The Rime of the Ancient

Mariner
by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE
1772-1834
Epic Poem:
PART I
An ancient Mariner
meeteth three Gallants
bidden to a wedding
feast, and detaineth
one.
It is an ancient Mariner,
And e stoppet one o! tree"
#$y ty %on& &rey beard and &%itterin& eye,
'o( (ere!ore stopp#st to) me*
#Te $ride&room#s doors are opened (ide,
And I am ne+t o! ,in-
Te &)ests are met, te !east is set:
May#st ear te merry din,#
.e o%ds im (it is s,inny and,
/Tere (as a sip,# 0)ot e,
#.o%d o!!1 )nand me, &raybeard %oon1#
E!tsoons is and dropt e"
The Wedding-Guest is
spellbound by the eye
the old seafaring man
and constrained to hear
his tale.
.e o%ds im (it is &%itterin& eye -
Te 2eddin&-3)est stood sti%%,
And %istens %i,e a tree years# ci%d:
Te Mariner at is (i%%"
Te 2eddin&-3)est sat on a stone:
.e cannot coose b)t ear-
And t)s spa,e on tat ancient man,
Te bri&t-eyed Mariner:
/Te sip (as ceered, te arbo)r c%eared,
Merri%y did (e drop
$e%o( te ,ir,, be%o( te i%%,
$e%o( te %i&to)se top"
The Mariner tells how
the ship sailed
southward with a good
wind and fair weather,
till it reached the Line.
Te s)n came )p )pon te %e!t,
4)t o! te sea came e1
And e sone bri&t, and on te ri&t
2ent do(n into te sea"
.i&er arid i&er e5ery day,
#Ti%% o5er te mast at noon
6
Te 2eddin&-3)est ere beat is breast,
7or e eard te %o)d bassoon"
The Wedding-Guest
heareth the bridal but
the Mariner continueth
his tale.
Te bride at paced into te a%%,
Red as a rose is se-
'oddin& teir eads be!ore er &oes
Te merry minstre%sy"
Te 2eddin&-3)est e beat is breast,
8et e cannot coose b)t ear-
And t)s spa,e on tat ancient man,
Te bri&t-eyed Mariner"
The ship drawn by a
storm toward the South
ole.
#And no( te 9torm-b%ast came, and e
2as tyranno)s and stron&-
.e str)c, (it is o#erta,in& (in&s,
And cased )s so)t a%on&"
2it s%opin& masts and dippin& pro(,
As (o p)rs)ed (it ye%% and b%o(
9ti%% treads te sado( o! is !oe,
And !or(ard bends is ead,
Te sip dro5e !ast, %o)d roared te b%ast,
And so)t(ard aye (e !%ed"
And no( tere came bot mist and sno(
And it &re( (ondero)s co%d:
And ice, mast-i&, came !%oatin& by,
As &reen as emera%d"
The land of ice and of
fearful sounds, where
no li!ing thing was to
be seen.
And tro)& te dri!ts te sno(y c%i!ts
:id send a disma% seen:
'or sapes o! men nor beasts (e ,en -
Te ice (as a%% bet(een"
Te ice (as ere, te ice (as tere,
Te ice (as a%% aro)nd
It crac,ed and &ro(%ed, and roared and o(%ed,
;i,e noises in a s(o)nd1
Till a great sea-bird,
called the Albatross,
came through the
snowfog, and was
recei!ed with great "oy
and hospitality.
At %en&t did cross an A%batross-
Toro)& te !o& it came-
As i! it ad been a <ristian so)%,
2e ai%ed it in 3od#s name"
It ate te !ood it ne#er ad eat,
And ro)nd and ro)nd it !%e(,
Te ice did sp%it (it a t)nder-!it-
Te e%msman steered )s tro)&1
And lo# the Albatross
pro!eth a bird of good
omen, and followeth
the ship as it returned
And a &ood so)t (ind spr)n& )p beind-
Te A%batross did !o%%o(,
And e5ery day, !or !ood or p%ay,
northward through fog
and floating ice.
