按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
makest me a promise that whenever I call thee； thou wilt come and
sing to me； for the fish delight to listen to the song of the Sea…
folk； and so shall my nets be full。'
'Wilt thou in very truth let me go； if I promise thee this？' cried
the Mermaid。
'In very truth I will let thee go；' said the young Fisherman。
So she made him the promise he desired； and sware it by the oath of
the Sea…folk。 And he loosened his arms from about her； and she
sank down into the water； trembling with a strange fear。
Every evening the young Fisherman went out upon the sea； and called
to the Mermaid； and she rose out of the water and sang to him。
Round and round her swam the dolphins； and the wild gulls wheeled
above her head。
And she sang a marvellous song。 For she sang of the Sea…folk who
drive their flocks from cave to cave； and carry the little calves
on their shoulders； of the Tritons who have long green beards； and
hairy breasts； and blow through twisted conchs when the King passes
by； of the palace of the King which is all of amber； with a roof of
clear emerald； and a pavement of bright pearl； and of the gardens
of the sea where the great filigrane fans of coral wave all day
long； and the fish dart about like silver birds； and the anemones
cling to the rocks； and the pinks bourgeon in the ribbed yellow
sand。 She sang of the big whales that come down from the north
seas and have sharp icicles hanging to their fins； of the Sirens
who tell of such wonderful things that the merchants have to stop
their ears with wax lest they should hear them； and leap into the
water and be drowned； of the sunken galleys with their tall masts；
and the frozen sailors clinging to the rigging； and the mackerel
swimming in and out of the open portholes； of the little barnacles
who are great travellers； and cling to the keels of the ships and
go round and round the world； and of the cuttlefish who live in the
sides of the cliffs and stretch out their long black arms； and can
make night come when they will it。 She sang of the nautilus who
has a boat of her own that is carved out of an opal and steered
with a silken sail； of the happy Mermen who play upon harps and can
charm the great Kraken to sleep； of the little children who catch
hold of the slippery porpoises and ride laughing upon their backs；
of the Mermaids who lie in the white foam and hold out their arms
to the mariners； and of the sea…lions with their curved tusks； and
the sea…horses with their floating manes。
And as she sang； all the tunny…fish came in from the deep to listen
to her； and the young Fisherman threw his nets round them and
caught them； and others he took with a spear。 And when his boat
was well…laden； the Mermaid would sink down into the sea； smiling
at him。
Yet would she never come near him that he might touch her。
Oftentimes he called to her and prayed of her； but she would not；
and when he sought to seize her she dived into the water as a seal
might dive； nor did he see her again that day。 And each day the
sound of her voice became sweeter to his ears。 So sweet was her
voice that he forgot his nets and his cunning； and had no care of
his craft。 Vermilion…finned and with eyes of bossy gold； the
tunnies went by in shoals； but he heeded them not。 His spear lay
by his side unused； and his baskets of plaited osier were empty。
With lips parted； and eyes dim with wonder； he sat idle in his boat
and listened； listening till the sea…mists crept round him； and the
wandering moon stained his brown limbs with silver。
And one evening he called to her； and said： 'Little Mermaid；
little Mermaid； I love thee。 Take me for thy bridegroom； for I
love thee。'
But the Mermaid shook her head。 'Thou hast a human soul；' she
answered。 'If only thou wouldst send away thy soul； then could I
love thee。'
And the young Fisherman said to himself； 'Of what use is my soul to
me？ I cannot see it。 I may not touch it。 I do not know it。
Surely I will send it away from me； and much gladness shall be
mine。' And a cry of joy broke from his lips； and standing up in
the painted boat； he held out his arms to the Mermaid。 'I will
send my soul away；' he cried； 'and you shall be my bride； and I
will be thy bridegroom； and in the depth of the sea we will dwell
together； and all that thou hast sung of thou shalt show me； and
all that thou desirest I will do； nor shall our lives be divided。'
