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leper； and said to him： 'Thrice did I give thee of my mercy。 Bid
my mother speak to me once。' But the leper answered him not a
word。
And he sobbed again and said： 'Mother； my suffering is greater
than I can bear。 Give me thy forgiveness； and let me go back to
the forest。' And the beggar…woman put her hand on his head； and
said to him； 'Rise；' and the leper put his hand on his head； and
said to him； 'Rise；' also。
And he rose up from his feet； and looked at them； and lo！ they were
a King and a Queen。
And the Queen said to him； 'This is thy father whom thou hast
succoured。'
And the King said； 'This is thy mother whose feet thou hast washed
with thy tears。' And they fell on his neck and kissed him； and
brought him into the palace and clothed him in fair raiment； and
set the crown upon his head； and the sceptre in his hand； and over
the city that stood by the river he ruled； and was its lord。 Much
justice and mercy did he show to all； and the evil Magician he
banished； and to the Woodcutter and his wife he sent many rich
gifts； and to their children he gave high honour。 Nor would he
suffer any to be cruel to bird or beast； but taught love and
loving…kindness and charity； and to the poor he gave bread； and to
the naked he gave raiment； and there was peace and plenty in the
land。
Yet ruled he not long； so great had been his suffering； and so
bitter the fire of his testing； for after the space of three years
he died。 And he who came after him ruled evilly。
End
渔夫和他的灵魂
THE FISHERMAN AND HIS SOUL
＇TO H。S。H。 ALICE； PRINCESS OF MONACO＇
Every evening the young Fisherman went out upon the sea； and threw
his nets into the water。
When the wind blew from the land he caught nothing； or but little
at best； for it was a bitter and black…winged wind； and rough waves
rose up to meet it。 But when the wind blew to the shore； the fish
came in from the deep； and swam into the meshes of his nets； and he
took them to the market…place and sold them。
Every evening he went out upon the sea； and one evening the net was
so heavy that hardly could he draw it into the boat。 And he
laughed； and said to himself； 'Surely I have caught all the fish
that swim； or snared some dull monster that will be a marvel to
men； or some thing of horror that the great Queen will desire；' and
putting forth all his strength； he tugged at the coarse ropes till；
like lines of blue enamel round a vase of bronze； the long veins
rose up on his arms。 He tugged at the thin ropes； and nearer and
nearer came the circle of flat corks； and the net rose at last to
the top of the water。
But no fish at all was in it； nor any monster or thing of horror；
but only a little Mermaid lying fast asleep。
Her hair was as a wet fleece of gold； and each separate hair as a
thread of fine gold in a cup of glass。 Her body was as white
ivory； and her tail was of silver and pearl。 Silver and pearl was
her tail； and the green weeds of the sea coiled round it； and like
sea…shells were her ears； and her lips were like sea…coral。 The
cold waves dashed over her cold breasts； and the salt glistened
upon her eyelids。
So beautiful was she that when the young Fisherman saw her he was
filled with wonder； and he put out his hand and drew the net close
to him； and leaning over the side he clasped her in his arms。 And
when he touched her； she gave a cry like a startled sea…gull； and
woke； and looked at him in terror with her mauve…amethyst eyes； and
struggled that she might escape。 But he held her tightly to him；
and would not suffer her to depart。
And when she saw that she could in no way escape from him； she
began to weep； and said； 'I pray thee let me go； for I am the only
daughter of a King； and my father is aged and alone。'
But the young Fisherman answered； 'I will not let thee go save thou
makest me a promise that whenever I call thee； thou wilt come and
sing to me； for the fish delight to listen to the song of the Sea…
folk； and so shall my nets be full。'
'Wilt thou in very truth let me go； if I promise thee this？' cried
the Mermaid。
'In very truth I will let thee go；' said the young Fisherman。
So she made him the promise he desired； and sware it by the oath of
the Sea…folk。 And he loosened his arms from about her； and she
sank down into the water； trembling with a strange fear。
Every evening the young Fisherman went out upon the sea； and called
to the Mermaid； and she rose out of the water and sang to him。
Round and round her swam the dolphins； and the wild gulls wheeled
above her head。
And she sang a marvellous song。 For she sang of the Sea…folk who
drive their flocks from cave to cave； and carry the little calves
on their shoulders； of the Tritons who have long green beards； and
hairy breasts； and blow through twisted conchs when the King passes
by； of the palace of the King which is all of amber； with a roof of
clear emerald； and a pavement of bright pearl； and of the gardens
of the sea where the great filigrane fans of coral wave all day
long； and the fish dart about like silver birds； and the anemones
cling to the rocks； and the pinks bourgeon in the ribbed yellow
sand。 She sang of the big whales that come down from the north
seas and have sharp icicles hanging to their fins； of the Sirens
who tell of such wonderful things that the merchants have to stop
their ears with wax lest they should hear them； and leap into the
water and be drowned； of the sunken galleys with their tall masts；
and the frozen sailors clinging to the rigging； and the mackerel
swimming in and out of the open portholes； of the little barnacles
who are great travellers； and cling to the keels of the ships and
go round and round the world； and of the cuttlefish who live in the
sides of the cliffs and stretch out their long black arms； and can
make night come when they will it。 She sang of the nautilus who
has a boat of her own that is carved out of an opal and steered
with a silken sail； of the happy Mermen who play upon harps and can
charm the great Kraken to sleep； of the little children who catch
hold of the slippery porpoises and ride laughing upon their backs；
of the Mermaids who lie in the white foam and hold out their arms
to the mariners； and of the sea…lions with their curved tusks； and
the sea…horses with their floating manes。
And as she sang； all the tunny…fish came in from the deep to listen
to her； and the young Fisherman threw his nets round them and
caught them； and others he took with a spear。 And when his boat
was well…laden； the Mermaid would sink down into the sea； smiling
at him。
Yet would she never come near him that he might touch her。
Oftentimes he called to her and prayed of her； but she would not；
and when he sought to seize her she dived into the water as a seal
might dive； nor did he see her again that day。 And each day the
sound of her voice became sweeter to his ears。 So sweet was her
voice that he forgot his nets and his cunning； and had no care of
his craft。 Vermilion…finned and with eyes of bossy gold； the
tunnies went by in shoals； but he heeded them not。 His spear lay
by his side unused； and his baskets of plaited osier were empty。
With lips parted； and eyes dim with wonder； he sat idle in his boat
and listened； listening till the sea…mists crept round him； and the
wandering moon stained his brown limbs with silver。
And one evening he called to her； and said： 'Little Mermaid；
little Mermaid； I love thee。 Take me for thy bridegroom； for I
love thee。'
But the Mermaid shook her head。 'Thou hast a human soul；' she
answered。 'If only thou wouldst send away thy soul； then could I
love thee。'
And the young Fisherman said to himself； 'Of what use is my soul to
me？ I cannot see it。 I may not touch it。 I do not know it。
Surely I will send it away from me； and much glad