这些东西对他们来说永远不会是美好的；
and these things were never to be beautiful for them;
因为如果船沉没了，人们就会被淹死，只有他们的尸体才会到达海王的宫殿。
for if the ship sank, the men were drowned, and their dead bodies alone reached the palace of the sea king
当姐妹们这样手挽手地穿过海水升起来时，她们最小的妹妹就会孤零零地站在那里，望着她们，都快要哭了，只是美人鱼没有眼泪，因此她们更加痛苦。
when the sisters rose, arm - in - arm, through the water in this way, their youngest sister would stand quite alone, looking after them, ready to cry, only that the mermaids have no tears, and therefore they suffer more
“哦，我要是十五岁就好了，” 她说，“我知道我会爱上上面的世界，以及生活在那里的所有人。”
“oh, were i but fifteen years old,” said she: “i know that i shall love the world up there, and all the people who live in it”
终于，她到了十五岁。
at last she reached her fifteenth year
“好了，现在你长大了，” 她的老祖母说道，“所以你必须让我像打扮你的其他姐妹一样打扮你。”
“well, now, you are grown up,” said the old dowager, her grandmother; “so you must let me adorn you like your other sisters;”
然后她在她的头发上戴了一个白色百合花环，每一片花瓣都是半颗珍珠。
and she placed a wreath of white lilies in her hair, and every flower leaf was half a pearl
然后老妇人命令八只大牡蛎附着在公主的尾巴上以显示她的高贵地位。
then the old lady ordered eight great oysters to attach themselves to the tail of the princess to show her high rank
“但是它们弄疼我了。” 小美人鱼说。
“but they hurt me so,” said the little mermaid
“骄傲就得忍受痛苦。” 老妇人回答道。
“pride must suffer pain,” replied the old lady
哦，她多么想甩掉这所有的荣华富贵，把沉重的花环放在一边啊！她自己花园里的红花会更适合她，但她无能为力：
oh, how gladly she would have shaken off all this grandeur, and laid aside the heavy wreath! the red flowers in her own garden would have suited her much better, but she could not help herself:
所以她说：“再见了。” 然后像气泡一样轻盈地升上了水面。
so she said, “farewell,” and rose as lightly as a bubble to the surface of the water
当她把头探出海浪时，太阳刚刚落山；
the sun had just set as she raised her head above the waves;
但是云彩被染成了深红色和金色，在闪烁的暮色中，黄昏星美丽地闪耀着。
but the clouds were tinted with crimson and gold, and through the glimmering twilight beamed the evening star in all its beauty
大海很平静，空气温和又清新。
the sea was calm, and the air mild and fresh
一艘有三根桅杆的大船静静地停在水面上，只扬起了一面帆；
a large ship, with three masts, lay becalmed on the water, with only one sail set;
因为一丝风也没有，水手们闲坐在甲板上或索具间。
for not a breeze stiffed, and the sailors sat idle on deck or amongst the rigging
船上有音乐和歌声；
there was music and song on board;
随着夜幕降临，一百盏彩色的灯笼被点亮了，仿佛各国的旗帜在空中飘扬。
and, as darkness came on, a hundred colored lanterns were lighted, as if the flags of all nations waved in the air
小美人鱼游到船舱的窗户附近；
the little mermaid swam close to the cabin windows;
不时地，当海浪把她托起来的时候，她能透过明净的玻璃窗往里看，看到里面有许多衣着华丽的人。
and now and then, as the waves lifted her up, she could look in through clear glass window - panes, and see a number of well - dressed people within
在他们当中有一位年轻的王子，是所有人中最英俊的，长着一双大大的黑眼睛；
among them was a young prince, the most beautiful of all, with large black eyes;
他十六岁了，正在欢庆他的生日。
he was sixteen years of age, and his birthday was being kept with much rejoicing
水手们在甲板上跳舞，但是当王子走出船舱时，一百多支火箭升上天空，把天空照得如同白昼。
the sailors were dancing on deck, but when the prince came out of the cabin, more than a hundred rockets rose in the air, making it as bright as day
小美人鱼吓了一跳，潜入了水下；
the little mermaid was so startled that she dived under water;
当她再次伸出头时，好像天上所有的星星都在她周围坠落，她以前从未见过这样的烟火。
and when she again stretched out her head, it appeared as if all the stars of heaven were falling around her, she had never seen such fireworks before
巨大的太阳喷出火焰，华丽的萤火虫飞向蓝天，一切都倒映在下方清澈平静的海水中。
great suns spurted fire about, splendid fireflies flew into the blue air, and everything was reflected in the clear, calm sea beneath
船本身被照得如此明亮，以至于所有人，甚至是最细小的绳索，都能清晰地被看到。
the ship itself was so brightly illuminated that all the people, and even the smallest rope, could be distinctly and plainly seen