Part 4 (1/2)

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 pleasant noise till noon, A noise like of a hidden brook In the leafy month of June, That to the sleeping woods all night Singeth a quiet tune.

Till noon we quietly sailed on, Yet never a breeze did breathe: Slowly and smoothly went the s.h.i.+p, Moved onward from beneath.

Under the keel nine fathom deep, From the land of mist and snow, The spirit slid: and it was he That made the s.h.i.+p to go.

The sails at noon left off their tune, And the s.h.i.+p stood still also.

The Sun, right up above the mast, Had fixed her to the ocean: But in a minute she 'gan stir, With a short uneasy motion-- Backwards and forwards half her length With a short uneasy motion.

Then like a pawing horse let go, She made a sudden bound: It flung the blood into my head, And I fell down in a swound.

How long in that same fit I lay, I have not to declare; But ere my living life returned, I heard and in my soul discerned Two voices in the air.

”Is it he?” quoth one, ”Is this the man?

By him who died on cross, With his cruel bow he laid full low The harmless Albatross.

The spirit who bideth by himself In the land of mist and snow, He loved the bird that loved the man Who shot him with his bow.”

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

FIRST VOICE

”But tell me, tell me! speak again, Thy soft response renewing-- What makes that s.h.i.+p drive on so fast?

What is the ocean doing?”

SECOND VOICE

”Still as a slave before his lord, The ocean hath no blast; His great bright eye most silently Up to the Moon is cast--

If he may know which way to go; For she guides him smooth or grim.

See, brother, see! how graciously She looketh down on him.”

FIRST VOICE

”But why drives on that s.h.i.+p 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 s.h.i.+p will go, When the Mariner's trance is abated.”