When it grew dark, a number of colored lamps were lighted

Da det blev m rkt, blev en r kke farvede lamper t ndt

the sailors and royal family danced merrily on the deck

s m ndene og kongefamilien dansede lystigt på d kket

The little mermaid could not help thinking of her birthday

Den lille havfrue kunne ikke lade v re med at t nke på sin f dselsdag

the day that she rose out of the sea for the first time

den dag, hun steg op af havet for f rste gang

similar joyful festivities were celebrated on that day

lignende gl delige festligheder blev fejret den dag

she thought about the wonder and hope she felt that day

hun t nkte på det vidunder og håb, hun f lte den dag

with those pleasant memories, she too joined in the dance

med de behagelige minder, deltog hun også i dansen

on her paining feet, she poised herself in the air

på sine smertefulde f dder stillede hun sig i luften

the way a swallow poises itself when in pursued of prey

den måde en svale balancerer sig på, når den forf lges af bytte

the sailors and the servants cheered her wonderingly

s m ndene og tjenestefolkene jublede hende undrende

She had never danced so gracefully before

Hun havde aldrig danset så yndefuldt f r

Her tender feet felt as if cut with sharp knives

Hendes mme f dder f ltes som skåret med skarpe knive

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