<ame to te mariners# o%%o1
In mist or c%o)d, on mast or sro)d,
It perced !or 5espers nine-
2i%es a%% te ni&t, tro)& !o&-smo,e (ite,
3%immered te (ite moonsine,#
$The ancient Mariner
inhospitably %illeth the
pious bird of good
omen.
#3od sa5e tee, ancient Mariner1
7rom te !iends, tat p%a&)e tee t)s1 -
2y %oo,#st to) so*# -#2it my crossbo(
I sot te A%batross"#
PART II
#Te 9)n no( rose )pon te ri&t:
4)t o! te sea came e,
9ti%% id in mist, and on te %e!t
2en do(n into te sea"
And te &ood so)t (ind sti%% b%e( beind,
$)t no s(eet bird did !o%%o(,
'or any day !or !ood or p%ay
<ame to te Mariners# o%%o1
&is shipmates cry out
against the ancient
Mariner, for %illing the
bird good luc%.
And I ad done an e%%is tin&,
And it (o)%d (or, #em (oe:
7or a%% a5erred, I ad ,i%%ed te bird
Tat made te bree=e to b%o("
A (retc1 said tey, te bird to s%ay,
Tat made te bree=e to b%o(1
'ut when the fog
cleared off, they "ustify
the same, and thus
ma%e themsel!es
accomplices in the
crime.
'or dim nor red, %i,e 3od#s o(n ead,
Te &%orio)s 9)n )prist:
Ten a%% a5erred, I ad ,i%%ed te bird
Tat bro)&t te !o& and mist"
#T(as ri&t, said tey, s)c birds to s%ay,
Tat brin& te !o& and mist"
The fair bree(e
continues) the ship
enters be acific *cean
and sails northward,
e!en till it reaches tile
Line.
Te !air bree=e b%e(, te (ite !oam !%e(,
Te !)rro( !o%%o(ed !ree-
2e (ere te !irst tat e5er b)rst
Into tat si%ent sea"
The ship hath been
suddenly becalmed.
:o(n dropt te bree=e, te sai%s dropt do(n,
#T(as sad as sad co)%d be-
And (e did spea, on%y to brea,
Te si%ence o! te sea1
A%% in a ot and copper s,y,
Te b%oody 9)n, at noon,
Ri&t )p abo5e te mast did stand,
'o bi&&er tan te Moon"
:ay a!ter day, day a!ter day,
2e st)c,, nor breat nor motion:
As id%e as a painted sip
>pon a painted ocean"
And the Albatross
begins to be a!enged.
2ater, (ater, e5ery(ere,
And a%% te boards did srin,-
2ater, (ater, e5ery(ere,
'or any drop to drin,"
Te 5ery deep did rot: 4 <rist1
Tat e5er tis so)%d be1
8ea, s%imy tin&s did cra(% (it %e&s
>pon te s%imy sea"
Abo)t, abo)t, in ree% and ro)t
Te deat-!ires danced at ni&t-
Te (ater, %i,e a (itc#s oi%s,
$)rnt &reen, and b%)e and (ite"
A spin had followed
them) one of the in
!isible inhabitants of
this planet, neither
departed souls nor
angels) concerning
whom the learned +ew,
+osephus, and the
latonic
,onstantinopolitan,
Michael sellus, may
be consulted. They are
!ery numerous, and
there is no climate or
element without one or
more.
And some in dreams ass)red (ere
4! te spirit tat p%a&)ed )s so-
'ine !atom deep e ad !o%%o(ed )s
7rom te bind o! mist and sno("
And e5ery ton&)e, tro)& )tter dro)&t,
2as (itered at te root-
2e co)%d not spea,, no more tan i!
2e ad been co,ed (it soot"
The shipmates, in their
sore distress, would
fain throw the whole
guilt on the ancient
Mariner- in sign
whereof they hang the
dead sea-bird round his
nec%.
A1 (e%%-a-day1 (at e5i% %oo,s
.ad I !rom o%d and yo)n&1
Instead o! te cross, te A%batross
Abo)t my nec, (as )n&
PART III
The ancient Mariner
beholdeth a sign in the
element afar off.
