C R ITI C A L
C OM M E N T
too plai n p e rh aps as C ol e rid ge is hi ms e l f
p la i n
re port e d t o h av e said T h e le s s on
t he
”
d uty o f hu man k ind n e ss
an d b e a st
is
—
,
,
,
.
,
.
Th e m ari n e r s w ant on c ru e lty i n shooti n g t h e al batross
I d r a w s d o w n u pon h i m a n d h is compan ions t h e w rat h
of t h e pol ar spirit Thos e w h o h av e m e r e ly s e l fi sh ly
a cqu i e sc e d in t h e cri m e from a b e li e f t hat t h e bird
’
.
,
of e vi l om en
A n ci e nt M arin e r as
w as
,
,
1
a
a re
the
pu n ish e d w it h d e ath but t h e
pri m e o ff e nd e r is r e s e rv e d for
,
,
m or e d r e ad fu l pun ish m en t
.
H is s e ttin g ap art for
.
p arti cu l ar v e n g e an c e is typi fi e d by t h e d i c e t hro w in g
on t h e d e c k of t h e sk e l e ton ship b y w h i c h Life i n D e at h
-
—
'
-
,
ins hi m a w ay fro m D e ath an d D e at h
of t h e cr e w
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w
.
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tortu re
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but
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n ow
ins t h e r e st
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w
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for al w ays a
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.
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OF
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L T A Y LO R CO L E
RI
D GE
“
s
AND
THE
JA M E
E D
WI
Assis t a
SI R LAUNF AL
VI SI ON OF
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IT E
LLI A M
P rof e s s or
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D
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US E
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gl i s h T h e U i v ers i t y o f C h i c a go
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F OR E S M A N A N D C O M P A N
Y
C O NT E NTS
T H E R I M E O F T H E A N C I EN T
I
N
T R O D U C TI O N
LIF E
OF
COL E
I
R D GE
C R I TI C A L C O M M E
T H E VI
I
N
TE
MA R I
T R O D U C TI O N
XT
N OT E
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N
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ON O F
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T H E R I M E O F T H E A N CI E N T M A R I N E R
-
l N T R O D UCT I O N
LI
F E
OF
C O LE RI
D GE
I
of t h e e ight een t h c en tu ry a r e m ar k ~
ab l e c h an ge b e gan t o t ak e p l ac e in E nglish p o e try For
m ore t h an a c en tu ry first un d e r t h e l e ad e rsh ip of D ry
d en an d t h e n un d e r th at of P op e p o e ts h a d striv e n
t o giv e t h e ir v e rs e formal c orr e ctn e ss an d e l e gan c e at
of n aturaln e ss an d sp on t an e ity
Th e y
(t h e
e xp e ns e
T o w ard t h e
en
d
,
.
,
,
,
.
giv en u p t h e fr ee forms of v e rs e u s e d by t h e E li z a
l b e t h a n p o et s
an d c on fin e d th e ms e l v e s al most e n tir e ly
lh a d
,
a sin gl e form t h e rh ym e d c oup l e t
Subj e cts of
an d p assion su c h as t h e E l i z ab e th an s h a d
! rom an c e
l ov e d w e re d isc ard e d for m or e mun d an e t h e m e s w hi c h
c ou l d be han d l e d w it h w i t an d p r e cision or w it h stat e l y
d ign ity of m ann e r B ut in t h e v e rs e of C ol lin s G ray
C rabb e an d B u rn s t h e r e app e ar e d a stron g prot e st
against a l l this
P o e ts b e g a n to r e ass e rt th e ir right
ct o
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
5
,
I
6
N T RODU C T I ON
t o r e p r e s e n t t h e w orl d of n at ur e an d m en as t h ey s a
th e m fu l l of c olor myst e ry an d e motion
This lit e rary r e volution w hic h m arks t h e t ran sit
from t h e e ight e en t h to t h e n in e t een th c e nt u ri e s
c a l l n o t v e ry e xa ctl y t h e R oman ti c mov e m en t ;
,
.
,
,
,
,
—
—
of t his m ov e m en t S a mu e l T a ylor C ol e ridg e is on e o
t h e m ost in t e r e stin g figur e s
H is sign ific an c e is 0
t w o sorts as p hi losoph e r an d as p o e t
As phil osoph e r
h e brou ght in to E ngl an d t h e n e w syst e m o f though
d e v e lop e d in G e rman y by Kan t an d his fo l lo w e rs
a
lif e l on g w ork w hi ch too k his b e st in en e rgy an d
.
,
.
,
-
,
t i m e As po e t his w ork is smal l in bu l k an d w a s a c
c o mp l ish e d al most en tir e ly i n a sin gl e w on d e rfu l y e a l
Bu t s m al l as it is in bu l k it oc cupi e s a p l ac e o f t h
fi rst i mp ort an c e in t h e history of E nglish lit e ratu r e
a n d w h at is m or e to ou r pu rpos e has at it s b e st a p e c u lia
e n thral l in g b e auty w hi c h w e sha l l l ook i n Va i n to fil l (
e l sew h e re
.
,
,
'
,
l
,
,
.
,
.
II
Col e ridg e
born O ctob e r 2 1 1 7 1 2 at t h e V i c a ra g
of O tt e ry St M ary in t h e c oun ty of D e von shire E ng
l an d
H is fath e r w a s as e c c en tri c a n d un w orld ly a
a
c oun try p arson an d t h e fath e r of C ol e ridge S ll OU l (
h av e b een
O f C ol e rid g e s e a rly life w e get vivid glimps e
was
.
,
,
,
.
’
.
l
LI F E O F
C O L E R I D GE
7
fro m his l at e r l e tt e rs ; on e r e m e mb e rs e sp e cial ly his S l as h
ro w s of n e ttl e s r e pr e s en tin g t h e
ri ng
w it h a sti c k at
of C hrist en d om S u c h gam es w e re
ap t to be solitary for as h e says hi ms e lf h e n e v e r
m
k
;
£
th ought or spok e as a c hi ld
an d his pr e c ocit ha d
y
t h e in e vitabl e e ff e ct of isol atin g h im from il ls b
i ns t e rou s
C h ampion s
S e v en
.
‘‘
.
,
,
'
,
y
0
h fi >
,
£
1
bl
ot
h el
s
.
W h en ni n e y e ars old
he
s en t to C hrist s H os
an an ci e n t charity sc hool in t h e h e art of Lon don
pit a ],
,
He r e h e m e t C h arl e s Lamb
’
w as
.
to w hos e e ssays t h e stu
d e n t S h ou l d tu rn for a p i ctu r e of t h e school as it a p
e
r
e
d
th
e
n
to
boyish
e
y
e
s
T
h
orph
an
fro
m
a
e
the
p
-
,
.
.
oun t ry l on e som e an d fri e n d l e ss w h o figu r e s in t h e
e ssay
C h r i s t s Hos p i t a l F i n e a n d T h i r t y Y ea rs A g
o
is C ol e rid ge a littl e m an ip u l at e d for p athos p e rh aps
A p l e asa n t an e cd ot e of this sc hoo l p e riod n arrat es
c
,
,
’
,
,
,
d ay C ol e ridg e w a s w al kin g in t h e stre e ts o f
on a n d movin g his a rms about in a stran g e m an
w h e n h e a c cid e n tl y tou ch e d t h e p oc k e t of an old
p assin g
T h e irat e c iti z e n w a s about to
e m an
“
l an d
hi m ov e r to t h e p ol i c e as a p i c kpoc k e t
I am
“
n o t a pi c kp ock e t sir
I on l y thou ght
t h e boy p rot e st e d
”
T h e ol d
w a s L e an d e r s w i m min g
t h e He l l e S p on t !
n
tl
man
forth
w
ith
su
bsc
rib
d
to
a
c
ircu
l
atin
g
l
ibrary
e
e
e
g
in
ord e r to giv e L e a n d e r his fil l of books T h e story
c on t in u e s th at h e r e a d t h e w ho l e list th rou gh w it ho u t
sk ippin g a volu m e
t h at
'
on e
.
.
,
,
,
.
.
.
.
8
N T ROD U C T I O N
I
Wh e th e r th is l ast ass e rt i on is tru e or n ot
c h ie ve d
a
in g
it h
a n
,
h i l e at s c h ool a gr e at
.
L a mb
.
w
w
w
d
e
S
the
l i k e Ja m b l i c h u s
C hrist
the
P l ot inu s
an d
’
s H osp ita l
the
the
“
i nsp ir e d c h a rit y boy
h is l if e
p oet
good
e
e
lf
w as
b rid g e
”
to
.
e
the
,
(
,
the
w
,
l
the'
of
the
a c c en t s
t oo ,
t h a t C ol e
‘
l e ge d e bt s
l ast in
w
o le r i d
e
.
i
ork
d
rit e r
,
hich
he
,
fo r
w as
c ou l d l e arn
,
him
.
Co l l e ge , Ca m
p l un g e d
w
h ic h
the
F r en c h
w
it h h i m
r e vol uti on
b
r
e
st
s
H
is
a
rd
or
a
g
d a m p e n e d by an x i e t y o v e r so m e c o l
y oun
to
.
Lon d o n an d l an d e d h i m
r e c ru i t in g o ffi c e of
the
c h ol a r
P i c o d c l la M i r n d o l
n I t a lia n
e fa m o u s fo r h i p e c o c i u le a i n g
,
w
w as
l es
1
n t h u sias m fo r s o c ia l p rogr e ss an d
a
a
s a n c
w
a n
,
w
C o l e rid g e
nt e r e d J e su s
S o ut h e y
m et
e
g
e
h ic h d r o v e h i m
t he
in fl u e n c e
i d e a l s of p o e t r y
n ew
Bow
son n et s o f
Th e
.
h os e v e rs e
r e g en e ra t i o n
t e m p o ra ri l y
w as
the
foun d in
h ad a rou s e d in a l l a rd e n t
t
h e re
w as
m bod y in m o r e v i vid
H e re h e
p o l i t ic a l
a
c h o ed
d ed
“
an d
r e- e
It
.
the
a s t ou n
youn g
t h ou gh n ot a st ron g
,
fro m
on e ,
on c e in t o
t
he
s in c e B o w l e s
,
At n in e t e e n
a
hi l e t h e y st oo d
nti r e l y forgott en
i n a m il d form
s
h e xa m e t e rS
'
fi rst p rofoun d p o e t i c in fl u en c e
the
T h is
.
n ow
n at u ra l
a
fl
l
’
'
f
a
i n t on a t i on s
s w eet
t o c asu a l p ass e rs in
ol d G r e y Fri ars
rid g e un d e r w e n t
o
w
,
,
a l ls of
d e ep ,
’
l
-
m yst e ri e s of abstru s e p h il osop h e rs
b e for e h i m as b e for e a
w
“
,
p ut ation for l e arn
fri en d u s e d t o r e c it e G r e e k
x p oun d
h a l l s of
,
p e a ks of
hi s
hich
re
e i
C ol e ri d g
s
r
.
s
a
o
s
rn
.
l5th
of
t he
L i ght D ra
e a rl y Re n a i s
.
N T RODU C T I O N
I
10
t h e y an d t h e ir f e l lo
w
—
c o l on ist s
it h t h e ir
w
,
i ves
w
t o sh ar e in c o m m on
the tw
sary to m a k e
i ld e rn e ss b l oo m as a ros e
d e vot e
su its
the
the
hou rs a d ay of t oi l
r e m a in d e r of t h e ir t i m e t o
e
or
m
’
South e y s
.
w
o
p ra ct i c a l
c a l led
,
led
d e s e rt i on
gra m h o w e v e r
,
t h ev
,
m a rri e d in O ct ob e r
,
d
si x
w ee
S ou t h e v
k s l at e r
t o m a rry u pon
.
it h his l at e r
t hi rt y gu i n e a s
w as
,
w
him
fri e n d s
w
C ol e rid g e
h er
hich
w
a
sist e r E d i t h
C o l e rid g e
Th is v olu m e
.
,
e
,
he
att e m p t e d t o
g
su bs c ri b e r s for a p r o j e ct e d p e riod i c a l c a l l e d
ll
'
a
lch m a
n
,
C ol e ri d g e
as a
,
v o lun t e e r i n a b l u e c oat
c h a rm i n g e v e ry bod y by
a n
h is
O f C ol e rid g e as a p r e a c h er
ho
.
m ad e a m e m ora bl e t ou r of
m id l an d c ou n t i e s p r e a ch in g on Sun d ays
w
Th e
.
an d p u b lishin g
,
e
d
w
h it e
l oqu e n c e
,
n t it l e d
ou t by p r e a c h i n g
l e c t u rin g
had
In c om pa rison
.
,
h ic h it brou gh t in
.
B r i st o l p u b lish e r
eke
et
hich
,
soon fort h c o m in g
,
w as
it ; a n d h is
ork it c o n t ai n s n ot h in g of n ot e
w
to
S ara h Fri c k e r of B rist o l ;
an ord e r fro m
w as
,
p ar t of t h e ir p ro
m a rri e d
fo r a v ol u m e o f p o e m s
Ju ve n i l e P oe m s
w
M iss
on l y assu ran c e of in c o m e
Th e
C ott l e ,
,
an d
as it
p ro c ee d e d t o c arry ou t :
1 79 5
,
A
.
i
made
in
the
t o a ru pt u r e b e t w ee n
me c e s -
l v atin g p u r
n atu r e
l ost fait h
n ot h e a l e d for a l on g t i m e
w as
an
C o l e rid g e
l on g b e for e
l
e e
P an t iso c rac y ,
ab an d on t h is gran d sc h e m e of
w er e
,
w
aist c oat
a nd
e
To
Th e
the
t i r e l e ss
”
,
an d
a rn e stn e ss
.
fro
m
you
n
g
H
a
z
lit
t
g
ha d on t h is o c c a sion w a l k e d t en m il e s t h rou gh t h e
,
m u d t o h e a r h i m a v i vi d a c coun t
,
et
w e
.
,
He s ays :
LI F E
OF
11
le ri dge a m
nd
g v e u t h i t e x t l I d e p rt e d
t
a m
un t i h i m elf l n e
a g in i
A h e g v e ut t h i t e x t
r
te m
v i
li ke
hi
f d i t ill e d pe r fu m e :
d w h en h e
t
th
t W rd
h e p m n u n d l ud d ee p
ca m e
t wo l
w h ic h
n d di t in t
it e m ed t m e
if t h
un d
m ig h t h v e fl t e d in
l
i l e t h r u gh t h u i m e T h e
h e d i t h i u bj e t li ke
e gl e d a ll yi n g
t h n l u
pr a h e
w i t h t he w in d
Mr
Co
.
n
a
s
o
o
o
use
a
o
e
a s
c
s
,
r
c
s
o
a
s
a
.
s
o
s
7
o
s
.
a s
e l n n
s n
nc
n
s
e
ce
s
o
c
s
,
,
o
,
,
s o
e
o
n c
s
a n
o
,
a
o
a
s
o
e
,
s
o
a
e
a
e
a
,
,
oa
a
e
n
a
ce
s
a
se
‘
e
n
a n
a
ve
.
.
An d
a g a in
,
,
S
p e a k in g
f
o
(
‘
o
le r i d ge
'
t
s
alk
a
t his
t
t i me :
“i s g e n iu s
g el i c w i n g a n d fe d o n m a n n a
ll
t l k ed
on f n v r
t l k o n f re v e r
I l i s t h o ug h t s
a n d y u w i h ed h i m t
i f t h e w in g
di d n t ee m t o C o m e w i t h l b r a n d e ff r t b u t
I l i s v o i c e r lle d o n t h e
f i m a gi n a t i o n l i f t e d h i m o ff h i f e t
w
of
o rg n
nd it
n d a lo n e
c
e
li
g
u
u
i
c a r li ke a
n
h
e
a
t
m
p
t h o ug h t
o
'
e
o
ha d
o
,
s
a n
o
s
s
o
a
a
o
a
o
a
.
e
.
,
o
s
e
s
so
a
.
a s
,
s
o
.
s
a s
.
In spi t e
od
r
i
e
tp
(t
i me
ld o n
lI
t
f
rr a
w
the
sp e n t in
to
,
.
a s en t en c e o r
tw
o
f t he
w
.
o
w
on e
hi c h
it h a
h ea
vv
o
,
f
B rist o l
the
sp e cia l ly
(
‘
l e ve
bv t h e
l se
c o
o
r
p p h es v
he
s ea
.
h is l e tt e rs of t h is
the
a byss
He co m pl a in s of v i o l en t
fa c e an d sa vs t h at
,
e
t h is
.
n e igh b o rin g v i l l ag e of
re a d h o w e v e r in
re t c h e dn e ss a h e a d
l gi a
fo r C o l e rid g e ,
on e
-
l ( e r b e ru s
‘
an d d o m e s t i c c a re s
a l itt l e r o s e c o v e re d c o t t a g e
is sad
od ,
r
i
e
tp
bO
he
hi c h
ii i
f p o v e rt v
a happy
w a s
w
,
o
h as
“
d o s e of l a ud an u m
.
s o pp e d
n eu
t he
I N T R O D UC I I O N
’
12
E arl y in
a n
d
youn g b aby
N e t h e r St o w e y
D orot h y ,
A l f o x d en
of
the
in
,
r
ho
the
t oo k
a c h ot h e r bu t
few
a
t h en
w as
m on t h s
h e i r c o m p an ion sh ip
it
of
s ud d en
an d
D
t
w
the
rot e a l l
La d i c
s
a n n us
an
w
a m o re
S
ri e
Q
\Vo rd s w ort h ,
Fo r
.
m in d
ua n
f o r C o l e rid g e ,
su pp l e m e n t e d
,
t oc k s
hich
Ch
r i s ta
,
bel , —
the
C ol e rid g e
,
I
.
w
D o rot hy
l
ce
a
p
hich
,
st an d s fi rst as
o
n d e rs
the
pa c iou s m u si c ;
:
C h r i s t a bel
on e
a re
,
b een ;
O f t h e se
.
o rk of
w
h as a m or e
bu t b o t h of t h e s e
him
'
Ma r i n er ,
it h a s
t ru l y a s
w
sh ot !
Ge n e vi e ve
y e a r of
Th e A n c i e n t
a y e a r of
,
l it t l e m or e
ll
r e a l l y c o mp l et e d ; K a bl a K h a
he
m v s t e rv
,
p o e ms
w as
Kh a n
m i r a bi l i s
M a r i n er
t he
Th is
.
K ubl a
,
fi r t pa rt o f
h is l i fe
ee
he
k
a r
,
,
i m m o rt a ls
T h e A n c i en t
an d
Th e y h ad kn o w n
.
in t o fu l l p o et i c st at u r e
he
t he
c a l l ed
lv
v ea r
a
a mo n g
Th e
origin a l
qu i e t b e a ut y of
,
U n d e r t h e bra cin g in fl u en c e
.
