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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."
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