The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid

《小美人鱼》

Chapter 1. The Deep Blue Sea Far out at sea, below the waves, Deeper and deeper, and deeper still, Stood the Sea King's castle.

第一章 深蓝色的大海 在遥远的海域，海浪之下 越潜越深，直到最深的地方 矗立着海王的城堡。

There, at the very bottom of the sea, the water was as clear as glass, the sand was as fine as powder. Tall seaweeds grew up around the castle walls, and small bright fish darted among its branches. The Sea King was very proud of his castle. It was the perfect place to bring up his six mermaid daughters.

在那大海的最深处，海水像玻璃一样澄澈，沙子 像细粉一样柔滑。 高高的海藻沿着城堡墙壁向上生长，亮晶晶的小鱼在枝叶间飞快地穿来穿去。 海王对自己的城堡特别骄傲。 这里是抚养他六个美人鱼女儿的完美地方。

Each daughter was given her own small garden to care for. I am going to shape mine like a well, said the eldest. Mine will have a seashell border, said the next. And I'm going to grow pretty flowers, said the third. The fourth and fifth mermaids loved exploring. Let's decorate our gardens with treasure from shipwrecks, they said. Then their little sister appeared, hugging a statue of a smiling boy. Look what I have found, she cried. I'm going to put him in my garden.

每个女儿都有一片属于自己的小花园可以打理。 "我要把我的花园修成水井的样子。"大女儿说。 "我的花园要镶上海贝壳边。"二女儿说。 "我要种好多漂亮的花。"三女儿说。 四女儿和五女儿最喜欢探险。 "我们要用沉船里的宝藏来装饰我们的花园。"她们说。 这时候小女儿抱着一尊微笑男孩的雕像走了过来。 "快看我找到的东西！"她喊着，"我要把他放在我的花园里。"

The sisters spent all day in the castle waters, tending their gardens and playing games. In the evening, as the sea turned to inky black, their grandmother called them and sighed for supper, Mermaids! Lying on silky cushions, the family ate steamy seaweed purses and soft sea fruit. Tell us a story, Grandmama! Begged the littlest mermaid. Grandmama had seen the world above the waves. She told amazing tales of men with two legs and no tails. There are buildings as tall as the ocean is deep, she said, and machines that glid even faster than sharks.

姐妹们一整天都在城堡附近的海域里待着，打理花园、玩游戏。 到了晚上，海水变成墨一般的黑色时，祖母就会喊她们回来吃晚饭： "美人鱼们！"一家人躺在丝滑的软垫上，吃着热气腾腾的海藻包和软乎乎的海果。 "奶奶，给我们讲个故事嘛！"小美人鱼央求道。奶奶去过海浪上面的世界。 她会讲好多神奇的故事，关于长着两条腿、没有尾巴的人类。 "那里有和海一样深的高楼，还有比鲨鱼游得还快的机器。"她说。

The little mermaid hung on her every word. When you reach fifteen, announced the sea king, you may rise above the waves and see these things for yourselves. While the older sisters flicked their tails in delight, the little mermaid sat drumming her fingers. That's six whole years away, she sighed. On the eldest sister's fifteenth birthday, the sea king's castle floated with excitement.

小美人鱼听得入了迷，连一个字都不肯错过。 "等你们满十五岁，"海王宣布，"你们就可以游到海面上去，亲眼" 看看这些东西。 姐姐们开心得甩起了尾巴，小美人鱼却坐在那里晃着 手指。 "还要等整整六年呢。"她叹了口气。 大女儿十五岁生日那天，海王的城堡里到处都喜气洋洋的。