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, "Now get thee hence, thou gray-beard Loon! Or my Staff shall make thee skip." He holds him with his glittering eye- The Mariner hath his will. The wedding-guest sate on a stone, And thus spake on that ancient man, "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 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. |