Hark! hark! the thick black cloud is cleft, And the Moon is at its side: Like waters shot from some high crag, The lightning falls with never a jag A river steep and wide. The strong wind reach'd the ship it roar'd They groan'd, they stirr'd, they all uprose, It had been strange, even in a dream The helmsman steerd, the ship mov❜d on Yet never a breeze up-blew; The Marineres all 'gan work the ropes, Where they were wont to do: They rais'd their limbs like lifeless tools- We were a ghastly crew. 0 The body of my brother's son The body and I pull'd at one rope, But he said nought to me— And I quak'd to think of my own voice How frightful it would be! The day-light dawn'd-they dropp'd their arms, And cluster'd round the mast: Sweet sounds rose slowly thro' their mouths And from their bodies pass'd. Around, around, flew each sweet sound, Then darted to the sun : Slowly the sounds came back again Now mix'd, now one by one. Sometimes a dropping from the sky I heard the Lavrock sing; Sometimes all little birds that are How they seem'd to fill the sea and air With their sweet jargoning. And now 'twas like all instruments, Now like a lonely flute; And now it is an angel's song That makes the heavens be mute. It ceas'd yet still the sails made on : A pleasant noise till noon, A noise like of a hidden brook In the leafy month of June, That to the sleeping woods all night Singeth a quiet tune. Listen, O listen, thou Wedding-guest! "Marinere! thou hast thy will: "For that, which comes out of thine eye, doth make "My body and soul to be still.” Never sadder tale was told To a man of woman born: Sadder and wiser thou wedding-guest! Never sadder tale was heard By a man of woman born : The Marineres all return'd to work As silent as beforne. The Marineres all 'gan pull the ropes, Till noon we silently sail'd on Yet never a breeze did breathe: Slowly and smoothly went the ship Under the keel nine fathom deep The spirit slid: and it was He The sails at noon left off their tune The sun right up above the mast But in a minute she 'gan stir With a short uneasy motionBackwards and forwards half her length With a short uneasy motion. |