The Mar i ner ’ s Logbook PaulAshl ey
The Mariner’s Logbook from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
A musical composed by Geoff Page staged by Corkscrew Theatre Company sung by Matt Wilkinson and photographed by Paul Ashley
2021
This book arose from a performance of Geoff Page’s musical The Ancient Mariner at Corpus Playroom, Cambridge, 3-5 October 2019. The musical included almost all the words of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s original, leaving out just the introduction and end about the wedding guest. The book, here with the original complete text, follows the evolution of the musical from early rehearsals to final performance, the adoption of props and costume, and the growth into the role of Matt Wilkinson as the Ancient Mariner.
It is a n anc i en t Ma ri n e r, An d h e sto p pe t h on e of t h re e. “By t h y lon g gre y beard an d gl itt e rin g e ye, No w w h e refore sto p p’s t tho u m e? “Th e Bri degroom’s doors a re o p e n ed wi d e, An d I a m n ex t of ki n; Th e guests a re me t, t h e feas t is se t: Ma y’s t hea r t h e m erry d i n .” He h olds h i m wi t h his s kinn y han d, “Th e re was a s h i p,” q uot h h e. “Hold off! u nhan d m e, gre y-beard loo n!” Eftsoons his han d drop t h e. He h olds h i m wi t h his gl itt e rin g e ye— Th e Wedd in g-Gues t sto od s t i l l, An d list ens l i k e a t h re e years c h ild: Th e Ma ri n e r ha t h his wi l l . Th e Wedd in g-Gues t sa t o n a ston e:
An d n o w t h e STORM-BLAST ca m e, an d h e
Th e b right-e yed Ma ri n e r.
An d t hus spa k e o n tha t anc i en t ma n,
Ye t h e ca n not c hus e bu t hea r;
Th e Wedd in g-Gues t h e bea t his b reas t,
Th e m erry m ins t rels y.
Nodd in g t h e i r heads before h e r goes
Red as a ros e is s h e;
Th e b ri d e ha t h paced into t h e ha l l,
Fo r h e heard t h e lou d bassoo n .
Th e Wedd in g-Gues t h e re bea t his b reas t,
Ti l l ov e r t h e mas t a t noo n—
High e r an d high e r e v e ry da y,
Wen t do wn into t h e sea .
An d h e shon e b right, an d o n t h e right
Ou t of t h e sea ca m e h e!
Th e Su n ca m e u p upo n t h e l eft,
Belo w t h e light-hous e top.
Belo w t h e ki rk, b elo w t h e h i l l,
Merri l y did w e drop
Th e s h i p was c h e e red, t h e ha rbo u r c lea red,
Th e b right-e yed Ma ri n e r.
An d t hus spa k e o n tha t anc i en t ma n,
He ca n not c hus e bu t hea r;
At l engt h did cross a n Alba tross:
Li k e n oises i n a swo un d!
It crac ked an d gro w led, an d roa red an d ho w led,
Th e ic e was a l l aro un d:
Th e ic e was h e re, t h e ic e was t h e re,
Th e ic e was a l l be t w e e n .
No r sha pes of m e n n o r beasts w e k e n—
Did s en d a disma l s h e e n:
An d t hrough t h e d rift s t h e sn o wy c l ift s
As gre e n as e m erald .
An d ic e, mas t-high, ca m e floa t in g b y,
An d it gre w won drous c old:
An d n o w t h e re ca m e bot h mis t an d sn o w,
An d sou t hward a ye w e fled .
Th e s h i p drov e fas t, lou d roa red t h e blas t,
An d fo rward b ends his head,
St i l l t reads t h e shado w of his fo e
As wh o p urs ued wi t h ye l l an d blo w
Wi t h slo p in g masts an d d ipp in g pro w,
An d chased sou t h alon g.
He s t ruc k wi t h his o’ert a kin g wings,
Was t yra nn ous an d s tron g:
I s h ot t h e ALBATROSS.
Wh y loo k’s t tho u so?”—Wi t h m y cross-bo w
From t h e fi ends, tha t plagu e t h e e t hus!—
“God sa v e t h e e, anc i en t Ma ri n e r!
