Lyrical Ballads With a Few Other Poems (1798)

ÊÊÊÊAnd he stoppeth one of three:

ÒBy thy long grey beard and thy glittering eye

ÊÊÊÊÒNow wherefore stoppest me?

ÒThe BridegroomÕs doors are openÕd wide

ÊÊÊÊÒAnd I am next of kin;

ÒThe Guests are met, the Feast is set,Ñ

ÊÊÊÊÒMayÕst hear the merry din.Ñ

But still he holds the wedding-guestÑ

ÊÊÊÊThere was a Ship, quoth heÑ

ÒNay, if thouÕst got a laughsome tale,

ÊÊÊÊÒMarinere! come with me.Ó

He holds him with his skinny hand,

ÊÊÊÊQuoth he, there was a ShipÑ

ÒNow get thee hence, thou grey-beard Loon!

ÊÊÊÊÒOr my Staff shall make thee skip.Ó

He holds him with his glittering eyeÑ

ÊÊÊÊThe wedding guest stood still

And listens like a three yearÕs child;

ÊÊÊÊThe Marinere hath his will.

The wedding-guest sate on a stone,

ÊÊÊÊHe cannot chuse but hear:

And thus spake on that ancyent man,

ÊÊÊÊThe bright-eyed Marinere.

The Ship was cheerÕd, the Harbour clearÕdÑ

ÊÊÊÊMerrily did we drop

Below the Kirk, below the Hill,

ÊÊÊÊBelow the Light-house top.

The Sun came up upon the left,

ÊÊÊÊOut of the Sea came he:

And he shone bright, and on the right

ÊÊÊÊWent down into the Sea.

Higher and higher every day,

ÊÊÊÊTill over the mast at noonÑ

The wedding-guest here beat his breast,

ÊÊÊÊFor he heard the loud bassoon.