首发：~第2章 小美人鱼 The Little Mermaid
但是云彩被染成了深红色和金色，在闪烁的暮色中，黄昏星美丽地闪耀着。
but the clouds were tinted with crimson and gold, and through the glimmering twilight beamed the evening star in all its beauty
大海很平静，空气温和又清新。
the sea was calm, and the air mild and fresh
一艘有三根桅杆的大船静静地停在水面上，只扬起了一面帆；
a large ship, with three masts, lay becalmed on the water, with only one sail set;
因为一丝风也没有，水手们闲坐在甲板上或索具间。
for not a breeze stiffed, and the sailors sat idle on deck or amongst the rigging
船上有音乐和歌声；
there was music and song on board;
随着夜幕降临，一百盏彩色的灯笼被点亮了，仿佛各国的旗帜在空中飘扬。
and, as darkness came on, a hundred colored lanterns were lighted, as if the flags of all nations waved in the air
小美人鱼游到船舱的窗户附近；
the little mermaid swam close to the cabin windows;
不时地，当海浪把她托起来的时候，她能透过明净的玻璃窗往里看，看到里面有许多衣着华丽的人。
and now and then, as the waves lifted her up, she could look in through clear glass window - panes, and see a number of well - dressed people within
在他们当中有一位年轻的王子，是所有人中最英俊的，长着一双大大的黑眼睛；
among them was a young prince, the most beautiful of all, with large black eyes;
他十六岁了，正在欢庆他的生日。
he was sixteen years of age, and his birthday was being kept with much rejoicing
水手们在甲板上跳舞，但是当王子走出船舱时，一百多支火箭升上天空，把天空照得如同白昼。
the sailors were dancing on deck, but when the prince came out of the cabin, more than a hundred rockets rose in the air, making it as bright as day
小美人鱼吓了一跳，潜入了水下；
the little mermaid was so startled that she dived under water;
当她再次伸出头时，好像天上所有的星星都在她周围坠落，她以前从未见过这样的烟火。
and when she again stretched out her head, it appeared as if all the stars of heaven were falling around her, she had never seen such fireworks before
巨大的太阳喷出火焰，华丽的萤火虫飞向蓝天，一切都倒映在下方清澈平静的海水中。
great suns spurted fire about, splendid fireflies flew into the blue air, and everything was reflected in the clear, calm sea beneath
船本身被照得如此明亮，以至于所有人，甚至是最细小的绳索，都能清晰地被看到。
the ship itself was so brightly illuminated that all the people, and even the smallest rope, could be distinctly and plainly seen
年轻的王子看起来多么英俊啊，他握着在场所有人的手并对他们微笑，而音乐在晴朗的夜空中回荡。
and how handsome the young prince looked, as he pressed the hands of all present and smiled at them, while the music resounded through the clear night air
已经很晚了；
it was very late;
然而小美人鱼无法将视线从船或者英俊的王子身上移开。
yet the little mermaid could not take her eyes from the ship, or from the beautiful prince
彩色的灯笼已经熄灭，不再有火箭升上天空，大炮也停止了发射；
the colored lanterns had been extinguished, no more rockets rose in the air, and the cannon had ceased firing;
但是大海变得波涛汹涌，海浪下可以听到一种低沉、轰鸣的声音：
but the sea became restless, and a moaning, grumbling sound could be heard beneath the waves:
小美人鱼仍然留在船舱的窗户旁，在水面上上下起伏，这样她就能往里面看。
still the little mermaid remained by the cabin window, rocking up and down on the water, which enabled her to look in
过了一会儿，船帆迅速展开，这艘高贵的船继续前行；
after a while, the sails were quickly unfurled, and the noble ship continued her passage;
但很快海浪就涨得更高了，乌云使天空变得阴暗，远处出现了闪电。
but soon the waves rose higher, heavy clouds darkened the sky, and lightning appeared in the distance
一场可怕的暴风雨即将来临；
a dreadful storm was approaching;
船帆又一次被收起，大船在汹涌的大海上继续疾驶。
once more the sails were reefed, and the great ship pursued her flying course over the raging sea
