Lyrical Ballads With a Few Other Poems (1798)Library of Alexandria, 28 set 2020 - 179 pagine 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,— “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, “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. 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. The wedding-guest he beat his breast, Yet he cannot chuse but hear: And thus spake on that ancyent Man, The bright-eyed Marinere. Listen, Stranger! Storm and Wind, A Wind and Tempest strong! For days and weeks it play’d us freaks— Like Chaff we drove along. Listen, Stranger! Mist and Snow, And it grew wond’rous cauld: And Ice mast-high came floating by As green as Emerauld. And thro’ the drifts the snowy clifts Did send a dismal sheen; Ne shapes of men ne beasts we ken— The Ice was all between. The Ice was here, the Ice was there, The Ice was all around: It crack’d and growl’d, and roar’d and howl’d— Like noises of a swound. |