,
an d
-
qu i c k s y m pat h y an d su gg e st i v en e ss o f
the
h an
l arg e
of
m a n sion
t w en t y fi v e
t o m e a n m u ch ;
w as
v e ryt hin g
W o rd s w o r t h s
an d
t
e
’
bv t he
up
m e an
to
w as
ife
h e n a m ut u a l att ra ction
w
brou gh t t h e m t h u s c l os e l y t oge t her
t
v i l l a ge
n e i gh b orin g
h is b rot h e r p o e t on l y a l it t l e o ld e r
e
t he
w
,
w e e
w
h is
it h
w
,
gr een Q u an to c k h i l ls a n d a
j oin e d by Word s w ort h an d h i s
C ol e rid g e
.
re m o v e d
to a tin y c ott a g e in
,
m on t h l at e r t h e y
sist e r
C ol e rid g e
1 79 7,
n.
e
h as
lu si v e
fr a g m e n ts
.
Ll F E
Th e A n c i e n t M a r i n e r i s
l ig
h t t ha t
C O LRR l UG l J
OF
r o un d e d
a ge m t ur d t h e
p l a y s t h ro u gh it is un s t a in e d b v a s in gl e fl a w
a s
as
,
.
66
C o l e rid g e
l
w o rt
I ii
'
h s h a d in m in d a l it t l e a ut u mn
w
an
d t he
Wo rd s
a l kin g t ou r fro m
W at c h et T o
le fra y t h e e xpe n se s o f t h e t ri p so m e fi v e p o un d s t h e y
d et e r mi ne d t o c o m p os e t og e t h e r a p oe m t o be s e n t t o
C o l e rid ge s u gg es t ed
t he N ew
Mo nt hl y M a ga z i n e
as
a s t a rt in g po in t
d re a m w h i c h h a d been re l ate d t o
a
“
h i m by hi s f ri en d M r C ru i k sh an k a d re a m o f a s k e l et o n
”
hi p w it h fi gu res in it
T o t h is W o rd s w o rt h a d d e d
hin g h e h ad j u st re ad in S h e l v oc k e s Voya ges
re a t a l bat ross e s w it h w in gs st re t c h
a c c oun t o f t h e g
m g t w e l v e o r t h i rt ee n fee t fro m t i p t o t i p w hi c h S h e l
voc k e
T a k in g
h a d s ee n w h i l e d ou b li n g C a pe Ho r n
h e su gges t e d t ha t a sai l o r
a hi n t f ro m t h e sa m e a c c o un t
d k i l l on e o f t h e se bi rd s an d t h at t h e t ut e la ry
l i r i t s o f t h e re i o n sh ou l d t a k e v e n ge a n c e on t h e m u r
g
p
l e re r Wo rd s w o rt h a l s o su gg est e d t h e n a v i gztf i on o f
in a tion
C o l e rid g
e s i ma g
h e sh i p by t h e d e ad m e n
a nd be gan t o w e a v e
e rl y u po n a l l th es e h i n t s
ea g
in t o un it y T h e c o m p os it ion o f t h e p oe m be gan
i ce
t h e t w o p oe t s c o o pe rat in g l i n e by l in e
A lfo xd en
o ve r
t he
c k
u
an
t
o
Q
h il l s
to
.
.
,
.
,
.
,
.
,
'
s
.
,
'
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
.
’
.
.
.
.
-
.
,
in es
w
by
t he
hi c h st an d in
W o rd s w o rt h
,
e
c o m p l et e d p oe m
s pe c ia l l y
the
r
we e
fu r ~
c h a ra c te rist i c:
14
lis t en s l i ke a
m a ri n e r h a t h
An d
r
l he
B u t t h ev
.
d
a n
t
the
Th e
“
use
h ad
ye a r
w i ll
h is
g
As
h ou ght
r
en
i a li t v
of
su bj e c t
the
JI
Th e A n c i en t
a
c
ou rs e of
it l e
m
a rk
t he
a n
d
the
fo l l
o
t h e h is t o r v
p o e t i c id e a ls
'
w
the
is
to
t
.
of
t ake
hich
w
l it tl e
a
_
fri e n d s
the
the
In
na
,
d el l
m ost fa m o u s l an d
,
R o m an t ic m o v e m e n t
the
f o r t h e fi rst
.
,
v o lu m e a pp e a r e d
h i c h h ad i n s p i r e d
B l a k e re c e i v e d
the
w o
r k of
it
in
(
o w
im e fu l l an d c l e a r
r
e
p
ex
.
Wi n n
be
hese
“
a r e t u rn
h
ra
s
e
p
of
I t
.
b e c au s e
.
t he
,
a ban d on e d
c on t e m p l at in g
w e re
in g vea r
w
L yr i c a l B a l l a d s
ia
s s it ll l
e
r
p
or
be
p ro p os e d t o m a k e
w a s
h
.
so d i v e rg e n t
b ad e fa i r
ol um e by a d d in g t o it ot h e r p o e m s
m an u s c r i pt
,
h is pec u l ia r i m a gin a
to
v
the t
be
C ol e rid g e
a r i n cr
,
in
h ild
.
s ee n t o
w e e
origin a l l y int e n d e d it
d
c
i d e a o f j oin t c o mp osit ion h a d t o
c on
.
s
’
p rogr e ss e d fa r b e for e t h e i r st yl e s
n ot
t
h re e
t
t a s k t h e n n at u ra l l y f e l l t o
t he
i on
‘
m an n e rs o f
h at
t
N T R O D UC T I O N
I
t
of
t he
t
n a t u re
o
l e ast
su m m e d
F i d e li t v
.
t o n at u r e
,
an
d
r t i fi c ia l m e a n s p ossi bl e in r e p ro
t he
us e
d
o n st i t u t e d
t
h
e re
n
at
u
r
m
ost
sin
c
a
m
on
e
C
e
g
g
m a n v h a l f f o rm e d l i t e r a r v c r e e d s o f t h e ( l a v
u c in
t he
n at u r e
a
-a
,
-
.
.
ri ght l y c o n c e i v e d
h i n a s ; M AM E
i ma gin a t i o n
a nd
.
t
_
I
t
w a s
is
t
w o—
sid e d
in
a pa rt
.
M
o
f
t he
.
un
h
m t
os o
l
h
w
h
i
p
p
s
~
L l l ll U l
‘
h i c h la
w
un e r
l
t ll t
t
he
f
i
o
ba
v
r
o
ld
ut e r
on
e
g
g
te
d o es
s
no
t
fa i l
in
g
‘
o le r i d
g
ds o
so
ha t
t
s
o
w
w
t
he r
w
,
o
f
it h
rt i o n
o
ve r
f t he
t
.
of
~
s ee
ot
alk
!
.
b ut
h on o r
t
.
he
for
w
t
the
m a kes
t
he
usua l a p pe a r
g
on e
f
o
a
t u ra
w
l t h in gs
t
he
to
e ve
but
,
a ct d et a i l s
ex
he
hich
,
l e ad s u s
T h e Lyr i c a l Ba l
.
,
o
n ly a s ma l l
t h e A n c i en t
i
ll
t t h e be gin n in g
w e re
a re
w a
h ro u g h
pi rit u a l
int e nt l y u p on it
a ze
h i le
.
h ou gh
S
We
p u r po s e
t
.
he
p o e ts
.
si m p l e
t
o
v e r un e v e n
st ra g glin g
we
bra n c h e s
“
st raigh t
fo l l o w
gl oo m y y e a rs a h e ad
Co l e
le t
,
h is fri en d s in h is p ri m e
W o rd s w o rt h says in h e r j ou rn a l
.
t ol d t hat C o l e
l k in g
Be fo re
a r i ner,
f ree t o roa m
t h at Wo rd s w o rt h p r e fe r re d a
h i m as h e a ppe a re d
hv
f
c o m po se
g
ri d ge h a s t i l v t h rou gh
w
o
as
s t ra n g e n es s an d
c o n c re t e an d
Th e ! t i m e
h e p la c e
f
o
b v C o l e rid ge
ms
bre a k in g
c o p se w ood
a ra v e l
ho le ;
to
or
,
p
oe
,
,
by
n l v re a l
w
u
n
t
o
c
k
d
o
n
s
a
Q
l o ve d
r o un d
ag
w
u
in
.
s uj w n i a
,
a b o ut
si m p l e p e o p l e
o ur
m a uv
h a pp y y e a r
on e
t he
he
.
ex s
c o nt e n t s o f
ri t e s
w
o rld o f i m a gin at i o n in t o
ve r h a s
Fo r
o
ds
o r
fa nt a st i c
s o
d
s e en
a re
fa s t e n in g
c ont a i n e d fo u r
w e
w
fo r t h e t i m e t h e
s
bv t h e
u gges t i o n
s
t hev
a n
i ten t
ru l v
T hi s d o u b l e as pe c t
.
o
fin d a
a s
ri t e s
impl y
he
so
o
o
t
as
t ha t t hi s
,
f be in g t a l k e d
rha ps m o re
by
i mpl y
e
t
I f)
j ust
.
o
i m p l e in c id e n t s
in
.
s
hv
w o rt
sc
t he m
f t h e po e t ;
c
re a l
.
f
t e rv
« t ra n
e
p
!
R o m a n t i c m o v e m en t
a s
a s
L RI U D U E
h o l is i l l u s t rat e d
W o rd s w rt h
Ba l l a d s
o
ua
b
—
e
he
t
j us t
Rom a n t ic
a n
o ys
f
o
w a s
Lyr i c a l
he
k
c
h e re f o re j u s t
he
t
“
( U
'
.
us
Do r
I N T R O D UC T I O N
16
h o ug h t h i m v e r y p l a i n t h a t i s fo r a b o u t t h re e
He i s p a l e h a s a w i d e m o u t h t h i c k l i p s a n d n o t v e ry
m in ut es
w
r
o
n
o
o
l
o
s
d
e
h
l
gi
h
e
g
i
g h a l f c u rl i n g ro u gh b l a c k h a i r
o
o
t
n
s
t
e
;
g
B u t i f yo u h e a r h i m s p e a k fo r fi v e m i n u te s yo u t h i n k n o m o re
o f t h es e
A t fi rs t I
t
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
—
-
,
,
.
.
,
.
An d
H a z litt
rit e s
w
Hi s
fo re h e a d i s b ro a d a n d h ig h li g h t a s i f b ui lt o f i v o ry
w it h l a r g e
p ro j e c t i n g e ye b ro w s : a n d h i s e v e s ro lle d b e n e a t h t h e m
l i k e a e a w i t h d a r k en e d l u s t r e
.
,
,
,
s
In
p e a re d
.
t he
sa m e v e a r in
C o l e rid g e
,
an n u it y an d
.
e
n a bl e d t o
fo r visit i n g G e rm a n y
t r zm s c e n d e n t
an d
t he
w as
on e
l an d
lci n
l on g
e
ff ort
on e
d a m pn e ss
l gi c
pa in
.
to
t
p l un g e d a t on c e in t o
o
f
S c h e lli n
Kan t an d
.
i n t e rp r e t t h is p h il o s o ph y
h o we v e r
,
a t ra n sl a t i o n
o
He s o on s e t t l e d i n
.
he
p h i l osop h y
O n h is r e t u rn
.
out a c h e rish e d p lan
c a rr v
g; :
,
sh a re d a h o u s e
ra
l
p
r e s t of hi s l if e so fa r as it h ad a u n i fi e d p u rpos e
l i t e ra rv
s
a
a
gift of a s ma l l p e rma n e nt
H e re
.
t h e L yr i c a l B a ll a d s
h ic h
t he
re c ei v ed
w a s
t he
w
o
f
t
ro u b l e s
w
l a ke
he
.
t en
ve a r s
u
p tt
ht g
.
w
c
ln
'
to
o
h is fi rst la bo r
.
f S c h il l e r
he
ot
La k e
-
s d ra ma
co
h e r i n la
-
'
w
u nt r y
,
ll
,
w
,
piu m
e
.
s c a p e fr o m
'
he
T h e h is t o rv
a
.
g
a
ll c n
h e re
S out h e y
t
n
w as
l i m a t e b r ou ght on his ol d
an d as an
re s o r t e d
he
i t h h is
t
to E
,
he
Th e
n eu
i nt ol e ra bl e
the
of
n ex t
h e n his ma r v e l o u s p o w e rs s hou l d h a v e b e e n
fort h t h e i r fi n e st prod u ct
s u c c e ssi o n of h a l f a t t e m pt s an d
-
w
,
is a
h e a r t b re a k i n g
z
h o l e fa il u r e s in n e w s
-
,
I
18
I N T ROD
b
We m a y d o
A n c i e nt JI
t he
t h at
w e
a r i n er ,
,
t a k en
t he
w
.
y et
m an
w
it
t h at
,
in r e ad in g
Th e
fro m a brain of t h is ord e r
w a s
Th ou gh it s b e aut y is su ffi c i e n t
.
oe t rv
p
.
an
d
be
p o e t r y on l y it mu st
,
n o h a r m can c o m e fro m r e m e m b e rin g t h at
ho
h a s m ad e u s fee l
on d e r of t h is d r e a m
a m on g
ION
l l t o b e a r in min d
p oe m c a m e
for u s t h ou gh a s
UC T
-
s ea
t h e i n i m e n s i t i es
.
w as
the
w
the
i ldn e ss an d
a m et a ph y si c ian at h o m e
of a bst ra ct t h ou ght
,
.
3
(
6
h l
,
\
l
gs
g
p
'
7
i
m in d
b
l/ l
K
7
1
C O MM E N T
C RI I l C A L
'
‘
.
t n ea n in
p
e
o
p rt e
d ut y
T
he
d ra
o
d
m a ri n e r
’
w a
s
id
s
r
u
i
e s ce d
in
q
o
nt o n
f
ev
il
A n c i e nt M a
i
rit
p
t
o
he
.
lt v
ri m e
a re
,
as
.
w
pa
c o
o
o n
t he
f t he
s ke let o n s h i p
t ea
d bi rd
oo
,
ting
is
a n
t
he
ffe n d e r
se t
by
w
t
se
ha t
is
.
t
he
t
w
ra t h
l fish l y
he
h i m]
bu t
,
.
l ba t r os s
he
t
it h d e a t h
bv
a
l
t
is
d be as t
t n e re v
be li e f
w
h i ms e l f
hm
c
m p a n i o ns
l l is
.
i u l a r v e n g e a n c e is ty p i fi e d
o
it
ha v e
a
rt c
d ec k
h
s
ho
p ri m e
m o re d re a d fu l p un ish m e n t
a
in
p un i s h ed
t he
e
id g
a n
n
f ro m
l
o er
’
s on
s
d h is
Tho se
.
c
men
rin e r
c ru e
a n
le
ma
to
t
a s
,
Th e
.
h im
d o w n u po n
ws
w as
s a
rh a ps
o f h u m a n k ind n e s s
f t h e po l a
a c
h a ve
to
r
o
res e rv e d
in g a p a rt
t
he
fo r
fo r
he
d i c e t h r o w in g
h ic h
Li fe- i h - l k t a t h
t
-
rt h
w in s t h e re st
w
e
e
in
s
h
i
m
a
ay
fr
o
m
D
a
a
n
d
D
a
t
h
t
o f t h e c re w
T h u s fa r h e h a s s u fle red on l y p h y si ca l
w
.
'
.
t
'
'
o rt u re
not
,
but
p ra y
,
n ow
s p i rit u a l t o rt u re su c c ee d s
fo r a l w a ys a
w
19
i c k ed
w
h is pe r
.
”
He c an
c o m es
to
I
20
N T R O D UC T I O N
au s e h i s
il
e
e
w
t
H
is
ship
m
at
s
h o m h e aft e r
s
t
s
l
i
r
L
a
t
a
e
e
h
i
i
L
l
t
h
“
”
t h e m an y m e n so b e a ut ifu l
w ard s s p e a ks of l ovin gl y a s
m a k e h is h e art as d ry as d ust
-
r
,
‘
?
j
.
.
c
,
,
for h i m
a r e n ow
w
it h
e
on
lv
y e s t h at cu rs e
u s —W
ver m
goi n g soft l y u p t h e sk y
e
v en i n d e at h
e
h ed
,
w
,
t o them
Wit h
e
”
w
-
,
,
in b e aut ifu l l ight
the
Su c h is
ky
l ook s u p on
.
the
h i m sl i my
to
c l ot h e d
a re
G od s c r e at u r e s of
fl on L
the
w
e
the
t a k e ba c k
.
h e re
the
i th
w
kiii
,
.
the
bod i e s of
gs t o
,
the
V
ll lS
si n i n
—
.
spi r it u a l m e an i n g of
,
gm
i
.
t he
M a ri n e r m a y e
O
os s e s s
sh ip
v e r r e p e at e d c on f e ssi on
the
hi t
h is bod y sl e e p an d
s e n t i nt o
,
,
b e l on g e d
’
to
*
p
he
,
u SM s
'
'
s
a s t h e y p l ay
n ow
b e fit s
a s
a k in d of un d e rt on e
wise
w
hi c h
A n ge l i c sp irit s
.
d e ad c r e w
p ra y e r an d
r
,
w
re li e f
fat h e rl an d
as
b l ue
in c o mpa n y
si l e n t j oy at t h e ir a rri va l
m
.
gift of rain
the
o
t h e m oon
n
b l e ss e s t h e m for t h e i r b e au ty a n d t h e i r h app in e ss
gr e at c al m
c o me s
a
tw
h i c h b e for e h av e s e e m e d
an d l oat hso m e bu t
he
w as
“
the
y e s t hu s op e n e d by sy m pat h y
w at e r sn a k e s
an d
“
,
an d t h e r e
He s ee s
it h a st a r or
n ot sp e c tra l or stran g e bu t as if
,
.
.
.
S t t d d en l v , h o w
“
i nc
rott in g d e c k
the
rott in g c or p s e s on
n
the
i
w
h
g
I t is n ot h o w e v e r t o
,
,
I t
.
W
w lnc h i t
'
p oe m
a
be
e
x i st s
a
m ul d n i
m
got h e i
o
'
m a d e t oo m u c h
it h its gr e at p i ct u r e s of n i ght an d m orn in g o f arct i c
.
