The Rime of the Ancient Mariner（二）

    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.

    And the good south wind still blew behind，

    But no sweet bird did follow，

    Nor any day for food or play

    Came to the mariners¹' hollo！

    And I had done an hellish thing，

    And it would work 'em woe²：

    For all averred³， I had killed the bird

    That made the breeze to blow.

    Ah wretch⁴！ said they， the bird to slay⁵，

    That made the breeze to blow！

    Nor dim nor red， like an angel's head，

    The glorious sun uprist：

    Then all averred， I had killed the bird

    That brought the fog and mist.

    'Twas right， said they， such birds to slay，

    That bring the fog and mist.

    The fair breeze blew， the white foam⁶ flew，

    The furrow⁷ followed free；

    We were the first that ever burst

    Into that silent sea.

    Down 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！

    All in a hot and copper⁸ sky，

    The bloody⁹ sun， at noon，

    Right up above the mast did stand，

    No bigger than the moon.

    Day after day， day after day，

    We stuck， nor breath nor motion；

    As idle as a painted ship

    Upon a painted ocean.

    Water， water， everywhere，

    And all the boards did shrink；

    Water， water， everywhere，

    Nor any drop to drink.

    The very deeps 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 rout¹⁰

    The death-fires danced at night；

    The water， like a witch's oils，

    Burnt green， and blue and white.

    And some in dreams assured were

    Of the spirit that plagued us so；

    Nine fathom¹¹ deep he had followed us

    From the land of mist and snow.

    And every tongue， through utter drought，

    Was withered¹² at the root；

    We could not speak， no more than if

    We had been choked with soot¹³.

    Ah！ wel-a-day！ what evil looks

    Had I from old and young！

    Instead of the cross， the albatross

    About my neck was hung.