#Tere passed a (eary time, Eac troat
2as parced, and &%a=ed eac eye"
A (eary time1 a (eary time1
.o( &%a=ed eac (eary eye,
2en %oo,in& (est(ard, I bee%d
A sometin& in te s,y"
At !irst it seemed a %itt%e spec,,
And ten it seemed a mist-
It mo5ed and mo5ed, and too, at %ast
A certain sape, I (ist"
A spec,, a mist, a sape, I (ist1
And sti%% it neared and neared:
As i! it dod&ed a (ater-sprite,
It p%)n&ed and tac,ed and 5eered"
At its nearer approach,
it seemeth him to be a
ship) and at a clear
ransom he freeth his
speech from the bonds
of thirst.
2it troats )ns%a,ed, (it b%ac, %ips ba,ed,
2e co)%d nor %a)& nor (ai%-
Tro)& )tter dro)&t a%% d)mb (e stood1
I bit my arm, I s)c,ed te b%ood,
And cried, /A sai%1 a sai%1/
2it troats )ns%a,ed, (it b%ac, %ips ba,ed,
A&ape tey eard me ca%%:
3ramercy1 tey !or toy did &rin,
A flash of "oy. And a%% at once teir breat dre( in,
As tey (ere drin,in& a%%"
And horror follows.
.or can a be a ship that
comes onward without
wind or tide/
9ee1 9ee1 ?I cried@ se tac,s no more1
.iter to (or, )s (ea%:
2ito)t a bree=e, (ito)t a tide,
9e steadies (it )pri&t ,ee%1
Te (estern (a5e (as a%% a-!%ame"
Te day (as (e%%ni& done1
A%most )pon te (estern (a5e
Rested te broad bri&t 9)n-
2en tat stran&e sape dro5e s)dden%y
$et(i+t )s and te 9)n"
0t seemeth him but the
s%eleton of a ship.
And strai&t te 9)n (as !%ec,ed (it bars,
?.ea5en#s Moter send )s &race1@
As i! tro)& a d)n&eon-&rate e peered
2it broad and b)rnin& !ace"
A%as1 ?to)&t I, and my eart beat %o)d@
.o( !ast se nears and nears1
Are tose er sai%s tat &%ance in te 9)n,
;i,e rest%ess &ossameres*
And its ribs are seen as
bars on the face of the
setting Sun. The
spectre-woman and her
deathmate and no
other other on board
the s%eleton ship. Li%e
!essel, li%e crew#
Are tose er ribs tro)& (ic te 9)n
:id peer, as tro)& a &rate*
And is tat 2oman a%% er cre(*
Is tat a :eat* and are tere t(o*
Is :eat tat (oman#s mate*
.er %ips (ere red, er %oo,s (ere !ree,
.er %oc,s (ere ye%%o( as &o%d:
.er s,in (as as (ite as %eprosy,
Te 'i&tmare ;i!e-in-:eat (as se,
2o tic,s man#s b%ood (it co%d"
1eath and Life-in1eath
ha!e diced for the
ship$s crew, and 2the
latter3 winneth the
ancient Mariner.
Te na,ed )%, a%on&side came,
And te t(ain (ere castin& dice-
/Te &ame is done1 I#5e (on, I#5e (on1/
A)ot se, and (ist%es trice"
4o twilight within the
courts of the sun.
At the rising of the
Moon,
Te 9)n#s rim dips- te stars r)s o)t:
At one stride comes te dar,-
2it !ar-eard (isper, o#er te sea,
4!! sot te spectre-bar,"
2e %istened and %oo,ed side(ays )p1
7ear at my eart, as at a c)p,
My %i!e b%ood seemed to sip1
Te stars (ere dim, and tic, te ni&t,
Te steersman#s !ace by is %amp &%eamed (ite-
7rom te sai%s te de( did drip -
Ti%% c%omb abo5e te eastern bar
Te orned Moon, (it one bri&t star
2itin te neter tip"
one after another, 4ne a!ter one, by te star-do&&ed Moon
Too 0)ic, !or &roan or si&,
Eac t)rned is !ace (it a &ast%y pan&,
And c)rsed me (it is eye"
his shipmates drop
down dead)
7o)r times !i!ty %i5in& men,
?And I eard nor si& nor &roan@
2it ea5y t)mp, a %i!e%ess %)mp,
Tey dropped do(n one by one"
but Life-in-1eath
begins her wor% on the
ancient Mariner.