;
l
d
a n
f
o
pic s e a
t ro
s
its
it h
w
;
lc a l i l v
sa ils rust lin g
-
se to
h
t e
e
n o ugh
to
t he
re
a l i ze
Fi rs t
.
i l l us i o n
it s
.
o
fa it h
t
y
s elv
.
t he
has
sh ou ld
s
c o m m e nt
for
w
The
lea s t
t
f
o
it s
s ee
o
h at
w
d is be li e f
w
st o r y
t he
ight s
s
(
‘
l
a n
,
hea r
to
,
o er
id ge
d t ry t o
it s
c
so
un d s
“
a l ls
t
.
h at
.
h i c h c o n s t it ut e s p o e t i c
fe lt
t he
a ny att e nt i o n
h ol e a n d
w
it h
.
the
be a
ill d o
ry
t he
he
to
,
b ut
t n o re
p ri nt e d i n s ma l l
*
o f a id
l
.
'
n
t il
p o e m fo r h i m s e l f
he
t h e m ; a ft e r w a rd
he
to
a ke n
n ot
as a n
ut v
ll
to
o r int e re st
w
e
t he
it h
xh a ust i v e
ot
d ow n in
it
o
t he
n c e m o re
un d e t s t a n d i n
v i e ld
p o e m ca n
he
j
s u p pl e m e nt t h e m
to
sh ou l d re a d
s ee
t he
t
m a rgin
Th en
.
o
.
bs e r
a ft e r
,
p oe m a gai n as a
i n i t s e nt i re t y bu t
,
,
h
i
c
h
st
ud
h
as
brou
ght
y
g
w
i m i t a t e d f ro m o l d w ri t e rs di d n o t
poe m : i t w a s a dd e d i n a l a t e r e di t i o n
s
nce
xa min e it
be
ill
o
as hi nt s i n a n ind e p e nd e nt s e a rc h
w e
ow n
.
t o be t
a re
o n lv
a d d ed
T h i s g l os
pa n y
t
gl o s s
w
,
e
n ot
.
t h e m c a re fu l l y i n c on n e c t i o n
of h is
w
.
a nd
h ut
w
t he
n o t e s a nd
v e rs e
not es
st u d e nt
w a v
be gi n t o
st ud e nt ca n
t he
t ud v
,
p o e m i n t his
sid e o f
a l it t l e i nt e rva l
c om
t
,
a
t he
h at e v e r o f
v a t io n s
*
.
is m e a n in g
r e ad e r m ust a b an d o n hi m se l f
a
,
t he
y
a
p
Th e
.
.
r e ad
sh ou ld n ot
t e xt
his p e rin g k e e
d e ad t h r o at s si n g i n g
f
h i ms e l f i nt o
t o it
t he
.
\ He re
p e at
he
w
q
l
.
m a n v t i m es
p
ll
m o v e men t
H a vi n g r e a d
el
f
l
.
a
i l lin g s us pe nsi o n
o
,
o
!
T h e b e a ut y
u
t
p
.
He m u s t gi v e
w
f
me l o d ie s
'
o ri
,
.
gi n a ll y
a c
.
I N
22
Th e
M
'
s
a r i n er
j
rn_
is
T RODU C T I O N
~
m e a s u ne
l
l
a
e
l
ba
in w h i ch Th e A n c i en t
w ritt e n pr e s e nts no d i ffic u lti e s i n
r e ad in g
ple
,
.
t h e m e tri c a l e ffe cts h o w e v e r
w ill ma
a nd t h e
w hi c h t h e y a r e p rod u c e d
t e ri a l ly i n cr e as e on e s p l e asu r e i n t h e v e rs e
Th e fo l lo w i ng li n e m ay be t a k e n as t h e n orm a l o n e
fro m w hi ch a l l ot h e r t yp e s a r e vari at ions
At t e nti on
t o so m e
m e a ns by
'
of
,
,
,
’
.
'
I
s h ip I
Th e
I
w as
c
v
h e e re d
I
the ha
v
I
r
b or
l
I
c e a re
d
,
.
T h e r e is h e r e a r e gu l ar su c c e ssion of u nst r e sse d a n d
str e ss e d syl l abl e s
foot
i n wh i c h
,
e
,
the
ac h p air c onstitut in g a foot
s e c ond sy ll abl e
t he
str e ss fa l ls o n
This
.
,
_
is c a l l e d i a mbi c
po e m
a re
.
M ost
of t his sort
.
the
of
,
,
of e a c h of
the
I
the
w
h i ch oc cu r i n
I n som e cas e s
str e ss i nst e a d of fa l lin g on
foot is shift e d t o
fee t
the
h ow e ve r
,
‘
,
s e c ond sy l l ab l e of
first sy l l ab l e a s
,
in t h e
the
t he
the
first foot
-
fol l o w i ng l in e s :
I
v
We w e re t h e fi rs t t h a t
I
v I
v
l en t s ea
I n t o I t h a t si
I
cv
l
er
I
b u rs t
r
-
.
Th e
i ntrodu ct ion of t his foot
,
c
al l e d t roch ai c
d isti n ctly di ff e r e nt m ov e m e nt t o
t he
l in e;
,
the
gi v e s a
musi c
,
23
w e
a s
A gai n
s o met i m e s
,
li n e
the
s e ns e
he
t
a s
se c o n d
he
t
ll
s v
l l a b le
u ld
be
f
s v
n ot
t w
o
o
bu t
,
t
Th is fo o t
t r e ss e d
s
e
i
p
w e
t
ak
he
in
a s
.
g
f t
o
,
n o m or e
d
s o
ut h
ind
w
,
c
i me
a l led
i ll
b
it h
t
V a ri at i on s
d
l
f ro
o
f
he
,
rhy m e d
o
I
w
t
e re
o
is a dd d
In
t
h
a
s
oe
t he
Hen c e
.
,
h ur
r
w
hi c h
it
e
t
t he
or
t
ied
o
—
a
bo u t
,
f
xpr e ss e s
the
t he
.
h o rt I
v
l in e
on e
co r
.
st a n z a
he
.
i a m b a nd
on e
.
I
v
for m
.
The
firs t and t h i rd
s e c o n d a n d fou rt h o f t h re e
w o
c ase s
an
,
e
x tra s y l l a bl e
-
v
m
.
v
t hr ee foot l in e ; as
to t he
Wi
on e
o
p e st s o c cu r is ra pid
fe e t d e sc ri b e d a b o v e
f
ro c h ee s
ccur in
u n rh v m ed ,
.
bv
a n a
f
w o
id e a
a lso
.
.
w e
f t
v e ry l ight l y
n o rma l b a l lad sta n z a is of fou r lin e s
of fou r fe e t
h in d
-
,
d i s t u rb e d m o v e m e nt
w
lie
e
p
v
hi c h is mad e u p
r e spond s
le w
s
A
n
ana
p
t
e
g
;
st i
i n r e ad in g t h a n a n i a m b fo r
a na
p r o n ou n c e d
a re
a n
t
s
,
is
t
b le s
To
e
o
o
u nst r e ss e d s y l la b l e s f o l l o w e d
w o
sy l la b l e
s v l la
oo
f
,
is
.
v
m o v e m e nt o f a lin e i n w hi c h
S o m et i m e s a l l t h r e e v a ri e t i e s
f ee t
gi v e n f o o t
t h e fi rst f o t
a
I
o c cu r i n a sin gl e li n e ; a s
w
by
,
\n d t he
cu
in
ll a b l e s
h re e
1
s
d e st r o y e d
.
n u m be r
he
t
w o
,
f
u n -e a s
,
v
I
y mo
t
i on
.
‘
1 N ra o n t t e r 1 o N
24
'
M e d ia l
l i n e s ; as
'
s o m e t i m e s oc c u r i n
rh v m es
the
fou r foot
-
,
T h e ga m e
is
don e!
I
’
ve
w on
!
I
’
ve
w on ’
7
ew
som e c as e s
variously rhym e d I n
t h e vari ation is m e r e ly f o r vari e ty ; i n oth e rs
i t is int e nd e d t o re inforc e t h e t h ou ght Stan za 48 for
str e n th e ns t h e i m r e s s i o n of sus e ns e ; stan za
e xa mp l e
1 2 t h e i mpr e ssion of
s in
.
,
,
-
.
‘
,
M
,
TH E
RI M E
OF THE
PAR
T HE
T
J
Mar n
F I
/
I t
NT M AR I N E
ANCI E
RS T
! t
i
er
is an a nci e nt
q
e t h o n e of t fl
ee
Afi d
/
g r ay lf ard a nd glit t e ri ng
V t h y l on
fi
4
N w w h e 1 e f 0 e sto pp s t t h e n m e ? H
,
.
E
{7
’
e ye ,
’
II
Th e B rid e groom s d oors a re op e n e d
And I a m n e xt of k in
u es t s a r e m e t
t h e f e ast is s e t
The g
”
M ay st h e ar t h e m e rry d in
’
w
id e
e
,
,
’
.
III
He holds h i m w ith his sk in ny h and
Th e r e w a s a ship qu oth h e
H ol d o ff ! u nh and m e gray b e ard l oon !
E ftsoons h is h a nd d ropt h e
,
,
-
,
.
I V
He holds h i m
ith his gl itt e ring e ye
T h e W e dd ing G u e st stood sti l l
A nd l ist e ns l ik e a t hr ee y e ars child
T h e M arin e r h at h h is W
il l
w
-
,
’
.
2 7
,
R
.
T H E A N C I E N T MA R l N l i R
28
V
W e dd ing G u e s t sat o n a s t on e
He ca nnot c hoos e but h e a r ;
A n d thus sp ak e on th at a nc i e nt m a n
T h e bright e y e d M arin e r
The
-
,
—
.
VI
Th e
ship w a s c h e e r e d t h e h arbour c l e ar e d
M e rri ly did w e drop
B e l o w t h e k irk b e l o w t h e hi l l
B e lo w t h e l ighthous e top
,
,
,
.
VI I
su n c am e up up on t h e l e ft
O ut of t h e s e a c am e h e !
A n d h e shon e bright an d on t h e
W e nt d o w n into t h e s e a
Th e
,
,
.
VI I I
H igh e r an d high e r e v e ry d ay
Til l ov e r t h e m ast at noon
T h e W e d ding Gu e st h e r e b e at his br e ast
For h e h e ard t h e lou d bassoon
,
'
-
.
IX
T h e brid e h at h p ac e d int o t h e h al l
R e d as a ros e is s h e ;
N od din g th e ir h e ad s b e for e h er go es
T h e m e rry minstr e lsy
,
.
,
,
T H E A N C I E N T M A R I N ER
X
We d d ing G u e st h e b e at his bre a s t
Y e t h e c annot c hoos e but h e ar ;
An d thu s sp ak e on t h at an c i e n t m an
T h e brigh t e y e d M arin e r
The
-
,
.
,
-
.
A n d n o w t h e Storm B l ast c am e and
W a s tyran nou s an d strong
He stru c k w ith his o e r t a k i n g w ings
A nd c h as e d u s south along
he
-
,
’
.
.
XI I
W ith sl op ing m asts and d ipping p ro w
A s w h o pu rsu e d w it h y e l l and blo w
Stil l tre ads t h e sh ad o w of his f o e
A nd for w ard b e nds his h e ad
T h e ship d ro v e fast lou d roar e d t h e bl ast
An d south w ard a ye w e fle d
,
,
,
,
.
XIII
And n ow th e r e c am e both mist and sno w
A nd it gr e w w ond rous col d
An d i c e m ast high c am e fl oating by
A s gr e e n a s e m e ral d
-
,
,
,
.
XI V
An d
th rou gh t h e d rifts t h e sno w y c l ifts
D id s e n d a dism al sh ee n
N or sh ap e s of m e n nor b e asts w e k e n
Th e i c e w a s al l b e t w ee n
.
,
,
30
T H E A N C I EN T
T h e i ce
MA R l N E H
h e re t h e i c e w a s t h e m
T h e i c e w a s a l l arou nd :
It c ra c k e d and gro w l e d and r o ar e d a nd ho w l e d
Lik e nois e s i n a s w ou nd !
w as
,
,
XV I
A t l e ngt h did c ross an A l bat ross :
Thorou gh t h e fog it c a m e ;
A s if it had b e e n a C h rist ia n sou l
W e hail e d it i n G od s na m e
,
’
.
XV I I
It a t e t h e food it n e e r had e a t
A n d rou nd and rou n d it fl
ew
T h e i c e d id sp l it w it h a t hu nd e r fit ;
e
h
l
msma
n
st
r
d
u
s
t
hrough
h
e
e
ee
!
T
’
.
.
X\
III
A nd a good sout h w i nd sp ru ng up b e hind ;
T h e Al bat ross did fol lo w
A nd e v e r v day for food or p la y
C a m e t o t h e marin e rs 11 0 110 !
,
,
,
,
’
I n m ist or c loud on m ast or sh roud
I t p e rch e d for v e sp e rs n in e ;
Vh i l e s al l t h e n ight t hrou gh fog sm ok e
V
”
G l im m e r e d t h e w hit e m oon sh in e
,
,
-
,
-
.
w
hit
,
l
‘
A N CI
HE
E
N T M A R I N ER
3 1
XX
t
i
Th
Go d sav e th ee a nci e nt M a ri n e r !
M i
Fro m t h e fi e nds t hat p l agu e t h e e thus ! i h p i t
b l y k ll t h
“
?
k
h
l
o
o
s
t
hou
so
W v
t
W it h my c ross b o w t l p i
b d
f g d
m
I sh ot t h e A l batross
e
,
a r n er
n
,
’
a n c cn
os
a
l
”
ir
.
o us
ye
-
o
e
o
en
.
oo
PAR
T T HE
S E CO N D
X XI
Th e ~
S u n n o w ros e upon t h e right
O ut of t h e s e a c am e h e
Stil l hid i n mist and o n t h e l e ft
W e nt do w n i nto t h e s e a
,
,
.
XXII
An d t h e good south w ind sti l l bl e w be hind
B ut no s w ee t bird did fol l o w
N or any d ay for food or p l ay
C am e to t h e m ari n e rs hol lo !
,
,
,
’
XXII I
And I h ad d on e a h e l lish t hing
A n d it w ou l d w or k e m w oe :
For al l av e rr e d I h ad k i l l e d t h e bird
T h at m ad e t h e br ee z e to b lo w
A h w r e t c h ! sai d t h e y
t h e bird t o sla v
T h a t m ad e t h e br ee ze to bl o w !
’
,
.
‘
’
‘
,
,
’
XXIV
N or di m n or r e d l i k e G od s o w n h e ad
T h e gl oriou s Su n u prist :
Th e n a l l av e rr e d I h ad k il l e d t h e bird
Th at brou ght t h e fog an d mist
T w as right sai d t h e y su c h birds t o s l a y
Th at bring t h e fog an d mist
’
,
,
.
,
.
‘
’
,
,
’
.
.
T H E A N C I E N T M A R I N ER
24
XXX
T h e v e r v d e e p d id r o t : O C hris t !
T h at e v e r this shou ld b e !
Y e a sli my t h ings d id c ra w l w it h
U pon t h e sl imy s e a
,
X XX I
About abou t i n r e e l a n d rout
T h e d e ath fi r e s d a nc e d at nigh t ;
T h e w at e r l ik e a w it ch s oils
B urnt gr e e n and b lu e and w hit e
,
,
—
’
,
,
,
,
S pi i
A
it h
fo l l e d
t h em :
f th i
v i i b le i
h a bi t t
t h i pl
a
d
ow
on e
e
o
a
a
s
a n
s
of
s
a n et
XXXII
A n d som e i n d r e ams assur e d w e r e
O f t h e sp irit t h at p l agu e d us so
N 1 n e fathom d ee p h e h ad foll o w e d u s
From t h e l and of m 1 st and s n o w
d the
e i g h m t h le
d J J ep h u
gl a
M h
l P tl u
m y b
l t e d T h ey
t
p h t
m
l i m t e e l em t w u h u t
e
d t he e
.
,
n ei t h er d e
a r t ed s o ul s n o r a n
pl
ve
a t ome
Co n s t a
r y n um
e
.
n
c on c
e s
inO
a n
o
w
rn n
1e
,
a e
o
e
se
s,
ew
a rn e
a
os
c on s u
e
s. a n
a re
.
o
ro u s , a n
r
I S no c
a
or
o
en
on e or
.
XXXIII
A n d e v e ry ton gu e throu gh utt e r d rou ght
W a s w ith e r e d at t h e root ;
W e cou l d not sp e ak no m or e t h an if
W e h ad b e e n ch oked w ith soot
,
8
or
,
.
Ah ! w e l l a d ay ! w h at e vi l l ooks
H ad I from ol d and you ng !
I nst e ad of t h e c ross t h e A lbatross
Abou t m v n e c k w a s hu n g
-
-
,
.
,
T H IRD
THE
PA R T
XXXV
Th e r e p asse d a w e ary ti m e E ach th ro at
W a s p arc h e d and gl a z e d e ac h e ye
A w e ary ti m e ! a w e ary ti m e !
Ho w gl a z e d e ac h w e ary e ye !
W h e n l ookin g w e st w ard I b e h e l d
A som et h ing i n t h e s k v
.
,
.
,
.
X X XVI
At fi rst it s ee m e d a littl e sp e c k
A nd th e n it s ee m e d a mist :
I t m ov e d an d mov e d and took
A c e rtai n sh a p e I w ist
,
,
,
.
,
X X XVI I
A sp e c k a mist a sh a p e I w ist !
An d stil l it n e ar e d and n e ar e d
A s if i t d odg e d a w at e r sp rit e
It p lu n ge d and t ac k e d a n d v e e r e d
,
,
—
,
.
A t it s
X X XVI I I
W ith th roat s u nsl ak e d w ith bl ac k l ip s b ak e d
W e cou l d n or l au gh n or w ail ;
Th rou gh u tt e r d rou ght al l du mb w e stood !
I bit my arm I su c k e d t h e bl ood
An d or l e d A sa i l ! a sa 1 l !
,
,
,
,
35
fii f fé
h
1
5
322 3 23
hzf zg
th
ha s ?
b
d f
m
,
h
e a,
n
a ns
a
r
s o
on
ai m
r
-
eh
T H E A NCI E N T
36
MA R I
NER
XXXIX
Wi t h throats u nsl ak e d w ith bl a c k l ips bak e d
Agap e th e y h e ard m e c al l
G ram e rcy ! th e y for j oy d id grin
A nd al l at on c e th e ir br e ath d r e w in
A s th e y w e r e d ri nk ing al l
,
A
fla s
h
of
.
.
,
.
XL
S ee !
s ee
!
( I cri e d ) s h e t a c ks no mor e !
H ith e r t o w ork u s w e al ;
W ithout a br ee z e w ithout a t i d e
S h e st e ad i e s w ith upright k ee l !
,
.
,
X LI
al l a fla m e
T h e d a y w a s w e l l nigh d on e !