Gl i m m e red t h e w hit e Moo n-s h i n e.
Wh i les a l l t h e night, t hrough fog-sm ok e w hit e,
It p erc hed fo r ves p ers n i n e;
In mis t o r clou d, o n mas t o r s hrou d,
Ca m e to t h e ma ri n ers’ h o l lo!
An d e v e ry da y, fo r fo od o r pla y,
Th e Alba tross did fo l lo w,
An d a go od sou t h win d s p run g u p b e h in d;
Th e h e lmsma n st e e red us t hrough!
Th e ic e did s p lit wi t h a t h un d e r-fi t;
An d ro un d an d ro un d it fl e w.
It at e t h e fo od it n e’e r had ea t,
We ha i led i t i n God’s n a m e.
As if it had b e e n a Ch ris tia n so u l,
Thorough t h e fog it ca m e;
PART THE SECOND. Th e Su n n o w ros e upo n t h e right: Ou t of t h e sea ca m e h e, St i l l hid i n mis t, an d o n t h e l eft Wen t do wn into t h e sea . An d t h e go od sou t h win d s t i l l b l e w b e h in d Bu t n o s w ee t b ird did fo l lo w, No r a n y da y fo r fo od o r pla y Ca m e to t h e ma ri n ers’ h o l lo! An d I had don e a n h e l lis h t h in g, An d it wo uld wo rk ‘e m wo e: Fo r a l l a v e rred, I had ki l led t h e b ird Tha t ma d e t h e b re ez e to blo w. Ah wretc h! said t h e y, t h e b ird to sla y Tha t ma d e t h e b re ez e to blo w! No r d i m n o r red, l i k e God’s o wn head,
Right u p abov e t h e mas t did stan d, No bigge r tha n t h e Moo n . Da y aft e r da y, da y aft e r da y, We s tuc k, n o r b rea t h n o r motio n; As id l e as a pa in ted s h i p Upo n a pa in ted ocea n . Wat e r, wat e r, e v e ry w h e re, An d a l l t h e boards did s h ri n k; Wat e r, wat e r, e v e ry w h e re, No r a n y drop to d ri n k . Th e v e ry d e e p did rot : O Ch ris t! Tha t e v e r t his sho uld b e! Yea, s l i m y t h ings did cra w l wi t h legs Upo n t h e s l i m y sea . Abou t, abou t, i n re e l an d rou t Th e dea t h -fi res dan ced a t night; Th e glo rious Su n u p ris t: Th e n a l l a v e rred, I had ki l led t h e b ird Tha t brought t h e fog an d mis t. ‘Twas right, sai d t h e y, suc h b irds to sla y, Tha t b rin g t h e fog an d mis t. Th e fa i r b re ez e b l e w, t h e w hit e foa m fl e w, Th e f u rro w fo l lowed f re e: We w e re t h e firs t tha t e v e r b urs t Into tha t s i l en t sea . Do wn drop t t h e b re ez e, t h e sa ils drop t do wn, ‘Twas sad as sad co uld b e; An d w e did s pea k on l y to b rea k Th e s i l en c e of t h e sea! Al l i n a h ot an d co p p e r s ky, Th e blo od y Su n, a t noo n,
Th e wat e r, l i k e a witc h’s oils, Bu rn t gre e n, an d b l u e an d w hit e. An d som e i n d reams ass u red w e re Of t h e s p i ri t tha t plagued us so: Ni n e fa thom d e e p h e had followed us From t h e lan d of mis t an d sn o w. An d e v e ry ton gu e, t hrough utt e r drought, Was wi t h e red a t t h e root;
We co uld not s pea k, n o more tha n if We had b e e n ch oked wi t h soot. Ah! w e l l a-da y! wha t e vi l looks Had I from old an d yo un g! Instead of t h e cross, t h e Alba tross Abou t m y n ec k was h un g.
PART THE THIRD. Th e re pass ed a wea ry t i m e. Eac h t hroa t
It moved an d moved, an d too k a t las t A c ert a i n sha p e, I wis t. A s pec k, a mis t, a sha p e, I wis t!
Was parc hed, an d glazed eac h e ye.
