The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Day after day, day after day, 115 We stuck, nor breath nor motion; As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean.

Four times fifty living men, (And I heard nor sigh nor groan) With heavy thump, a lifeless lump, They dropped down one by one. [Sidenote: But Life-in-Death begins her work on the ancient Mariner.] The souls did from their bodies fly,— 220 They fled to bliss or woe! And every soul, it passed me by, Like the whizz of my cross-bow!"

Alone, alone, all, all alone, Alone on the wide, wide sea! And never a saint took pity on My soul in agony. 235 [Sidenote: He despiseth the creatures of the calm.] The many men, so beautiful! And they all dead did lie: And a thousand thousand slimy things Lived on; and so did I.

O happy living things! no tongue Their beauty might declare: A spring of love gushed from my heart, And I blessed them unaware: 285 Sure my kind saint took pity on me, And I blessed them unaware. [Sidenote: The spell begins to break.] The selfsame moment I could pray; And from my neck so free The Albatross fell off, and sank 290 Like lead into the sea.

He prayeth well, who loveth well Both man and bird and beast.

He prayeth best, who loveth best All things both great and small; 615 For the dear God who loveth us, He made and loveth all."