The Little Mermaid | by Hans Christian Andersen | Part 19 | ENG

'It is you,' said the prince, 'you who saved me when I lay almost
lifeless on the beach?' and he clasped his blushing bride to his heart.
'Oh! I am too happy!' he exclaimed to the little mermaid.
'A greater joy than I had dared to hope for has come to pass. You
will rejoice at my joy, for you love me better than any one.' Then
the little mermaid kissed his hand, and felt as if her heart were broken already.
His wedding morn would bring death to her and change her to
foam.
All the church bells pealed and heralds rode through the town
proclaiming the nuptials. Upon every altar throughout the land fragrant oil was burnt in costly silver lamps. Amidst the swinging of
censers by the priests the bride and bridegroom joined hands and
received the bishop's blessing. The little mermaid dressed in silk
and gold stood holding the bride's train, but her ears were deaf to
the festal strains, her eyes saw nothing of the sacred ceremony; she
was thinking of her coming death and of all that she had lost in this
world.
That same evening the bride and bridegroom embarked, amidst
the roar of cannon and the waving of banners. A royal tent of purple
and gold softly cushioned was raised amidships where the bridal
pair were to repose during the calm cool night.
The sails swelled in the wind and the ship skimmed lightly and
almost without motion over the transparent sea.
At dusk lanterns of many colours were lighted and the sailors
danced merrily on deck. The little mermaid could not help thinking of the first time she came up from the sea and saw the same
splendour and gaiety; and she now threw herself among the dancers, whirling, as a swallow skims through the air when pursued. The
onlookers cheered her in amazement, never had she danced so divinely; her delicate feet pained her as if they were cut with knives,
but she did not feel it, for the pain at her heart was much sharper.
She knew that it was the last night that she would breathe the same
air as he, and would look upon the mighty deep, and the blue starry
heavens; an endless night without thought and without dreams
awaited her, who neither had a soul, nor could win one. The joy
and revelry on board lasted till long past midnight; she went on
laughing and dancing with the thought of death all the time in her
heart. The prince caressed his lovely bride and she played with his
raven locks, and with their arms entwined they retired to the gorgeous tent. All became hushed and still on board the ship, only the
steersman stood at the helm; the little mermaid laid her white arms
on the gunwale and looked eastwards for the pink-tinted dawn; the
first sunbeam, she knew, would be her death.