Nuair a d'fhás sé dorcha, lasadh roinnt lampaí daite When it grew dark, a number of colored lamps were lighted rinne na mairnéalaigh agus an teaghlach ríoga rince go suairc ar an deic the sailors and royal family danced merrily on the deck Ní fhéadfadh an mhaighdean mhara bheag cabhrú le smaoineamh ar a lá breithe The little mermaid could not help thinking of her birthday an lá a d'éirigh sí as an bhfarraige don chéad uair the day that she rose out of the sea for the first time ceiliúradh a leithéid de fhéilte lúcháireacha an lá sin similar joyful festivities were celebrated on that day smaoinigh sí ar an iontas agus an dóchas a bhraith sí an lá sin she thought about the wonder and hope she felt that day leis na cuimhní taitneamhacha sin, chuaigh sí isteach sa rince freisin with those pleasant memories, she too joined in the dance ar a cosa pianmhar, shuigh sí í féin san aer on her paining feet, she poised herself in the air an chaoi a n-iompaíonn fáinleog é féin agus é sa tóir ar chreiche the way a swallow poises itself when in pursuit of prey chuir na mairnéalaigh agus na seirbhísigh gean uirthi go hiontach the sailors and the servants cheered her wonderingly Ní raibh sí ag rince chomh galánta sin roimhe seo She had never danced so gracefully before Mhothaigh a cosa tairisceana amhail is dá mba gearrtha le sceana géara Her tender feet felt as if cut with sharp knives ach is beag a thug sí aire do phian a cosa but she cared little for the pain of her feet