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

N r det blev m rkt t ndes ett antal f rgade lampor

the sailors and royal family danced merrily on the deck

sj m nnen och kungafamiljen dansade glatt p d ck

The little mermaid could not help thinking of her birthday

Den lilla sj jungfrun kunde inte l ta bli att t nka p sin f delsedag

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

dagen d hon steg upp ur havet f r f rsta g ngen

similar joyful festivities were celebrated on that day

liknande glada festligheter firades den dagen

she thought about the wonder and hope she felt that day

hon t nkte p f rundran och hoppet hon k nde den dagen

with those pleasant memories, she too joined in the dance

med de trevliga minnen, gick hon ocks med i dansen

on her paining feet, she poised herself in the air

p sina sm rtande f tter st llde hon sig i luften

the way a swallow poises itself when in pursued of prey

hur en svala balanserar sig n r den f rf ljs efter byte

the sailors and the servants cheered her wonderingly

sj m nnen och tj nstefolket jublade henne f rundrat

She had never danced so gracefully before

Hon hade aldrig dansat s graci st f rut

Her tender feet felt as if cut with sharp knives

Hennes mma f tter k ndes som skurna med vassa knivar