Русалочка

           Thelittlemermaidsangmoresweetlythanthemall. Thewholecourtapplaudedherwithhandsandtails;andforamomentherheartfeltquitegay,forsheknewshehadtheloveliestvoiceofanyonearthorinthesea. Butshesoonthoughtagainoftheworldaboveher,forshecouldnotforgetthecharmingprince,norhersorrowthatshehadnotanimmortalsoullikehis; thereforeshecreptawaysilentlyoutofherfather’spalace,andwhileeverythingwithinwasgladnessandsong,shesatinherownlittlegardensorrowfulandalone. Thensheheardthebuglesoundingthroughthewater,andthought—"Heiscertainlysailingabove,heonwhommywishesdepend,andinwhosehandsIshouldliketoplacethehappinessofmylife. Iwillventureallforhim,andtowinanimmortalsoul,whilemysistersaredancinginmyfather’spalace,Iwillgototheseawitch,ofwhomIhavealwaysbeensomuchafraid,butshecangivemecounselandhelp." 

           Andthenthelittlemermaidwentoutfromhergarden,andtooktheroadtothefoamingwhirlpools,behindwhichthesorceresslived. Shehadneverbeenthatwaybefore:neitherflowersnorgrassgrewthere;nothingbutbare,gray,sandygroundstretchedouttothewhirlpool,wherethewater,likefoamingmill-wheels,whirledroundeverythingthatitseized,andcastitintothefathomlessdeep. Throughthemidstofthesecrushingwhirlpoolsthelittlemermaidwasobligedtopass,toreachthedominionsoftheseawitch;andalsoforalongdistancetheonlyroadlayrightacrossaquantityofwarm,bubblingmire,calledbythewitchherturfmoor.