Te so)%s did !rom teir bodies !%y, -
Tey !%ed to b%iss or (oe1
And e5ery so)%, it passed me by
;i,e te (i== o! my cross-bo(1#
PART IB
The Wedding-Guest
feareth that a spirit is
tal%ing to him)
I !ear tee, ancient Mariner1
I !ear ty s,inny and1
And to) art %on&, and %an,, and bro(n,
As is te ribbed sea-sand"
'ut the ancient
Mariner assureth him
of his bodily life, and
proceedeth to relate his
horrible penance.
I !ear tee and ty &%itterin& eye,
And ty s,inny and, so bro(n,# -
#7ear not, !ear not, to) 2eddin&-3)est1
Tis body dropt not do(n"
A%one, a%one, a%%, a%% a%one,
A%one on a (ide (ide sea1
And ne5er a saint too, pity on
My so)% in a&ony"
&e despiseth the
creatures of the calm.
Te many men, so bea)ti!)%1
And tey a%% dead did %ie:
And a to)sand to)sand s%imy tin&s
;i5ed on- and so did I"
And en!ieth that they
should li!e and so
many lie dead.
I %oo,ed )pon te rottin& sea,
And dre( my eyes a(ay-
I %oo,ed )pon te rottin& dec,,
And tere te dead men %ay"
I %oo,ed to ea5en, and tried to pray-
$)t or e5er a prayer ad &)st,
A (ic,ed (isper came, and made
My eart as dry as d)st"
I c%osed my %ids, and ,ept tem c%ose,
And te ba%%s %i,e p)%ses beat-
7or te s,y and te sea, and te sea and te s,y
;ay %i,e a %oad on my (eary eye,
And te dead (ere at my !eet"
'ut the curse li!eth for
him in the eye of the
dead men.
Te co%d s(eat me%ted !rom teir %imbs,
'or rot nor ree, did tey-
Te %oo, (it (ic tey %oo,ed on me
.ad ne5er passed a(ay"
An orpan#s c)rse (o)%d dra& to e%%
A spirit !rom on i&-
$)t o1 more orrib%e tan tat
Is a c)rse in a dead man#s eye1
9e5en days, se5en ni&ts, I sa( tat c)rse,
And yet I co)%d not die"
0n his loneliness and
fi5edness he yearneth
towards the "ourneying
Moon and the stars
that still so"ourn, yet
still mo!e onward) and
e!erywhere the blue
s%y belongs, to them,
and is their appointed
rest, and their nati!e
country and their own
natural homes, which
they enter
unannounced, as lords
that are certainly
e5pected and yet there
is silent "oy at their
arri!al.
Te mo5in& Moon (ent )p te s,y,
And no(ere did abide:
9o!t%y se (as &oin& )p,
And a star or t(o beside -
.er beams bemoc,ed te s)%try main,
;i,e Apri% oar-!rost spread-
$)t (ere te sip#s )&e sado( %ay,
Te carmed (ater b)rnt a%(ay
A sti%% and a(!)% red"
'y the light of Moon he
beholdeth God$s
$eyond te sado( o! te sip,
I (atced te (ater-sna,es:
creatures of the great
calm.
Tey mo5ed in trac,s o! sinin& (ite,
And (en tey reared, te e%!is %i&t
7e%% o!! in oary !%a,es"
2itin te sado( o! te sip
I (atced teir ric attire:
$%)e, &%ossy &reen, and 5e%5et b%ac,,
Tey coi%ed and s(am- and e5ery trac,
2as a !%as o! &o%den !ire"
Their beauty and their
happiness.
&e blesseth them in his
heart.
4 appy %i5in& tin&s1 no ton&)e
Teir bea)ty mi&t dec%are-
A sprin& o! %o5e &)sed !rom my eart,
And I b%essed tem )na(are:
9)re my ,ind saint too, pity on me,
And I b%essed tem )na(are"
The spell begins to
brea%.
