1
A young mermaid once swam and splashed in a stream
That was lit by a full moon's bright beam,
And she struck at the waves, for she wanted to send
The white foam to the moon overhead.
2
And the stream leapt and danced and rushed noisily on.
And the clouds in its depths whirled and spun.
And the mermaid she sang, and her song echoed o'er
The blue water and the high, rocky shore.
3
Sang the mermaid: "Deep down, hid from everyone's sight,
There are flashes of colour and light,
Crystal cities that give off a magical glow,
Golden fishes that flit to and fro."
4
"On bright pillows of sand, in the stream's cool embrace,
With the sea grasses shading his face,
Sleeps a knight, of the jealous blue waters they prey,
Sleeps a knight from a land faraway."
5
"And my sisters and I, when we tire of our play,
By the side of the knight like to stay,
And we comb his silk locks with a gold comb, and his
Ashen brown and pale lips gently kiss."
6
"But the knight never stirs and, I cannot tell why,
To our kisses he does not reply.
Cold and still lies he there, by a deep slumber bound,
And no murmur escapes him, no sound."
7
So the mermaid she sang, filled with sadness and pain,
With a sorrow she could not explain,
And the stream leapt and danced and rushed noisily on,
And the clouds in its depths whirled and spun.
Bathing his horse was a prince one fine day...
Round them the sea splashed. "Prince, look at me, pray!"
Whispered a voice, and the horse in a fright,
Plunged, kicked and snorted, and tried to make flight.
"Come, prince," the voice said, "a king's child am I.
Come, my beloved, in my arms you shall lie!"
Out of the sea shows a hand white as milk,
Clutches it does at the bridle of silk.
Then does a maid's head emerge; in the hair
Seaweed is twined; drops of water like rare
Pearls on the neck gleam; the eyes, deep and blue,
Flame with a feverish passion and true.
"Wait!" the prince mutters. "Thou fair damsel, wait!"
Boldly his deft finges grasp at her plait.
Holds he the maid, while despairingly she
Struggles and weeps and attempts to break free.
Deaf to her pleas and still gripping her tight,
Quickly for shore with the maid makes the knight.
"Ho, friends, come nigh!" to his comrades calls he.
"Look at the prize I have torn from the sea!
"Why do you stand there so still on the shore?
Have you not gazed on such beauty before?"
Back for a glance turns the prince - from his eye
Triumph fast fades and a horrified cry
Bursts from his lips - at his feet lies no pale
Made but a monster whose green, scaly tail
Coils like a serpent's, and, coming unwound,
Trembles and shivers and twists on the ground.
Sea foam streams down o'er the white, anguished face;
Death's ashen pall shrouds the blue of the gaze;
Limp fingers clutch at the sand, and the weak
Lips muffled words of reproach softly speak...
Off rides the knight, dark of soul, dark of brow.
He would forget her, but does not know how.
