The following stanzas of Heinrich Heine’s poem “Die Lore‑Ley” (1823), rendered here in Mark Twain’s translation, “The Lorelei,” encapsulate some of the most salient and lasting features of the mermaid as a beautiful and dangerous being who attracts men to their watery deaths.Article continues after advertisementRemove Ads The loveliest maiden is sitting High‑throned in yon … Continue reading How Mermaid Stories Illustrate Complex Truths About Being Human