by Amy Copeland
I
think this is an incredibly sweet
story. I wish that all men were as
romantic as the fisherman in this story.
This tale is also neat because the mermaid relays some details
about
the underwater city. So just relax and
enjoy!
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It was a hot blistering day out on
the open sea. A fisherman struggled to
pull in his net, but it was incredibly heavy.
Although he was physically exhausted, he was delighted in the
labor, because
he assumed that the net must be filled clear full of fish.
Finally he was able to drag it out of the
water and onto the boat. What he saw
absolutely shocked him.
In the net was a lovely mermaid
fast asleep. He gazed at her in awe for
quite some time before she stirred and awoke.
Taking in her surroundings, she became terrified and began
wailing. This was quite a sight to behold,
because
mermaid’s tears are precious pearls. The
fisherman felt guilty for capturing the mermaid, but she was so
enchanting that
he did not want to let her go.
She pleaded for her freedom and promised that if he granted it to her she would visit his ship every day and serenade him. Her big, innocent eyes peered up at him through dark curly lashes and melted his heart. Completely helpless to resist her charms, he agreed to release her.
As promised, the mermaid appeared on the morrow. She surfaced near the old wooden boat, but remained just out of the fisherman’s reach. She sang him ballads about the mermaid city under the sea. She told about her father Poseidon and his mighty triton that could calm the waters, stir violent whirlpools, or create waves taller than the highest tree. The mermaid’s voice was so lovely that the fisherman sat transfixed and forgot his work entirely. Then as the sun slipped below the horizon, the mermaid followed suit and slipped beneath the dark waters.
The following day the mermaid came once again. This time she sang him stories about the wonderful caravans of traveling mermaids. She told how they rode about under the sea on majestic sunken ships pulled by splendid dolphins. Once again the fisherman was hypnotized by her lovely voice and beauty. As the sun began to set, the fisherman professed his love for the mermaid and asked for her hand in marriage. She smiled and giggled at the thought of this. She explained that a mermaid cannot marry a man because he possesses a human soul and would drown under the sea. At this the mermaid retired to her home.
Initially, the fisherman was very distressed. However, he channeled his frustrations into a determination to free himself of his soul. He trekked to the feared witchdoctor’s cave that was situated on the shore. Upon relaying his dire situation, she agreed to help him accomplish this evil task. She handed him a dagger charmed by black magic and explained that one’s shadow is the body of the soul. Emerging from the cave, he saw his shadow cast on the sands in the bright moonlight. He excitedly cut the shadow away at his feet and he was rid of his soul forever.
The
next
morning he rowed his boat out to sea for the last time.
When the mermaid emerged, he dove into the
water. He explained to her that he had
forsaken his eternal life in the sky to live with her below the seas. She was moved by his huge sacrifice and fell
in love with him. They were married and
lived happily under the sea.
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| Bibliography Story Title: The Fisherman and his Soul Book Title: House of Pomegranates Author: Oscar Wilde Year Published: 1891 Story Link Image Information: "The Caravan" by David Delamare Image Link |
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