An d s t i l l i t n ea red an d n ea red:
A wea ry t i m e! a wea ry t i m e!
As if it dodged a wat e r-s p rit e,
Ho w glazed eac h wea ry e ye,
It p l un ged an d tac ked an d v e e red .
Wh e n loo kin g wes tward, I b e h eld
Wi t h t hroats unsla ked, wi t h blac k l ips ba ked,
A some t h in g i n t h e s ky. At firs t it s e e med a l itt l e s pec k, An d t h e n it s e e med a mis t:
We co uld not laugh n o r wa i l; Through utt e r drought a l l d u m b
w e sto od! I bit m y a rm, I suc ked t h e blo od, An d c ried, A sa i l! a sa i l! Wi t h t hroats unsla ked, wi t h blac k l ips ba ked,
Se e! s e e! (I c ried) s h e tacks n o more! Hi t h e r to wo rk us wea l; Wi thou t a b re ez e, wi thou t a ti d e, Sh e stead ies wi t h u p right k e e l!
Aga p e t h e y heard m e ca l l :
Th e west e rn wa v e was a l l a-fl a m e
Gra m erc y! t h e y fo r jo y did gri n,
Th e da y was w e l l nigh don e!
An d a l l a t on c e t h e i r b rea t h d re w i n,
Almos t upo n t h e west e rn wa v e
As t h e y w e re d ri n kin g a l l .
Rested t h e broad b right Su n;
Wh e n tha t s tran ge sha p e drov e sudd e n l y
Alas! (thought I, an d m y heart bea t lou d)
Be t wix t us an d t h e Su n .
Ho w fas t s h e n ears an d n ears!
An d s traight t h e Su n was flec ked wi t h bars,
Are thos e h e r sa ils tha t glan c e i n t h e Su n,
(Hea v e n’s Mot h e r s en d us grac e!)
Li k e res t less gossa m e res!
As if t hrough a d un geo n-grat e h e p e e red,
Are thos e h e r ribs t hrough w hic h t h e Su n
Wi t h broad an d b u rn in g fac e.
Did p e e r, as t hrough a grat e?
From t h e sa ils t h e d e w did d ri p— Ti l l clom b e abov e t h e east e rn ba r Th e ho rn ed Moo n, wi t h on e b right sta r Wi t h i n t h e n e t h e r t i p. On e aft e r on e, b y t h e sta r-dogged Moo n Too q uic k fo r groa n o r sigh, Eac h t u rn ed his fac e wi t h a ghas t l y pan g, An d c ursed m e wi t h his e ye. Fo u r t i mes fifty l i vin g m e n, (An d I heard n o r sigh n o r groa n) Wi t h hea vy t h u m p, a life less l u m p, Th e y dro p ped do wn on e b y on e. Th e so uls di d from t h e i r bod ies fl y,— Th e y fled to b liss o r wo e! An d e v e ry so u l, it pass ed m e b y, Li k e t h e w h izz of m y CROSS-BOW!
Is tha t a DEATH? an d a re t h e re two?
Is DEATH tha t woma n’s mat e?
He r l ips w e re red, h e r looks w e re f re e,
He r locks w e re ye l lo w as gold:
He r s ki n was as w hit e as l e pros y,
Th e Night-Ma re LIFE-IN-DEATH was s h e,
Wh o t hicks ma n’s blo od wi t h c old .
Th e n a ked h u l k alongsi d e ca m e,
An d t h e twa i n w e re cas t in g dic e;
“Th e ga m e is don e! I’v e wo n! I’v e wo n!”
Quot h s h e, an d w his t les t h ric e.
Th e Su n’s ri m d ips; t h e stars rus h ou t:
At on e s t ri d e comes t h e da rk;
Wi t h fa r-heard w his p e r, o’e r t h e sea .
Off s h ot t h e s pec t re-ba rk .
We list e n ed an d looked si d eways u p!
Th e stars w e re d i m, an d t hic k t h e night,
My life-blo od s e e med to s i p!
Fea r a t m y heart, as a t a c u p,
Th e st e ersma n’s fac e b y his la m p glea med w hit e;
An d is tha t Woma n a l l h e r c re w?
