Sam says sweet sounds sing so softly cracked#
Sam says sweet sounds sing so softly free#

The very deeps did rot: O Christ! That ever this should be! Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs Upon the slimy sea.Ībout, about, in reel and rout The death-fires danced at night The water, like a witch's oils, Burnt green, and blue and white.Īnd some in dreams assured were Of the spirit that plagued us so Nine fathom deep he had followed us From the land of mist and snow.Īnd every tongue, through utter drought, Was withered at the root We could not speak, no more than if We had been choked with soot.Īh! wel-a-day! what evil looks Had I from old and young! Instead of the cross, the albatross About my neck was hung. Water, water, everywhere, And all the boards did shrink Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink.

Sam says sweet sounds sing so softly free#

The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, The furrow followed free We were the first that ever burst Into that silent sea.ĭown dropped the breeze, the sails dropped down, 'Twas sad as sad could be And we did speak only to break The silence of the sea!Īll in a hot and copper sky, The bloody sun, at noon, Right up above the mast did stand, No bigger than the moon.ĭay after day, day after day, We stuck, nor breath nor motion As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean. 'Twas right, said they, such birds to slay, That bring the fog and mist. Nor dim nor red, like God's own head, The glorious sun uprist: Then all averred, I had killed the bird That brought the fog and mist.

Ah wretch! said they, the bird to slay, That made the breeze to blow!

The sun now rose upon the right: Out of the sea came he, Still hid in mist, and on the left Went down into the sea.Īnd the good south wind still blew behind, But no sweet bird did follow, Nor any day for food or play Came to the mariners' hollo!Īnd I had done an hellish thing, And it would work 'em woe: For all averred, I had killed the bird That made the breeze to blow. 'God save thee, ancient mariner! From the fiends, that plague thee thus!- Why lookst thou so?' 'With my crossbow I shot the albatross. In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud, It perched for vespers nine Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white, Glimmered the white moon-shine.' The ice did split with a thunder-fit The helmsman steered us through!Īnd a good south wind sprung up behind The albatross did follow, And every day, for food or play, Came to the mariners' hollo! It ate the food it ne'er had eat, And round and round it flew.

Sam says sweet sounds sing so softly cracked#

The ice was here, the ice was there, The ice was all around: It cracked and growled, and roared and howled, Like noises in a swound!Īt length did cross an albatross, Thorough the fog it came As if it had been a Christian soul, We hailed it in God's name. Listen, stranger! Mist and snow, And it grew wondrous cold: And ice mast-high came floating by, As green as emerald.Īnd through the drifts the snowy clifts Did send a dismal sheen: Nor shapes of men nor beasts we ken- The ice was all between. With sloping masts and dipping prow, As who pursued with yell and blow Still treads the shadow of his foe, And forward bends his head, The ship drove fast, loud roared the blast, And southward aye we fled. 'And now the storm-blast came, and he Was tyrannous and strong He struck with his o'ertaking wings, And chased us south along. The wedding-guest he beat his breast, Yet he cannot choose but hear And thus spake on that ancient man, The bright-eyed mariner. The bride hath paced into the hall, Red as a rose is she Nodding their heads before her goes The merry minstrelsy. 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 sun came up upon the left, Out of the sea came he! And he shone bright, and on the right Went down into the sea. 'The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared, Merrily did we drop Below the kirk, below the hill, Below the lighthouse top. The wedding-guest sat on a stone: He cannot choose but hear And thus spake on that ancient man, The bright-eyed mariner. He holds him with his glittering eye- The wedding-guest stood still, And listens like a three-years' child: The mariner hath his will. 'Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!' Eftsoons his hand dropped he. He holds him with his skinny hand, 'There was a ship,' quoth he. The bridegroom's doors are opened wide, And I am next of kin The guests are met, the feast is set: Mayst hear the merry din.' 'By thy long grey beard and glittering eye, Now wherefore stoppest thou me? It is an ancient mariner And he stoppeth one of three.