第4章

Thethickblackcloudwascleft,andstillTheMoonwasatitsside:

Likewatersshotfromsomehighcrag,Thelightningfellwithneverajag,Ariversteepandwide.

Theloudwindneverreachedtheship,Yetnowtheshipmovedon!

BeneaththelightningandtheMoonThedeadmengaveagroan.

Theygroaned,theystirred,theyalluprose,Norspake,normovedtheireyes;

Ithadbeenstrange,eveninadream,Tohaveseenthosedeadmenrise.

Thehelmsmansteered,theshipmovedon;

Yetneverabreezeupblew;

Themarinersall\'ganworktheropes,Weretheywerewonttodo:

Theyraisedtheirlimbslikelifelesstools

Wewereaghastlycrew.

Thebodyofmybrother\'sson,Stoodbyme,kneetoknee:

ThebodyandIpulledatonerope,Buthesaidnoughttome.

\"Ifearthee,ancientMariner!\"

Becalm,thouWedding—Guest!

\'Twasnotthosesoulsthatfledinpain,Whichtotheircorsescameagain,Butatroopofspiritsblest:

Forwhenitdawned——theydroppedtheirarms,Andclusteredroundthemast;

Sweetsoundsroseslowlythroughtheirmouths,Andfromtheirbodiespassed.

Around,around,fleweachsweetsound,ThendartedtotheSun;

Slowlythesoundscamebackagain,Nowmixed,nowonebyone.

Sometimesa—droppingfromtheskyIheardthesky—larksing;

Sometimesalllittlebirdsthatare,HowtheyseemedtofilltheseaandairWiththeirsweetjargoning!

Andnow\'twaslikeallinstruments,Nowlikealonelyflute;

Andnowitisanangel\'ssong,ThatmakestheHeavensbemute.

Itceased;yetstillthesailsmadeonApleasantnoisetillnoon,AnoiselikeofahiddenbrookIntheleafymonthofJune,ThattothesleepingwoodsallnightSingethaquiettune.

Tillnoonwequietlysailedon,Yetneverabreezedidbreathe:

Slowlyandsmoothlywenttheship,Movedonwardfrombeneath.

Underthekeelninefathomdeep,Fromthelandofmistandsnow,Thespiritslid:anditwasheThatmadetheshiptogo.

Thesailsatnoonleftofftheirtune,Andtheshipstoodstillalso.

TheSun,rightupabovethemast,Hadfixedhertotheocean:

Butinaminuteshe\'ganstir,Withashortuneasymotion

BackwardsandforwardshalfherlengthWithashortuneasymotion.

Thenlikeapawinghorseletgo,Shemadeasuddenbound:

Itflungthebloodintomyhead,AndIfelldowninaswound.

HowlonginthatsamefitIlay,Ihavenottodeclare;

Buteremylivinglifereturned,IheardandinmysouldiscernedTwoVOICESintheair.

\"Isithe?\"quothone,\"Isthistheman?

Byhimwhodiedoncross,Withhiscruelbowhelaidfulllow,TheharmlessAlbatross.

\"ThespiritwhobidethbyhimselfInthelandofmistandsnow,HelovedthebirdthatlovedthemanWhoshothimwithhisbow.\"

Theotherwasasoftervoice,Assoftashoney—dew:

Quothhe,\"Themanhathpenancedone,Andpenancemorewilldo.\"

PARTTHESIXTH.

FIRSTVOICE.

Buttellme,tellme!speakagain,Thysoftresponserenewing

Whatmakesthatshipdriveonsofast?

WhatistheOCEANdoing?

SECONDVOICE.

Stillasaslavebeforehislord,TheOCEANhathnoblast;

HisgreatbrighteyemostsilentlyUptotheMooniscast

Ifhemayknowwhichwaytogo;

ForsheguideshimsmoothorgrimSee,brother,see!howgraciouslyShelookethdownonhim.

FIRSTVOICE.

Butwhydrivesonthatshipsofast,Withoutorwaveorwind?

SECONDVOICE.

Theairiscutawaybefore,Andclosesfrombehind.

Fly,brother,fly!morehigh,morehighOrweshallbebelated:

Forslowandslowthatshipwillgo,WhentheMariner\'stranceisabated.