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So he spake to the young Fisherman and said； 'I have told thee of
the joy of the world； and thou hast turned a deaf ear to me。
Suffer me now to tell thee of the world's pain； and it may be that
thou wilt hearken。 For of a truth pain is the Lord of this world；
nor is there any one who escapes from its net。 There be some who
lack raiment； and others who lack bread。 There be widows who sit
in purple； and widows who sit in rags。 To and fro over the fens go
the lepers； and they are cruel to each other。 The beggars go up
and down on the highways； and their wallets are empty。 Through the
streets of the cities walks Famine； and the Plague sits at their
gates。 Come； let us go forth and mend these things； and make them
not to be。 Wherefore shouldst thou tarry here calling to thy love；
seeing she comes not to thy call？ And what is love； that thou
shouldst set this high store upon it？'
But the young Fisherman answered it nought； so great was the power
of his love。 And every morning he called to the Mermaid； and every
noon he called to her again； and at night…time he spake her name。
Yet never did she rise out of the sea to meet him； nor in any place
of the sea could he find her； though he sought for her in the
rivers of the sea； and in the valleys that are under the waves； in
the sea that the night makes purple； and in the sea that the dawn
leaves grey。
And after the second year was over； the Soul said to the young
Fisherman at night…time； and as he sat in the wattled house alone；
'Lo！ now I have tempted thee with evil； and I have tempted thee
with good； and thy love is stronger than I am。 Wherefore will I
tempt thee no longer； but I pray thee to suffer me to enter thy
heart； that I may be one with thee even as before。'
'Surely thou mayest enter；' said the young Fisherman； 'for in the
days when with no heart thou didst go through the world thou must
have much suffered。'
'Alas！' cried his Soul； 'I can find no place of entrance； so
compassed about with love is this heart of thine。'
'Yet I would that I could help thee；' said the young Fisherman。
And as he spake there came a great cry of mourning from the sea；
even the cry that men hear when one of the Sea…folk is dead。 And
the young Fisherman leapt up； and left his wattled house； and ran
down to the shore。 And the black waves came hurrying to the shore；
bearing with them a burden that was whiter than silver。 White as
the surf it was； and like a flower it tossed on the waves。 And the
surf took it from the waves； and the foam took it from the surf；
and the shore received it； and lying at his feet the young
Fisherman saw the body of the little Mermaid。 Dead at his feet it
was lying。
Weeping as one smitten with pain he flung himself down beside it；
and he kissed the cold red of the mouth； and toyed with the wet
amber of the hair。 He flung himself down beside it on the sand；
weeping as one trembling with joy； and in his brown arms he held it
to his breast。 Cold were the lips； yet he kissed them。 Salt was
the honey of the hair； yet he tasted it with a bitter joy。 He
kissed the closed eyelids； and the wild spray that lay upon their
cups was less salt than his tears。
And to the dead thing he made confession。 Into the shells of its
ears he poured the harsh wine of his tale。 He put the little hands
round his neck； and with his fingers he touched the thin reed of
the throat。 Bitter； bitter was his joy； and full of strange
gladness was his pain。
The black sea came nearer； and the white foam moaned like a leper。
With white claws of foam the sea grabbled at the shore。 From the
palace of the Sea…King came the cry of mourning again； and far out
upon the sea the great Tritons blew hoarsely upon their horns。
'Flee away；' said his Soul； 'for ever doth the sea come nigher； and
if thou tarriest it will slay thee。 Flee away； for I am afraid；
seeing that thy heart is closed against me by reason of the
greatness of thy love。 Flee away to a place of safety。 Surely
thou wilt not send me without a heart into another world？'
But the young Fisherman listened not to his Soul； but called on the
little Mermaid and said； 'Love is better than wisdom； and more
precious than riches； and fairer than the feet of the daughters of
men。 The fires cannot destroy it； nor can the waters quench it。 I
called on thee at dawn； and thou didst not come to my call。 The
moon heard thy name； yet hadst thou no heed of me。 For evilly had
I left thee； and to my own hurt had I wandered away。 Yet ever did
thy love abide with me； and ever was it strong； nor did aught
prevail against it； though I have looked upon evil and looked upon
good。 And now that thou art dead； surely I will die with thee
also。'
And his Soul besought him to depart； but he would not； so great was
his love。 And the sea came nearer； and sought to cover him with
its waves； and when he knew that the end was at hand he kissed with
mad lips the cold lips of the Mermaid； and the heart that was
within him brake。 And as through the fulness of his love his heart
did break； the Soul found an entrance and entered in； and was one
with him even as before。 And the sea covered the young Fisherman
with its waves。
And in the morning the Priest went forth to bless the sea； for it
had been troubled。 And with him went the monks and the musicians；
and the candle…bearers； and the swingers of censers； and a great
company。
And when the Priest reached the shore he saw the young Fisherman
lying drowned in the surf； and clasped in his arms was the body of
the little Mermaid。 And he drew back frowning； and having made the
sign of the cross； he cried aloud and said； 'I will not bless the
sea nor anything that is in it。 Accursed be the Sea…folk； and
accursed be all they who traffic with them。 And as for him who for
love's sake forsook God； and so lieth here with his leman slain by
God's judgment； take up his body and the body of his leman； and
bury them in the corner of the Field of the Fullers； and set no
mark above them； nor sign of any kind； that none may know the place
of their resting。 For accursed were they in their lives； and
accursed shall they be in their deaths also。'
And the people did as he commanded them； and in the corner of the
Field of the Fullers； where no sweet herbs grew； they dug a deep
pit； and laid the dead things within it。
And when the third year was over； and on a day that was a holy day；
the Priest went up to the chapel； that he might show to the people
the wounds of the Lord； and speak to them about the wrath of God。
And when he had robed himself with his robes； and entered in and
bowed himself before the altar； he saw that the altar was covered
with strange flowers that never had been seen before。 Strange were
they to look at； and of curious beauty； and their beauty troubled
him； and their odour was sweet in his nostrils。 And he felt glad；
and understood not why he was glad。
And after that he had opened the tabernacle； and incensed the
monstrance that was in it； and shown the fair wafer to the people；
and hid it again behind the veil of veils； he began to speak to the
people； desiring to speak to them of the wrath of God。 But the
beauty of the white flowers troubled him； and their odour was sweet
in his nostrils； and there came another word into his lips； and he
spake not of the wrath of God； but of the God whose name is Love。
And why he so spake； he knew not。
And when he had finished his word the people wept； and the Priest
went back to the sacristy； and his eyes were full of tears。 And
the deacons came in and began to unrobe him； and took from him the
alb and the girdle； the maniple and the stole。 And he stood as one
in a dream。
And after that they had unrobed him； he looked at them and said；
'What are the flowers that stand on the altar； and whence do they
come？'
And they answered him； 'What flowers they are we cannot tell； but
they come from the corner of the Fullers' Field。' And the Priest
trembled； and returned to his own house and prayed。
And in the morning； while it was still dawn； he went forth with the
monks and the musicians； and the candle…bearers and the swingers of
censers； and a great company； and came to the shore of the sea； and
blessed the sea； and all the wild things that are in it。 The Fauns
also he blessed； and the little things that dance in the woodland；
and the bright…eyed things that peer through the leaves。 All the
things in God's world he blessed； and the people were filled with
joy and wonder。 Yet never again in the corner of the Fullers'
Field grew flowers of any kind； but the field remained barren even
as before。 Nor came the Sea…folk into the bay as they had been
wont to do； for they went to another part of the sea。