Downdroptthebreeze,thesailsdroptdown,\'Twassadassadcouldbe;
AndwedidspeakonlytobreakThesilenceofthesea!
Allinahotandcoppersky,ThebloodySun,atnoon,Rightupabovethemastdidstand,NobiggerthantheMoon.
Dayafterday,dayafterday,Westuck,norbreathnormotion;
AsidleasapaintedshipUponapaintedocean.
Water,water,everywhere,Andalltheboardsdidshrink;
Water,water,everywhere,Noranydroptodrink.
Theverydeepdidrot:OChrist!
Thateverthisshouldbe!
Yea,slimythingsdidcrawlwithlegsUpontheslimysea.
About,about,inreelandroutThedeath—firesdancedatnight;
Thewater,likeawitch\'soils,Burntgreen,andblueandwhite.
AndsomeindreamsassuredwereOfthespiritthatplaguedusso:
NinefathomdeephehadfollowedusFromthelandofmistandsnow.
Andeverytongue,throughutterdrought,Waswitheredattheroot;
Wecouldnotspeak,nomorethanifWehadbeenchokedwithsoot.
Ah!wella—day!whatevillooksHadIfromoldandyoung!
Insteadofthecross,theAlbatrossAboutmyneckwashung.
PARTTHETHIRD.
Therepassedawearytime.EachthroatWasparched,andglazedeacheye.
Awearytime!awearytime!
Howglazedeachwearyeye,Whenlookingwestward,IbeheldAsomethinginthesky.
Atfirstitseemedalittlespeck,Andthenitseemedamist:
Itmovedandmoved,andtookatlastAcertainshape,Iwist.
Aspeck,amist,ashape,Iwist!
Andstillitnearedandneared:
Asifitdodgedawater—sprite,Itplungedandtackedandveered.
Withthroatsunslaked,withblacklipsbaked,Wecouldnotlaughnorwail;
Throughutterdroughtalldumbwestood!
Ibitmyarm,Isuckedtheblood,Andcried,Asail!asail!
Withthroatsunslaked,withblacklipsbaked,Agapetheyheardmecall:
Gramercy!theyforjoydidgrin,Andallatoncetheirbreathdrewin,Astheyweredrinkingall.
See!see!(Icried)shetacksnomore!
Hithertoworkusweal;
Withoutabreeze,withoutatide,Shesteadieswithuprightkeel!
Thewesternwavewasalla—flameThedaywaswellnighdone!
AlmostuponthewesternwaveRestedthebroadbrightSun;
WhenthatstrangeshapedrovesuddenlyBetwixtusandtheSun.
AndstraighttheSunwasfleckedwithbars,(Heaven\'sMothersendusgrace!)
Asifthroughadungeon—gratehepeered,Withbroadandburningface.
Alas!(thoughtI,andmyheartbeatloud)
Howfastshenearsandnears!
ArethosehersailsthatglanceintheSun,Likerestlessgossameres!
ArethoseherribsthroughwhichtheSunDidpeer,asthroughagrate?
AndisthatWomanallhercrew?
IsthataDEATH?andaretheretwo?
IsDEATHthatwoman\'smate?
Herlipswerered,herlookswerefree,Herlockswereyellowasgold:
Herskinwasaswhiteasleprosy,TheNight—MareLIFE—IN—DEATHwasshe,Whothicksman\'sbloodwithcold.
Thenakedhulkalongsidecame,Andthetwainwerecastingdice;
\"Thegameisdone!I\'vewon!I\'vewon!\"
Quothshe,andwhistlesthrice.
TheSun\'srimdips;thestarsrushout:
Atonestridecomesthedark;
Withfar—heardwhisper,o\'erthesea.
Offshotthespectre—bark.
Welistenedandlookedsidewaysup!
Fearatmyheart,asatacup,Mylife—bloodseemedtosip!
Thestarsweredim,andthickthenight,Thesteersman\'sfacebyhislampgleamedwhite;
Fromthesailsthedewdiddrip
TillclombeabovetheeasternbarThehornedMoon,withonebrightstarWithinthenethertip.