第5章

Iwoke，andweweresailingonAsinagentleweather：

"Twasnight，calmnight，theMoonwashigh;

Thedeadmenstoodtogether.

Allstoodtogetheronthedeck，Foracharnel—dungeonfitter：

Allfixedonmetheirstonyeyes，ThatintheMoondidglitter.

Thepang，thecurse，withwhichtheydied，Hadneverpassedaway：

Icouldnotdrawmyeyesfromtheirs，Norturnthemuptopray.

Andnowthisspellwassnapt：oncemoreIviewedtheoceangreen.

Andlookedfarforth，yetlittlesawOfwhathadelsebeenseen

LikeonethatonalonesomeroadDothwalkinfearanddread，Andhavingonceturnedroundwalkson，Andturnsnomorehishead;

Becauseheknows，afrightfulfiendDothclosebehindhimtread.

Butsoontherebreathedawindonme，Norsoundnormotionmade：

Itspathwasnotuponthesea，Inrippleorinshade.

Itraisedmyhair，itfannedmycheekLikeameadow—galeofspring

Itmingledstrangelywithmyfears，Yetitfeltlikeawelcoming.

Swiftly，swiftlyflewtheship，Yetshesailedsoftlytoo：

Sweetly，sweetlyblewthebreeze——

Onmealoneitblew.

Oh！dreamofjoy！isthisindeedThelight—housetopIsee？

Isthisthehill？isthisthekirk？

Isthismineowncountree！

Wedriftedo"ertheharbour—bar，AndIwithsobsdidpray

Oletmebeawake，myGod！

Orletmesleepalway.

Theharbour—baywasclearasglass，Sosmoothlyitwasstrewn！

Andonthebaythemoonlightlay，Andtheshadowofthemoon.

Therockshonebright，thekirknoless，Thatstandsabovetherock：

ThemoonlightsteepedinsilentnessThesteadyweathercock.

Andthebaywaswhitewithsilentlight，Tillrisingfromthesame，Fullmanyshapes，thatshadowswere，Incrimsoncolourscame.

AlittledistancefromtheprowThosecrimsonshadowswere：

Iturnedmyeyesuponthedeck

Oh，Christ！whatsawIthere！

Eachcorselayflat，lifelessandflat，And，bytheholyrood！

Amanalllight，aseraph—man，Oneverycorsetherestood.

Thisseraphband，eachwavedhishand：

Itwasaheavenlysight！

Theystoodassignalstotheland，Eachonealovelylight：

Thisseraph—band，eachwavedhishand，Novoicedidtheyimpart

Novoice;butoh！thesilencesankLikemusiconmyheart.

ButsoonIheardthedashofoars;

IheardthePilot"scheer;

Myheadwasturnedperforceaway，AndIsawaboatappear.

ThePilot，andthePilot"sboy，Iheardthemcomingfast：

DearLordinHeaven！itwasajoyThedeadmencouldnotblast.

Isawathird——Iheardhisvoice：

ItistheHermitgood！

HesingethloudhisgodlyhymnsThathemakesinthewood.

He"llshrievemysoul，he"llwashawayTheAlbatross"sblood.

PARTTHESEVENTH.

ThisHermitgoodlivesinthatwoodWhichslopesdowntothesea.

Howloudlyhissweetvoiceherears！

HelovestotalkwithmarineresThatcomefromafarcountree.

Hekneelsatmornandnoonandeve——

Hehathacushionplump：

ItisthemossthatwhollyhidesTherottedoldoak—stump.

Theskiff—boatneared：Iheardthemtalk，"Whythisisstrange，Itrow！

Wherearethoselightssomanyandfair，Thatsignalmadebutnow？"

"Strange，bymyfaith！"theHermitsaid

"Andtheyanswerednotourcheer！