ARGUMENT.

How a Ship having passed the Line was driven by Storms to the cold Country towards the South Pole; and how from thence she made her course to the tropical Latitude of the Great Pacific Ocean; and of the strange things that befell; and in what manner the Ancyent Marinere came back to his own Country.

THE RIME

of the

ANCYENT MARINERE,

in seven parts.

I.

It is an ancyent Marinere,

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,—

But still he holds the wedding-guest—

There was a Ship, quoth he—

Nay, if thou'st got a laughsome tale,
"Marinere! 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 Marinere hath his will.

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

And thus spake on that ancyent man,
The bright-eyed Marinere.