The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid retold by Judith Percival copyright Black Cat Publishing

《小美人鱼》 改编：朱迪思·珀西瓦尔 版权所有：黑猫出版社

The Little Mermaid lives in a beautiful castle in the deep blue sea. She lives with her five sisters and her father, the Merking. Her sisters tell her stories of the world. They tell her stories of ships and people, stories of music and songs, stories of the sun, the moon and the stars. The Little Mermaid wants to go and see the world. When can I swim up to see the world? says the Little Mermaid. On your birthday, says her father.

小美人鱼住在深蓝色海底的漂亮城堡里。 她和五个姐姐，还有父王人鱼国王住在一起。 姐姐们总给她讲海面上的故事。 她们讲船只和人类的故事，讲音乐和歌声的故事， 还有太阳、月亮和星星的故事。 小美人鱼特别想去看看那个世界。 我什么时候能游到海面上去看世界呀？小美人鱼问。 等你过生日的时候就可以啦。爸爸回答。

Very soon it is the Little Mermaid's birthday. I'm so happy! she says to her sisters. Now I'm old enough to swim up and see the world! Yes, today is a special day! say her sisters. The Little Mermaid swims up and up and up. She sees the sun in the sky and birds flying in the sky. She hears the birds singing and the water splashing on the beach. She sees children playing on the beach and laughing. The world is wonderful! she says.

很快就到小美人鱼的生日了。 我太开心啦！她对姐姐们说。 现在我长大了，可以游到海面看世界啦！ 对呀，今天可是个特别的日子！姐姐们说。 小美人鱼游啊游，一直往上游。 她看见天上挂着太阳，还有鸟儿在空中飞翔。 她听见小鸟在唱歌，还有海浪拍打沙滩的哗哗声。 她看见小朋友们在沙滩上玩耍，笑得可开心了。 这个世界太美妙啦！她说。

The next day, the little mermaid tells her sisters that she wants to swim up and see the world at night. Please come with me, she says. The world is dark at night, says one of her sisters. There's nothing to see, says another sister. Our world here at the bottom of the sea is always colourful and beautiful. Stay here with us. No, she says, I can go alone. I want to see the moon and the stars.

第二天，小美人鱼告诉姐姐们，她想晚上游到海面去看看。 拜托你们陪我一起去吧。她说。 晚上海面上黑乎乎的呀。一个姐姐说。 没什么好看的哦。另一个姐姐说。 我们海底的世界永远都五彩斑斓，漂亮极了。 留下来陪我们吧。 不嘛，她说，我自己去也可以。 我想去看看月亮和星星。

The little mermaid swims up and up and up. She sees the dark blue sky, the moon and thousands of stars. The world at night is wonderful, she says. Then she sees a big ship. There are beautiful lights on the ship. She hears music playing and sees people dancing. It's the prince's birthday party. The prince is very handsome. The little mermaid wants to dance with him. But mermaids with tails can't dance.

小美人鱼游啊游，一直往上游。 她看见深蓝色的天空，挂着月亮，还有成千上万的星星。 夜晚的世界也太美啦。她说。 就在这时，她看见了一艘大船。 船上挂着好多漂亮的灯。 她听见音乐在响，还看见人们在跳舞。 原来这是王子的生日派对呀。 王子长得可英俊了。 小美人鱼好想和他一起跳舞。 可是长着鱼尾的美人鱼不会跳舞呀。

Suddenly the sky becomes dark and the wind blows. The sea becomes rough and there are big waves. The little mermaid hears thunder and she sees lightning in the sky. There is a storm, a terrible storm. The big waves hit the ship. The wind blows and blows and the ship turns over. The prince falls into the sea. He falls down, down, down to the bottom of the deep blue sea. The little mermaid quickly swims down, down, down and saves the prince.

忽然天变黑了，刮起了大风。 海面变得波涛汹涌，掀起了巨浪。 小美人鱼听见雷声轰鸣，还看见天空划过闪电。 暴风雨来了，一场可怕的暴风雨。 巨浪狠狠砸在船上。 风刮啊刮啊，大船直接翻了。 王子掉进了海里。 他沉啊沉啊，一直往深蓝色的海底沉下去。 小美人鱼赶紧往下游啊游啊，把王子救了起来。