The next morning the ship sailed into the harbor of a beautiful town belonging to the king whom the prince was going to visit. The church bells were ringing, and from the high towers sounded a flourish of trumpets; and soldiers, with flying colors and glittering bayonets, lined the rocks through which they passed. Every day was a festival; balls and entertainments followed one another.

第二天早晨，船开进邻国壮丽皇城的港口。所有教堂的钟都响起来了，号笛从许多高楼上吹来，兵士们拿着飘扬的旗子和明晃的刺刀在敬礼。每天都有一个宴会。舞会和晚会在轮流举行着。

But the princess had not yet appeared. People said that she was being brought up and educated in a religious house, where she was learning every royal virtue. At last she came. Then the little mermaid, who was very anxious to see whether she was really beautiful, was obliged to acknowledge that she had never seen a more perfect vision of beauty. Her skin was delicately fair, and beneath her long dark eye-lashes her laughing blue eyes shone with truth and purity.

可是公主还没有出现。人们说她在一个遥远的神庙里受教育，学习皇家的一切美德。最后她终于到来了。小人鱼迫切地想要看看她的美貌。她不得不承认她的美了，她从来没有看见过比这更美的形体。她的皮肤是那么细嫩，洁白；在她黑长的睫毛后面是一对微笑的、忠诚的、深蓝色的眼珠。

"It was you," said the prince, "who saved my life when I lay dead on the beach," and he folded his blushing bride in his arms. "Oh, I am too happy," said he to the little mermaid; "my fondest hopes are all fulfilled. You will rejoice at my happiness; for your devotion to me is great and sincere."

“就是你！”王子说，“当我像一具死尸躺在岸上的时候，救活我的就是你！”于是他把这位羞答答的新嫁娘紧紧地抱在自己的怀里。“啊，我太幸福了！”他对小人鱼说，“我从来不敢希望的最好的东西，现在终于成为事实了。你会为我的幸福而高兴吧，因为你是一切人中最喜欢我的人！”

The little mermaid kissed his hand, and felt as if her heart were already broken. His wedding morning would bring death to her, and she would change into the foam of the sea.

小人鱼把他的手吻了一下。她觉得她的心在碎裂。他举行婚礼后的头一个早晨就会带给她灭亡，就会使她变成海上的泡沫。

All the church bells rung, and the heralds rode about the town proclaiming the betrothal. Perfumed oil was burning in costly silver lamps on every altar. The priests waved the censers, while the bride and bridegroom joined their hands and received the blessing of the bishop. The little mermaid, dressed in silk and gold, held up the bride's train; but her ears heard nothing of the festive music, and her eyes saw not the holy ceremony; she thought of the night of death which was coming to her, and of all she had lost in the world.

教堂的钟都响起来了，传令人骑着马在街上宣布订婚的喜讯。每一个祭台上，芬芳的油脂在贵重的油灯里燃烧。祭司们挥着香炉，新郎和新娘互相挽着手来接受主教的祝福。小人鱼这时穿着丝绸，戴着金饰，托着新嫁娘的披纱，可是她的耳朵听不见这欢乐的音乐，她的眼睛看不见这神圣的仪式。她想起了她要灭亡的早晨，和她在这世界已经失去了的一切东西。