PART THE FOURTH. “I fea r t h e e, anc i en t Ma ri n e r! I fea r t h y s kinn y han d! An d tho u art lon g, an d la n k, an d bro wn, As is t h e ri b bed sea-san d . “I fea r t h e e an d t h y gl itt e rin g e ye, An d t h y s kinn y han d, so bro wn .”— Fea r not, fea r not, tho u Wedd in g-Gues t! This bod y drop t not do wn . Alon e, alon e, a l l, a l l alon e, Alon e o n a wi d e wi d e sea! An d n e v e r a sa in t too k pi t y o n My so u l i n ago n y. Th e ma n y m e n, so beau tif u l! An d t h e y a l l dead did l i e: An d a thousan d thousan d s l i m y t h ings
Li ved o n; an d so di d I. I looked upo n t h e rot t in g sea, An d d re w m y e yes awa y; I looked upo n t h e rot t in g dec k, An d t h e re t h e dead m e n la y. I looked to Hea v e n, an d t ried to pra y: Bu t o r e v e r a pra ye r had gusht, A wic ked w his p e r ca m e, an d ma d e m y heart as d ry as dus t. I closed m y lids, an d k ep t t h e m clos e, An d t h e ba l ls l i k e p ulses bea t; Fo r t h e s ky an d t h e sea, an d t h e sea an d t h e s ky La y l i k e a load o n m y wea ry e ye, An d t h e dead w e re a t m y fee t. Th e c old s wea t m elted from t h e i r l i mbs, No r rot n o r re e k did t h e y: Th e loo k wi t h w hic h t h e y looked o n m e
Had n e v e r pass ed awa y. An o rpha n’s c urs e wo uld drag to He l l A s p i rit from o n high ; Bu t o h! more horri b l e tha n tha t Is a c urs e i n a dead ma n’s e ye! Se v e n days, s e v e n nights, I sa w tha t c urs e, An d ye t I co uld not d i e.
Th e movin g Moo n w en t u p t h e s ky, An d n o w h e re did a bi d e: Soft l y s h e was go in g u p,
A s t i l l an d awf u l red . Beyon d t h e shado w of t h e s h i p, I watc hed t h e wat e r-sn a kes:
An d a sta r o r two besi d e.
Th e y moved i n tracks of s h i n in g w hit e,
He r beams b emoc ked t h e s ul t ry ma i n,
An d w h e n t h e y rea red, t h e e lfi s h light
Bu t w h e re t h e s h i p’s huge shado w la y,
Fe l l off i n hoa ry fl a kes .
Th e cha rmed wat e r b u rn t a lwa y
Wi t h i n t h e shado w of t h e s h i p
I watc hed t h e i r ric h att i re: Bl u e, gloss y gre e n, an d v e l ve t blac k, Th e y coi led an d swa m; an d e v e ry trac k Was a flas h of gold e n fi re. O happy l i vin g t h ings! n o ton gu e Th e i r beau t y might decla re: A s p rin g of lov e gus hed from m y heart, An d I b less ed t h e m un awa re: Su re m y kin d sa in t too k pi t y o n m e, An d I b less ed t h e m un awa re. Th e s elf sa m e mom en t I co uld pra y; An d from m y n ec k so f re e Th e Alba tross fe l l off, an d sa n k Li k e lead into t h e sea .
An d to an d fro, an d i n an d ou t, Th e wa n stars dan ced be t w e e n . An d t h e com in g win d did roa r more lou d, An d t h e sa ils did sigh l i k e sedge; An d t h e ra i n po u red do wn from on e blac k clou d; Th e Moo n was a t its edge. Th e t hic k blac k clou d was c l eft, an d s t i l l Th e Moo n was a t its si d e: Li k e wat ers s h ot from som e high crag, Th e ligh t n in g fe l l wi t h n e v e r a jag, A ri v e r st e e p an d wi d e. Th e lou d win d n e v e r reac hed t h e s h i p, Ye t n o w t h e s h i p moved o n! Be n ea t h t h e ligh t n in g an d t h e Moo n Th e dead m e n ga v e a groa n . Th e y groa n ed, t h e y s t i rred, t h e y a l l u pros e, No r spa k e, n o r moved t h e i r e yes; It had b e e n s tran ge, e v e n i n a d rea m, To ha v e s e e n thos e dead m e n ris e. Th e h e lmsma n st e e red, t h e s h i p moved o n; Ye t n e v e r a b re ez e u p b l e w; Th e ma ri n ers a l l ‘ga n wo rk t h e ro pes,
Beloved from p o l e to p o l e!
