FACILE credo, plures esse Naturas invisibiles quam visibiles T. BURNET. PART I. Ir is an ancient Mariner, And he stoppeth one of three. "By thy long grey beard and glittering eye, Now wherefore stopp'st thou me ? "The Bridegroom's doors are opened wide, The guests are met, the feast is set: An ancient Mariner meeteth three gallants bidden to a wedding-feast, and detaineth one. The wedding guest is spellbound by the eye of the old sea-faring man, and constrained to hear his tale. The Mariner tells how the ship sailed southward with a good wind and fair weather, till it reached the line. The wedding guest heareth the bridal music; but He holds him with his skinny hand, "Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon !" He holds him with his glittering eye- And listens like a three years' child: The wedding-guest sat on a stone: 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, 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, The bride hath paced into the hall, |