But O! more horrible than that Is the curse in a dead man's eye! Seven davs. seven nights I saw that curse, And yet I could not die. The moving moon went up the sky, And no where did abide : Softly she was going up And a star or two beside Her beams bemocked the sultry main Beyond the shadow of the ship I watched the water-snakes: They moved in tracks of shining white; And when they reared, the elfish light Fell off in hoary flakes. Within the shadow of the ship I watched their rich attire: Blue, glossy green, and velvet black O happy living things! no tongue A spring of love gusht from my heart, Sure my kind saint took pity on me, The self-same moment I could pray; And from my neck so free The albatross fell off, and sank Like lead into the sea." PART V. "O sleep, it is a gentle thing To Mary-queen the praise be given, The silly buckets on the deck I dreamt that they were filled with dew, My lips were wet, my throat was cold, I moved and could not feel my limbs, I thought that I had died in sleep, And soon I heard a roaring wind, did not come anear; But with its sound it shook the sails The upper aîr burst into life, And a hundred fire-flags sheen, And to and fro, and in and out The wan stars danced between. And the coming wind did roar more loud; And the sails did sigh like sødge : And the rain poured down from one black cloud, The moon was at its edge. The thick black cloud was cleft, and still The moon was at its side; Like waters shot from some high crag, The lightning fell with never a jag The loud wind never reached the ship, They groaned, they stirred, they all uprose, The helmsman steered, the ship moved on; Where they were wont to do: We were a ghastly crew. The body of my brother's son Stood by me knee to knee: The body and I pulled at one rope, But he said nought to me." "I fear thee, Ancient Mariner!" "Be calm, thou wedding-guest! 'Twas not those souls, that fled in pain, Which to their corses came again, But a troop of spirits blest: For when it dawned-they dropped their arms, And clustered round the mast: Sweet sounds rose slowly through their mouths, And from their bodies passed. Around, around, flew cach sweet sound, Then darted to the sun : Slowly the sounds came back again Sometimes a-dropping from the sky And now 'twas like all instruments, And now it is an angel's song That makes the heavens be mute. It ceased: yet still the sails made on A noise like of a hidden brook In the leafy month of June, Till noon we silently sailed on, Yet never a breeze did breathe: Slowly and smoothly went the ship, Moved onward from beneath. Under the keel nine fathom deep From the land of mist and snow The spirit slid, and it was He The sails at noon left off their tune, The sun right up above the mast Had fixed 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, How long in that same fit I lay, 'Is it he?' quoth one, 'Is this the man? By him who died on cross, With his cruel bow he laid full low The spirit who bideth by himself He loved the bird that loved the man The other was a softer voice, As soft as honey dew: Quoth he, 'The man hath penance done, And penance more will do.'" |