To Ma ry Qu e e n t h e prais e b e gi v e n!
Sh e s en t t h e gen t l e s l e e p from Hea v e n,
Tha t s lid into m y so u l .
Th e s i l l y buc kets o n t h e dec k,
Tha t had so lon g rema i n ed,
I d reamt tha t t h e y w e re fi l led wi t h d e w;
An d w h e n I awok e, it ra i n ed .
My l ips w e re we t, m y t hroa t was c old,
My ga rm ents a l l w e re da n k;
Su re I had d ru n k e n i n m y d reams,
An d s t i l l m y bod y dra n k .
I moved, an d co uld not fe e l m y l i mbs:
I was so light—a lmos t
I thought tha t I had d ied i n s l e e p,
An d was a b less ed ghos t.
An d soo n I heard a roa rin g win d:
It did not com e a n ea r;
Bu t wi t h its so un d it shoo k t h e sa ils,
Tha t w e re so t h i n an d s e re.
Th e u p p e r a i r b urs t into life!
To an d fro t h e y w e re h urried abou t!
An d a h un d red fi re-flags s h e e n,
Oh s l e e p! it is a gen t l e t h in g,
PART THE FIFTH.
Wh e re t h e y w e re won t to do:
“I fea r t h e e, anc i en t Ma ri n e r!”
Th e y raised t h e i r l i mbs l i k e lifeless tools—
Be ca l m, tho u Wedd in g-Gues t!
We w e re a ghas t l y c re w.
‘Twas not thos e so uls tha t fled i n pa i n,
Th e bod y of m y b rot h e r’s so n,
Whic h to t h e i r corses ca m e aga i n,
Sto od b y m e, kn e e to kn e e:
Bu t a troop of s p i rits b les t:
Th e bod y an d I p u l led a t on e ro p e,
Fo r w h e n it da wn ed—t h e y dro p ped t h e i r a rms,
Bu t h e said n ought to m e.
An d c lust e red ro un d t h e mas t;
Sw ee t so unds ros e slo w l y t hrough t h e i r mou ths, An d from t h e i r bod ies pass ed . Aro un d, aro un d, fl e w eac h s w ee t so un d, Th e n darted to t h e Su n; Slo w l y t h e so unds ca m e bac k aga i n, No w m i xed, n o w on e b y on e. Some t i mes a-dropp in g from t h e
s ky I heard t h e s ky-la rk s in g; Some t i mes a l l l itt l e b irds tha t a re, Ho w t h e y s e e med to fi l l t h e sea an d a i r Wi t h t h e i r s w ee t jargo n in g! An d n o w ‘twas l i k e a l l ins t rum ents, No w l i k e a lon e l y flu t e; An d n o w it is a n an ge l’s son g, Tha t ma kes t h e Hea v ens b e mu t e. It ceased; ye t s t i l l t h e sa ils ma d e on A p leasan t n ois e t i l l noo n, A n ois e l i k e of a hidd e n broo k In t h e leafy mon t h of Ju n e, Tha t to t h e s l e e p in g wo ods a l l night Sin ge t h a q u ie t t u n e. Ti l l noo n w e q u ie t l y sa i led o n, Ye t n e v e r a b re ez e did b rea t h e: Slo w l y an d smoot h l y w en t t h e s h i p, Moved o nward from b e n ea t h . Un d e r t h e k e e l n i n e fa thom d e e p, From t h e lan d of mis t an d sn o w, Th e s p i rit s lid: an d it was h e Tha t ma d e t h e s h i p to go. Th e sa ils a t noo n l eft off t h e i r t u n e, An d t h e s h i p sto od s t i l l also. Th e Su n, right u p abov e t h e mas t, Had fixed h e r to t h e ocea n: Bu t i n a m i nu t e s h e ‘ga n s t i r, Wi t h a sh ort u n eas y motio n— Bac kwards an d fo rwards half h e r l engt h
“Th e s p i ri t wh o bi de t h b y h ims elf In t h e lan d of mis t an d sn o w, He loved t h e b ird tha t loved t h e ma n Wh o s h ot h i m wi t h his bo w.” Th e ot h e r was a soft e r voic e, As soft as hon e y-d e w: Quot h h e, “Th e ma n ha t h p en an c e don e, An d p en an c e more wi l l do.”
