SELECTIONS IN ENGLISH POETRY

But soon there breathed a wind on me,
Nor sound nor motion made:
Its path was not upon the sea,
In ripple or in shade.
It raised my hair, it fanned my cheek
Like a meadow-gale of spring—
It mingled strangely with my fears,
Yet it felt like a welcoming.
Swiftly, swiftly flew the ship,
Yt.t she sailed softly too:
Sweetly, sweetly blew the breeze—
On me alone it blew.    -
r
Oh ! dream of joy! is this indeed
The lighthouse top I see?
Is this the hill ? is this the kirk ?
Is this mine own countree ?
We drifted o'er the harbour-bar,
And I with sobs did pray—
*O let me be awake, my God!
Or let me sleep alway.'
The harbour-bay was clear as glass,
So smoothly it was strewn !
And on the bay the moonlight lay,
And the shadow of the Moon.
The rock shone bright, the kirk no less,
That stands above the rock :
The moonlight steeped in silentness
The steady weathercock.
104

And the ancient
Mariner behold-
eth his native
country.

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