And !rom my nec, so !ree
Te A%batross !e%% o!!, and san,
;i,e %ead into te sea"
PART B
#4 s%eep1 it is a &ent%e tin&,
$e%o5ed !rom po%e to po%e1
To Mary A)een te praise be &i5en1
9e sent te &ent%e s%eep !rom .ea5en,
Tat s%id into my so)%"
'y grace of the holy
Mother, the ancient
Mariner is refreshed
with rain.
Te si%%y b)c,ets on te dec,,
Tat ad so %on& remained,
I dreamt tat tey (ere !i%%ed (it de(-
And (en I a(o,e, it rained"
My %ips (ere (et, my troat (as co%d,
My &arments a%% (ere dan,-
9)re I ad dr)n,en in my dreams,
And sti%% by body dran,"
I mo5ed, and co)%d not !ee% my %imbs:
I (as so %i&t6a%most
I to)&t tat I ad died in s%eep,
And (as a b%essed &ost"
&e heareth the sounds
and sights and
commotions in the s%y
and the element.
And soon I eard a roarin& (ind-
It did not come anear-
$)t (it its so)nd it soo, te sai%s,
Tat (ere so tin and sere"
#Te )pper air b)rst into %i!e1
And a )ndred !ire-!%a&s seen,
To and !ro tey (ere )rried abo)t1
And to and !ro, and in and o)t,
Te (an stars danced bet(een"
And te comin& (ind did roar more %o)d,
And te sai%s did si& %i,e sed&e-
And te rain po)red do(n !rom one b%ac, c%o)d-
Te Moon (as at its ed&e"
Te tic, b%ac, c%o)d (as c%e!t, and sti%%
Te Moon (as at its side:
;i,e (aters sot !rom some i& cra&,
Te %i&tnin& !e%% (it ne5er a Ca&,
A ri5er steep and (ide"
The bodies of the ship$s
crew are inspired, and
the ship mo!es on)
Te %o)d (ind ne5er reaced te sip,
8et no( te sip mo5ed on1
$eneat te %i&tnin& and te Moon
Te dead men &a5e a &roan"
Tey &roaned, tey stirred, tey a%% )prose,
'or spa,e, nor mo5ed teir eyes-
It ad been stran&e, e5en in a dream,
To a5e seen tose dead men rise"
Te e%msman steered, te sip mo5ed on-
8et ne5er a bree=e )p b%e(-
#Te mariners a%% #&an (or, te ropes,
2ere tey (ere (ont to do-
Tey raised teir %imbs %i,e %i!e%ess too%s -
2e (ere a &ast%y cre("
Te body o! my broter#s son
9tood by me, ,nee to ,nee:
Te body and I p)%%ed at one rope,
$)t e said no)&t to me"
but not by the souls of
the men nor by
daemons of earth or
middle air, but by a
blessed troop of angelic
spirits, sent down by
the in!ocation of the
guardian saint.
#I !ear tee, ancient Mariner1#
#$e ca%m, to) 2eddin&-3)est1
#T(as not tose so)%s tat !%ed in pain,
2ic to teir corses came a&ain,
$)t a troop o! spirits b%est:
7or (en it da(ned -tey dropt teir arms,
And c%)stered ro)nd te mast-
9(eet so)nds rose s%o(%y tro)& teir mo)ts,
And !rom teir bodies passed"
Aro)nd, aro)nd, !%e( eac s(eet so)nd,
Ten darted to te 9)n-
9%o(%y te so)nds came bac, a&ain,
'o( mi+ed, no( one by one"
9ometimes a-droppin& !rom te s,y
I eard te s,y%ar, sin&-
9ometimes a%% %itt%e birds tat are,
.o( tey seemed to !i%% te sea and air
2it teir s(eet Car&onin&1
And no( #t(as %i,e a%% instr)ments,
'o( %i,e a %one%y !%)te-
And no( it is an an&e%#s son&,
Tat ma,es te ea5ens be m)te"
It ceased- yet sti%% te sai%s made on
