince's palace； and when
all the household were asleep； she would go and sit on the broad
marble steps； for it eased her burning feet to bathe them in the
cold sea…water； and then she thought of all those below in the deep。
Once during the night her sisters came up arm…in…arm； singing
sorrowfully； as they floated on the water。 She beckoned to them； and
then they recognized her； and told her how she had grieved them。 After
that； they came to the same place every night； and once she saw in the
distance her old grandmother； who had not been to the surface of the
sea for many years； and the old Sea King； her father； with his crown
on his head。 They stretched out their hands towards her； but they
did not venture so near the land as her sisters did。
As the days passed； she loved the prince more fondly； and he loved
her as he would love a little child； but it never came into his head
to make her his wife； yet； unless he married her； she could not
receive an immortal soul； and； on the morning after his marriage
with another； she would dissolve into the foam of the sea。
〃Do you not love me the best of them all？〃 the eyes of the
little mermaid seemed to say； when he took her in his arms； and kissed
her fair forehead。
〃Yes； you are dear to me；〃 said the prince； 〃for you have the best
heart； and you are the most devoted to me； you are like a young maiden
whom I once saw； but whom I shall never meet again。 I was in a ship
that was wrecked； and the waves cast me ashore near a holy temple；
where several young maidens performed the service。 The youngest of
them found me on the shore； and saved my life。 I saw her but twice；
and she is the only one in the world whom I could love； but you are
like her； and you have almost driven her image out of my mind。 She
belongs to the holy temple； and my good fortune has sent you to me
instead of her； and we will never part。〃
〃Ah； he knows not that it was I who saved his life；〃 thought the
little mermaid。 〃I carried him over the sea to the wood where the
temple stands： I sat beneath the foam； and watched till the human
beings came to help him。 I saw the pretty maiden that he loves
better than he loves me；〃 and the mermaid sighed deeply； but she could
not shed tears。 〃He says the maiden belongs to the holy temple；
therefore she will never return to the world。 They will meet no
more： while I am by his side； and see him every day。 I will take
care of him； and love him； and give up my life for his sake。〃
Very soon it was said that the prince must marry； and that the
beautiful daughter of a neighboring king would be his wife； for a fine
ship was being fitted out。 Although the prince gave out that he merely
intended to pay a visit to the king； it was generally supposed that he
really went to see his daughter。 A great company were to go with
him。 The little mermaid smiled； and shook her head。 She knew the
prince's thoughts better than any of the others。
〃I must travel；〃 he had said to her； 〃I must see this beautiful
princess； my parents desire it； but they will not oblige me to bring
her home as my bride。 I cannot love her； she is not like the beautiful
maiden in the temple； whom you resemble。 If I were forced to choose
a bride； I would rather choose you； my dumb foundling； with those
expressive eyes。〃 And then he kissed her rosy mouth； played with her
long waving hair； and laid his head on her heart； while she dreamed of
human happiness and an immortal soul。 〃You are not afraid of the
sea； my dumb child；〃 sai