But now the rumour ran that the prince was to be married to the
beautiful daughter of a neighbouring king, and for that reason was
fitting out a splendid ship. It was given out that the prince was
going on a voyage to see the adjoining countries, but it was without
doubt to see the king's daughter; he was to have a great suite with
him. But the little mermaid shook her head and laughed; she knew
the prince's intentions much better than any of the others. 'I must
take this voyage,' he had said to her; 'I must go and see the beautiful
princess; my parents demand that, but they will never force me to
bring her home as my bride; I can never love her! She will not be
like the lovely girl in the Temple whom you resemble. If ever I had
to choose a bride it would sooner be you with your speaking eyes,
my sweet, dumb foundling!' And he kissed her rosy mouth, played
with her long hair, and laid his head upon her heart, which already
dreamt of human joys and an immortal soul.
'You are not frightened of the sea, I suppose, my dumb child?' he
said, as they stood on the proud ship which was to carry them to the
country of the neighbouring king; and he told her about storms
and calms, about curious fish in the deep, and the marvels seen by
divers; and she smiled at his tales, for she knew all about the bottom
of the sea much better than any one else.
At night, in the moonlight, when all were asleep, except the steers-
man who stood at the helm, she sat at the side of the ship trying to
pierce the clear water with her eyes, and fancied she saw her father's
palace, and above it her old grandmother with her silver crown on
her head, looking up through the cross currents towards the keel of
the ship. Then her sisters rose above the water; they gazed sadly at
her, wringing their white hands. She beckoned to them, smiled,
and was about to tell them that all was going well and happily with
her, when the cabin-boy approached, and the sisters dived down,
but he supposed that the white objects he had seen were nothing
but flakes of foam.
The next morning the ship entered the harbour of the
neighbouring king's magnificent city. The church bells rang and
trumpets were sounded from every lofty tower, while the soldiers
paraded with flags flying and glittering bayonets. There was a fête
every day, there was a succession of balls, and receptions followed
one after the other, but the princess was not yet present; she was
being brought up a long way off, in a holy Temple they said, and
was learning all the royal virtues. At last she came.
The little mermaid stood eager to see her beauty, and she was obliged to confess that a lovelier creature she had never beheld. Her complexion was
exquisitely pure and delicate, and her trustful eyes of the deepest
blue shone through their dark lashes.
'It is you,' said the prince, 'you who saved me when I lay almost
lifeless on the beach?