An
extract from the works by Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1772–1834
At
length did cross an Albatross, through the fog it came;
As if it had been a Christian soul, we hailed it in God's name.
A good south wind sprung up behind; the Albatross did follow,
And every day, for food or play, came to the mariner's hollo!
In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud, it perched for vespers nine;
While all the night, through fog-smoke white,
Glimmered the white moon-shine.
I
shot the Albatross.
Day
after day, day after day, we stuck, nor breat nor motion;
As idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean.
Water, water, everywhere, and all the boards did shrink;
Water, water everywhere nor any drop to dink.
And every tongue, through utter drought, was withered at the root;
We could not speak, no more than if we had been choked with soot.
Ah!
well-a-day! what evil looks had I from old and young!
Instead of Cross, the Albatross about my neck was hung.
(Coleridge
continues to describe his opiate dreams, water-snakes and all. Then:)
The
selfsame moment I could pray; and from my neck so free
The Albatross fell off, and sank like lead into the sea.
(More
frenzied delusions, the:)
"Is
it he?" quoth one, "Is this the mane? by Him who died on
Cross,
With his cruel bow he laid full low the harmless Albatross.
(The
Ancient Mariner suffers his penance and is forgiven)
He
prayeth well, who loveth well both Man and Bird and Beast.
He prayeth best who loveth best all things both great and small;
For the dear God who loveth us, he made and loveth all.
(The
Wedding Guest, the listener of this story, learned a lesson)
He
went like one that hath been stunned, and is of sense forlorn
A sadder and a wiser man, he rose the morrow morn.
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