Beneath the lightning and the moon The dead men gave a groan. They groaned, they stirred, they all uprose, The helmsman steered, the ship moved on; The mariners all 'gan work the ropes, The body of my brother's son Stood by me knee to knee: "I fear thee, ancient mariner !" "Be calm, thou wedding-guest! "Twas not those souls, that fled in pain, Which to their corses came again, But a troop of spirits blest: For when it dawned-they dropped their arms, And clustered round the mast: Sweet sounds rose slowly through their mouths, And from their bodies passed. Around, around, flew each sweet sound, Then darted to the sun : Slowly the sounds came back again Now mixed, now one by one. Sometimes a-dropping from the sky I heard the sky-lark sing; Sometimes all little birds that are How they seemed 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 ceased: yet still the sails made on A noise like of a hidden brook In the leafy month of June, Till noon we silently sailed on, Yet never a breeze did breathe: Slowly and smoothly went the ship, Moved onward from beneath. Under the keel nine fathom deep The spirit slid, and it was He That made the ship to go. The sails at noon left off their tune, The sun right up above the mast K Backwards and forwards half her length, With a short uneasy motion. Then, like a pawing horse let go, How long in that same fit I lay, But ere my living life returned, 'Is it he?' quoth one, 'Is this the man? By him who died on cross, With his cruel bow he laid full low The spirit who bideth by himself The other was a softer voice, As soft as honey dew: Quoth he, The man hath penance done, And penance more will do.'" PART VI. 666 FIRST VOICE. But tell me, tell me! speak again, Thy soft response renewing What makes that ship drive on so fast? What is the ocean doing?' SECOND VOICE 'Still as a slave before his lord, If he may know which way to go, FIRST VOICE. 'But why drives on that ship so fast Without or wave or wind?' SECOND VOICE. 'The air is cut away before, And closes from behind. Fly, brother, fly! more high, more high, Or we shall be belated: For slow and slow that ship will go, When the Mariner's trace is abated.' I woke, and we were sailing on As in a gentle weather: "Twas night, calm night, the moon was high; The dead men stood together. All stood together on the deck, The pang, the curse, with which they died, I could not draw my eyes from theirs, And now this spell was snap'd: once more And look'd far forth, yet little saw Like one, that on a lonesome road But soon there breathed a wind on me, Nor sound nor motion made: Its path was not upon the sea In ripple or in shade. |