Русалочка

           Shebentdownandkissedhisfairbrow,thenlookedattheskyonwhichtherosydawngrewbrighterandbrighter;thensheglancedatthesharpknife,andagainfixedhereyesontheprince,whowhisperedthenameofhisbrideinhisdreams. Shewasinhisthoughts,andtheknifetrembledinthehandofthelittlemermaid: thensheflungitfarawayfromherintothewaves;thewaterturnedredwhereitfell,andthedropsthatspurteduplookedlikeblood. Shecastonemorelingering,half-faintingglanceattheprince,andthenthrewherselffromtheshipintothesea,andthoughtherbodywasdissolvingintofoam. Thesunroseabovethewaves,andhiswarmraysfellonthecoldfoamofthelittlemermaid,whodidnotfeelasifsheweredying. Shesawthebrightsun,andallaroundherfloatedhundredsoftransparentbeautifulbeings; shecouldseethroughthemthewhitesailsoftheship,andtheredcloudsinthesky; theirspeechwasmelodious,buttooetherealtobeheardbymortalears,astheywerealsounseenbymortaleyes. Thelittlemermaidperceivedthatshehadabodyliketheirs,andthatshecontinuedtorisehigherandhigheroutofthefoam. "WhereamI?"askedshe,andhervoicesoundedethereal,asthevoiceofthosewhowerewithher;noearthlymusiccouldimitateit." Amongthedaughtersoftheair,"answeredoneofthem. "Amermaidhasnotanimmortalsoul,norcansheobtainoneunlessshewinstheloveofahumanbeing. Onthepowerofanotherhangshereternaldestiny.