And one evening he called to her (и однажды вечером он окликнул ее), and said: `Little Mermaid (маленькая Русалочка), little Mermaid, I love thee (thee = you). Take me for thy bridegroom (возьми меня в свои женихи = будь моей женой);
But the Mermaid shook her head (но Русалочка покачала головой;
bridegroom ['braIdgru(:)m] hast [hxst] soul [sqVl]
And one evening he called to her, and said: `Little Mermaid, little Mermaid, I love thee. Take me for thy bridegroom, for I love thee.'
But the Mermaid shook her head. `Thou hast a human soul,' she answered. `If only thou would'st send away thy soul, then could I love thee.'
And the young Fisherman said to himself (и тогда молодой Рыбак сказал себе) `Of what use is my soul to me (какая мне польза от моей души;
use [ju:s] gladness ['glxdnIs] joy [dZOI] depth [depT]
And the young Fisherman said to himself `Of what use is my soul to me? I cannot see it. I may not touch it. I do not know it. Surely I will send it away from me, and much gladness shall be mine.' And a cry of joy broke from his lips, and standing up in the painted boat, he held out his arms to the Mermaid. `I will send my soul away,' he cried, `and you shall be my bride, and I will be the bridegroom, and in the depth of the sea we will dwell together, and all that thou hast sung of thou shalt show me, and all that thou desirest I will do, nor shall our lives be divided.'
And the little Mermaid laughed for pleasure (и маленькая Русалочка засмеялась от удовольствия), and hid her face in her hands (и спрятала свое лицо в своих руках = и закрыла свое лицо руками;
`But how shall I send my soul from me (но как же мне прогнать прочь мою душу)?' cried the young Fisherman (закричал молодой Рыбак). `Tell me how I may do it (скажи мне, как я могу это сделать), and lo! it shall be done (и вмиг это будет сделано).'