And the little Mermaid laughed for pleasure and hid her face in her
hands。
'But how shall I send my soul from me？' cried the young Fisherman。
'Tell me how I may do it； and lo！ it shall be done。'
'Alas！ I know not；' said the little Mermaid： 'the Sea…folk have
no souls。' And she sank down into the deep； looking wistfully at
him。
Now early on the next morning； before the sun was the span of a
man's hand above the hill； the young Fisherman went to the house of
the Priest and knocked three times at the door。
The novice looked out through the wicket； and when he saw who it
was； he drew back the latch and said to him； 'Enter。'
And the young Fisherman passed in； and knelt down on the sweet…
smelling rushes of the floor； and cried to the Priest who was
reading out of the Holy Book and said to him； 'Father； I am in love
with one of the Sea…folk； and my soul hindereth me from having my
desire。 Tell me how I can send my soul away from me； for in truth
I have no need of it。 Of what value is my soul to me？ I cannot
see it。 I may not touch it。 I do not know it。'
And the Priest beat his breast； and answered； 'Alack； alack； thou
art mad； or hast eaten of some poisonous herb； for the soul is the
noblest part of man； and was given to us by God that we should
nobly use it。 There is no thing more precious than a human soul；
nor any earthly thing that can be weighed with it。 It is worth all
the gold that is in the world； and is more precious than the rubies
of the kings。 Therefore； my son； think not any more of this
matter； for it is a sin that may not be forgiven。 And as for the
Sea…folk； they are lost； and they who would traffic with them are
lost also。 They are as the beasts of the field that know not good
from evil； and for them the Lord has not died。'
The young Fisherman's eyes filled with tears when he heard the
bitter words of the Priest； and he rose up from his knees and said
to him； 'Father； the Fauns live in the forest and are glad； and on
the rocks sit the Mermen with their harps of red gold。 Let me be
as they are； I beseech thee； for their days are as the days of
flowers。 And as for my soul； what doth my soul profit me； if it
stand between me and the thing that I love？'
'The love of the body is vile；' cried the Priest； knitting his
brows； 'and vile and evil are the pagan things God suffers to
wander through His world。 Accursed be the Fauns of the woodland；
and accursed be the singers of the sea！ I have heard them at
night…time； and they have sought to lure me from my beads。 They
tap at the window； and laugh。 They whisper into my ears the tale
of their perilous joys。 They tempt me with temptations； and when I
would pray they make mouths at me。 They are lost； I tell thee；
they are lost。 For them there is no heaven nor hell； and in
neither shall they praise God's name。'
'Father；' cried the young Fisherman； 'thou knowest not what thou
sayest。 Once in my net I snared the daughter of a King。 She is
fairer than the morning star； and whiter than the moon。 For her
body I would give my soul； and for her love I would surrender
heaven。 Tell me what I ask of thee； and let me go in peace。'
'Away！ Away！' cried the Priest： 'thy leman is lost； and thou
shalt be lost with her。'
And he gave him no blessing； but drove him from his door。
And the young Fisherman went down into the market…place； and he
walked slowly； and with bowed head； as one who is in sorrow。
And when the merchants saw him coming； they began to whisper to
each other； and one of them came forth to meet him； and called him
by name； and said to him； 'What hast thou to sell？'
'I will sell thee my soul；' he answered。 'I pray thee buy it of
me； for I am weary of it。 Of what use is my soul to me？ I cannot
see it。 I may not touch it。 I do not know it。'
But the merchants mocked at him； and said； 'Of what use is a man's
soul to us？ It is not worth a clipped piece of silver。 Sell us
thy body for a slave； and we will clothe thee in sea…purple； and
put a ring upon thy finger； and make thee the minion of the great
Queen。 But talk not of the soul； for to us it is nought； nor has
it any value for our service。'
And the young Fisherman said to himself： 'How strange a thing this
is！ The Priest telleth me that the soul is worth all the gold in
the world； and the merchants say that it is not worth a clipped
piece of silver。' And he passed out of the mark