A l most u p on t h e w e st e rn w av e
R e st e d t h e broad bright Su n ;
W h e n t h at stran ge sh ap e d rov e su d d e n l y
B e t w ixt u s and t h e Su n
Th e
we
st e rn
w
av e
w as
—
,
-
.
XLII
A nd straight t h e Su n w a s fle c k e d w it h b a rs
M
e
e
e
!
H
a
v
n
s
oth
r
s
n
d
u
s
grac
e
e
)
(
As if th rou gh a du ng e on grat e h e p e e r e d
W ith broad and burning fac e
’
-
,
.
X LI I I
A las ! (th ou ght I and my h e art b e at l oud )
Ho w fast s h e n e ars an d n e ars !
Ar e t hos e h er sai ls th at gl an c e i n t h e Su n
L ik e r e stl e ss gos s a m ere s ?
,
,
,
l
A N C I E N T M AR I N E R
HE
X LI V
t hos e h er ribs throu gh w hi ch t h e
?
r
D id p e e r as throu gh a g a t e
?
e
r
is
th
at
om
an
al
l
h
cr
e
w
W
\nd
I s t h at a D e ath ? and a r e th e r e t w o ?
I s D e ath t h at W om an s m at e ?
A re
.
,
’
X LV
He r l i p s w e re re d h e r l ooks w e r e fr
He r l oc ks w e r e y e l l o w as gol d
He r skin w a s as w h it e as l e prosy
,
L ik e Ye s s el
h k e c r ew !
ee ,
,
N ight m ar e L if e i a D e ath w a s s h e
W h o thi c ks m a n s bl ood w ith c ol d
Th e
-
-
-
,
’
.
X LV I
Th e
n ak e d hu l k al on gsid e c am e
An d t h e t w ai n w e r e c asting d ic e ;
T h e gam e is d on e ! I v e w o n ! I v e w o n !
Q uoth s h e and w hist l e s th ri c e
,
’
’
,
.
X LVI I
Th e
Su n s ri m di p s ; t h e st ars rush out
At on e strid e co m e s t h e d ar k ;
W ith far h e ard w his p e r o e r t h e s e a
O ff shot t h e sp e ctr e b ark
’
’
-
,
,
-
.
’
,
SS
T H E A N C I E N T M A R I N ER
X LV I I I
W e l ist e n e d a nd look e d sid e w ays u p !
F e ar at m y h e art as at a cup
M y l ife blood s e e m e d t o sip !
T h e st ars w e r e di m and th i c k t h e night
T h e st ee rsma n s fac e by his l a mp g
le a m et
,
-
,
,
’
From t h e sails t h e d e w d id drip
Ti l l c l om b abo v e t h e e ast e rn bar
T h e horn e d M oon w it h o n e bright sta r
\Vi t h i n t h e n e t h e r t i p
,
.
X LI X
On e aft e r o n e b y t h e st ar dogg e d M oon
Too qu i c k for groa n or sigh
E ac h tu rn e d his fa c e w it h a gh a s t l v p an g
An d cu rs e d m e w it h his e ye
-
,
,
.
L
Fou r t i m e s fi ft y l i v i n g m en
(An d I h e ard nor sigh n or groan )
W it h h e avy t hu mp a lif e l e ss lu m p
Th e y dropp e d d o w n o n e by on e
,
,
,
.
LI
T h e sou l s did fro m th e ir bod i e s fl
v
Th e y fl e d t o bliss or w o e !
A nd e v e ry sou l it p ass e d m e by
”
Li k e t h e w h i z z of m y c ross b o w !
,
,
-
,
PA R
T T HE
F
O UR T H
LI I
I f e a r t h ee anci e n t M ari n e r !
I f e ar t h y sk inny h and !
An d t hou a rt lon g and l a n k
A s i s t h e ribb e d s e a s a nd
,
ro w n
,
-
.
LI I I
I f e ar t h e e and t hy gl itt e rin g e ye
A n d thy ski nny h and so br o w n
F e ar n ot f e ar not th ou W e d d ing G u e s t !
This body d ropt n ot d o w n
,
,
.
-
,
,
.
LI V
A l on e al on e al l al l al on e
A l on e on a w id e w id e s e a !
An d n e v e r a saint t ook pi t y
M y sou l i n agony
,
,
,
.
on
.
LV
m any m e n so b e aut ifu l !
A nd t h e y al l d e ad d id l i e :
A nd a th ousan d th ou san d sl i my
Liv e d on ; and so d id I
Th e
,
.
39
T HE
A N CI
E
NT
MARI
NE R
LV I
I look e d u p o n t h e rott in g s e a
A n d dr e w my e y e s a w ay ;
I l oo k e d u p o n t h e rottin g d e c k
An d t h e r e t h e d e ad m e n l ay
,
,
.
LVI I
I l oo k e d to H e av e n a nd tri e d to p ray ;
B ut or e v e r a p ray e r h a d gusht
A w i c k e d w h isp e r c am e an d mad e
My h e art as d r y as d ust
,
,
,
.
.
LV I I I
I cl os e d m y l ids a n d k e p t t h e m c l os e
A n d t h e b al ls l i k e p u l s e s b e at
For t h e sky an d t h e s e a an d t h e s e a and t h e s k v
L a y l i k e a l oa d on m y w e ary e ye
A n d t h e d e ad w e r e at my f ee t
,
,
'
,
,
.
Th e
col d s w e at m e lte d fro m t h e ir li mbs
N or rot n or r ee k d i d th e y
T h e l oo k w ith w hi ch t h e y l ook e d on m e
H ad n e v e r p ass e d a w ay
,
.
LX
An
’
or p h a n s cu rs e w ou l d drag t o H e l l
A spirit fro m on h igh ;
Bu t oh ! m or e h orribl e t h a n t h at
I s a cu rs e i n a d e a d m an s e ve !
S e v e n d ays s e v e n nights I s a w t hat cu rs e
A n d ye t I cou l d n ot d i e
’
,
,
.
T H E A N C I EN T M A R I N E R
O h a pp y l iving things ! n o tongu e
Th e ir b e au ty migh t d e cl ar e :
A spring o f l o v e gush e d from my h e art
And I bl e ss e d t h e m u n a w ar e !
S u r e my kind saint t ook pit y on m e
A nd I bl e ss e d t h e m u n a w ar e
,
.
LXV I
T h e s e l fsa m e m om e nt I cou l d p ray ;
And fro m my n e ck so fr ee
T h e A lb atross f e l l off a nd san k
L ik e l e ad into t h e s e a
,
.
.
,
PAR
T T HE
F
IF T H
LX V I I
O h sl ee p ! it is a ge n t l e t h ing
B e l ov e d fro m pol e t o pol e !
To M ary Q u ee n t h e p rais e be giv e n !
S h e s e nt t h e g e ntl e sl ee p from H e a v e n
Th at slid i nto m v s o u l
,
,
.
LXV I I I
T h e sil ly bu c k e ts on t h e d e c k
Th at h ad so l ong r e mai n e d
I d r e a mt th at th e y w e r e fi l l e d w ith
An d w h e n I a w ok e it rai n e d
,
.
,
LX I X
M y l ips w e r e w e t my t hroat w a s c old
M y garm e nts al l w e r e d an k ;
S u r e I had d ru n k e n i n my d r e ams
A n d stil l my body d ra n k
,
,
.
LX X
I m ov ed and cou l d n ot f ee l my l imbs
I w a s so l ight al most
I th ou ght th at I h ad di e d in sl e e p
A nd w a s a bl e ss e d gh ost
,
—
.
T H E A N C I EN T M A R I N ER
44
LX X I
A nd soon I h e a rd a roarin g w i nd :
It did not com e an e ar ;
B ut w ith its sou nd it sho o k t h e s ails
That w e r e so t hin and s c r c
.
.
.
LX X I I
T h e u pp e r air burst i nto l if e !
A n d a hu nd r e d fi re fla gs s h e e n
T o and fro th e y w e r e hu rri e d about ;
A n d t o and fro and in and out
T h e w a n st ars d an c e d b e t w e e n
-
.
,
.
LXX I I I
A n d t h e comin g w i nd d id roar mor e loud
A n d t h e sails did sigh li k e s e d ge ;
A n d t h e rain p ou r e d d o w n from on e bl ac k c l ou d
T h e M oon w a s at its e d g e
.
.
LX X IV
T h e thi c k bl ac k c l ou d w a s cl e ft a nd s t i l l
T h e M oon w a s at its sid e :
Lik e w at e rs sh ot from som e h igh crag
T h e l ight ning f e l l w ith n e v e r a j ag
A riv e r st ee p and w id e
‘
,
.
,
.
LX XV
T h e l ou d w in d n e v e r r e ac h e d t h e shi p
Y e t n ow t h e ship mov e d on !
B e n e ath t h e l ight ning and t h e M oon
T h e d e ad m en g a v e a groan
.
,
T H E A N C I EN T M A R I N ER
LX XV I
Th ey groan e d th e y s t irr e d t h e y al l upros e
N or S p ak e n or m ov e d t h e i r e v e s
I t h ad b ee n strang e e v e n i n a d r e am
To h av e s ee n t hos e d e ad m e n r i s e
,
,
,
‘
,
,
,
.
LX XVI I
T h e h e l msman st e e r e d t h e ship m ov e d 0 1 1
Y e t n e v e r a br ee ze u p bl e w ;
T h e m ari n e rs al l gan w ork t h e rop e s
Wh e r e th e y w e r e w ont t o d o ;
Th e y rais e d th e ir l imbs l ik e lif e l e ss tools
W e w e r e a gh astl y c r e w
°
,
—
’
,
.
LX XVI I I
T h e body of m y broth e r s son
Stood by m e k n ee t o k n ee :
T h e bod y and I pu l l e d at o n e rop e
”
B ut h e sai d n au ght t o m e
’
,
,
.
‘
LX X I X
”
I f e ar th e e anci e nt M ari n e r !
“
B e c al m t hou W e d din g G u e st !
T w as not t hos e sou ls t h at fl e d i n p ain
Whi ch to t h e ir c ors e s c am e again
B ut a tr 0 0 p of sp irits bl e st
,
-
,
’
,
,
LX X X
For w h e n it d a w n e d th e y d ro p p e d th e ir arms
And c lust e r e d rou n d t h e m ast ;
S w e e t sou nds ros e slo w l y th rou gh th e ir m on t h s
A nd from th e ir bodi e s pass e d
—
,
.
40
THE
A N C I E N T M A R I N ER
LX XX I
A r o u nd a r o u nd fl e w e a c h s w e e t sou nd
T h e n d art e d t o t h e S u n ;
Sl o w l y t h e soun ds cam e bac k again
N o w m ix e d n o w o n e by o n e
.
,
,
,
,
.
LX X X I I
Som e tim e s a d ropp ing fr o m t h e s k y
I h e a rd t h e s k y l ark sing ;
Som e tim e s al l litt l e birds t hat a r e
Ho w t h e y s e e m e d t o fil l t h e s e a and a ir
W i t h t h e ir s w e e t j argoning !
-
—
,
LXX X I I I
A nd n o w t w as l ik e al l inst ru m e nt s
N o w lik e a l on e ly fl ut e ;
A nd n o w it is a n ang e l s son g
Th at m ak e s t h e h e av e ns b e mut e
’
,
’
.
LXX X I V
It c e as e d ; ye t st il l t h e sails mad e on
A p l e asa nt nois e t i l l noon
A nois e lik e of a hidd e n brook
I n t h e l e afy m ont h of Ju n e
That t o t h e sl e e p ing w oods a l l night
Sing et h a qu i e t tu n e
,
,
.
LX X XV
Til l noo n w e qu i e t l y sail e d on
Y e t n e v e r a br e e z e d i d br e at h e
Slo w ly a nd s m oo t h l v w e nt t h e ship
M o v e d o n w ard from b e n e ath
.
,
T H E A N C I E N T M A R I NE !
U nd e r t h e k ee l n in e fath o m d ee p
F rom t h e l a nd of m is t a n d s n o w
T h e spiri t sl id : and i t w a s h e
T h a t m ad e t h e s h ip to go
T h e sails at no o n l e f t o ff t h e ir t u n e
A nd t h e ship stood st il l als o
,
.
.
LX X XV I I
T h e Su n right u p abov e t h e m ast
H ad fix e d h e r to t h e oc e an :
But i n a minut e s h e gan stir
W ith a short u n e asy motion
B ac k w ards and f or w ards h al f h e r l e ngth
W ith a short u n e asy mot ion
,
’
.
LX X XVI I I
Th e n lik e a p a w ing hors e l e t go
S h e m ad e a su d d e n bou nd ;
It fl u ng t h e b lood i nto my h e ad
And I fe l l d o w n i n a s w ou nd
,
,
.
LX X X I X
How long i n th at sam e fit I l ay
I h av e not to d e c l ar e ;
B u t ere m y l ivi ng l if e r e tu rn e d
I h e ard and i n my soul d isc e rn e d
T w o voic e s in t h e ai r
,
,
.
T H E A N C I EN T
‘
Is
’
t his t h e m a n
By h i m w h o d i e d o n cross
W it h his c ru e l bo w h e l aid fu l l l o w
T h e harm l e ss A l b a t r o ss
it h
e?
qu ot h
M A R I N ER
on e
‘
.
I
s
?
,
.
.
Th e
spirit w h o h id e t h by hi ms e l f
I n t h e l and of mist and sno w
He l ov e d t h e bird t hat l ov e d t h e ma n
W h o shot h im w it h his bo w
,
’
.
XCI I
T h e ot h e r w a s a soft e r voic e
As soft as h on e y d e w
Q u ot h h e T h e ma n h ath p e nan c e don e
A nd p e n a nc e mor e w i l l d o
,
—
‘
’
.
T HE
A NC I
E N
T
M ARI NER
X C VI I
Fly brot h e r fl y! mor e high mor e h i gh !
O r w e sha l l b e b e lat e d
For sl o w and sl o w t hat s h ip w i l l go
W h e n t h e M a rin e r s t ra n c e is abat e d
,
,
,
.
’
’
.
XCVI I I
I w ok e and w e w e r e sail ing 0 11
A s i n a g e nt l e w e at h e r
T w as night c a l m night t h e M oo n
T h e d e ad m e n st ood t og e th e r
,
’
,
,
w as
.
XCIX
A ll stoo d t og e th e r on t h e d e c k
For a c h a rn e I du ng e on fitt e r :
A l l fix e d on m e th e ir stony e y e s
T ha t i n t h e M oon d id glitt e r
.
-
.
C
p ang t h e c m s e w ith w hic h t h e y d i ed )
Ha d n e v e i p asse d a w ay
I cou ld not d ra w my ey e s from th e irs
N or tu rn t h e m u p t o pray
The
,
,
.
.
CI
And n o w t his s p e l l w a s s n a p t : on c e more
I vi e w e d t h e O c e a n gr ee n
A n d l ook e d far forth yet l itt l e s a w
O f w hat had e ls e b e e n s e e n
,
,
T HE
A NC I E N I
'
‘
M ARINER
7
011
Lik e o n e th at on a l on e som e road
D ot h w al k in f e a r and d r e ad
A nd h avi ng on c e tu rn e d rou nd w al ks on
A nd t u rns 11 0 m or e h is h e ad ;
B e caus e h e k n o w s a frightfu l fi e nd
D ot h cl os e b e h in d hi m tr e ad
,
,
.
CI I I
Bu t soon th e r e br e ath e d a w i n d
N or sou nd n or m otion m ad e
I t s pat h w a s n ot u pon t h e s e a
I n rippl e or i n shad e
,
.
CI V
It rais e d my h ai r it fann e d my ch ee k
Lik e a m e ad o w gal e of spr i n g
I t mi ngl e d stran ge l y w ith my f e ars
Y e t it f e l t li k e a w e l comi ng
,
-
,
.
CV
S w iftl y s w iftly fle w t h e ship
Y e t s h e sai l e d soft ly too
S w ee t ly s w ee t ly bl e w t h e br ee z e
O n m e al on e it b l e w
,
,
.
CV I
O h ! d r e a m of j oy ! is this i nd e e d
T h e l ight h ou s e top I s ee ?
Is th is t h e h il l ? is this t h e k irk ?
Is th is mi n e o w n c ou nt r ee ?
-
/
5 1
L
T HE A N C I EN T
r
M AR I N ER
C VI I
\Ve
‘
d rift e d o e r t h e h arbou r ba r
And I w it h sobs d id p ray
O le t m e b e a w ak e my G od !
O r le t m e sl e e p al w ay
’
-
,
,
’
.
CVI I I
T h e h arbou r bay w a s c l e ar as glass
So smooth ly it w a s str e w n !
And on t h e b ay t h e moonl ight la v
A nd t h e sh ad o w of t h e M oon
-
,
.
CI X
The
roc k sh on e bright t h e kirk n o l e ss
Th at stands abov e t h e roc k :
T h e moon l ight st ee p e d i n sil e nt n e ss
T h e st e ady w e ath e rco c k
,
.
.
CX
And t h e b ay w a s w hit e w ith sil e nt l ight
Til l rising from t h e sam e
Fu l l many sh ap e s th at sh ado w s w e r e
I n cri mson colou rs c a m e
,
,
,
.
CXI
A l itt l e dista n c e fro m t h e p ro w
Those cri mso n sh ado w s w e r e
I turn e d my e y e s upon t h e d e c k
O h C h rist ! w hat s a w I t h e r e !
,
.
T H E A N C I EN T M A R I N ER
CX I I
E a ch cors e l ay fl at l if e l e ss and
And by t h e h oly rood !
A ma n al l light a s e raph man
O n e v e ry c ors e th e r e stood
,
,
-
,
,
.
CX I I I
This s e ra p h band e a ch w a v e d his
I t w a s a h e av e nl y sight !
Th e y stood as signal s to t h e l and
E ach on e a lov e ly l ight ;
-
,
CX I V
This s e rap h ba n d e a c h w av e d h i s h and ;
N o voi c e did t h e y i mp art
N o voi c e ; bu t oh ! t h e sil e nc e san k
Lik e music o n m y h e art
-
,
.
C XV
Bu t soon I h e ard t h e d ash of oars
I h e ard t h e P il ot s c h ee r ;
M y h e ad w a s tu rn e d p e rforc e a w a y
And I s a w a boat app e ar
,
’
,
.
C XVI
T h e P i l ot and t h e P il ot s boy
I h e a rd th e m co mi ng fast
D e ar L ord i n H e a v e n ! it w a s a j oy
T h e d e ad m e n c ou l d not bl ast
’
,
,
.
T H E A N C I EN T
\I AI t I NE R
.
C X VI I
I
a t hird I h e ard his voic e
I t is t h e H e rmi t good !
