有声英语儿童童话故事 海的女儿 第37章

All the church bells rang, andthe heralds rode through the town proclaiming the betrothal. Perfumed oil wasburned in costly silver lamps on every altar. The priests waved the censers,while the bride and the bridegroom joined their hands and received the blessingof the  /ˈbɪʃəp/. The little mermaid, dressed in silk and gold, held up thebride’s train; but her ears heard nothing of the festive music, and her eyessaw not the holy ceremony. She thought of the night of death which was comingto her, and of all she had lost in the world.

On the same evening the bride andbridegroom went on board the ship. Cannons were roaring, flags waving, and inthe center of the ship a costly tent of purple and gold had been erected. Itcontained elegant sleeping couches for the bridal pair during the night. Theship, under a favorable wind, with swelling sails, glided away smoothly andlightly over the calm sea.