Sh e ma d e a sudd e n bo un d:
It fl un g t h e blo od into m y head,
An d I fe l l do wn i n a swo un d .
Ho w lon g i n tha t sa m e fi t I la y,
I ha v e not to decla re;
Bu t e re m y l i vin g life re t u rn ed,
I heard an d i n m y so u l disc e rn ed
Two VOICES i n t h e a i r.
Wi t h his c ru e l bo w h e laid f u l l lo w,
By h i m wh o d ied o n cross,
“Is it h e?” q uot h on e, “Is t his t h e ma n?
Th e ha rm less Alba tross .
Th e n l i k e a pa win g hors e le t go,
Wi t h a sh ort u n eas y motio n .
PART THE SIXTH. FIRST VOICE. Bu t t e l l m e, t e l l m e! s pea k aga i n, Th y soft respons e re n e win g— Wha t ma kes tha t s h i p d ri v e o n so fas t? Wha t is t h e OCEAN do in g? SECOND VOICE. St i l l as a sla v e before his lord, Th e OCEAN ha t h n o blas t; His grea t b right e ye mos t s i l en t l y Up to t h e Moo n is cas t— If h e ma y kn o w w hic h wa y to go; Fo r s h e gui des h i m smoot h o r gri m Se e, b rot h e r, s e e! ho w gracious l y Sh e looke t h do wn o n h i m. FIRST VOICE. Bu t w h y d ri ves o n tha t s h i p so fas t, Wi thou t o r wa v e o r win d? SECOND VOICE. Th e a i r is cu t awa y before, An d closes from b e h in d . Fl y, b rot h e r, fl y! more high, more high Or w e sha l l b e b elated: Fo r slo w an d slo w tha t s h i p wi l l go, Wh e n t h e Ma ri n e r’s tran c e is abated . I wok e, an d w e w e re sa i l in g o n As i n a gen t l e wea t h e r: ‘Twas night, ca l m night, t h e Moo n was high ; Th e dead m e n sto od toge t h e r.
Al l sto od toge t h e r o n t h e dec k, Fo r a cha rn e l-d un geo n fitt e r: Al l fixed o n m e t h e i r sto n y e yes, Tha t i n t h e Moo n did gl itt e r. Th e pan g, t h e c urs e, wi t h w hic h t h e y d ied, Had n e v e r pass ed awa y: I co uld not dra w m y e yes from t h e irs, No r t u rn t h e m u p to pra y. An d n o w t his s p e l l was sn ap t: on c e more I vi e wed t h e ocea n gre e n . An d looked fa r fort h, ye t l itt l e sa w Of wha t had els e b e e n s e e n— Li k e on e tha t o n a lon esom e road Dot h wa l k i n fea r an d d read, An d ha vin g on c e t u rn ed ro un d wa lks o n, An d t u rns n o more his head; Becaus e h e kn ows, a f rightf u l fi en d Dot h clos e b e h in d h i m t read . Bu t soo n t h e re b rea t hed a win d o n m e, No r so un d n o r motio n ma d e: Its pa t h was not upo n t h e sea, In ri p p l e o r i n sha d e. It raised m y ha i r, it fa n n ed m y c h e e k Li k e a meado w-ga l e of s p rin g— It m ingled s tran ge l y wi t h m y fears, Ye t it fe l t l i k e a w elcom in g. Swift l y, s wift l y fl e w t h e s h i p, Ye t s h e sa i led soft l y too: Sw ee t l y, s w ee t l y b l e w t h e b re ez e— On m e alon e it b l e w. Oh! d rea m of jo y! is t his in d eed Th e light-hous e top I s e e? Is t his t h e h i l l? is t his t h e ki rk? Is t his m i n e o wn co un t re e! We d rifted o’e r t h e ha rbo u r-ba r,
Eac h on e a lov e l y light: This s era p h -ban d, eac h wa ved his han d, No voic e did t h e y i mpart— No voic e; bu t o h! t h e s i l en c e sa n k Li k e music o n m y heart. Bu t soo n I heard t h e das h of oars; I heard t h e Pi lot ’s c h e e r; My head was t u rn ed p erforc e awa y, An d I sa w a boa t a p pea r. Th e Pi lot, an d t h e Pi lot ’s bo y, I heard t h e m com in g fas t: Dea r Lord i n Hea v e n! it was a jo y Th e dead m e n co uld not blas t. I sa w a t h ird—I heard his voic e: It is t h e He rmit go od! He s in ge t h lou d his god l y h ymns Tha t h e ma kes i n t h e wo od . He’l l s h ri e v e m y so u l, h e’l l was h awa y Th e Alba tross’s blo od .