He sing e t h l ou d h i s god ly hym ns
Th at h e m ak es in t h e w ood
H e l l sh ri e v e my sou l h e l l w ash a w a y
T h e A l batross s bl ood
sa w
—
.
’
’
,
’
.
PA R
T T HE
S E V EN
TH
CXV I I I
This H e rmit good l iv e s i n th at w ood
W hic h sl op e s d o w n to t h e s e a :
Ho w l ou d ly his s w e e t voi c e h e r e a rs !
He lov e s to t al k w ith m a r i n e r es
Th at co m e from a far c ou nt r e e
.
CX I X
He k n ee ls at morn and n oon and
He h at h a cu sh ion p lu mp
I t is t h e m oss th at w h ol ly h id e s
T h e rott e d old oa k stu mp
,
-
.
C XX
sk i ff boat n e ar e d : I h e ard th e m
W h y this is strang e I tro w !
Wh e r e a r e t h os e l ights so m any an d
Th at sign al m ad e bu t n o w ?
Th e
-
‘
,
’
CX X I
Strange by my faith ! t h e H e rmit s a id
A n d th e y ans w e r e d n ot ou r ch e e r !
T h e p l ank s l ook w arp e d ! and s e e thos e sa i ls
Ho w thi n th e y a r e an d s e r e !
I n e v e r s a w au ght l ik e to th e m
U n l e ss p e rch an c e it w e r e
’
,
‘
,
55
i
T h e He rm t
oo d
of t h e
'
'
TlI E
)ti
A N C I E N T M A R I N ER
CX X I I
B ro w n sk e l e t o n s of l e a v e s t h a t l ag
M y f o r e st brook a long ;
W h e n t h e i v y t e d is h e a vy w it h s n o
And t h e o w l e t w h oops t o t h e w ol f I
That e at s t h e s h e w olf s vou n g
-
-
'
-
’
’
.
‘
‘
CX X I I I
D e ar Lord ! it h at h a fi e nd ish l ook
(T h e P i lot m ad e r e p ly )
I a m a f e ar e d
P ush on p ush on !
S aid t h e H e rmi t ch ee ri l y
’
-
’
‘
,
.
CX X I V
T h e boat c a m e c l os e r t o t h e ship
Bu t I nor S p a k e n or stirr e d ;
T h e boat c am e c l os e b e n e ath t h e sh
A n d straigh t a sou nd w a s h e ard
,
.
CX XV
U nd e r t h e w at e r it ru mbl e d on
Stil l l ou d e r and mor e d r e ad
It r e ac h e d t h e sh ip it S p l it t h e bay
T h e ship w e nt d o w n l ik e l e ad
,
.
CX XVI
Stu nn ed by t h at l ou d an d d r e ad fu l
W hi c h sk y and oc e an smot e
L i k e o n e th at h at h b e e n s e v e n days
M y bod y l ay afl oat ;
But s w ift a s d r e a ms mys e l f I fou n d
Wit hin t h e P ilot s boat
,
,
’
.
T H E A N C I EN T
\l
.
R I N ER
C XX X I I
Forth w it h t his fra m e of min e w a s w r e n c h e c
W it h a w ofu l ago n y
W h ich forc e d m e t o b e gi n n i v tal e ;
An d t h e n it l e ft m e fr e e
,
.
.
“
XX X I I I
Sinc e th e n at a n u n c e rt a in h ou r
Th at agony r e t urn s ;
An d ti l l my gh a s t l v t a l e is tol d
This h e art w ithi n m e bu rns
(
,
,
,
.
CX X X IV
I p a ss l ik e n ight from l an d to l and ;
I h av e stran g e p o w e r of sp e e ch ;
Th at mo m e nt th at his fac e I s ee
I k no w t h e m an t h at mu st h e ar m e
To h im my t al e I t e ach
,
,
,
.
CX X XV
Wh at l ou d u p roar bu rst s from th at d oor !
T h e W e dd i ng G u e st s a r e th e r e
B u t i n t h e gard e n b o w e r t h e brid e
A nd brid e maids sin gin g a re ;
A n d h ark t h e litt l e Ve sp e r b e l l
W hi c h bid d e th m e t o pray e r !
-
-
-
,
CXX XV I
O W e d d i n g Gu e st ! this sou l h ath b e e n
A l on e 0 11 a w id e zi i d e s e a :
So l on e l y t w as th at G od h imse lf
S ca rc e s ee m e d t h e r e to b e
-
’
,
.
I
‘
HE
A N C I E N T M A R I N ER
CX X XV I I
the
O s w e e t e r t han
ge fe ast
Tis s w ee t e r far t o m e
To w al k toge th e r t o t h e ki rk
W it h a g o od ly c o mp a n y !
i i i a rri a
-
,
’
.
C XX XV I I I
To w al k toge t h e r t o t h e kirk
A nd al l toge t he r p ray
W hil e e ac h to h is gr e at Fat h e r b e n d s
O ld m e n and bab e s and lo vi ng fri e nds
And you ths a n d maid e ns gay !
,
,
,
,
,
CXX X I X
F ar e w e l l far e w e l l ! bu t this I t e l l
To th ee thou W ed d ing G u es t !
He pray e th w e l l w h o lo v e th w e l l
B oth m a n a nd bird and b e ast
,
-
,
,
.
He pray e th b e st
ho
lo v e th b e st
A ll things both gr e at and sma l l ;
For t h e d e ar G od w h o l ov e th us
”
He m ad e a nd lo v e t h a l l
,
w
,
.
CXLI
T h e M ari n e r w hos e e ve is bright
W hos e b e ard w it h a ge is hoar
I s gon e : and n o w t h e We dd ing Gu e st
Tu rn e d fro m t h e brid e groo m s d oor
,
,
,
-
’
.
,
T H E A N C I E N T M A R I N ER
(i l l
C X LI I
He
nt lik e o n e t h a t h ath b e e n stu nn e d
A nd is o f s e ns e forlorn :
A sad d e r a n d a w is e r m an
He ros e t h e morro w morn
w e
,
.
.
NOT E
S
A s i n t h e o ld b a ll a d
Pa g e 2 7 s t a n z a I
t h e s pe a k e r i s
i n di c a t e d b u t s u gg e s t e d
Pa g e 2 7 s ta n I I I
T h i s a n d s ta n z a s V I I I a n d I X s e t
M a r i n e r s ta l e s t r on g l y i n c on t ra s t w i t h t h e w e ddi n g f e a s t
s i m i l a r u s e o f c on t ra s t s e e K e a t s s E ve
a
f S t A gn es
s
—
.
,
,
n ot
.
,
—
.
.
,
’
-
.
’
o
.
the
F
or
.
W h a t d o e s t h e a b r u p tn e s s o f t h e o p e n
P a g e 2 7 s ta n I I I
”
“
T h e re w a s a s h i p s h o w o f t h e M a r i n e r s s t a te o f m i n d ?
i g
n o t i c e t h e r a p idi t y
a n d t h ro ug h o u t
1 1 1 t h e s t a n z a s t h a t f o ll o w
w o rd
w i t h w h i c h e v e n t f o l l o w s e v e n t a n d p i c t u re p i c t u r e ; n o t a
”
“
E fts oo n s m e a n s i m m e di a te l y
i s w a s te d
'
—
.
.
,
’
n
,
,
,
.
.
ta n VI I V I I I A p o e t i c a l w a y o f s a yi n g t h a t
u n t i l i t r e a c h e d t h e e qu a to r
s a i l e d s o ut h
th e
”
“
a d m i ra b l y
s ug e s t s
Pa g e 2 8 s t a n I X
N o ddi n g
t he
g
ue n ce o f t h e m u s i c
con t a gi o u s i n fl
Pa g e
s h ip
28
,
—
s
.
.
,
.
—
.
,
.
.
is
Pa g e 2 9
e c h oe d i n
,
s
ta n
the
XI I
.
l
c os e r
P a g e 2 9 s ta n
i c e be rgs
of t h e
m is t
,
—
.
Th e
c ro w
“
.
di n g
“
XI V ,
.
D r i ft s
sw
”
i f tn e s s
of
C li ft s
t he
'
—
.
h e re
p e rs i s te n c e
r h ym e s
a n
d
of
p u rs ui t
.
C li ff s ,
f
i n g w a ll s
d r i v i n g o r d r i ft i n g
t he
to
re e r s
t ow e r
.
“
S w ou n d
S w oon
Pa g e 3 0 s ta n X V
N ot i c e h ow
l a s t l i n e o f t h e s ta n z a m a k e s s udd e n l y re m o t e a n d g h os tl y
r e a l i s t i c n o i s e s m e n t i o n e d i n t h e p re c e di n g l i n e
.
,
—
.
,
.
t he
t he
.
“
V e s p e rs n i n e
V e s pe rs t h e t w ilig h t
h o u r of p ra ye r i n t h e Ca t h ol i c C h u r c h m a y be u s e d i n a ge n e ra l
”
“
”
s en s e
v e s p e r s n i n e m e a n i n g m e re l y n i n e da ys ; o r i n a m o r e
d e fi n i t e s e n s e s h o w i n g t h a t t h e b i r d a f t e r s p o r t i n g a b ou t t h e
h i p du ri n g t h e d a v c a m e a t t w ili g h t t o roos t 0 11 t h e m a s t
Pa ge
3 0,
s
ta n
.
XI X ,
”
.
—
,
,
,
,
,
,
s
.
61
N O T ES
t i ll
XX T h e c h a n g e w h i c h c o m e s o v e r t h e M a r
c ri m e
i s s ugg e s te d b
fa c e a t t h e re c ll e c t i n o f h i
ner
N o t i c e t h a t s ugg e
l c a re r
t h e f ig h t e n e d e x l a m t i o n o f h i
”
of
s
i n pla c e o f p la i
t hi
rt
i s e m p l ye d t h ro u gh o u t
ti n
t a te m e n t
Pa
ge
3 1,
s
ta
—
n
.
.
’
c
r
s
“
‘
s
a
i
.
o
o
s
o
s
o
o
s
,
.
Pa g e 3 2
n o r t h w a rd
,
s
ta
n
XXI
.
U p on
,
the
r
ight
—
.
T h e s h ip
h a s t u rn t
.
Pa g e 3 2 s ta n XX I V
T h en
“
e m p h a s i z e kill e d o r bi rd a s
A l l a v e rr e d
T h e m ea n i n g i s
do
b r o u gh t t h e f o g e t c
“
.
,
,
a
,
.
a
t he
'
“
ll
t
v e rre d
m e t re
hat
et c
,
—
.
D
o
n<
e p t s yo u 1
b i r d I kil le d h a
t he
t m
”
.
.
Pa g e 3 3 s t a n
e m p h a s i z e d by
,
is
Pa g e
D ry
s i ze ,
a
_
i r,
n ot
XXV The
t h e p o w e r fu l
—
.
—
.
.
,
of
,
a
p p a ri t i c
is
si
n
fi
c
i
a
g
.
t he
be
t he
”
“
T h e s i ze of
X XV I I
s ta n
33
r a r i fi e d b y h e a t
a ll o w s o b j e c t s t o
e n l a rg e d b y r e f ra c t i on
s un
s
ee n
in
n
t h ei r
i
ro
p p
.
Pa g e 3 6 s ta n X XX I X
di t o rte d by t h i r t
c les
,
,
udd e n n e s s
w ord
b u rs t
s
.
s
s
“
,
G ri n
—
.
S ug
g e s ts t h e
d ra w n
.
D r o v e i s v e r y g a p h i c a n d t ru e
A s t h e b o a t m o v e d a l o n g t h e b l a n k h o r i z o n i t s s w if t n e s s w
b u t w h e n m e a s u r e d a g a i n s t t h e s ta t i o n a r y
n o t be
n ot i ced
i t w o u l d b e c o m e s u dd e n l y a pp a r e n t
o f t h e s un
Pa g e 3 7 s t a n
XL I V T h e f ol l o w i n g s ta n z a d e s c n
“
w om a n s
m a te
De a t h w a s o m i t te d a f t e r t h e
t he
e di t i on
Pa g e
36
,
s
ta
n
XLI
.
m
—
“
r
.
,
.
.
—
.
.
,
”
’
,
,
Hi s b o n e s
e r e b l a c k w i t h m a n y a c ra c k
A l l ba r e a n d b l a c k I w ee n ;
Je t b l a c k a n d b a re s a v e w h e r e w i t h r u s t
O f m o u l d y d a m p a n d c h a rn e l c ru s t
T h e y re p a t c h e d w i t h p u rp l e a n d gree n
w
,
,
,
’
.
Ca n yo u
Pa g e
a re
the
3 7,
t
an
s ee
s
ta
n
rO p i c s :
.
e
fo r t h e
XLVI I
(G l os s )
y
r a s on
t he
s
udd e n
.
i i
o m s s on
—
Th e
c om i n
g
on
“
?
co
u rt s
of
a
of
t
ro
the
p i ca l
'
i
N t HE S
63
gi v e n i n t w o p h ra e u n fo rg etta b l y
h e v a n i s h i n g k ee l i n c re a s e s t h e s e n e o f
s
s
The
.
t ro
s
Pa g e
L
T h u p lu p
e v e n v ulg a r
c o m m on p l a c e
h i s pe r
s t il l n e s s
of
W
pi ca l
.
N ot i c e t h e f e a l e s u s e
w o r d s fo
f t h m os t
p oe t i c e n d
L\ I I l
Pa g e 40 t a
l h e l o g d a w n t h i d li e gi v e s a n
w h i c h i s i c r e a s e d b y r e t a r di n g t h e s t a n z a
i on o f w ea i n e
np e
d r h ym e w
ext a li e
d
it h a
38
,
e
s
t
“
a n
m
,
.
r
.
r
ss
r
n
n
r
n
.
.
ss
s
s
:
.
‘
'
—
n
s
,
‘
,
—
,
'
r
m
”
r
-
r
n
n
,
a n
or
-
.
S ill y
Pa g e 43 s t a n L X V I I I
L oo k u p i n t h e di c t i o n a ry
rou t h
6 w o rd h a s h a d
“
.
.
,
.
Us e le s
t h e v a ri o u s
”—
s
,
be c a
us e of t h e
m ea n i n g
s w h ic h
.
Pa g e 44 s t a n L XX I V Li k e w a t e r s s h o t
s h eet l ig h t n i n g
i s v e ry bo l d
a pp li e d t o
u j u s t i fi a b l e ?
T h e figu r e
D o e s i t s ee m t o
“
,
,
.
,
r
,
”
“
P a g e 46
o uld
n ot
e ff e c t
e
et c
.
—
.
,
L X XX I I
T h e l a s t s yll a b l e o f j a r g o n i n g
be s t re s s e d
bu t p ro n o u n c e d lig h t l y a s i n p r o s e
r h ym e
t h u p ro du c e d by a n u n s t r e s s e d s yl
of
s t re s s
of
h ea w
is
v e ry d e li c a te a n d
m a t c h i n g on e
,
s
ta
n
.
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r
|
u t i fu l
.
L X XXH,
Pa g e 46 s t
V N o ti c e h o w
ui etn e s a n d
t re n g t h e n t h e s e n e o f q
a c c u m u l a t i n g d e t a il s
s in g
T h e e x t ra s yll a b l e o f t h e r h ym e
Pa g e 47 s t a n L X XXV I I
l i n e s 3 a n d 5 s ugg e s t u n e a s i n e s s
a n d t h e s h i f t e d a c c e ts i
r e p et i t i o n o f li n e 4 s ugg e s t s t h e m o n o t o n o u s b a c k a n d fil l o f
s h ip
I n o rde r t h a t h e
Pa g e 49 s t a n X CV I f h e m a y k n o w
t o s e e i f h e c a n di s c o v e r
a y kn ow
,
a n
.
L XX X I I I
,
L X XX I
s
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.
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s
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,
.
.
n
n
.
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.
“
.
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.
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Pa g e 5 1 s t a n C V I
N ot i c e t h a t t h e l ig h t h ou s e h i l l a n d
u rc h re a pp e a r i n t h e i n v e rs e o r d e r o f t h e i r di s a pp e a ra n c e I t
i n l i tt l e d et a il s lik e t h i s t h a t t h e e x a c t n e s s o f t h e p o e t s i m a gi n a
on c o m e s o u t
—
,
.
,
.
,
.
’
.
Pa ge 5 2 s t a n C V I I
L et m e be a w a k e
a w a ke
l et t h i p ro v e t o b e n o d re a m
“
,
,
,
.
s
.
—
.
L et
me
p ro v e
t
o
N O T ES
64
Th
ta n C X I I
h a p e s w h i c h t h e M a ri n e r et
u p on t h w a t e
r p e r h a p s u p o n t h e m oon ]
a re t h e r e fl e c t i o n
of t h e
e a p h m e n o r a g e li c p i ri t s w h o n o w e m e rg e f ro m t l
i
d e a d b o di e s o f t h e i l o r o n t h e d e c k n d s ta n d a bo v e t h e n
T h e M a r i n e r i s t n di n g b y t h e r il l oo ki n g o u t t o h o re n d c a
n de c k
s e e o n l y b y r e fle c t i o n w h a t t a k e s p l a c e
Pa g e 5 8 s ta n C XXXV N o te t h e re v e r i on t o t h e c n t ra
u s e d i n t h e fi rs t fe w s t a n z a s
“
xp n s i c
An
Pa ge 60 s ta n C XL I I
O f s e n s e fo rl o rn
s tu n n e d
d e p ri v e d o f e n s
o f t h e i d ea gi v e n a b o v e i n
; i t m ea n s
”
bi l i t y o r p o w e r o f f eel i n g s e n s a t i on s
Pa g e
53,
s
—
.
s
a
r,
s
r
s
e
sa
s
o
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s
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.
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,
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o
s
.
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.
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.
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e
a
,
”
s
.
.
I N T R O DU CT I O N
T h e Vi s i o n
S i r La
f
f l w a s w ritt e n i n
of Lo w e l l s gr e at e st po e ti c a l act i v ity
o
un a
’
ea r
.
t y— nin e
He
,
the
w as
an d h ad b e e n gradu at e d from
ard C ol l e g e t e n v e a r s b e for e D uring his c ol l e g e
h e h a d liv e d a t horou gh l y i nd e p e nd e nt i nt e l l e ct
rs e
a l lif e m aking u p for his n e gl e ct of t h e r e gul ar routi n e
f study by e ag e r r e ad ing of i m agin at iv e lit e ratu r e
l
l
c
i
po
e
t
ry
n
d
d
ra
m
a
Aft
e
r
grad
u
atio
n
e
a
a
h
e
y
p
ad tri e d h is h and at t h e l a w and for a short t i m e at
busin e ss bu t t h e b e nt of h is n atu r e w a s al re ad y so
strongly t o w a rd a lit e rary lif e t h at h e w a s u n hap p y
unti l h e h ad put e v e ryt hi n g e ls e be hi nd h im a nd l au n c h e d
into t h e pub li c at io n of a m aga zin e c al l e d t h e P i on eer
Th e m aga zin e h a d b e e n short l iv e d o w ing part ly t o
t h e i n e xp e ri e n c e of it s e d itors p art ly t o t h e fact th at
t h e lit e rar y st and ard w hi c h th e y s e t u p w a s t oo h igh
v e a rs
old
1 8 48
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
—
,
,
for t h e r e ad in g publi c of t h e d ay Aft e r t h e col l aps e
of t h e P i on eer Lo w e l l h ad brav e l y r e sol v e d to t a k e
t h e fu l l cons e qu e n c e s of h is aba nd on m e nt of t h e l a w
and t rust t o h is p e n for supp ort T h e d e t e rm i nat i o n
.
