ARGUMENT.

How a Ship, having first sailed to the Equator, was driven by Storms, to the cold Country towards the South Pole; how the Ancient Mariner cruelly, and in contempt of the laws of hospitality, killed a Sea-bird; and how he was followed by many and strange Judgements; and in what manner he came back to his own Country.

The ANCIENT MARINER.

A POET's REVERIE.

I.

It is an ancient Mariner,

And he stoppeth one of three:

"By thy long grey beard and thy glittering eye "Now wherefore stoppest me?

"The Bridegroom's doors are open'd wide

"And I am next of kin ;

"The Guests are met, the Feast is set,

"May'st hear the merry din.

But still he holds the wedding guest-
There was a Ship, quoth he―

"Nay, if thou'st got a laughsome tale,
"Mariner! come with me."

He holds him with his skinny hand,
Quoth he, there was a Ship-

"Now get thee hence, thou grey-beard Loon ! "Or my Staff shall make thee skip.

He holds him with his glittering eye-
The wedding guest stood still

And listens like a three year's child;

The Mariner hath his will.

The wedding-guest sate on a stone,
He cannot chuse but hear:

And thus spake on that ancient man,
The bright-eyed Mariner.

The Ship was cheer'd, the Harbour clear'd

Merrily did we drop

Below the Kirk, below the Hill,

Below the Light-house top.

The Sun came up upon the left,
Out of the Sea came he :

And he shone bright, and on the right
Went down into the Sea.

Higher and higher every day,

Till over the mast at noon

The wedding-guest here beat his breast,

For he heard the loud bassoon.

The Bride hath pac'd into the Hall,

Red as a rose is she;

Nodding their heads before her goes

The merry Minstralsy.