Sometimes a dropping from the sky. 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; 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 Under the keel nine fathom deep The spirit slid and it was He : That made the Ship to go. The sails at noon left off their tune The sun right up above the mast 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, It flung the blood into my head, How long in that same fit I lay, But ere my living life return'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. |