Page:Writings of Oscar Wilde - Volume 03.djvu/118

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92 THE WRITINGS OF OSCAR WILDE.

erman. "Thou wilt not follow me into the depths of the sea?" "Once every year I will come to this place, and call to thee," said the Soul. "It may be that thou wilt have need of me." "What need should I have of thee?" cried the young Fisherman, "but be it as thou wilt," and he plunged into the water, and the Tritons blew their horns, and the little Mermaid rose up to meet him, and put her arms around his neck and kissed him on the mouth. And the Soul stood on the lonely beach and watched them. And when they had sunk down into the sea, it went weeping away over the marshes. And after a year was over the Soul came down to the shore of the sea and called to the young Fisherman, and he rose out of the deep, and said, "Why dost thou call to me?" And the Soul answered, "Come nearer, that I may speak with thee, for I have seen marvellous things." So he came nearer, and couched in the shallow water, and leaned his head upon his hand and listened.

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