THE RIME OF THE ANCYENT MARINERE, IN SEVEN PARTS. I. It is an ancyent Marinere, And he stoppeth one of three: "By thy long grey beard and thy glittering eye "Now wherefore stoppest me? "The Bridegroom's doors are open'd wide "And I am next of kin ; "The Guests are met, the Feast is fet, But still he holds the wedding-guest There was a Ship, quoth he— Nay, if thou'st got a laughsome tale, "Marinere! come with me." He holds him with his skinny hand, Quoth he, there was a Ship "Now get thee hence, thou grey-beard Loon ! "Or my Staff shall make thee skip. He holds him with his glittering eye- The wedding-gueft sate on a stone, And thus spake on that ancyent man, The bright-eyed Marinere. The Ship was cheer'd, the Harbour clear'd Merrily did we drop Below the Kirk, below the Hill, Below the Light-house top. The Sun came up upon the left, And he shone bright, and on the right 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 pac'd into the Hall, Red as a rose is she; Nodding their heads before her goes The merry Minstralsy. The wedding-guest he beat his breast, Yet he cannot chuse but hear: And thus spake on that ancyent Man, The bright-eyed Marinere. Listen, Stranger! Storm and Wind, Listen, Stranger! Mist and Snow, And thro' the drifts the fnowy clifts Did send a dismal sheen; Ne shapes of men ne beasts we ken The Ice was all between. |