第3章 小美人鱼 The Little Mermaid 续【8 / 11】

in the moonlight, when all on board were asleep, excepting the man at the helm, who was steering, she sat on the deck, gazing down through the clear water

她觉得她能分辨出她父亲的城堡，在城堡上她年迈的祖母头戴银冠，透过汹涌的潮水看着船的龙骨。

she thought she could distinguish her father’s castle, and upon it her aged grandmother, with the silver crown on her head, looking through the rushing tide at the keel of the vessel

然后她的姐妹们浮上海浪，悲伤地凝视着她，绞着她们洁白的双手。

then her sisters came up on the waves, and gazed at her mournfully, wringing their white hands

她向她们招手，微笑着，想要告诉她们自己是多么幸福和幸运；

she beckoned to them, and smiled, and wanted to tell them how happy and well off she was;

但是船上的侍者走近了，当她的姐妹们潜入水下时，他以为自己看到的只是海面上的泡沫。

but the cabin - boy approached, and when her sisters dived down he thought it was only the foam of the sea which he saw

第二天早晨，船驶进了一个美丽城镇的港口，这个城镇属于王子即将拜访的国王。

the next morning the ship sailed into the harbor of a beautiful town belonging to the king whom the prince was going to visit

教堂的钟声敲响，高塔上传来嘹亮的喇叭声；

the church bells were ringing, and from the high towers sounded a flourish of trumpets;

士兵们举着飘扬的旗帜，拿着闪亮的刺刀，排列在他们经过的礁石两旁。

and soldiers, with flying colors and glittering bayos, lined the rocks through which they passed

每一天都是节日；

every day was a festival;

舞会和娱乐活动接连不断。

balls and entertainments followed one another

但是公主还没有露面。

but the princess had not yet appeared

人们说她正在一个宗教场所接受教养，在那里她正在学习每一种皇家美德。

people said that she was being brought up and educated in a religious house, where she was learning every royal virtue

最后她来了。

at last she came

小美人鱼非常急切地想看看她是否真的美丽，不得不承认她从未见过如此完美的美人。

then the little mermaid, who was very anxious to see whether she was really beautiful, was obliged to acknowledge that she had never seen a more perfect vision of beauty

她的皮肤娇嫩白皙，长长的黑色睫毛下，她那欢笑的蓝色眼睛闪烁着真诚和纯洁。

her skin was delicately fair, and beneath her long dark eye - lashes her laughing blue eyes shone with truth and purity

“是你，” 王子说，“当我躺在海滩上奄奄一息的时候救了我的命。” 然后他把脸红的新娘抱在怀里。

“it was you,” said the prince, “who saved my life when i lay dead on the beach,” and he folded his blushing bride in his arms

“哦，我太幸福了，” 他对小美人鱼说；

“oh, i am too happy,” said he to the little mermaid;

“我最美好的愿望都实现了。

“my fondest hopes are all fulfilled

你会为我的幸福而高兴的；

you will rejoice at my happiness;

因为你对我的爱是伟大而真诚的。”

for your devotion to me is great and sincere”

小美人鱼吻了他的手，感觉自己的心好像已经碎了。

the little mermaid kissed his hand, and felt as if her heart were already broken

他的新婚早晨将给她带来死亡，她将变成海里的泡沫。

his wedding morning would bring death to her, and she would change into the foam of the sea

所有的教堂钟声都敲响了，传令官骑马在城里宣告订婚的消息。

all the church bells rung, and the heralds rode about the town proclaiming the betrothal

每个祭坛上昂贵的银灯里都燃着香油。

perfumed oil was burning in costly silver lamps on every altar

牧师们挥舞着香炉，与此同时新娘和新郎手牵手接受主教的祝福。

the priests waved the censers, while the bride and bridegroom joined their hands and received the blessing of the bishop

小美人鱼身着丝绸和金饰，托着新娘的裙摆；

the little mermaid, dressed in silk and gold, held up the bride’s train;