Or le t m e s l e e p a lwa y.
Th e ha rbo u r-ba y was c lea r as glass,
So smoot h l y it was s t re wn!
An d o n t h e ba y t h e moon light la y,
An d t h e shado w of t h e moo n .
Th e roc k shon e b right, t h e ki rk n o less,
Tha t stands abov e t h e roc k:
Th e moon light st e e ped i n s i l en t n ess
Th e stead y wea t h ercoc k .
An d t h e ba y was w hit e wi t h s i l en t light,
Ti l l ris in g from t h e sa m e,
Fu l l ma n y sha pes, tha t shadows w e re,
In c rimso n c olo urs ca m e.
A l itt l e distan c e from t h e pro w
Thos e c rimso n shadows w e re:
I t u rn ed m y e yes upo n t h e dec k—
Oh, Ch ris t! wha t sa w I t h e re!
Eac h cors e la y fla t, life less an d fla t,
An d, b y t h e h o l y ro od!
This s era p h ban d, eac h wa ved his han d:
On e v e ry cors e t h e re sto od .
PART THE SEVENTH.
Th e y sto od as sign als to t h e lan d,
O le t m e b e awa k e, m y God!
A ma n a l l light, a s era p h -ma n,
It was a hea v e n l y sight!
An d I wi t h s obs did pra y—
This He rmi t go od l i ves i n tha t wo od Whic h slo pes do wn to t h e sea . Ho w loud l y his s w ee t voic e h e rears! He loves to ta l k wi t h ma ri n e res Tha t com e from a fa r co un t re e. He kn e els a t mo rn an d noo n an d e v e— He ha t h a cus hio n p l u m p:
It is t h e moss tha t wh o l l y hi des Th e rot ted old oa k-s t u m p. Th e s kiff-boa t n ea red: I heard t h e m ta l k, “Wh y t his is s tran ge, I tro w! Wh e re a re thos e lights so ma n y an d fa i r, Tha t sign a l ma d e bu t n o w?” “Stran ge, b y m y fai t h!” t h e He rmit said—
“An d t h e y ans w e red not o u r c h e e r! Th e pla nks looked wa rped! an d s e e thos e sa ils, Ho w t h i n t h e y a re an d s e re! I n e v e r sa w aught l i k e to t h e m, Un less p erchan c e it w e re “Bro wn s k e letons of lea ves tha t lag My fores t-broo k alon g;
Wh e n t h e i vy-tod is hea vy wi t h sn o w, An d t h e o w le t whoops to t h e wolf b elo w, Tha t eats t h e s h e-wolf ’s yo un g.” “Dea r Lord! i t ha t h a fi en dis h loo k— (Th e Pi lot ma d e re p l y) I a m a-fea red”—”Pus h o n, pus h o n!”
