THE
ANDTHE
IAN DEUCHAR
slE.IS
Once many years ago
a mermaid longed to talk to a hand¬
some prince whom she saw one day as
he was out hunting. But mermaids can¬
not talk to humans unless they invoke
an ancient spell. So with the next full
moon the mermaid repeated the magic
words and transformed herself into a
beautiful young woman. She and the
prince fell in love, but before consent¬
ing to marry him, the mermaid asked
the prince to swear an oath: “Never
ask me where I have come from, or why
I must return there at each full moon.”
Willingly the young prince agreed,
never dreaming that the terrible wrath
of another jealous woman would jeop¬
ardize his new-found love.
Ian Deuchar’s handsome and power¬
ful paintings greatly enhance his retell¬
ing of this ancient French folktale, to
create a book that will surely capture
the imagination of all young readers.
Dial Books for Young Readers
2 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10016
0408 ISBN 0-6037-3L.36-3
THE
Wince
ANDTHE
MERMAID
The story of The Prince and the Mermaid first came to light
through Gottfried Von Strassburg in the thirteenth century
but the tale is, in fact, based on a much earlier French
folktale called Melusine and the Prince.
THE
ANDTHE
MERMAID
IAN DEUCHAR
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Dial Books for Young Readers • New York
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It was snowing. The leaden sky gave promise of
even more to fall. For weeks the mermaids had
found no comfort, either freezing in the icy sea or
shivering in the howling winds ashore. None of
them could remember such a cold winter, and when
icebergs appeared, the mermaids swam up an inland
river for safety.
Deep upstream, the river flowed through an
ancient forest, so thick and deep that even winter s
icy grip could not reach inside. Here the mermaids
found shelter until the first snowdrop petal pushed
its way through the melting snow and it was time
to return to the sea.
But one young mermaid stayed behind. She had
grown to love the river that meandered through the
forest. Floating among the reeds she saw the otters
play and kingfishers dive. She watched the graceful
swans glide by as she swam under a canopy of
twisting trees. Sometimes she thought of her sisters
in the far-off emerald sea and became sad. But her
new friends in the river soon chased all sad thoughts
away as they played around her.
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One morning the peace of the river was shattered.
The trees rang with the thunder of hooves and the
cries of huntsmen, and the river creatures scattered
in fear.
All day the forest echoed to the hunters’ shouts as
they chased the wild boar. The Mermaid was too
terrified to move and hid, trembling, among the
reeds as the hunters raged around the forest in
pursuit of their quarry.
As evening drew on, the sounds slowly died away.
The Mermaid was about to slide from her shelter
when she froze. A figure on horseback had come
down to the water’s edge. He dismounted and led
his horse to drink. The Mermaid’s fear gave way to
curiosity when she saw a handsome young man, so
finely dressed he could only be a prince.
After that day, the Prince returned many times to
the river, drawn to the spot though not knowing
why, and the Mermaid longed more and more to
talk to him. But since mermaids cannot talk to
humans, there was only one thing she could do —
use an ancient spell known only to mermaids.
By the light of the next full moon, she spoke the
magic words and immediately turned into a
beautiful young woman.
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The next day she waited by the river until the
Prince arrived. He was astonished to see such a
beauty. Her long blonde hair tumbled over her
shoulders and she gazed at him with eyes of
sparkling sea-green. They met every day and, as the
summer passed, fell deeply in love. The Prince told
his father of the woman he loved so much. The king
said, “You must bring her to me so I can meet the
one who has captured my son’s heart.”
As the Prince led the Mermaid from the forest,
she saw a huge, splendid castle, its towers and
battlements gleaming in the sunshine. She was
overjoyed, but one fear troubled her. The Prince
must never learn the secret of her spell, for if he did,
the spell would be broken.
Taking his hand she said: “Swear me an oath, or
we can go no farther. Never ask from where I have
come or why I must return there at each full moon.”
Although puzzled by her strange request, the Prince
readily agreed.
W,m.
The whole court had gathered in the great hall to
see the beautiful woman, jostling each other for the
best view as the Prince led her to the king.
The king was enchanted with her and the whole
court was delighted. In the excitement, no one
noticed one lady who glared with hatred at the
Mermaid. This lady had loved the Prince since they
played together as children, and was sure that she
would be the one whose hand the Prince would seek
in marriage. The sight of the Prince’s happiness was
more than she could bear. She slipped quickly away
in case anyone should see her eyes filled with tears.
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On the day of the wedding, fanfares played and cascades of rose petals
fluttered everywhere. All day and all night the people sang and danced in the
streets until the dawn lit their weary but happy way home.
