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来抢夺海岸。从海王的官廷中又传来了哀苦的叫声，在遥远的大海上半人半鱼的海神们用号
角吹出他们那嘶哑的声音。
“快逃走吧，”他的灵魂说，“因为海水越来越近了，如果你还呆着不走的话，它会杀
死你的。快逃走吧，因为我好害怕，我知道你的心对我关闭着的，原因是你的爱太大了。快
逃到一个安全的地方去吧。你一定不会不送给我一颗心，就把我送到另一个世界上去吧。”
然而年轻的渔夫并没有听他灵魂的话，却只是不停地呼唤着小美人鱼，并说道：“爱情
比智慧更好，比财富更宝贵，比人类女儿的脚更漂亮。烈火烧毁不了它，海水淹没不了它。
我在黎明时唤过你，可你没有回答我。月亮听见了你的名字，可你还是不理睬我。因为我离
开你是千错万错，我这一走反而害了我自己。但是你的爱始终伴着我，它永远都是强大的，
没有什么可以阻止得了它，不论我面对的是恶也好，是善也罢。现在你已经死了，因此我一
定要跟你一起去死。”
他的灵魂又恳求他离开，但是他不肯，他的爱太深了。海水越来越近了，它要它的波涛
把他盖住，此刻他知道死期已近，他便疯狂地吻着美人鱼冰冷的嘴唇，他的那颗心呀都碎
了。就在他的心充满了太多的爱而破碎的时候，灵魂找到一个入口就进去了，就跟从前那样
与他合为一体了。海水终于用它的波涛淹没了这位年轻的渔夫。
早晨，神父去给大海祝福，因为海水闹腾得太厉害了。与神父一起去的有僧侣和乐手，
以及手持蜡烛的人，摇着香炉的人，还有好大一群人。
等神父来到海滩上时，他一下就看见年轻的渔夫躺在浪头上淹死了，在他的胳膊中还紧
紧地抱着小美人鱼的尸体。神父皱紧眉头
．．
THE FISHERMAN AND HIS SOUL
。
the fisherman and his soul
＇to h。s。h。 alice； princess of monaco＇
every evening the young fisherman went out upon the sea； and threw
his nets into the water。
when the wind blew from the land he caught nothing； or but little
at best； for it was a bitter and black…winged wind； and rough waves
rose up to meet it。 but when the wind blew to the shore； the fish
came in from the deep； and swam into the meshes of his nets； and he
took them to the market…place and sold them。
every evening he went out upon the sea； and one evening the net was
so heavy that hardly could he draw it into the boat。 and he
laughed； and said to himself； surely i have caught all the fish
that swim； or snared some dull monster that will be a marvel to
men； or some thing of horror that the great queen will desire； and
putting forth all his strength； he tugged at the coarse ropes till；
like lines of blue enamel round a vase of bronze； the long veins
rose up on his arms。 he tugged at the thin ropes； and nearer and
nearer came the circle of flat corks； and the net rose at last to
the top of the water。
but no fish at all was in it； nor any monster or thing of horror；
but only a little mermaid lying fast asleep。
her hair was as a wet fleece of gold； and each separate hair as a
thread of fine gold in a cup of glass。 her body was as white
ivory； and her tail was of silver and pearl。 silver and pearl was
her tail； and the green weeds of the sea coiled round it； and like
sea…shells were her ears； and her lips were like sea…coral。 the
cold waves dashed over her cold breasts； and the salt glistened
upon her eyelids。
so beautiful was she that when the young fisherman saw her he was
filled with wonder； and he put out his hand and drew the net close
to him； and leaning over the side he clasped her in his arms。 and
when he touched her； she gave a cry like a startled sea…gull； and
woke； and looked at him in terror with her mauve…amethyst eyes； and
struggled that she might escape。 but he held her tightly to him；
and would not suffer her to depart。
and when she saw that she could in no way escape from him； she
began to weep； and said； i pray thee let me go； for i am the only
daughter of a king； and my father is aged and alone。
but the young fisherman answered； i will not let thee go save thou
makest me a promise that whenever i call thee； thou wilt e 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 e 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 e 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 foa