,
,
.
67
I
( 38
N T R ODU C T I ON
r e qui r e d c ou r a ge for h is fath e r h ad r e c e ntl y lost l
fortu n e and h e w a s h i ms e l f e age r t o m arry He h
t ak e n u p t h e h a zard ous p ursuit of l e t t e rs h o w e v e r w i
t h e li ghth e art e d c on fid e n c e ch ara ct e rist i c of h im ; 1
l e tt e rs of th is p e riod a re fu l l of fi n e e nthusiasm a
bu oyan t s e l f b e li e f B y 1 8 44 his contributions t o t
m aga zin e s h ad b e gu n t o bring i n a suffici e nt i n co r
t o e n abl e hi m t o m arry t h e w om an w hos e fin e gifts
m ind and h e art rip e n e d e v e rything t hat w a s b e st
h is n atu r e T h e n am e of M ari a W hit e oc cu rs e v e r
w h e r e i n his l e tt e rs of this ti m e and is al w ays m e ntion
w ith a kind of r e v e r e nt e cstasy w hi ch sho w s h o w p o w
fu l h er i nfl u e n c e h ad b e e n i n stirring t h e m v s t i c a l d e pt
an d pr e p arin g it for its mission of song
o f his h e art
He h a d t ak e n hi s bri d e t o t h e ol d fa mily m a nsi
of E l m w ood w h e r e h e h ad b ee n born a nd w h e r e
w a s to d i e
With t h e e x c e pti on of h is r e sid e n c e abro
m i nist e r to S p ai n and to E ngl and Lo w e l l s h o
a s
t h rou ghout his l if e w a s at E l n i w oo d T h e hous e
of t h e i nt e r esting sights of C a m brid g e
s t il l
on e
st ands b ac k from t h e e n croa ch m e nt of m od e rn hou
a nd str e e t c ar l in e s i n a sh e lt e r of sp l e ndid E ngl
and th e r e is a fl a vor of mor e g e n e rous d avs i n
e l ms
bro a d lin e s its sm al l p an e d w i nd o w s a nd its ric h c o
and y e l l o w
I n its nu rs e ry Lo w e l l s m
w hit e
h ad su n g t o him stran g e ol d S cot c h and E ngl ish b a
o n e of w h ich
t h e bal l a d of Sir P atric k Sp e ns s h e
,
,
.
,
,
-
.
.
,
t
,
.
,
,
.
’
,
.
.
-
,
.
,
-
,
,
’
.
,
,
,
69
an c e s t o r of h e r o w n for its
In
Lo w e l l h ad
e s o ut h front room of t h e upp e r s t ory
“
d en
as a boy T h e w a l ls w e r e l in e d w it h
l o h is
ks and ol d e ngr a vi n gs ; i n t h e i r midst a p an e l brou ght
11 t h e hous e of o n e of t h e s e v e nt e e n t h c e ntu ry Lo w e l ls
t
h i nk had
a n
,
.
,
,
N e w bu ry
M assa chus e tt s
bor e this i nscription i n
“
t in :
I n e ss e nt ials u n ity ; i n non e ss e ntials l ib e rty ;
a
al l t hings c harity
l e g e nd w hic h s ee ms al most
su m up Lo w e l l s o w n ch ara ct e r a nd c r e e d Fro m
0
h e u pp e r w indo w s t h e r e w a s a vi e w ov e r t h e t r e e s
0
B ri ghton B rook l in e and R oxbu ry w ith t h e gr e at
d om e of t h e Stat e H ou s e on t h e l e ft and on t h e
t t h e si l v e r coil of t h e C harl e s w ind ing th rou gh
h e m a rsh e s w h ic h i n su m m e r w e r e a vivid gr e e n c h ang
n g i n t h e w i nd l i k e si l k
and in aut u m n w e r e gorg e ou s
wit h ochr e ou s r e d s a nd so mbr e pu rp l e s
H e r e i n t h e m idst of b e autifu l fami lia r sc e n e s
wi t h t h e inspi rat ion of his w if e and his m any fri e nd s
i rging h i m t o h is b e st
Lo w e l l p ut fort h his first r e al l y
n atu r e
He h ad al r e ad y pu blish e d t w o sm al l
w ork
Jo l u m es of p o e try
bu t h e w a s c onsc iou s of mu c h mor e
l o h l e p o w e rs t h an h ad ye t fou nd e xpr e ssion
I n 1 8 48
i s w rot e and pu bl ish e d t h e t w o w orks w hi c h h av e t a k e n
l ee p es t hold u po n p opu l ar a ffe ction t h e B i g
l ow P a p e r s
,
,
-
,
,
—
,
,
’
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
ind
Vi s i on
Th e
,
e nts
e
e
first
r
p
r
s
f
f
ri m in his qu ality of h u morist
a qu a lity i n h i m so g e nu
l He r m
a id e n n a m e w a s S p e n c e
Th e
o
Sir
La
un
,
>‘
.
a
l
.
70
I
N T R O DU C T I O N
in e
and racy that Th ac k e ra y l a m e nt e d t hat h e shoul
e v e r h av e aba nd on e d t h e hu mor o us v e i n for mor e
s er
”
ou s e ffort s T h e s e cond s h o w s h is pu r e ly po et i c p o w e
i f n o t i n its h ig h e st at l e ast i n its m ost g e n ia l a nd l o v a b
m a nife stat io n
S i r L a un fa l h as c om e t o be consid e r e
Lo w e l l s typi c al po e m It is k no w n t o t housa nds w h
h av e n e v e r h e ard of T h e C a t h ed r a l or t h e C o m m e m ora t i o
Od e ; and t o w hom t h e i mport ant c rit i ca l w riti ngs of t h
au thor s m atu r e r m a nhood a r e no mor e t h a n a n abstra e
t ion Th e r e a r e som e good r e asons t o e nt it l e it to t h i
r
e
e
mi n e nc e
p
.
,
.
’
.
’
.
-
.
po e m is fou nd e d u pon a t rad iti o n of gr e at a h
about w hi c h m an y p o e ts fro m t h e ro man c e rs
ui t y
t iq
of t h e midd l e age s C hr e ti e n d e Troy e s and W olfra m
von E sc h e nbach to W agn e r and T e n nyson h av e w ov e n
t h e ir fanci e s A c cord i ng to t his trad ition t h e S an
Gre a l or H ol y Grail w a s a cu p m ad e of o n e gr e at sap
phir e out of w hi c h J e sus d ran k w i n e at t h e Last Supp e r
It w a s brou ght by Jos e ph of Ari ma
w ith his discipl e s
th e a i nt o E ngl and w h e r e for m any y e ars it w a s p r e
s e rv e d i a h is fam i l y visit e d by pil gri ms and ador e d as
a hol y r e li c On e ob li gatio n r e st e d u pon t hos e to w hos e
k e e ping t h e G rail w a s e ntrust e d ; t h e y must be chast e
an d pur e in h e art On e of t h e d e sc e nd ants of Jos e p h
bro k e his v o w of ch astity an d t h e G rail disa pp e ar e d
From this ti m e on it w a s sou ght for throu gh t h e w hol e
w orl d by t h e k nights of t h e R ou nd Tabl e
u nti l i t w a s
at l ast fou nd by t h e st ai nl e ss G al ah ad
Th e
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
.
.
,
,
.
For t h e p urp os e s of his po e m Lo w e l l h as as h e says
e nl arg e d t h e circ l e of com p e tition i n s e arch of t h e mira c
u l o u s cu p in su ch a m ann e r as t o i n clud e not onl y oth e r
p e rsons t ha n t h e h e ro e s of t h e R ou nd Tabl e but a lso
,
,
,
,
,
71
72
N T RODU C T I O N
I
a p e ri od of t i m e su bs e qu e nt to t h e suppos e d d a t e 0
He has a lso e n larg e d t h e moral m e an
Art hu r s r e ign
i ng of t h e Sa n Gr e a l st ory by ma ki ng n ot c hast ity bu
c harit y
and hu mbl e b r o t h e r l v l o v e t h e condit ion 0
su c c e ss i n t h e s e arch Sir L a u n f a l i n his vision st art
u pon t h e qu e st w it h his h e art fu l l of high e mpris e t r
be su r e but also fu l l of yout hfu l p rid e an d i nt ol e ran c e
As h e d ash e s fro m his cast l e gat e c lad i n shinin g m ail
i nt o t h e light and fra g
ran c e of t h e su mm e r mornin g
t h e b e ggar crou chin g at t h e gat e shoc ks his d ai nt y s e n s e
For as yet h e s ee s only w it h t h e bodily e ye A pi e c e 0
go l d fl u n g i n s corn is t h e onl y an s w e r h e c an m ak e I t
f e l l o w cr e atur e s app e al B ut i n t h e long y e ars 0
a
h is qu e st his vision is pu rg e d and sp irit u al i z e d by suff
“
in g ; his e y e s a r e bath e d i n t h e e uphrasy and r u
of hu m an sy mpat hy W h e n h e r e t urns an ol d
m a n t o fi nd his e arl do m s e i ze d b v a not h e r an d to
h i ms e lf d ri v e n fro m hi s p al ac e gat e i nt o t h e sh e lt e r ]
stor m h e s ee s n o long e r w ith t h e bod ily e ye t h e h a s
o f t hin gs
but w it h t h e e ye of t h e sp irit t h e ir abidin
e ss e n c e s
B e n e ath t h e rags a nd sor e s of t h e l e p e r
’
’7
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
’
-
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
i
s e e s a brot h e r m ad e i n t h e i mag e of Go d a n d
w ith h i m his crust a nd h is drau ght of w at e r
su d d e n ly b e for e hi s ast onish e d e y e s t h e l e p e r ris e s
,
.
,
t an ds radiant t h e v e ry C hrist i n w h os e nam e t h e
w a s giv e n
a nd t h e w ood e n bo w l w ith w hi c h h e
d ip p e d t h e w at e r fro m t h e fro z e n str e a m s w a v s b
s
,
,
74
N T RODU C T I O N
I
st at e
fri e nd
of
min d w hi c h
h e w rit e s :
,
c a l l r e ligion
we
To
.
the
sa m e
M a ry s a n d h a pp e n i n g t o s a y s om e t h i n g o f t h e
p re s e n ce o f s p i r i ts (o f w h om I s a i d I w a s o fte n di m l y a w a re )
M r P u tn a m e n t e r e d i n to a n a r gu m e n t w i t h m e o n s p i r i t u a l m a tte rs
A s I w a s s p e a ki n g t h e w h o l e s ys t e m r os e u p b e f o re m e l i k e a v a g
ut
D e s t i n y l oom i n g f rom t h e a b ys s I n e v e r b e fo re s o c l ea rl y fel
T h e w h o l e r oo m s ee m e <
t h e s p i r i t o f Go d i n m e a n d a r o u n d m e
T h e a i r s e e m e d t o w a v e r t o a n d f ro w i t h t h <
t o b e fu ll o f Go d
p re s e n c e o f s o m e t h i n g I k n e w n o t w h a t
I
was
a
t
,
,
,
.
,
.
.
.
‘
.
,
An d
he
agai n
s ays :
It
w
ou l d h av e t a k e n a v e r y
”
>
l<
l itt l e to m ak e a St F r a n c i s of m e
T h e Vi s i on 0
S i r L a u n fa l st an d s by right as L o w e l l s typi c al po e m
.
.
’
b e c aus e it u n it e s t h e s e
fe e l in g
On
.
on e
sid e
tw
the
it t e a c h e s
,
r el i
strai ns of mora l and
o
d uti e s of sy m p ath y a n d h u mil ity o n
,
:
i
o
u
g
simpl e h u m a r
the
ot h e r it giv e :
,
a hint of t h e m y st i ca l k i nsh i p b e t w e e n G od an d m an
t h e u ni on of C hrist w it h t h e l e p e r w hi c h is t h e c or e 0
,
r e ligio n
Sir
.
is d oin g
the
and
he
e
L a u n fa l ,
xa ct l y
w
sh arin g his crus t
h at St
p o e t h as put his
.
h e art
fe e ls a p e cu l iar ki nsh ip
B ut
m ak e
al l t his
a
po e m
i
,
.
e
Fran cis
w
the
int o
it h it
x c e l l e nt as it is
,
w
w
“
w
ith
l e p er
ou l d h a v e d on e
cr e ation
be c a u s t
.
ou ld n e v e r of its e l f
,
T h e r e must be add e d t o
.
the
mora
f o u n d e d t h e o r de r o f t h e F ra n
i n p r ote s t a g a i n s t t h e r i c h e s a n d c o r
c i s c a n or B a re f o o t f ri a r s
r u p t i on o f t h e e xi s t i n gm on a s t i c o r d e rs
>
I‘
St
.
F
ra n c s
of
As s i s i i n 1 2 2 5
the
,
.
dc a
ca
be a
ll
a vs
w
the
t
.
p
s o m e t h in g
oet
a
ut v
.
a n
in
—
hi ngs
must m a k e
t
w o
fo r
.
d t h is b e a
le a s t
t
h ic h
w
ut v
pi c t u r e
i t h o ut
w
a b e t t e r w o rd
w o rk i t s e l f o u t i n
of
a n
d
in
m e lo d
h i c h p o e t ry
t h u gh t n o t
w
h is
us s e e
ant
m us t
w
o
a s
t
Th e s e
.
nn o t
ca
.
v
we
.
a n
w o
a re
xist ; t h e
bst r a c t i o n
e
a
but a s a r c a l i t v gl o w in g w i t h c o l o r a nd m o v e m e nt : a n d
h e mu s t d o t h is t h r o u g h t h e m e d i u m o f m u si c a l l a n gu a g e
.
As
re
t h e re
be
ca n
is fu l l
s
ga rd s t h e fi rst
o
f
p i c t u re s
t
w
a l ls
a nd
k n ig h t
o
p ort a l ;
f t he
n ad e s
a n
bui ld s
fo r
d
p r e l ud e
,
w
.
the
.
fl a
.
h i le
e
’
s
w
h e re
b e ggar
a nd
ma
l ing e r in a r e ad e r s m in d a ft e r
h a v e b e e n forgott e n
.
t he
n v
the
Th e
cr
w
vou n g
t he
d ra w
t he
ou c h e s i n a
a n
c ol on
d
int e r b roo k
ot h e r p ict u r e s
s t o rv
I t
.
f r o w n in g gra v
lfi n p a la c e of a r c h e s
hic h
l
a
,
Ju n e h a s
s h i n g a c r o ss
the
w
un
.
c as t l e ;
L a u n fa l
’
in g
ilv
f p o e t rv
f
fo r go t t e n
S ir
th e s e
.
ea s
o
f S i r La
t he
d e l ic at e d o m e s
it s e l f
o
s r o u n d a b o ut
f
daw n
the
be
to
gi rt i n gild e d a rm o r
.
brid g e int o
c o rn e r
o
se
ca
f t h e fi rs t
t en t
t o w e rs
he
t
vi v id
oo
o
gr e e n
h er
t h e s e p r e re qu isi t e s
f
d o u bt in
n o
u m m e r la n d s c a p e
pit c h e d
o
an d
it s
‘
,
w
il l
m e an
d e sc ript i o ns of n at u r e
Th e
p o e m ga in vi v id n e ss fro m t h e fa ct t h at i n w ritin g
“
T
t h e m t h e p o et h ad i n “o r d s w o r t h s p h ras e
his e v e
in
the
.
’
’
.
,
on
the
obj e ct
”
.
I
n
,
a l e tt e r t o
.
C
.
F B riggs
.
he
,
say s
i gh t I w a l k e d t o “ a t e r t o w n o v e r t h e s n o w w i t h t h e
n ew
m oon be f o r e m e
O r i on w a s r i s i n g be fo re m e t h e s t i ll n e s s
o f t h e fi el d
a ro u n d m e w a s d el i c i o u s
b ro k e n o n l v b v t h e t i n k l e
La
s
t
I
n
,
.
s
,
.
l N T l t O l ) UC T H)X
76
l i t t l e b k w h i h r u n t o w i f t l y f o r F ro t
p i t u re o f t h e b r o k i n S i r L a u n fa l w a s d ra w n f o m
o
f
a
ro o
c
s
o
s
s
o
c
r
to
it
ca
tc
h
My
.
.
But w h e t h e r d ra w n fro m a ct ua l sc e n e s or from
fa n cy t h e pi ctu r e s o f t h e p o e m a re abu nd ant an d sat is
f yi n g I t e m bod i e s its t hou ght cont i nu al ly i n p i ct ur e
a n d is i n th is r e sp e ct a tru e p o e m
W ith r e sp e ct to t h e s e con d r e qu isit e of al l p o et ry
,
.
.
.
,
m e lod y S i r L a u n fa l c an not be so con fid e ntl y p rais e d
Lo w e l l h ad a stout w ord t o say i n h is o w n d e f e ns e a gainst
He says :
t h e c h arg e of h arsh v e rsifyin g
,
.
.
I
m a y be
a
p oe t
ba d
(I
,
d on t
w r i te
’
m ea n
to
sa
y I
th i n k I
a
m
)
,
fi
i
rs
e
r
d
ve
I
w i t h f a r m o re e a s e i n
v e rs e
g
t h a n I d o i n p ro s e
T h e r e i s n o t a rou gh v e rs e i n m y boo k w h i c h
I d on t b eli e v e t h e m a n e v e r l i v e d w h o p u t
i s n o t i n ten t i on a l
m ore con s c i e n c e i n t o h i s v e rs e t h a n I d o
but I
a
m
a
oo
.
.
’
.
