第3章

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.