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Sometimes a dropping from the sky.
I heard the Sky-lark sing;

Sometimes all little birds that are

How they seem'd to fill the sea and air With their sweet jargoning.

And now 'twas like all instruments;
Now like a lonely flute;

And now it is an angel's song

That makes the heavens be mute.

It ceas'd yet still the sails made or

:

A pleasant noise till noon,

A noise like of a hidden brook

In the leafy month of June,

That to the sleeping woods all night

Singeth a quiet tune.

Till noon we silently sail'd on

Yet never a breeze did breathe:

Slowly and smoothly went the Ship
Mov'd onward from beneath.

Under the keel nine fathom deep
From the land of mist and snow

The spirit slid and it was He

:

That made the Ship to go.

The sails at noon left off their tune
And the Ship stood still also.

The sun right up above the mast
Had fix'd her to the ocean:

But in a minute she 'gan stir

With a short uneasy motionBackwards and forwards half her length

With a short uneasy motion.

Then, like a pawing horse let go,
She made a sudden bound:

It flung the blood into my head,
And I fell into a swound.

How long in that same fit I lay,
I have not to declare;

But ere my living life return'd,..
I heard and in my soul discern'd

Two voices in the air.

"Is it he? quoth one, "Is this the man?

66

By him who died on cross,

"With his cruel bow he lay'd full low

"The harmless Albatross.

"The spirit who 'bideth by himself "In the land of mist and snow,

"He lov'd the bird that lov'd the man "Who shot him with his bow.

The other was a softer voice,
As soft as honey-dew :

Quoth he the man hath penance done,

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VI.

FIRST VOICE.

"But tell me, tell me! speak again,

"Thy soft response renewing

"What makes that ship drive on so fast? "What is the Ocean doing?

SECOND VOICE.

"Still as a Slave before his Lord,

"The Ocean hath no blast:

"His great bright eye most silently

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