A p%easant noise ti%% noon,
A noise %i,e o! a idden broo,
In te %ea!y mont o! D)ne,
Tat to te s%eepin& (oods a%% ni&t
9in&et a 0)iet t)ne"
Ti%% noon (e 0)iet%y sai%ed on,
8et ne5er a bree=e did breate:
9%o(%y and smoot%y (ent te sip,
Mo5ed on(ard !rom beneat"
The lonesome Spirit
from the South ole
carries on the ship as
far as the Line, in
obedience
>nder te ,ee% nine !atom deep,
7rom te %and o! mist and sno(,
Te spirit s%id: and it (as e
Tat made te sip to &o"
Te sai%s at noon %e!t o!! teir t)ne,
And te sip stood sti%% a%so"
Te 9)n, ri&t )p abo5e te mast,
.ad !i+ed er to te ocean:
$)t in a min)te se #&an stir,
2it a sort )neasy motion -
$ac,(ards and !or(ards a%! er %en&t
2it a sort )neasy motion"
Ten, %i,e a pa(in& orse %et &o,
9e made a s)dden bo)nd:
It !%)n& te b%ood into my ead,
And I !e%% do(n in a s(o)nd"
The olar Spirit$s
fellow-daemons, the
in!isible inhabitants of
.o( %on& in tat same !it I %ay,
I a5e not to dec%are-
$)t ere my %i5in& %i!e ret)rned,
the element, ta%e part
in his wrong) and two
of them relate, one to
the other, that penance
long and hea!y for the
ancient mariner hath
been accorded to the
olar Spirit, who
returneth southward.
I eard and in my so)% discerned
T(o 5oices in te air"
/Is it e*/ 0)ot one, /Is tis te man*
$y im (o died on cross,
2it is cr)e% bo( e %aid !)%% %o(
Te arm%ess A%batross"
/Te spirit (o bidet by imse%!
In te %and o! mist and sno(,
.e %o5ed te bird tat %o5ed te man
2o sot im (it is bo("/
Te oter (as a so!ter 5oice,
As so!t as oneyde(:
A)ot e, /Te man at penance done,
And penance more (i%% do"/
PART BI
7irst Boice
#/$)t te%% me, te%% me1 spea, a&ain,
Ty so!t response rene(in& -
2at ma,es tat sip dri5e on so !ast*
2at is te 4cean doin&*/
9econd Boice
/9ti%% as a s%a5e be!ore is %ord,
Te 4cean at no b%ast-
.is &reat bri&t eye most si%ent%y
>p to te Moon is cast -
/I! e may ,no( (ic (ay to &o-
7or se &)ides im smoot or &rim"
9ee, broter, see1 o( &racio)s%y
9e %oo,et do(n on im"/
7irst Boice
The Mariner hath been
cast into a trance) for
the angelic power
causeth the !essel to
dri!e northward faster
than human life could
endure.
/$)t (y dri5es on tat sip so !ast,
2ito)t or (a5e or (ind*/
9econd Boice
/Te air is c)t a(ay be!ore,
And c%oses !rom beind"
/7%y, broter, !%y1 more i&, more i&1
4r (e sa%% be be%ated:
7or s%o( and s%o( tat sip (i%% &o,
2en te Mariner#s trance is abated,/
The supernatural
motion is retarded) the
Mariner awa%es and
his penance begins
anew.
I (o,e, and (e (ere sai%in& on
As in a &ent%e (eater:
#T(as ni&t, ca%m ni&t, te Moon (as i&-
Te dead men stood to&eter"
A%% stood to&eter on te dec,,
7or a carne%-d)n&eon !itter:
A%% !i+ed on me teir stony eyes,
Tat in te Moon did &%itter"
#Te pan&, te c)rse, (it (ic tey died,
.ad ne5er passed a(ay:
I co)%d not dra( my eyes !rom teirs,
'or t)rn tem )p to pray"
The curse is finally
e5piated.
