The sails swelled in the wind and the ship skimmed lightly and almost without motion over the transparent sea.

帆在风中膨胀，船在如镜的海面上轻轻掠过，几乎没有移动。

At dusk lanterns of many colours were lighted and the sailors danced merrily on deck.

黄昏时，各种颜色的灯笼被点亮，水手在甲板上欢快地跳舞。

The little mermaid could not help thinking of the first time she came up from the sea and saw the same splendour and gaiety;

小美人鱼忍不住想起她第一次从海里出来，看到了同样的光彩和欢乐。

and she now threw herself among the dancers, whirling, as a swallow skims through the air when pursued.

现在，她在舞者中起舞，吞咽着泪水，在舞者间旋转着身子。

The onlookers cheered her in amazement, never had she danced so divinely;

旁人惊讶地为她加油打气，他们从未见过如此神圣舞姿。

her delicate feet pained her as if they were cut with knives, but she did not feel it, for the pain at her heart was much sharper.

她纤巧的脚如同刀割痛，但她没有感觉到，比起心脏的疼痛这又算得了什么呢。

She knew that it was the last night that she would breathe the same air as he, and would look upon the mighty deep, and the blue starry heavens;

她知道这是最后一晚，她将呼吸与他相同的空气，一同注视着那深邃而又蔚蓝的星空。

an endless night without thought and without dreams awaited her, who neither had a soul, nor could win one.

一个空洞，绝望的无尽夜晚，等待着她，她既没有灵魂，也无法拥有灵魂。

The joy and revelry on board lasted till long past midnight;

船上的狂欢一直持续到深夜。

she went on laughing and dancing with the thought of death all the time in her heart.

她心中一直无休止地笑着跳舞。

The prince caressed his lovely bride

王子爱抚着他可爱的新娘，

and she played with his raven locks, and with their arms entwined they retired to the gorgeous tent.

而她则玩弄着王子的秀发，他们的手臂纠缠在一起，一起退回到了华丽的帐篷里。

All became hushed and still on board the ship, only the steersman stood at the helm;

所有的人都变得安静，只有舵手站在船舵上。

the little mermaid laid her white arms on the gunwale and looked eastwards for the pink-tinted dawn;

小美人鱼将洁白的手臂搭在船舷上，向东看去，即将到来的是粉红色的黎明。

the first sunbeam, she knew, would be her death.

她知道，第一束阳光会带来她的死亡。