s, so that they would gladly have given a sum
of money if anybody would have rid them of the lazy fellow. As nobody
would put up with him any longer, his father engaged him as servant to a
foreign captain, because he could not run away at sea, and because he
had always been so fond of the water from a child. However, after a few
weeks, nobody knows how, he escaped from the ship, and again set his
lazy feet on his native soil. But he was ashamed to enter his father's
house, where he could not expect to meet with a friendly reception, so
he wandered about from one place to another, and sought to get his
living as he could, without working. He was a strong handsome fellow,
and could talk very agreeably if he liked, although he had never been
accustomed to talk much in his father's house. He was now obliged to use
his handsome appearance and fine tongue to ingratiate himself with the
women and girls.

One fine summer evening after sunset it happened that he was wandering
alone on the beach when the clear song of the mermaid reached his ears.
Sleepy Tony thought to himself, "She is a woman, at any rate, and won't
do me any harm." He did not hesitate to approach nearer, to take a view
of the beautiful bird. He climbed the highest hill, and saw the mermaid
some distance off, sitting on a rock, combing her hair with a golden
comb, and singing a ravishing song. The youth would have wished for more
ears to listen to her song, which pierced his heart like a flame, but
when he drew nearer he saw that he would have needed just as many eyes
to take in the beauty of the maiden. The mermaid must have seen him
coming, but she did not fly from him, as she was always wont to do when
men approached. Sleepy Tony advanced to within ten paces of her, and
then stopped, undecided whether to go nearer. And oh, wonderful! the
mermaid rose from the stone and came to meet him with a friendly air.
She gave him her hand in greeting, and said, "I have expected you for
many days, for a fateful dream warned me of your arrival. You have
neither house nor home among those of your own race. Why should you be
dependent upon strangers when your parents refuse to receive you into
their house? I have known you from a child, and better than men have
known you, for I have often watched over and protected you when your
rashness would otherwise have destroyed you. I have often guarded the
rocking boat with my hands, when it would otherwise have sunk in the
depths.