And no( tis spe%% (as snapt: once more
I 5ie(ed te ocean &reen,
And %oo,ed !ar !ort, yet %itt%e sa(
4! (at ad e%se been seen -
;i,e one, tat on a %onesome road
:ot (a%, in !ear and dread,
And a5in& once t)rned ro)nd (a%,s on,
And t)rns no more is ead-
$eca)se e ,no(s, a !ri&t!)% !iend
:ot c%ose beind im tread"
$)t soon tere breated a (ind on me,
'or so)nd nor motion made:
Its pat (as not )pon te sea,
In ripp%e or in sade"
It raised my air, it !anned my cee,
;i,e a meado(-&a%e o! sprin& -
It min&%ed stran&e%y (it my !ears,
8et it !e%t %i,e a (e%comin&"
9(i!t%y, s(i!t%y !%e( te sip,
8et se sai%ed so!t%y too:
9(eet%y, s(eet%y b%e( te bree=e -
4n me a%one it b%e("
And the ancient
Mariner be holdeth his
nati!e country.
41 dream o! Coy1 is tis indeed
Te %i&to)se top I see*
Is tis te i%%* is tis te ,ir,*
Is tis mine o(n co)ntree*
2e dri!ted o#er te arbo)r-bay,
And I (it sobs did pray -
4 %et me be a(a,e, my 3od1
4r %et me s%eep a%(ay"
Te arbo)r-bay (as c%ear as &%ass,
9o smoot%y it (as stre(n1
And on te bay te moon%i&t %ay,
And te sado( o! te Moon"
Te roc, sone bri&t, te ,ir, no %ess,
Tat stands abo5e te roc,:
Te moon%i&t steeped in si%entness
Te steady (eatercoc,"
The angelic spirits
lea!e the dead bodies
and appear in their
own forms of light.
And te bay (as (ite (it si%ent %i&t,
Ti%% risin& !rom te same,
7)%% many sapes, tat sado(s (ere,
In crimson co%o)rs came"
A %itt%e distance !rom te pro(
Tose crimson sado(s (ere:
I t)rned my eyes )pon te dec, -
4, <rist1 (at sa( I tere1
Eac corse %ay !%at, %i!e%ess and !%at,
And, by te o%y rood1
A man a%% %i&t, a serap-man,
4n e5ery corse tere stood"
Tis serap-band, eac (a5ed is and:
It (as a ea5en%y si&t1
Tey stood as si&na%s to te %and,
Eac one a %o5e%y %i&t-
Tis serap-band, eac (a5ed is and,
'o 5oice did tey impart -
'o 5oice- b)t o1 te si%ence san,
;i,e m)sic on my eart"
$)t soon I eard te das o! oars,
I eard te Pi%ot#s ceer-
My ead (as t)rned per!orce a(ay,
And I sa( a boat appear"
Te Pi%ot and te Pi%ot#s boy,
I eard tem comin& !ast-
:ear ;ord in .ea5en1 it (as a Coy
Te dead men co)%d not b%ast"
I sa( a tird -I eard is 5oice:
It is te .ermit &ood1
.e sin&et %o)d is &od%y ymns
Tat e ma,es in te (ood"
.e#%% sri5e my so)%, e#%% (as a(ay
Te A%batross#s b%ood"
PART BII
The &ermit of the
Wood.
#Tis .ermit &ood %i5es in tat (ood
2ic s%opes do(n to te sea"
.o( %o)d%y is s(eet 5oice e rears1
.e %o5es to ta%, (it marineres
Tat come !rom a !ar co)ntree"
.e ,nee%s at morn, and noon, and e5e -
.e at a c)sion p%)mp:
It is te moss tat (o%%y ides
Te rotted o%d oa,-st)mp"
Te s,i!!-boat neared: I eard tem ta%,,
/2y tis is stran&e, I tro(1
2ere are tose %i&ts so many and !air,
Tat si&na% made b)t no(*/
approacheth the ship
with wonder.
/9tran&e, by my !ait1/ te .ermit said -
/And tey ans(ered not o)r ceer1
Te p%an,s %oo, (arped1 and see tose sai%s,
.o( tin tey are and sere1
I ne5er sa( a)&t %i,e to tem,
>n%ess percance it (ere
/$ro(n s,e%etons o! %ea5es tat %a&
My !orest-broo, a%on&-
2en te i5y-tod is ea5y (it sno(,
And te o(%et (oops to te (o%! be%o(,
Tat eats te se-(o%!#s yo)n&"/
/:ear ;ord1 it at a !iendis %oo, -/
?Te Pi%ot made rep%y@
/I am a-!eared/ -/P)s on, p)s on1/
9aid te .ermit ceeri%y"
Te boat came c%oser to te sip,
$)t I nor spa,e nor stirred-
Te boat came c%ose beneat te sip,
And strai&t a so)nd (as eard"
The ship suddenly
sin%eth.
