首发：~第3章 小美人鱼 The Little Mermaid 续
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;
但她的耳朵听不见喜庆的音乐，她的眼睛看不到神圣的仪式；
but her ears heard nothing of the festive music, and her eyes saw not the holy ceremony;
她想着即将降临到自己身上的死亡之夜，以及她在这世上所失去的一切。
she thought of the night of death which was ing to her, and of all she had lost in the world
就在同一个晚上，新娘和新郎登上了船；
on the same evening the bride and bridegroom went on board ship;
大炮轰鸣，旗帜飘扬，船中央搭起了一座用紫色和金色装饰的昂贵帐篷。
cannons were roaring, flags waving, and in the centre of the ship a costly tent of purple and gold had been erected
帐篷里有精致的长椅，供新婚夫妇夜间休息。
it contained elegant couches, for the reception of the bridal pair during the night
船帆鼓起，顺风而行，在平静的海面上轻快而平稳地滑行。
the ship, with swelling sails and a favorable wind, glided away smoothly and lightly over the calm sea
天黑时，许多彩灯被点亮，水手们在甲板上欢快地跳舞。
when it grew dark a number of colored lamps were lit, and the sailors danced merrily on the deck
小美人鱼不禁想起她第一次浮出海面时看到的类似的欢庆和喜悦场景；
the little mermaid could not help thinking of her first rising out of the sea, when she had seen similar festivities and joys;
她也加入到舞蹈中，像燕子追逐猎物时那样在空中盘旋，在场的所有人都惊叹地为她欢呼。
and she joined in the dance, poised herself in the air as a swallow when he pursues his prey, and all present cheered her with wonder
她以前从未跳得如此优雅。
she had never danced so elegantly before
她娇嫩的双脚感觉就像被锋利的刀子割着一样，但她不在乎；
her tender feet felt as if cut with sharp knives, but she cared not for it;
一种更强烈的痛苦刺痛了她的心。
a sharper pang had pierced through her heart
她知道这是她能见到王子的最后一个夜晚，为了他，她已经抛弃了自己的亲人和家园；
she knew this was the last evening she should ever see the prince, for whom she had forsaken her kindred and her home;
