Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900.djvu/666

 They groan'd, they stirr'd, they all uprose, Nor spake, nor moved their eyes; It had been strange, even in a dream, To have seen those dead men rise.

The helmsman steer'd, the ship moved on; Yet never a breeze up-blew; The mariners all 'gan work the ropes, Where they were wont to do; They raised their limbs like lifeless tools— We were a ghastly crew.

The body of my brother's son Stood by me, knee to knee: The body and I pull'd at one rope, But he said naught to me.'

'I fear thee, ancient Mariner!' 'Be calm, thou Wedding-Guest: 'Twas not those souls that fled in pain, Which to their corses came again, But a troop of spirits blest:

For when it dawn'd—they dropp'd their arms, And cluster'd round the mast; Sweet sounds rose slowly through their mouths, And from their bodies pass'd.

Around, around, flew each sweet sound, Then darted to the Sun; Slowly the sounds came back again, Now mix'd, now one by one.

Sometimes a-dropping from the sky I heard the skylark sing; Sometimes all little birds that are, How they seem'd to fill the sea and air With their sweet jargoning!