Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/684

 SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE

Alas' (thought I, and my heart beat loud) How fast she nears and nears' Are those her sails that glance in the Sun, Like restless gossameres?

��And its ribs are been as bars on the face of the sotting Sun The Spectre- W oman and her Denth-mate, and no other, on board the skeleton ship Like vessel, like crew '

��Death and Lift-in-Death have dictd for the ship'i crew, and she (the httcr) winneth the ancient Manner

No twilight within the courts of the Sun

��Are those her ribs through which the Sun Did peer, as through a grate? And is that Woman all her crew Is that a Death ? and are there two ? Is Death that Woman's mate ?

Her lips were red, her looks were free, Her locks were yellow as gold* Her skin was as white as leprosy, The Nightmare Life-in-Death was she, Who thicks man's blood with cold.

The naked hulk alongside came,

And the twain were casting dice;

"The game is done' I've won' I've won!**

Quoth she, and whistles thrice.

The Sun's rim dips; the stars rush out: At one stride comes the dark; With far-heard whisper, o'er the sea, Off shot the spectre-bark.

We listen'd and look'd sideways up!

Fear at my heart, as at a cup,

My life-blood seem'd to sip'

The stars were dim, and thick the night,

The steersman's face by his lamp gleam'd white ;

From the sails the dew did drip

�� �