.
t his w e c an agr e e t o h e art il y w h il e d e nying t o
Lo w e l l s v e rs e t h e h igh e st qu alit y of m usi c su ch a s
for e xam p l e i n Sh e l l e y and C ol e rid g e Som e
o n e finds
Al l
,
’
‘
,
,
,
.
p assag e s of S i r L a u n fa l a r e musi c al ly e ff ectiv e ; t o t a k e
rando m e x a m p l e s t h e j oyou s mo v e m e nt and r e it e rat ion
of rh y m e i n t h e sixt h st an z a of t h e first p r e lu d e and
dr e amy m ov e m e nt
e v e n m or e e m in e ntl y so t h e sl o w
,
,
.
,
of
the
o p e ning st an z a
m any l in e s
t i v e ly fe w
.
B ut t h e r e
a re ,
on
the
“
oth e r ha nd
,
C omp ara
hi c h d o not r e ad t h e ms e l v e s
p e rsons a r e s e nsit i ve t o t h e more d e licat e
w
’
.
I
N T R ODU C T I O N
77
ff e cts of m et r e a n d t o brin g th e s e e ff e ct s t o t h e noti c e
of oth e rs not so s e nsitiv e w ou l d r e quir e mor e sp ac e t h a n
is avail abl e h e r e B ut t h e stu d e nt w il l d o w e l l t o c o n
t rast t h e m ov e m e nt of a f e w l in e s su c h as
e
,
.
,
,
F
or o
t h er
co
u r i e rs
S i r L a u n fa l m a
As
Th e
c ro w s
fia p p e d
h ou l d
w e s
de
o
m o rn
v er
by
n ot
la ck
t h ro ug h
tw os
a n
d
,
t he
d a r ks om e ga te
t h ree s
,
,
and
F i rs t l e t s h i s fi n ge rs w a n d e r a s t h e y l i s t
A n d b ui l d s a b ridg e f ro m D rea m l a n d f o r
,
h is la y
.
It w ou l d be w e l l too t o r e ad t h e p o e m aloud to
g e th e r w ith som e p o e m not e w orth y for its m e lod y
,
,
,
,
s K a bl a K h a n or K e ats s E ve of S t
a n d t o att e mpt to not e t h e com p arati v e e ffe cts
n es
Ag
as r e gards t h e m e r e p l e asa n tn e ss of sou n d of t h e v e rs e
A noth e r c onsid e ration w hi c h mu st e nt e r i nto ou r
j ud gm e nt of a p o e m b e sid e s its pi ctu r e squ e n e ss and
su ch as
C ol e rid g e
’
’
.
.
,
,
it s
m e lody is its form T h e gr e at e st p o e ms h a v e a
sh a p e an outli n e so t o s p e a k w h i ch is i n itse lf b e au tifu l
Th e r e is n o r e d u n d an cy about th e m any w h e re ; th e y a r e
.
,
,
,
.
,
cl e an cut and b al an c e d p art t o p art as a
-
,
,
fin e
st atu e
or
78
bu ild ing W il l S i r L a un fa l stand t his t e st ? A r t
t h e op e ning sta n zas of m oral r e fl e cti o n r e al ly i n p l a m
in a po e m w h i ch c on v e ys i t s m e aning p e rfe ct ly w it hou
t h e m ? I s t h e fam o us rh apsod y b e ginni n g
A nd w h a
”
is so rar e as a d ay i n J u n e ? i n spit e of its b e aut y any
t h ing but a b e aut ifu l e x c r e sc e n c e ? B oth t h e s e p assag e
a re
of cou s e e x cus e d by t h e op e ning stan za w h e n
t h e p o e t comp ar e s h ims e l f w it h t h e musicia n d r e a m i h
e xt e mp ori zing in v arious k e ys u ntil h e is d ra w n i n t t
h is m ain th e m e ; and w e must b e ar i n mind t oo t hat t h
e
w
a
s
h
o
m
comp
os
e
d
a
h
ig
sp
d
i
n
a
sp
ac
of
abou
t
e
e
e
p
forty e ight h ou rs d u ring w hi ch Lo w e l l sc arc e ly a t e 0
sl e pt B ut aft e r al l is t h e e xcus e su ffi ci e nt ? Is t h
p o e t not r e al ly a comp os e r rath e r th an a n i mprovis e i
s ubj e ct t h e r e for e to m or e st ri ng e nt l a w s of form ?
a
fin e
.
t
‘
,
,
r
.
,
,
i
,
-
,
i
.
,
,
,
I t c a n b e u rg e d h o w e v e r th at t his rh apsody o r
Ju n e w e ath e r m e rg e s n atural ly i nt o t h e d e script ion 0
t h e su m m e r l andsc ap e su rrou nd ing t h e ol d gray c ast l e
a nd h e lps to b ri ng out t h e symbolism of t h e forc e s 0
,
,
n atural j oy an d c o m mon h appin e ss b e s i e g i ng t h e forc e
of d ark p rid e and s e l fish n e ss B ut e v e n if w e gra n
t his d o e s it a p p ly to t h e s e c on d p r e lu d e ? T h e c ont ra s
h e r e is b e t w ee n t h e w ar mt h and Christ mas gl e e i n s i d
.
,
,
c ast l e and t h e w i nt ry d e sol ation w ith out ; ye t t h
ictu
r
of
h
lfi
n
p
al
ac
bu
ilt
by
h
brook
is
h
r
e
v
e
rs
e
t
e
e
t
e
e
e
t
p
the
,
d e sol at e W e mu st ad mit t h e r e for e th at t h e p o e r
p ro p e r is adorn ed w it h e xt ran e ous orna m e nt ; it has n o
of
.
,
,
short of t h e h igh e st w i l l only m ak e
is to b e h op e d t h e nu mb e r and e x c e l l e n c e
t i e s 1 p oss e ss e s I f it h as not t h e pu r e out
atu e p e rh aps
is b e c aus e it h as t h e abu n
and l uxu ri ant l e afag e of a p l a nt ; l e t us e nj oy
it is aft e r onc e s ee i ng c l e arly w h at it is not
m es
,
,
.
,
.
T h e V i s i on
of
S i r L a u n fa l
PRE L UDE T O P A R T F I R S T
O ver
his k e ys t h e musing organist
B e gin ning d ou btfu l ly and far a w ay
First l e ts his fing e rs w and e r as t h e y list
A nd bu il ds a brid g e fro m D r e aml an d for h is
Th e n as t h e tou c h of his l ov e d i nstru m e nt
G iv e s hop e and f e rvor n e ar e r d ra w s his th e m e
First gu e ss e d by faint au rora l fl u sh e s s e nt
A long t h e w av e rin g vist a of h is d r e am
,
,
,
,
,
.
10
N ot onl y arou n d ou r i nf an cy
D ot h h e av e n w ith al l its sp l e nd ors l i e ;
D ai ly w ith sou ls th at cringe and p l ot
W e Sin ais c l i mb and k no w i t n ot
O v e r ou r m anh ood b e nd t h e sk i e s ;
Against ou r fal l e n an d traitor l i v e s
T h e gr e at w inds utt e r p ro p h e si e s ;
With ou r faint h e arts t h e mou nt ain striv e s ;
Its arms outstr e t ch e d t h e D ru id w ood
Waits w ith its b e n e d i cit e ;
,
,
.
15
,
8 3
,
T H E VI
84
SI
ON O F
S I R L A UN F A L
ou r ag e s d r o w s v bl ood
S t il l s h outs t h e i nsp i r i ng s e a
E ar t h ge t s its p ric e for w h at E art h gi v e s u s ;
T h e b e ggar is t ax e d for a c orn e r t o d i e i n
T h e p ri e st h at h h is f ee w h o c om e s a nd s h riv e s
W e bargai n for t h e gra v e s w e l i e i n ;
At t h e D e vi l s booth a r e a l l things sold
E a c h ou n c e of d ross c osts its ou n c e of gold ;
For a ca p an d b e l ls o ur l iv e s w e p ay
Bu bbl e s w e buy w it h a w h ol e sou l s t ask ing
Tis h e av e n a lon e th at is gi v e n a w ay
Tis on ly G od m ay b e had for t h e ask ing ;
N o pric e is s e t on t h e l avish su m m e r ;
Ju n e m ay be h ad b y t h e p oor e st c om e r
'
An d t o
.
.
’
,
,
’
’
,
’
.
h at is so rar e as a d ay i n Ju n e ?
Th e n if e v e r co m e p e rf e c t d ays ;
Th e n H e av e n t ri e s e a rth if it be i n tu n e
A nd ov e r it soft ly h e r w arm e a r l ays
Wh e th e r w e l oo k or w h e th e r w e l ist e n
W e h e ar l if e murmu r or s e e it gl ist e n ;
E v e ry c l od f ee ls a st ir of might
An i nstin ct w ith in it t hat r e a c h e s and t o w e rs
And graspin g b l ind ly abov e it for l ight
C limbs to a sou l i n grass and fl o w e rs ;
T h e fl u sh of l if e m ay w e l l b e s e e n
Thri l l ing b ac k o v e r h il ls a nd va l l e y s ;
T h e c o w slip startl e s i n m e ado w s gr e e n
T h e bu tt e rcup c atc h e s t h e su n i n its c h alic e
An d
w
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
‘
,
,
,
T HE VI
SI
ON O F
S I R L A UN F A L
.
A nd t h e re s n e v e r a l e af o r a bl ad e too m e an
To b e som e happy c r e at u r e s p alac e ;
t his ( 10 0 1 i n t h e su n
T h e li t t la bi l i t s
gs a
l
ik
i
l
ea v es
A
t
e a bl o ssom a mon gt h e
t
a
A n d l e ts h is i l lu min e d b e i n g 0 e r r u n
W ith t h e de lug e of su m m e r i t r e c e iv es ;
H is m at e f ee ls t h e e ggs b e n e at h h e r w i ngs
A nd t h e h e art i n h e r d u mb br e ast fl utt e rs and sings
He sings t o t h e w i d e w orld and s h e t o h e r n e st
I n t h e t n i c ee a r of N atur e w hic h song is t h e be st ?
’
’
,
’
,
’
5
'
,
'
,
10
,
is t h e high tid e of t h e y e ar
A nd w hat e v e r of life h ath e bb e d a w ay
C om e s fl ood in g b ac k w ith a ripp ly ch ee r
I nto e v e ry b ar e in l e t an d cr e e k an d b ay ;
1 5 N o w t h e h e art is so fu l l that a d ro p o v e r fi l l s it
W e a r e h appy n o w b e c aus e G od w i l ls it ;
N o m att e r h o w b arr e n t h e p ass m a v h av e b ee n
Tis e nou gh for u s n o w t h at t h e l e a v e s a r e gr e e n
we sit i n t h e w arm sh ad e an d f e e l right w e l l
2 0 Ho w t h e sap cr ee ps up an d t h e b lossoms s w e l l
;
We m ay shut ou r e y e s but w e c an not h e lp k no w i ng
Th at sk i e s a re c l e ar and grass is gro w ing ;
T h e br e e z e c om e s w h isp e ri ng i n ou r e a r
Th at d and e lions a r e b losso mi n g n e ar
Th at m ai z e h as S p rout e d t h at str e am s a r e fl o w i n g
Th at t h e riv e r is bl u e r t h an t h e sky
T h at t h e robin is p l ast e rin g h is h ou s e h ard by ;
N ow
-
,
,
’
,
,
o
t
t
O
,
,
,
T H E VI
86
SI
ON O F
S I R L A UN F A L
And if t h e br ee z e k e pt t h e good n e w s ba c k
F o r ot h e r cou ri e rs w e shou ld n o t lac k ;
W e cou ld gu e ss it al l by yon h e ife r s l o w ing
A nd h ark ! h o w c l e a r bo ld C h antic l e e r
W arm e d w ith t h e n e w w in e of t h e v e ar
T e l ls a l l in h is lusty cro w i ng !
,
’
,
Joy c om e s gri e f go e s w e k no w not h o w ;
E v e rything is h appy n o w
E v e rything is u p w ard stri v ing ;
Tis as e asy n o w for t h e h e art t o b e t ru e
As for grass t o be gr ee n or sk i e s t o be blu e
Tis t h e n a t u r a l w a y of l ivin g :
W h o k no w s w hit h e r t h e c lou ds h av e fle d
I n t h e u nsc arr e d h e av e n t h e y l e av e no w a k e ;
A nd t h e e y e s forg e t t h e t e ars t h e y h av e sh e d
T h e h e art forg e ts it s sorro w and ac h e ;
T h e sou l p art ak e s t h e s e a son s v o u t h
An d t h e su lp hu ro us rift s of passion a nd w oe
L i e d e e p n e at h a si l e n c e pu r e and sm oot h
Li k e bu rnt ou t c rat e rs h e a l e d w ith sno w
W h a t w ond e r if Sir L a u n f a l n o w
R e m e mb e r e d t h e k e e pi ng of his v o w ?
,
,
,
’
,
'
’
-
.
,
’
,
’
,
-
.
P ART
F I RS T
I
My
gold e n spu rs n o w brin g to m e
An d bring to m e my rich e st m ail
For to morro w I go ov e r l and and s e a
I n s e arch of t h e H ol y G rail ;
S h al l n e v e r a b e d for m e b e S pr e ad
N or sh al l a pil l o w be u nd e r my h e ad
Ti l l I b e gi n my v o w to k e e p ;
H e r e on t h e rush e s w il l I sl e e p
And p e rch an c e th er e m ay com e a vision
E r e d ay cr e at e t h e w orl d an e w
Slo w l y S i r L a u n f a l s e y e s gr e w di m
S lu mb e r f e l l li k e a c l ou d on h im
ew
A n d i nto his sou l t h e vision fl
,
-
,
,
,
.
’
,
,
.
II
Th e
15
cro w s fl app e d ov e r by t w os an d thr ee s
1 11 t h e p ool dro w s e d t h e c attl e u p to th e ir k n e es
T h e littl e birds san g as if it w e r e
T h e o n e d ay of su m m e r i n al l t h e y e ar
A n d t h e v e ry l e av e s s ee m e d to sin g on t h e t r ee s ;
Th e c astl e al on e in t h e l an dsc ap e l ay
,
,
8 7
Ss
T HE
v i s i o x o r S I R LA UN F A L
Li k e a n ou tp os t of w in t e r d ul l a n d gra y
T w a s t h e p rou d e st h a l l i n t h e N ort h C ou n t r e e
A nd n e v e r i t s gat e s m ight op e n e d b e
S av e t o l ord or lad y of h igh d e gr e e ;
S u m m e r b e si e g e d it on e v e ry sid e
B u t t h e c hu rl ish s t on e h e r assau lts d e fi e d ;
S h e c ou l d n ot sc al e t h e c h i ll v w al l
Th ou gh ro u nd i t for l e agu e s h e r p avil ions t al l
S tr e t ch e d l e ft and right
O v e r t h e hi l ls an d out of sight ;
G re e n an d broad w a s e v e ry t e n t
An d ou t of e a c h a mu rmu r w e nt
Ti l l t h e br ee ze f e l l o ff at night
,
‘
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
.
III
d ra w bridg e d ropp e d w it h a su rl y c l ang
A n d t hrou gh t h e d ark arch a ch arg e r sp ran g
B e aring Sir L a u n f a l t h e m aid e n k night
I n his gil d e d m ail t h at fl a m e d so bright
I t s e e m e d t h e d ark c ast l e h ad gath e r e d al l
Th os e sh afts t h e fi e rc e su n ha d shot ov e r it s w al l
I n his si e g e of t hr e e hu ndr e d su m m e rs l ong
A n d bi nd ing th e m a l l i n o n e bl az ing sh e af
Ha d c ast th e m fort h : so young and stron g
A nd l ightsom e as a loc ust l e af
Sir L a un f a l fl ash e d forth i n h is u nscarr e d m ail
To s e e k i n al l c l i m e s for t h e Ho l v G rail
Th e
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
.
T H E VI
90
SI O
N OF
T
'
S I R LA L NF A L
\ I
l e p e r rais e d n ot t h e gold fr o m t h e dust
B e tt e r to m e t h e p oor man s c rus t
B e tt e r t h e bl e ssing of t h e p oor
Thou gh I t u rn m e e mpty fro m his d oor ;
Th at is no tru e a l ms w hi c h t h e hand c a n h o l d ;
He gi v e s n othin g but w ort h l e ss gold
W h o gi v e s from a s e ns e of d uty ;
B ut h e w h o giv e s a sl e nd e r mit e
A n d giv e s t o th at w hi ch is out of sight
Th at thr e ad of t h e al l sustaining B e au ty
W h ic h ru ns throu gh a l l an d d oth al l u nit e
T h e h an d c an not c l asp t h e w hol e of h i a l ms
T h e h e art outstr e t ch e s its e ag e r p al ms
For a god go e s w ith it and m ak e s it st or e
To t h e sou l th at w a s st arving i n dark n e ss b e for e
Th e
’
.
,
,
,
-
,
s
,
.
‘
.
PRE L UDE T O P A R T
S E CO N D
D o w n s w e p t t h e chil l w ind fro m t h e mou ntai n p e a k
Fro m t h e sno w fi v e thousan d su mm e rs old
O n op en w ol d and h il l top b l e a k
It h ad gat h e re d al l t h e cold
A nd w h irl e d it l ik e sl e e t on t h e w and e r e r s c h ee k
I t carri e d a sh i v e r e v e ry w h e r e
Fro m t h e u nl e a f e d boughs and p astu r e s bar e ;
T h e littl e broo k h e ard it an d bu i lt a roof
N e ath w hic h h e cou l d h ous e h im w int e r p roof ;
A l l night by t h e w hit e st ars frosty gl e ams
He groin e d his arch e s and m at ch e d his be ams ;
S l e nd e r and c l e ar w e r e his c ryst al S p ars
As t h e l ash e s of l ight th at t ri m t h e st ars ;
He scu lptu r e d e v e ry su m m e r d e l ight
I n his h al ls a n d c h amb e rs out of sight
Som e ti m e s h i s t in k l ing w at e rs slipt
D o w n through a frost l e av e d for e st c ry p t
Long sp ark l ing aisl e s of st e e l st e m m e d tre es
B e nding to cou nt e rf e it a br e e z e ;
Som e ti m e s t h e roof n o fre t w ork k n e w
But si l v e ry moss e s th at d o w n w ard gr e w ;
Som e ti m e s it w a s c a r v e d i n sh arp r e li e f
W ith qu aint ara b e squ e s of i c e fe rn l e af ;
Som eti m e s it w a s si mpl y sm ooth and cl e ar
'
—
,
’
’
-
,
’
‘
.
—
-
,
-
,
'
-
91
T HE
93
For
vrs I O N o r S 1 1 1 l
“
.
