海的女兒（十四）

第二天早晨，船開進鄰國壯麗皇城的港口。所有教堂的鐘都響起來了，號笛從許多高樓上吹來，兵士們拿著飄揚的旗子和明晃的刺刀在敬禮。每天都有一個宴會。舞會和晚會在輪流舉行著。

可是公主還沒有出現。人們說她在一個遙遠的神廟里受教育，學習皇家的一切美德。最后她終于到來了。小人魚迫切地想要看看她的美貌。她不得不承認她的美了，她從來沒有看見過比這更美的形體。她的皮膚是那么細嫩，潔白；在她黑長的睫毛后面是一對微笑的、忠誠的、深藍色的眼珠。

“就是你！”王子說，“當我像一具死尸躺在岸上的時候，救活我的就是你！”于是他把這位羞答答的新嫁娘緊緊地抱在自己的懷里。“啊，我太幸福了！”他對小人魚說，“我從來不敢希望的最好的東西，現在終于成為事實了。你會為我的幸福而高興吧，因為你是一切人中最喜歡我的人！”

小人魚把他的手吻了一下。她覺得她的心在碎裂。他舉行婚禮后的頭一個早晨就會帶給她滅亡，就會使她變成海上的泡沫。

教堂的鐘都響起來了，傳令人騎著馬在街上宣布訂婚的喜訊。每一個祭臺上，芬芳的油脂在貴重的油燈里燃燒。祭司們揮著香爐，新郎和新娘互相挽著手來接受主教的祝福。小人魚這時穿著絲綢，戴著金飾，托著新嫁娘的披紗，可是她的耳朵聽不見這歡樂的音樂，她的眼睛看不見這神圣的儀式。她想起了她要滅亡的早晨，和她在這世界已經失去了的一切東西。

The next morning the ship sailed into the harbor of a beautiful town belonging to the king whom the prince was going to visit. The church bells were ringing， and from the high towers sounded a flourish of trumpets； and soldiers， with flying colors and glittering bayonets， lined the rocks through which they passed. Every day was a festival； balls and entertainments followed one another.

But the princess had not yet appeared. People said that she was being brought up and educated in a religious house， where she was learning every royal virtue. At last she came. Then the little mermaid， who was very anxious to see whether she was really beautiful， was obliged to acknowledge that she had never seen a more perfect vision of beauty. Her skin was delicately fair， and beneath her long dark eye-lashes her laughing blue eyes shone with truth and purity.

“It was you，” said the prince， “who saved my life when I lay dead on the beach，” and he folded his blushing bride in his arms. “Oh， I am too happy，” said he to the little mermaid； “my fondest hopes are all fulfilled. You will rejoice at my happiness； for your devotion to me is great and sincere.”

The little mermaid kissed his hand， and felt as if her heart were already broken. His wedding morning would bring death to her， and she would change into the foam of the sea.

All the church bells rung， and the heralds rode about the town proclaiming the betrothal. Perfumed oil was burning in costly silver lamps on every altar. The priests waved the censers， while the bride and bridegroom joined their hands and received the blessing of the bishop. The little mermaid， dressed in silk and gold， held up the brides train； but her ears heard nothing of the festive music， and her eyes saw not the holy ceremony； she thought of the night of death which was coming to her， and of all she had lost in the world.