Helaughed, , shewhisperedtohim, “SurelyIamasfairasthedaughtersofthesea, andascomelyasthosethatdwellinthebluewaters,” , andsaidtoher, “IfthoukeepestnotthepromisethatthoumadesttomeIwillslaytheeforafalsewitch.”
ShegrewgreyasablossomoftheJudastree, andshuddered.“Beitso,” shemuttered.“.” Andshetookfromhergirdlealittleknifethathadahandleofgreenviper’sskin, andgaveittohim.“Whatshallthisserveme?” heaskedofher, , , andsmilingstrangelyshesaidtohim, “Whatmencalltheshadowofthebodyisnottheshadowofthebody, -shorewiththybacktothemoon, andcutawayfromaroundthyfeetthyshadow, whichisthysoul’sbody, andbidthysoulleavethee, anditwilldoso.”
TheyoungFishermantrembled.“Isthistrue?” hemurmured.“Itistrue, andIwouldthatIhadnottoldtheeofit,” shecried, , , “Lo! Ihavedweltwiththeeforalltheseyears, , forwhatevilhaveIdonethee?”
AndtheyoungFishermanlaughed.“Thouhastdonemenoevil, butIhavenoneedofthee,” heanswered.“Theworldiswide, andthereisHeavenalso, andHell, , buttroublemenot, formyloveiscallingtome.”
AndhisSoulbesoughthimpiteously, butheheededitnot, butleaptfromcragtocrag, beingsure-footedasawildgoat, -limbedandwell-knit, likeastatuewroughtbyaGrecian, hestoodonthesandwithhisbacktothemoon, andoutofthefoamcamewhitearmsthatbeckonedtohim, , whichwasthebodyofhissoul, andbehindhimhungthemooninthehoney- , “Ifindeedthoumustdrivemefromthee, , givemethyhearttotakewithme.”
Hetossedhisheadandsmiled.“WithwhatshouldIlovemyloveifIgavetheemyheart?” hecried.“Nay, butbemerciful,” saidhisSoul: “givemethyheart, fortheworldisverycruel, andIamafraid.”
“Myheartismylove’s,” heanswered, “thereforetarrynot, butgettheegone.”
“ShouldInotlovealso?” askedhisSoul.“Gettheegone, forIhavenoneedofthee,” criedtheyoungFisherman, andhetookthelittleknifewithitshandleofgreenviper’sskin, andcutawayhisshadowfromaroundhisfeet, anditroseupandstoodbeforehim, andlookedathim, , andthrusttheknifeintohisbelt, andafeelingofawecameoverhim.“Gettheegone,” hemurmured, “andletmeseethyfacenomore.”
“Nay, butwemustmeetagain,” -like, anditslipshardlymovedwhileitspake.“Howshallwemeet?” criedtheyoungFisherman.“Thouwiltnotfollowmeintothedepthsofthesea?”
“OnceeveryyearIwillcometothisplace, andcalltothee,” saidtheSoul.“Itmaybethatthouwilthaveneedofme.”
“WhatneedshouldIhaveofthee?” criedtheyoungFisherman, “butbeitasthouwilt,” andheplungedintothewatersandtheTritonsblewtheirhornsandthelittleMermaidroseuptomeethim, , , andheroseoutofthedeep, andsaid, “Whydostthoucalltome?”