Time passed and the Mermaid gave birth to a
baby boy. She and the Prince presented the little
baby to the king and saw the old man’s face light up
with joy. He spent many hours with his new
grandson, dreaming of the day when the child
would inherit the kingdom.
But one person did not share the joy. The lady
who had once loved the Prince now hated him more
than ever, seeing his great happiness with another.
In the forest lived an evil witch, feared by
everyone for her power. In an old crumbling tower
she cast spells and spoke with Dark Forces.
Shivering with fear, the jealous lady sought the
witch’s help to end the Prince’s happiness.
The witch muttered strange words and peered
deep into her seething cauldron. She saw the
Mermaid’s secret, but such was the goodness that
shone from the Mermaid’s heart, the witch was
powerless to destroy her. In fury, she cast a spell
over the Prince.
“You shall have your wish,” hissed the witch to
the jealous lady. “The heart of the one you loved
shall be filled with doubt. Evil spirits shall whisper
in his ear by day and fill his dreams by night.”
As the witch shrieked and cackled, the jealous
lady crept away, filled with dread at what she had
now done.
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Now the Prince spent little time with his wife and
son, but stayed alone in his chamber. “What ails
you, my love?” asked the Mermaid. “Where is the
happy young man 1 married?”
The Prince glared at her. “Answer me this. Where
do you go on the nights of the full moon? Why do
you go alone into the forest?”
“You swore never to ask me. You promised.
I cannot tell you,” cried the Mermaid.
“Then go!” shouted the Prince. “If you will not
tell me I’ll speak no more with you. Go!”
As the full moon drew near, the Prince thought,
I can stand this no longer. I must know where she
goes.
A voice whispered in his ear, “She deceives you.
Follow her. Forget your silly promise.”
That night the Mermaid slipped out of the castle
and down into the forest. It was quite dark and still
save for the hoot of an owl and the rustle of leaves.
The Mermaid stopped still, certain she had heard
a footfall, and whispered, “Is anyone there?” But
there was only silence.
Slipping off her robe, she slid quietly into the
river. Once again she was a mermaid, her scales
glittering in the moonlit waters. She splashed and
dived in the cool river until it was time for the spell
to change her once more back to a human being.
She pulled herself from the river and then looked
up in horror. There stood the Prince, his eyes wide
with shock and alarm.
Hurt and angry, the Mermaid cried out, “Oh,why
did you break your promise? I cannot stay now that
you know my secret and have seen me in my true
form.” With a cry of despair she turned and dived
back into the dark water.
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It was a heartbroken Prince who returned to the
castle. He had been selfish and foolish to break
the trust of the one he loved. The whole kingdom
mourned the loss of their Princess. Every day he
watched from his window in the vain hope of seeing
his Mermaid again.
The jealous lady sat beside him. “Do not be sad,”
she said. “Forget her. I can give you true happiness.
And after all, it was hardly fitting for a prince of
royal blood to marry a sea creature, a mere fish!”
“I would not have such a heartless creature as
you,” the Prince shouted. “How dare you! She shall
return, never fear. Now go, I never wish to see you
again.”
Seasons changed, months became years and still
he watched and waited, but the Mermaid never,
ever, came back.
But every time the moon was full, the Mermaid
became human and slipped quietly into the sleeping
castle.
All night she watched her son sleeping peacefully
in his little bed and, as dawn approached, she stole
into the Prince’s chamber and lightly kissed her
sleeping love before returning to the river.
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First published in the United States 1989
by Dial Books for Young Readers
A Division of Penguin Books USA Inc.
2 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10016
Published in Great Britain
by Methuen Children’s Books Ltd
Copyright © 1989 by Ian Deuchar
All rights reserved
Printed in Italy by Olivotto
First Edition
N
13579 10 8642
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Deuchar, Ian.
The prince and the mermaid.
Summary: The prince and the mermaid’s happy
marriage is threatened when a wicked
witch casts an evil spell.
[1. Fairy tales. 2. Folklore—France.] I. Title.
PZ8.D477Pr 1990 398.2'1'0944 88-33395
ISBN 0-8037-0638-3
NEW CASTLE-HENRY COUNTY
PUBLIC LIBRARY
NEW CASTLE, INDIANA
IAN DEUCHAR
has illustrated several picture books, in¬
cluding The Proverbial Mouse and The
Search for Spring, both Dial books writ¬
ten by Moira Miller. The Prince and
the Mermaid is the first book he has both
written and illustrated.
In addition to illustrating children’s
books, Mr. Deuchar teaches art at the
high-school level. He and his wife and
their three sons live in England.
39231024056174
0803706383 22
05/28/2018 0 54-2
