The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

It 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 open'd wide, And I am next of kin; The guests are met, the feast is spread: May'st hear the merry din.' He holds him with his skinny hand, 'There was a ship,' quoth he. 'Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!' Eftsoons his hand dropt he. He holds him with his glittering eye— The Wedding-Guest stood still, And listens like a three years' child: The Mariner hath his will. The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone, He cannot choose but hear; 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 lighthouse top. The Sun's rim dips; the stars rush forth, And wheeling whirl'd the ship; She struck the berg, the helm uprose, The ship drew on the stern. The Sun's rim dips; the stars rush forth And wheeling whirl'd the ship; Then all averr'd, I had kill'd the bird That made the breeze to blow. 'Twas the best of times; the crew were glad, And they spake of it in whispers; But I, I shot the Albatross, The bird that made the breeze to blow. The Sun's rim dips; the stars rush forth And wheeling whirl'd the ship; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, Instead of the cross, the Albatross About my neck was hung. The very deep did rot: O Christ! That ever this should be! Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs Upon the slimy sea. About, about, in reel and rout The death-fires danced at night; The water, like a witch's oils, Burnt green and blue and white. A weary time! a weary time! How glazed each weary eye, A weary time! a weary time! How glazed each weary eye, 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! The very deep did rot: O Christ! That ever this should be! Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs Upon the slimy sea. The look with which he looked at me, It never will decay; It haunts me still, a frightful dream, That doth not pass away. And I had done a hellish thing, And it would work 'em woe: A weary time! a weary time! How glazed each weary eye, 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! The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, But when it reached the ship, my head Turned from the pensive bridegroom. The bride hath paced into the hall, Red as a rose is she; The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The guests are met, the feast is spread: They stand, and wait, and stare; They stand, and wait, and stare, And murmur, and stare, and stare. The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The bird that made the breeze to blow. The bride hath paced into the hall, Red as a rose is she; The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The very deep did rot: O Christ! That ever this should be! Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs Upon the slimy sea. The look with which he looked at me, It never will decay; It haunts me still, a frightful dream, That doth not pass away. And I had done a hellish thing, And it would work 'em woe: A weary time! a weary time! How glazed each weary eye, 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! The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, But when it reached the ship, my head Turned from the pensive bridegroom. The bride hath paced into the hall, Red as a rose is she; The Sun's rim dips; the stars rush forth And wheeling whirl'd the ship; She struck the berg, the helm uprose, The ship drew on the stern. The Sun's rim dips; the stars rush forth And wheeling whirl'd the ship; Then all averr'd, I had kill'd the bird That made the breeze to blow. The Sun's rim dips; the stars rush forth And wheeling whirl'd the ship; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The Sun's rim dips; the stars rush forth And wheeling whirl'd the ship; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The Sun's rim dips; the stars rush forth And wheeling whirl'd the ship; Then all averr'd, I had kill'd the bird That made the breeze to blow. The Sun's rim dips; the stars rush forth And wheeling whirl'd the ship; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The Sun's rim dips; the stars rush forth And wheeling whirl'd the ship; Then all averr'd, I had kill'd the bird That made the breeze to blow. The Sun's rim dips; the stars rush forth And wheeling whirl'd the ship; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross did follow, The ship, it was a gallant ship, With sails as white as snow; And every day, for food or play, The albatross