Русалочка

           Youwillstillhavethesamefloatinggracefulnessofmovement,andnodancerwillevertreadsolightly;butateverystepyoutakeitwillfeelasifyouweretreadinguponsharpknives,andthatthebloodmustflow. Ifyouwillbearallthis,Iwillhelpyou." 

           "Yes,Iwill,"saidthelittleprincessinatremblingvoice,asshethoughtoftheprinceandtheimmortalsoul. 

           "Butthinkagain,"saidthewitch;"forwhenonceyourshapehasbecomelikeahumanbeing,youcannomorebeamermaid. Youwillneverreturnthroughthewatertoyoursisters,ortoyourfather’spalaceagain; andifyoudonotwintheloveoftheprince,sothatheiswillingtoforgethisfatherandmotherforyoursake,andtoloveyouwithhiswholesoul,andallowthepriesttojoinyourhandsthatyoumaybemanandwife,thenyouwillneverhaveanimmortalsoul. Thefirstmorningafterhemarriesanotheryourheartwillbreak,andyouwillbecomefoamonthecrestofthewaves." 

           "Iwilldoit,"saidthelittlemermaid,andshebecamepaleasdeath. 

           "ButImustbepaidalso,"saidthewitch,"anditisnotatriflethatIask. Youhavethesweetestvoiceofanywhodwellhereinthedepthsofthesea,andyoubelievethatyouwillbeabletocharmtheprincewithitalso,butthisvoiceyoumustgivetome; thebestthingyoupossesswillIhaveforthepriceofmydraught. Myownbloodmustbemixedwithit,thatitmaybeassharpasatwo-edgedsword."