.
t he
AL
gl ad n e ss of h e a v e n t o s h in e t h rou gh and
He h ad c au ght t h e nodd in g bu l ru s h t 0 3 s
A nd hu n g t h e m thi c k ly w ith d ia mond d rops
W h ic h c rystal l e d t h e b e a ms of moon and su n
And m ad e a star of e v ery o n e ;
N o mortal bu ild e r s m ost rar e d e v i c e
C ou l d m at ch t h is w int e r p al a c e of i c e :
T w as as if e v e ry i m age th at m irror e d l ay
I n his d e pths s e r e n e throu gh t h e su m m e r d ay
E a c h flitti ng sh ad o w of e arth and sky
Le st t h e h a p py mod e l shou ld be lost
H ad b e e n mi mi c k e d i n fairy masonry
B y t h e e lfin buil d e rs of t h e frost
,
-
-
,
,
'
-
’
,
,
,
.
W ithin
the
h al l a r e son g and l au ght e r
T h e ch e e ks of C hrist m as glo w r e d and j ol ly
An d sp routin g is e v e ry c orb e l an d raft e r
W it h l ight som e gr ee n of i vy an d hol ly ;
Throu gh t h e d e e p gu lf of t h e chi m n e y w id e
Wal l o w s t h e Y u l e l og s ro aring t id e ;
T h e bro ad fl am e p e nnons d roop an d fl ap
An d b e l l y and tu g as a fl ag in t h e w ind ;
Lik e a l ocu st shri l ls t h e i mprison e d sap
H u n t e d to d e at h i n its gal l e ri e s b lind ;
A n d s wift litt l e troops of sil e nt sparks
N o w p ausing n o w sc att e rin g a w ay as in f e ar
G o th r e adi ng t h e soot fore st s t an gl e d d arks
Li k e h e rd s of start l e d d ee r
,
,
-
’
-
,
,
,
’
-
.
,
P A R T S EC O N D
.
Th e r e w a s n e v e r a l e af on bush or tr e e
T h e bar e bou ghs rattl e d shu dd e ringly ;
T h e ri v e r w a s du mb a nd cou l d not sp e a k
For t h e frost s s w ift shutt l e s its shrou d had spu n
A sin gl e cro w on t h e t r ee top b l e ak
Fro m his shining f e at h e rs sh e d o ff t h e co l d sun ;
A gain i t w a s m orning but shru n k and cold
A s i f h e r v e ins w e re sap l e ss an d ol d
An d s h e ros e up d e cr e p it ly
F o r a l ast d i m look at e art h and s e a
,
,
’
-
,
.
Sir L a u n f a l turn e d from h is o w n h ard gat e
Fo r a n oth e r h e ir i n h is e arldo m sat e ;
A n old b e nt m an w orn ou t an d frai l
He c a m e b ac k fro m s ee k in g t h e H ol y G rai l ;
L ittl e h e r e e k e d of his e arl do m s l oss
N o m or e on h is su rco at w a s b l a z on e d t h e c ross
B u t d ee p i n h is sou l t h e sig n h e w or e
T h e bad g e of t h e su ff e rin g an d t h e poor
,
,
,
,
’
,
.
.
94
,
VI
T HE
SI
ON O F
S I R L A UN F A L
Sir L a u n f a l s raim e nt thin and S p ar e
W a s i d l e m ai l gai nst t h e barb e d air
For it w a s j ust at t h e C hrist m as t im e ;
So h e mus e d as h e sat of a su nn i e r cl im e
And sou g
ht for a sh e lt e r fro m c old and sno w
I n t h e l ight and w ar mt h of long ago ;
He s e e s t h e sn ak e l ik e c ara van cra w l
O e r t h e e dg e of t h e d e s e rt bl ac k and sm al l
Th e n n e ar e r and n e are r til l o n e by o n e
He c an cou nt t h e ca m e ls i n t h e su n
As ov e r t h e r ed h ot sands th e y p ass
T o w h e r e i n its sl e nd e r n e c k l ac e of grass
T h e l ittl e spring l au gh e d an d l e apt i n t h e sh ad e
A n d w ith its o w n s e lf l i k e a n i n fant p l a ye d
And w av e d its signal of p al ms
’
’
,
,
,
,
—
’
,
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
,
.
I V
For C h rist s s w ee t sak e , I began al ms
T h e h ap p y c am e ls m ay r e ac h t h e spring
B ut Sir L a u n f a l s ee s n au ght sav e t h e gr e w som e
T h e l e p e r l an k as t h e rai n bl an ch e d bon e
Th at co w e r e d b e sid e hi m a thin g as l on e
And w hit e as t h e i c e isl e s of N orth e rn s e as
I n t h e d e sol at e h orror of h is d is e as e
’
,
-
,
,
,
-
,
.
,
T H E VI
96
SI O N
OF
S I R L A UN F A L
“
A nd Sir L a u n f a l said
I b e hol d i n t h e e
A n i m ag e of H i m w h o d i e d o n t h e tre e
Thou also h ast h ad thy cro w n of thorns
Thou also h ast h ad t h e w orl d s bu ffe ts an d s c orns
A n d to thy life w e r e n ot d e ni e d
T h e w ou nds i n t h e h ands and fee t and sid e
M il d M ary s Son a c k no w l e dg e m e ;
”
Be ho ld th rou gh h im I gi v e t o th e e !
,
—1
’
,
’
,
,
,
T h e n t h e sou l of t h e l e p e r stood u p i n h is e y e s
An d l ook e d at Sir L a u n f a l and straight w ay h e
R e m e mb e r e d i n w h at a h au ghti e r guis e
He h a d flu ng an al ms to le p r os i e
Wh en h e c age d his you n g life u p i n gi ld e d m ai l
An d s e t forth i n s e a rch of t h e H oly G rail
T h e h e art w ithi n hi m w a s ash e s an d dust ;
He p art e d i n t w ai n his singl e crust
He brok e t h e i c e on t h e str e am l e t s brin k
A n d gav e t h e l e p e r t o e a t and d rin k ;
T w as a m ou ld y cru st of c oars e bro w n br e ad
T w as w at e r ou t of a w ood e n bo w l
Ye t w ith fin e w h e at e n br e ad w a s t h e l e p e r fe d
A n d t w as r e d w in e h e d ra n k w it h his th irsty sou l
,
,
.
,
’
,
’
,
’
,
,
’
.
T HE VI
98
SI
ON O F
S I R L A UK F A I
.
For t h e gift w ith out t h e gi v e r i s bar e ;
W h o giv e s hims e l f w it h h is a l ms f e e ds t hr ee
”
H ims e l f his hu n g e ri ng n e ighbor a n d m e
,
,
.
IX
Sir L a u n fa l a w ok e as fro m a s w ou nd
“
T h e G rail i n my cast l e h e r e is fou nd !
H an g my id l e armor up o n t h e w a l l
L e t it be t h e spid e r s b an qu et ha l l ;
He mu st b e f e n c e d w ith st rong e r ma il
’
I Vh o w ou l d s e e k an d find t h e Ho l v G rail
,
’
-
Th e
.
c astl e gat e sta nds op e n n ow
An d t h e w and e r e r is w e l com e t o t h e h all
A s t h e h angbird is to t h e e l m t r ee bou gh ;
N o l on ge r sco w l t h e tu rr et s t a l l
T h e Su m m e r s l ong si e g e a t l ast is o e r ;
Wh e n t h e first poor out c ast w e nt i n at t h e d oor
S h e e nt e r e d w it h hi m i n disgu is e
And m ast e r e d t h e fortr e ss b y su rpris e ;
Th e r e is n o spot s h e l ov e s so w e l l on grou nd
S h e l ing e rs and smil e s t h e r e t h e w hol e y e ar rou nd ;
T h e m e an e st s e rf o n Sir L a u n f a l s l and
H as h al l an d bo w e r at h is co m mand ;
An d th e r e s n o p oor m a n i n t h e N ort h C ount r e e
B u t is l ord of t h e e arld om as mu c h as h e
,
-
,
’
’
,
,
.
’
’
.
NOTE
S
PRE L UDE T O P A R T
I
P a g e 8 3 fi rs t s t a n z a Ca n you di s c o v e r w h y t h i s s ta n z a i
m o t o f t h e o t h e rs ?
o re p l e a s i n g t o t h e e a r t h a n
W h a t us e
m a d e o f a ll i te r a t i o n ?
C o m p a re w i t h t h i s s t a n z a B ro w n i n g s
l er f o r a m o re e l a b o r a te w o r ki n g o u t o f i m a g e ry
m A bt Vog
ge s te d by m u s i c
Pa g e 8 3 l i n e s 9 1 0 A n a l l u s i on t o VVo r d s w o rt h s Od e on
I n t i m a t i o s of I m m or t a l i t y p a rt i c u l a l y t o t h e l i n e
H ea v en
e s a bo u t u s i n
ou r i n f a n c y
R ea d t h e Od e
P a ge 8 3 l i n e 1 2 M ou n t S i n a i t h e m ou n ta i n u p o n w h i c h
l o s e s ta l k e d w i t h Go d w h e n t h e c h i l d r e n o f I s ra el w e re c o m i n g
W h a t i s i m p l i e d t h e r e f o re i n t h e
a c k f ro m c a p t i v i ty i n E g yp t
“
”
h ra s e W e S i n a i s c l i m b ?
“
Pa ge 8 3 1i n e 1 7 T h e e p i t h e t D rui d h a s h e re a d ou b l e
r op r i e t y
T h e D ruid s w e r e a g e d m e n a n d p i e s t s ; t h e v e n e r
bl e n e s s o f t h e w o o d t h e r e f o re a n d i t s p o w e r t o b l e s s a r e i n t h e
oe t s m i n d
Pa ge 8 4 l i n e 7 M a k e c le a r t o you rs e lf by e x p a n s i on t h e
”
gu re o f s p ee c h i n v o l v e d i n t h e p h ra s e D e v i l s b oot h
-
s
.
,
s
’
,
.
‘
—
’
—
,
.
n
r
,
”
.
.
—
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
—
.
,
r
.
,
,
,
’
.
—
,
.
“
’
.
As
K ee p i n m i n d t h e fi r s t s ta n z a
Pa ge 8 4 l i n e s
h e m u s i c i a n w h o i s e x te m p o r i zi n g l e tt i n g
h i s fin g
w a n de r
e rs
”
8
t h e y l i s t foll ow s w h e re v e r c h a n ce l e a d s h i m s o t h e p oet i s
“
”
ra w n
a s i d e b y t h e c h a n ce w or d
Ju n e
i n t o t h e ra p t u ro u s c o n
em p l a t i on o f Ju n e w e a t h e r a lt h o u g
h s t ri c tl y i t h a s n o c on n e ct i o n
fi t h h is t h e m e
—
.
,
“
,
,
,
,
.
N O T ES
1 00
Pa g e 8 4 l i n e 1 7
H e a v e n t ri e s e a r t h i f
,
the
.
E xpa d
85
i t be i n t u n
“
,
,
Pa g e 8 5 l i n e s 1 1
figu ra ti v e n o t li t e a l
—
,
r
,
Pa g e
14—
.
i m a ge
t he
n
li n e 1 0
N i ce
c u ri o u s
h i s t o ry o f t h e
Pa g e
up
—
—
.
e
d
ugg e t e d
s
in
Th e:
”
.
di c ri m i n a t i n g
good d i c t i on a n
D eli c a t el v
w or
in
fo u r
Th e
s
“
a
o
s
Loo l
.
'
.
pen i n g l in e
s
a re
of
co
u rs
.
l i n e 2 1 I n \Ve m a y s h u t ou r e y e s e t c n o t i c
h o w t h e p oe t c le v e r l y fill s o u t h i s p i c t u re n o t b v di re c t d e c i p
t i o n b u t by i n di r e c t h i n t s w h i c h w e m o re r e a dil y a c ce p t
N ot i c
the
i n te rn a l r h ym e p a ge 8 6 l i n e 4; i s t h e re a n yt h i n g i n t h
t h ou g
h t t o gi v e i t s i gn i fi c a n c e ?
85
“
—
,
.
.
.
,
,
s
,
r
.
“
”
,
,
PA R T
Pa ge
I
l i n e 1 3 O b s e r v e i n t h e d re a m w h i c h foll ow s
a n
t h a t t h e k n ig h t s e e s h i m s e lf o b j e c t i v e l y a s a n o t h e r p e rs on
h e a rt
a l s o s u b j e c t i v e l y s i n c e h e k n o w s t h e t h o ug h t s o f h i s o w n
I s t h i s u n t r u e t o t h e f a c ts o f t h e d r e a m w o r l d
Pa g e 8 8 l i n e 1 T h e fi gu re fi rs t s u gg e t e d by t h e w or
ou t p o s t s
i s m a d e c l e a r e r a fe w l i n e s fu r t h e r on b y t h e i d e
v e ry c l e a r a n d fo r c i b l e w i t
o f s i eg
a n d b e c om es
e a n d a s s a ul t
p a v ili o n s a n d t e n t s
T h i s c u mu l a t i v e t rea t
t h e w or d s
w h e t h e r figu r a t i v e
or
n ot
i s a l m os t a l w a v
m en t of a n i d e a
e ff e c t i v e
I
a
Pa g e 8 8 l i n e 2 3 W h y l o c u s t le a f
l o c u s t l ea
l i gh te r t h a n ot h e r l e a v e s ? I f n o t c a n v o u e e a r e a s on o f a n o t h e
s o r t for u s i n g t h e w o r d h e re ?
“
Pa g e 8 9 li n e 1 8 I s b e n t o f s t a t u e a g oo d p h ra e i
o p i n i on ?
o
u
r
y
Bea u t v
Pa ge 90 l i n e I O B y t h e
a ll s u s t a i n i n g
i
m e r g e s a l l b e i n g i t o on e
m e a n t t h e S p i r i t o f Go d
w h ic h
8 7,
—
,
,
.
.
,
,
,
?
-
—
s
.
.
-
,
,
”
”
“
.
.
,
.
” ?
'
-
—
,
s
,
—
s
r
.
,
—
,
s
.
”
-
.
,
n
1 02
a n
a
co
ld
be
s
bu t m e n t
”
t he
,
ee p
sw
ugg e s te d
but
,
p h ra s e
g a i n s t t h e d ri f t o f
ri v e r
a ga i n s t
a
e p i e r s ee m s
b rid g
t he
in
of
“
a
the
-
t
he
t
o
.
PA R T
I I
Pa g e 94 l i n e s 7 1 0 I s t h e ki n d o f m o rn i n g s ugge s te d i
t h e fo u r c l os i n gl i n e s o f t h i s s ta n z a c on s i s te n t t o you r m i n d w i t h
”
s un s h in e
e v en c ol d s un ?
“
A flo w in g g a rm e n t w o m b v a
Pa ge 9 4 l i n e 1 6 S u r c oa t
T h e k n ig h t s a rm s o r e m b l e m w e e e m
w a rr i o r o v e r h i s m a i l
b r o i d e r e d u p on i t
T h e s ig n o f t h e c r os s
P a ge 94 l i n e 1 7 T h e s ig n
P a ge 95 l i n e 2
I dl e
U s el es s v a i n
He s ee s t h e s n a k e l ik e c a ra v a n c ra w l
Pa ge 95 l i n e
et c
Ca n yo u di s c e r n t h e p oe t s p u r p os e i n i n t r o du c i n g t h i s
“
c ra w l
be t t e r w o r d t h a n
m ove
p i c tu re h e r e ? I s
a
or
—
—
n
.
,
,
,
,
—
,
,
.
’
r
.
.
“
—
.
,
,
”
,
.
—
.
,
.
,
-
,
,
’
—
.
“
”
g
o
”
I Vh y?
?
Pa ge 9 5 l i n e s 1 3
D o e s t h e di s c r e p a n c y i n s i z e be
t w ee n t h e li t t l e s p r i n g a n d t h e s ig n a l o f p a l m s w h i c h
?
w
n
R e m e m be r t h a t
o
r
i
s
i
d
a
v
e
a
u
p
o
o
u
s
a
t
the
it
j
y
p a l m s a re s e e n fa r off ; ot h e rw i s e t h e y w ou l d n o t be s p o k e n
s i gn a l
of a s a
—
,
“
”
,
.
P a ge
o u t c a s ts
95
lin e
,
a n
d
2 3,
n ot
De s ol a te h o r ror
be c a u e le p e rs w e e
p e rm i tte d t o a pp ro a c h t h e d w e l l i n g s o f
s
,
P a g e 96 l i n e 8
B e h ol d t h roug h h i m e t c
“
a r e a l i ttl e c o n fu s i n g
b e h o l d t h r o ug h t h i s le p e r
;
”
C h ri s t
,
,
,
,
,
r
.
,
p ro n o u n
gi v e t o t h e e
Th e
—
I
s
,
.
Pa ge
li
u e fla v o r
fo r t h e a n t i q
r h ym e s yll a b le
96,
ne
.
12
“
,
,
L e p ro s i e
a n
d
p a rtl y
p e l li n gi s u s e d p a rt l y
b e c a u s e i t a ff o r d s a s t ro n g e r
Th e
—
ol d s
N O T ES
Pa g e
9 6,
li n e s
2 1
—
22
“
,
Yet
k e n li te r a ll y
m i n d t h e m i ra c l e o f Ca n a
t o w in e
Not
be
to
ta
1 03
i t h fin e w h e a t e n b re a d e t c
p e r h a p s t h o ug h t h e p o et h a s
w h e re
t h e L o r d tu rn e d w a t e r
w
.
,
,
,
.
Pa ge
a
t
te,
l le d
h ri s t
”
9 7,
et c
—
l in e
Th e
B e a u t i fu l
s sa
n g in
i
y
”
,
’
,
T h e p i l l a r t h a t s t oo d by t h e B e a u ti ful
“
t h e g a te o f t h e t e m p l e t h a t i s
a ll u s i o n i s t o
w h e re Pete r h e a le d t h e l a m e m a n ; a n d a l s o t o
“
”
I a m t h e d oo r
t h e te n t h c h a p te r o f Jo h n
“
6,
,
.
l i n e s 1 1 1 3 I s t h e s i m il e o f t h e s n ow fa lli n g on t h e
c o n s i s t e n tl y c a r r i e d o u t ; i s
t h e r e a n yt h i n g i n S i r L a u n fa l
a
”
”?
m u s i n g w i t h d o w n c a s t f a ce
w h i c h s ugg e s ts
s h a gg y u n r e s t
a s n o t t h e p o et b ee n c a r r i e d a w a y b y h i s i m a g e b e yo n d t h e p o i n t
h e r e t h e c o r r e s p on d e n c e c e a s e s ?
Pa g e 9 7 l i n e 2 2
T h e L a s t S u pp e r o f
Ho l y S u pp e r
I i r i s t a n d h i s di s c i p le s p r es e r v e d i n t h e c o m m u n i on s e r v i c e o f
i e C h u rc h
Pa g e
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