THE

ANCIENT MARINER.

I.

It is an ancient Mariner,

And he stoppeth one of three : “By thy long gray beard and thy glittering eye

Now wherefore stoppest me?

The Bridegroom's doors are opened wide,

And I am next of kin;
The Guests are met, the Feast is set,

May 'st hear the merry din."

But still he holds the wedding-guest

“ There was a Ship,” quoth he“ Nay, if thou 'st got a laughsome tale,

Mariner!, come with me.”

He holds him with his skinny hand,

Quoth he, “ There was a Ship—" “ Now get thee hence, thou gray-beard Loon! Or my

Staff shall make thee skip.”

He holds him with his glittering eye

The wedding-guest stood still
And listens like a three years' child ;

The Mariner hath his will.

The wedding-guest sate on a stone,

He cannot choose but hear :

And thus spake on that ancient man,

The bright-eyed Mariner.

“ The Ship was cheered, the Harbour cleared

Merrily did we drop
Below the Kirk, below the Hill,

Below the Light-house top.

The Sun came up upon the left,

Out of the Sea came he :
And he shone bright, and on the right

Went down into the sea.

Higher and higher every day,

Till over the mast at noon

The wedding-guest here beat his breast,

For he heard the loud bassoon.

The Bride hath paced into the Hall,

Red as a rose is she;
Nodding their heads before her go

The merry Minstrelsy.

The wedding-guest he beat his breast,

Yet he cannot choose but hear:

And thus spake on that ancient Man,

The bright-eyed Mariner :

« But now the North wind came more fierce,

There came a Tempest strong!
And Southward still for days and weeks

Like Chaff we drove along.

And now there came both Mist and Snow,

And it grew wondrous cold:
And Ice mast-high came floating by

As green as Emerald.

And through the drifts the snowy clifts

Did send a dismal sheen;
Nor shapes of men nor beasts we ken-
The Ice was all between.