Oneafterone,bythestar—doggedMoonTooquickforgroanorsigh,Eachturnedhisfacewithaghastlypang,Andcursedmewithhiseye.
Fourtimesfiftylivingmen,(AndIheardnorsighnorgroan)
Withheavythump,alifelesslump,Theydroppeddownonebyone.
Thesoulsdidfromtheirbodiesfly,
Theyfledtoblissorwoe!
Andeverysoul,itpassedmeby,LikethewhizzofmyCROSS—BOW!
PARTTHEFOURTH.
\"Ifearthee,ancientMariner!
Ifearthyskinnyhand!
Andthouartlong,andlank,andbrown,Asistheribbedsea—sand.
\"Ifeartheeandthyglitteringeye,Andthyskinnyhand,sobrown.\"
Fearnot,fearnot,thouWedding—Guest!
Thisbodydroptnotdown.
Alone,alone,all,allalone,Aloneonawidewidesea!
AndneverasainttookpityonMysoulinagony.
Themanymen,sobeautiful!
Andtheyalldeaddidlie:
AndathousandthousandslimythingsLivedon;andsodidI
Ilookedupontherottingsea,Anddrewmyeyesaway;
Ilookedupontherottingdeck,Andtherethedeadmenlay.
IlookedtoHeaven,andtriedtopray:
Butoreveraprayerhadgusht,Awickedwhispercame,andmademyheartasdryasdust.
Iclosedmylids,andkeptthemclose,Andtheballslikepulsesbeat;
Fortheskyandthesea,andtheseaandtheskyLaylikealoadonmywearyeye,Andthedeadwereatmyfeet.
Thecoldsweatmeltedfromtheirlimbs,Norrotnorreekdidthey:
ThelookwithwhichtheylookedonmeHadneverpassedaway.
Anorphan\'scursewoulddragtoHellAspiritfromonhigh;
Butoh!morehorriblethanthatIsacurseinadeadman\'seye!
Sevendays,sevennights,Isawthatcurse,AndyetIcouldnotdie.
ThemovingMoonwentupthesky,Andnowheredidabide:
Softlyshewasgoingup,Andastarortwobeside.
Herbeamsbemockedthesultrymain,LikeAprilhoar—frostspread;
Butwheretheship\'shugeshadowlay,ThecharmedwaterburntalwayAstillandawfulred.
Beyondtheshadowoftheship,Iwatchedthewater—snakes:
Theymovedintracksofshiningwhite,Andwhentheyreared,theelfishlightFelloffinhoaryflakes.
WithintheshadowoftheshipIwatchedtheirrichattire:
Blue,glossygreen,andvelvetblack,Theycoiledandswam;andeverytrackWasaflashofgoldenfire.
Ohappylivingthings!notongueTheirbeautymightdeclare:
Aspringoflovegushedfrommyheart,AndIblessedthemunaware:
Suremykindsainttookpityonme,AndIblessedthemunaware.
TheselfsamemomentIcouldpray;
AndfrommynecksofreeTheAlbatrossfelloff,andsankLikeleadintothesea.
PARTTHEFIFTH.
Ohsleep!itisagentlething,Belovedfrompoletopole!
ToMaryQueenthepraisebegiven!
ShesentthegentlesleepfromHeaven,Thatslidintomysoul.
Thesillybucketsonthedeck,Thathadsolongremained,Idreamtthattheywerefilledwithdew;
AndwhenIawoke,itrained.
Mylipswerewet,mythroatwascold,Mygarmentsallweredank;
SureIhaddrunkeninmydreams,Andstillmybodydrank.
Imoved,andcouldnotfeelmylimbs:
Iwassolight——almostIthoughtthatIhaddiedinsleep,Andwasablessedghost.
AndsoonIheardaroaringwind:
Itdidnotcomeanear;
Butwithitssounditshookthesails,Thatweresothinandsere.
Theupperairburstintolife!
Andahundredfire—flagssheen,Toandfrotheywerehurriedabout!
Andtoandfro,andinandout,Thewanstarsdancedbetween.
Andthecomingwinddidroarmoreloud,Andthesailsdidsighlikesedge;
Andtherainpoureddownfromoneblackcloud;
TheMoonwasatitsedge.