The Little Mermaid / 小美人鱼 - Hans Christian Andersen

When it grew dark, a number of colored lamps were lighted

天黑了，点亮了几盏彩色灯

the sailors and royal family danced merrily on the deck

水手和王室成员在甲板上欢快地跳舞

The little mermaid could not help thinking of her birthday

小美人鱼不禁想起了自己的生日

the day that she rose out of the sea for the first time

她第一次从海里升起的那一天

similar joyful festivities were celebrated on that day

这一天也举行了类似的欢乐庆祝活动

she thought about the wonder and hope she felt that day

她想起了那天她所感受到的惊奇和希望

with those pleasant memories, she too joined in the dance

带着这些愉快的回忆，她也加入了舞蹈

on her paining feet, she poised herself in the air

在她疼痛的脚上，她把自己放在空中

the way a swallow poises itself when in pursued of prey

燕子在追逐猎物时的姿势

the sailors and the servants cheered her wonderingly

水手和仆人都好奇地为她欢呼

She had never danced so gracefully before

她以前从未如此优雅地跳舞

Her tender feet felt as if cut with sharp knives

她柔嫩的脚感觉就像被锋利的刀子割伤

but she cared little for the pain of her feet

但她并不在乎脚的疼痛

there was a much sharper pain piercing her heart

有一种更剧烈的疼痛刺穿了她的心