In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud, It perch'd for vespers nine; Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white, Glimmer'd the white moon-shine. 'God save thee, ancient Mariner ! 'From the fiends, that plague thee thus !— 'Why look'st thou so?'-'With my cross-bow I shot the Albatross.' PART II 'The sun now rose upon the right : Out of the sea came he Still hid in mist,—and on the left Went down into the sea. And the good south wind still blew behind, But no sweet bird did follow, Nor any day for food or play And I had done a hellish thing, Ah wretch! said they, the bird to slay, Nor dim nor red, like God's own head, The glorious Sun uprist : Then all averr'd, I had kill'd the bird 'Twas right, said they, such birds to slay, 75 shroud, rigging 76 vespers, evenings 93 averr'd, declared The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, The furrow follow'd free; We were the first that ever burst Into that silent sea. Down dropt the breeze, the sails dropt down, 'Twas sad as sad could be ; And we did speak only to break The silence of the sea! All in a hot and copper sky, The bloody Sun, at noon, Right up above the mast did stand, Day after day, day after day, We stuck, nor breath nor motion; As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean. Water, water, everywhere, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink. The very deep did rot: O Heaven! That ever this should be! Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs Upon the slimy sea. About, about, in reel and rout And some in dreams assuréd were And every tongue, through utter drought, We could not speak, no more than if We had been choked with soot. Ah! well a-day! what evil looks Instead of the cross, the Albatross About my neck was hung. PART III 'There pass'd a weary time. Each throat A weary time! a weary time ! At first it seem'd a little speck, It moved and moved, and took at last A certain shape, I wist. A speck, a mist, a shape, I wist! And still it near'd and near'd : As if it dodged a water-sprite, It plunged and tack'd and veer'd. With throats unslaked, with black lips baked, We could nor laugh nor wail; Through utter drought all dumb we stood ! I bit my arm, I suck'd the blood, And cried, A sail--a sail ! With throats unslaked, with black lips baked, Agape they heard me call: Gramercy! they for joy did grin, And all at once their breath drew in, As they were drinking all. 152 wist, perceived See! see! (I cried) she tacks no more! Hither to work us weal; Without a breeze, without a tide, She steadies with upright keel ! The western wave was all a-flame, When that strange shape drove suddenly And straight the Sun was fleck'd with bars, (Heaven's Mother send us grace!) As if through a dungeon-grate he peer'd Alas! (thought I, and my heart beat loud) Are those her sails that glance in the Sun, Like restless gossameres ? Are those her ribs through which the Sun Did peer, as through a grate? And is that woman all her crew? Is that a Death? and are there two? Is Death that woman's mate? Her lips were red, her looks were free, Her skin was as white as leprosy, The Night-mare Life-in-Death was she, The naked hulk alongside came, And the twain were casting dice; 'The game is done! I've . . . I've won!' Quoth she, and whistles thrice. 168 do us good 195 hulk, body of the ship The Sun's rim dips; the stars rush out : We listen'd and look'd sideways up! Fear at my heart, as at a cup, My life-blood seem'd to sip! The stars were dim, and thick the night; The steersman's face by his lamp gleam'd white; From the sails the dew did drip- Till clomb above the eastern bar The hornéd Moon, with one bright star Within the nether tip. One after one, by the star-dogg'd Moon, Each turn'd his face with a ghastly pang, Four times fifty living. men, (And I heard nor sigh nor groan,) The souls did from their bodies fly,- And every soul, it pass'd me by Like the whizz of my cross-bow.' PART IV. 'I fear thee, ancient Mariner ! 'I fear thy skinny hand ! 'And thou art long, and lank, and brown, 'As is the ribb'd sea-sand. 200 Near the Equator there is hardly any twilight |