• And the good south wind still blew behind, But no sweet bird did follow, And I had done a hellish thing, For all averr`d, I had kill'd the bird Ah wretch! said they, the bird to slay, · Nor dim nor red, like God's own head, Then all averr'd, I had kill'd the bird 'Twas right, said they, such birds to slay, · The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, The furrow stream'd off 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! 'The very deep did rot: O Christ! That ever this should be! Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs 'About, about, in reel and rout 'And some in dreams assured were 'And every tongue, through utter drought, Was wither'd at the root; We could not speak, no more than if We had been choked with soot. 'Ah! well a-day! what evil looks Had I from old and young! Instead of the Cross, the Albatross About my neck was hung.' PART III 'There pass'd a weary time. Each throat 'At first it seem'd a little speck, It moved and moved, and took at last ‘A speck, a mist, a shape, I wist! 'With throats unslaked, with black lips baked, Through utter drought all dumb we stood! 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. '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, The day was well-nigh done! |