The Little Mermaid (Chapter 10)

Despite the acclamation, she soon recalled the world above her, for she could not forget the charming prince or her regret that she had not an immortal soul like his. Silently the young mermaid crept away from her father’s palace and withdrew to her garden, where she sat melancholy and alone.

“He is certainly sailing above,” she thought. “He whose hands I should like to place the happiness of my life. I will venture all to win both he, and an immortal soul. While my sisters are dancing in my father’s castle, I will flee to the Sea Witch who has long perturbed me, but can provide advice and assistance.”

To reach the dominions of the Sea Witch, the Little Mermaid had to pass through crushing whirlpools and across warm, bubbling mire. Later on, came the forest, where polypi, half animals and half plants, attempted to grab anything passing through. Darting swiftly, the Little Mermaid narrowly escaped from the polypi’s clutches.

At last she reached the marshy, fallow clearing around the Sea Witch’s house, built with the bones of shipwrecked human beings. There sat the Sea Witch, who allowed a toad to eat from her mouth, just as people sometimes feed a canary with a piece of sugar. Calling the loathsome water- nakes her little chickens, they repugnantly slithered all over her.

“I know what you long for,” the Sea Witch chortled. “you long to get rid of your fish’s tail and have two human supports instead so that the young prince may fall in love with you and you may acquire an immortal soul.”

“It’s ill-advised” the Sea Witch sneered. “Although you shall have it your way, it will bring you misery.”

At that, she cackled so loudly and disgustingly that the toad and snakes fell to the ground and lay there wriggling about.