第2章

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.