% 3 
Mig 
Td alt , 
ny hy hy 
. ~ Chi h 
ov on gy 4 
im ; ty i 
ft "3 ds oy 
y _— ou fy 
Lo Lyi on 
= trig Vig 
~iral gy whic 
3 CE nee a 
a hump for 
Lr fathers palace 
E20 a deoree fy 
“v2 shall be miveg 
"Le priest joi 
ove will never 
wool the ay on 
vu heart will 
ET 
—eerd nals a0 
++ 2h thing 
eed al tt 
-ex 4) Charm th 
Lo rmpens Th 
gy 
en ood lu or! 
. o-3 net? 2 
vr" orl } fd 
gp 
pal He 
\ 
at 
The Little Mermaid 25 
«Be it so!” said the princess, and the witch took up her 
cauldron in order to mix her potion. “Cleanliness is a good 
thing, ” remarked she, as she began to rub the cauldron with a 
handful of toads and snails. She then scratched her bosom, and 
let the black blood trickle down into the cauldron, every moment 
throwing in new ingredients, the smoke from the mixture assuming 
horrible forms, and a moaning and groaning proceeding from it. 
The magic drink at length became clear and transparent as pure 
vater ; it was ready. 
« Here it is!” said the witch to the princess, cutting out her 
rongue at the same moment. The poor little mermaid was now 
dumb ; she could neither sing nor speak. 
« If the polypi should attempt to seize you as you pass through 
my little grove,” said the witch, “you have only to sprinkle some 
»f this magic drink over them, and their arms will burst into a 
thousand pieces.” But the princess had no need of this counsel, 
for the polypi drew hastily back as soon as they perceived the 
bright phial that glittered in her hand like a star ; so she passed 
safely through the formidable wood, over the moor, and across the 
foaming mill-stream. 
The sun had not yet risen when she arrived at the prince's 
welling and ascended those well-known marble steps, The 
moon still shone in the sky when the little mermaid drank off the 
wonderful liquid contained in her phial,—she felt it run through 
her like a sharp knife, and she fell down in a swoon, When the 
sun rose, she awoke and felt a burning pain in all her limbs ; but 
—she saw standing close to her the object of her love, the hand- 
some young prince, whose coal-black eyes were fixed inquiringly 
apon her. Full of shame, she cast down her own and perceived, 
instead of the long fish-like tail she had hitherto borne, two slender 
legs. But she was quite naked, and she tried in vain to cover her- 
self with her long thick hair. The prince asked who she was, and 
how she had got there ; and she, in reply, smiled and gazed upon 
him with her bright blue eyes, for alas! she could not speak. He 
‘hen led her by the hand into the palace. As she went she felt 
as though she were walking on the edges of sharp swords, but she 
bore the pain willingly. On she passed, light as a zephyr, and all 
who saw her wondered at her light, undulating movements.