SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE

THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER

In Seven Parts
PART THE FIRST

Tx is an ancient Mariner,

* And he stoppeth one of three.

An ancient
Mariner meeteth
,_ . , -~ . , , ,.,, . three- Gallants

'By thy long grey beard and glittering mdm tg a wed_

ding -feast, and
detaineth one.

NOW wherefore StOpp'st thou me ?

'The Bridegroom's doors are opened

wide,

And I am next of kin ;
The guests are met, the feast is set :
May'st hear the merry din/

He holds him with his skinny hand,
There was a ship,* quoth he.
'Hold off! unhand me, greybeard loon!*
Eftsoons his hand dropt he.

He holds him with his glittering eye—
The Wedding-Guest stood still,
And listens like a three years* child:
iThe Mariner hath his will.

The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone:
He cannot choose but hear;
And thus spake on that ancient man,
The bright-eyed Mariner:

The Wedding-
Gueat is spell-
bound by the eye
of the old sea-
faring man, and
constrained to
hear his tale.

10

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