Far beneath the waves, in the depths of the ocean, there lived a young mermaid princess.
在波浪深处的海底，住着一位年轻的小美人鱼公主。
She had six sisters, but her voice and beauty were unmatched.
她有六个姐妹，但她的嗓音和美貌无人能比。
The little mermaid loved listening to tales of the human world above.
小美人鱼喜欢听关于人类世界的故事。
When she turned fifteen, she was allowed to swim to the surface and see it for herself.
当她年满十五岁时，她被允许游到水面上去看看。
One evening, she saw a handsome prince aboard a ship and instantly fell in love.
一个晚上，她看到一艘船上的英俊王子，立刻爱上了他。
A terrible storm hit, and the prince fell into the sea.
一场可怕的风暴袭来，王子掉进了海里。
The little mermaid rescued him, bringing him to shore and watching over him.
小美人鱼救了他，把他带到岸边并守护着他。
Before he awoke, she slipped back into the sea, unseen.
在他醒来之前，她悄悄回到了海里，没有被发现。
Longing to be with the prince, she sought the help of the sea witch.
为了能和王子在一起，她向海巫婆求助。
The witch agreed to give her legs in exchange for her beautiful voice.
巫婆同意给她双腿，但条件是夺走她美妙的嗓音。
"If the prince loves you and marries you, you will gain a human soul.
“如果王子爱上你并娶你为妻，你将获得一个人类的灵魂。
But if he marries someone else, you will die and turn into sea foam."
但如果他娶了别人，你将死去，化为海上的泡沫。”
The little mermaid agreed, even though it meant she could no longer speak.
小美人鱼同意了，即使这意味着她将无法再说话。
With her new legs, she reached the prince's palace, where he welcomed her kindly.
有了新双腿的她来到王子的宫殿，王子善意地接待了她。
Though he was fond of her, he did not know she was the one who saved him.
尽管他很喜欢她，但他不知道她就是救了他的人。
The prince soon announced his engagement to another princess.
不久后，王子宣布了他与另一位公主的婚约。
Heartbroken, the little mermaid's sisters came to her with a dagger from the sea witch.
心碎的小美人鱼的姐妹们带着一把巫婆给的匕首来找她。
"If you kill the prince and let his blood fall on your legs, you will become a mermaid again."
“如果你杀死王子，让他的血滴在你的腿上，你将再次变回美人鱼。”
The little mermaid could not harm the prince, even for her own life.
小美人鱼无法伤害王子，即使是为了自己的生命。
At dawn, she threw herself into the sea and turned into foam.
黎明时分，她跳入海中，化作了泡沫。
Yet, because of her pure heart, she became a spirit of the air.
然而，由于她纯洁的心灵，她变成了空中的精灵。
She vowed to do good deeds and one day earn an immortal soul.
她发誓要做好事，终有一天获得不朽的灵魂。