>nder te (ater it r)mb%ed on,
9ti%% %o)der and more dread:
It reaced te sip, it sp%it te bay-
Te sip (ent do(n %i,e %ead"
The ancient Mariner is
sa!ed in the ilot$s
boat.
9t)nned by tat %o)d and dread!)% so)nd,
2ic s,y and ocean smote
;i,e one tat bat been se5en days dro(ned
My body %ay a!%oat-
$)t s(i!t as dreams, myse%! I !o)nd
2itin te Pi%ot#s boat"
>pon te (ir%, (ere san, te sip,
Te boat sp)n ro)nd and ro)nd-
And a%% (as sti%%, sa5e tat te i%%
2as te%%in& o! te so)nd"
I mo5ed my %ips -te Pi%ot srie,ed
And !e%% do(n in a !it-
Te o%y .ermit raised is eyes,
And prayed (ere e did sit"
I too, te oars: te Pi%ot#s boy,
2o no( dot cra=y &o"
;a)&ed %o)d and %on&, and a%% te (i%e
.is eyes (ent to and !ro"
/.a1 a1/ 0)ot e, /!)%% p%ain I see,
Te :e5i% ,no(s o( to ro("/
And no(, a%% in my o(n co)ntree,
I stood on te !irm %and1
Te .ermit stepped !ort !rom te boat,
And scarce%y e co)%d stand"
The ancient mariner
earnestly entreateth the
&ermit to shri!e him)
and the penance of life
falls on him.
/4 sri5e me, sri5e me, o%y man1/
Te .ermit crossed is bro(,
/9ay 0)ic,,/ 0)ot e, /I bid tee say -
2at manner o! man art to)*/
7ort(it tis !rame o! mine (as (renced
2it a (oe!)% a&ony,
2ic !orced me to be&in my ta%e-
And ten it %e!t me !ree"
And e!er and anon
throughout his future
life an agony
constraineth him to
tra!el from land to
land,
9ince ten, at an )ncertain o)r,
Tat a&ony ret)rns:
And ti%% my &ast%y ta%e is to%d,
Tis eart (itin me b)rns"
I pass, %i,e ni&t, !rom %and to %and-
I a5e stran&e po(er o! speec-
Tat moment tat is !ace I see,
I ,no( te man tat m)st ear me:
To im my ta%e I teac"
2at %o)d )proar b)rsts !rom tat door1
Te (eddin&-&)ests are tere:
$)t in te &arden-bo(er te bride
And bride-maids sin&in& are:
And ar, te %itt%e 5esper be%%,
2ic biddet me to prayer1
4 2eddin&-3)est1 tis so)% at been
A%one on a (ide (ide sea:
9o %one%y #t(as, tat 3od .imse%!
9carce seemed tere to be"
4 s(eeter tan te marria&e-!east,
/Tis s(eeter !ar to me,
To (a%, to&eter to te ,ir,
2it a &ood%y company1 -
To (a%, to&eter to te ,ir,,
And a%% to&eter pray,
2i%e eac to is &reat 7ater bends,
4%d men, and babes, and %o5in& !riends,
And yo)ts and maidens &ay1
and to teach, by his
own e5ample, lo!e and
re!erence to all things
that God made and
lo!eth.
7are(e%%, !are(e%%1 b)t tis I te%%
To tee, to) 2eddin&-3)est1
.e prayet (e%%, (o %o5et (e%%
$ot man and bird and beast"
.e prayet best, (o %o5et best
A%% tin&s bot &reat and sma%%-
7or te dear 3od (o %o5et )s,
.e made and %o5et a%%"#
Te Mariner, (ose eye is bri&t,
2ose beard (it a&e is oar,
Is &one: and no( te 2eddin&-3)est
T)rned !rom te bride&room#s door"
.e (ent %i,e one tat at been st)nned,
And is o! sense !or%orn:
A sadder and a (iser man,
.e rose te morro( morn"