Lyrical Ballads With a Few Other Poems (1798)

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 openÕd 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 cheerÕd, the Harbour clearÕd

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.