Wh o n o w dot h crazy go, Laughed lou d an d lon g, an d a l l t h e w h i l e His e yes w en t to an d fro. “Ha! ha!” q uot h h e, “f u l l pla i n I s e e, Th e De vi l kn ows ho w to ro w.” An d n o w, a l l i n m y o wn co un t re e, I sto od o n t h e fi rm lan d! Th e He rmit st e p ped fort h from t h e boa t, An d scarc e l y h e co uld stan d . “O s h ri e v e m e, s h ri e v e m e, h o l y ma n!” Th e He rmit cross ed his bro w. “Sa y q uic k,” q uot h h e, “I bid t h e e sa y— Wha t ma n n e r of ma n art tho u?” Fort h wi t h t his fra m e of m i n e was wren c hed Wi t h a woef u l ago n y, Whic h forced m e to begi n m y ta l e; An d t h e n it l eft m e f re e. Sin c e t h e n, a t a n un c ert a i n ho u r, Tha t ago n y re t u rns; An d t i l l m y ghas t l y ta l e is told, This heart wi t h i n m e b u rns . I pass, l i k e night, from lan d to lan d; I ha v e s tran ge pow e r of s p eec h ; Tha t mom en t tha t his fac e I s e e,
Said t h e He rmit c h e e ri l y.
Th e boa t ca m e clos e r to t h e s h i p,
Bu t I n o r spa k e n o r s t i rred;
Th e boa t ca m e clos e b e n ea t h t h e s h i p,
An d s traight a so un d was heard .
Un d e r t h e wat e r it ru m b led o n,
St i l l lou d e r an d more d read:
It reac hed t h e s h i p, it s p lit t h e ba y;
Th e s h i p w en t do wn l i k e lead .
St u n n ed b y tha t lou d an d d readf u l so un d,
Whic h s ky an d ocea n s mot e,
Li k e on e tha t ha t h b e e n s e v e n days dro wn ed
My bod y la y afloa t;
Bu t s wift as d reams, mys elf I fo un d
Wi t h i n t h e Pi lot ’s boa t.
Upo n t h e w h i rl, w h e re sa n k t h e s h i p,
Th e boa t s p u n ro un d an d ro un d;
An d a l l was s t i l l, sa v e tha t t h e h i l l
Was t e l l in g of t h e so un d .
I moved m y l ips—t h e Pi lot s h ri e ked
An d fe l l do wn i n a fi t;
Th e h o l y He rmit raised his e yes,
An d pra yed w h e re h e did sit.
I too k t h e oars: t h e Pi lot ’s bo y,
An d you ths an d mai d ens ga y! Fa re w e l l, fa re w e l l! bu t t his I t e l l To t h e e, tho u Wedd in g-Gues t! He pra ye t h w e l l, wh o love t h w e l l Bot h ma n an d b ird an d beas t. He pra ye t h bes t, wh o love t h bes t Al l t h ings bot h grea t an d sma l l; Fo r t h e dea r God wh o love t h us He ma d e an d love t h a l l . Th e Ma ri n e r, whos e e ye is b right, Whos e beard wi t h age is hoa r, Is gon e: an d n o w t h e Wedd in g-Gues t Tu rn ed from t h e b ri degroom’s doo r. He w en t l i k e on e tha t ha t h b e e n s t u n n ed, An d is of s ens e fo rlo rn: A sadd e r an d a wis e r ma n, He ros e t h e mo rro w mo rn .
To h i m m y ta l e I teac h .
Wha t lou d u proa r b ursts from tha t doo r!
Th e wedd in g-guests a re t h e re:
Bu t i n t h e gard e n-bow e r t h e b ri d e
An d b ri d e-maids s in gin g a re:
An d ha rk t h e l itt l e ves p e r b e l l,
Whic h bidde t h m e to pra ye r!
O Wedd in g-Gues t! t his so u l ha t h b e e n
Alon e o n a wi d e wi d e sea:
So lon e l y ‘twas, tha t God h ims elf
Scarc e s e e med t h e re to b e.
O s w eet e r tha n t h e marriage-feas t,
‘Tis s w eet e r fa r to m e,
To wa l k toge t h e r to t h e ki rk
Wi t h a go od l y compa n y!—
To wa l k toge t h e r to t h e ki rk,
An d a l l toge t h e r pra y,
Wh i l e eac h to his grea t Fa t h e r b ends,
Old m e n, an d ba bes, an d lovin g f ri ends,
I kn o w t h e ma n tha t mus t hea r m e: