His dying words-but when I reach'd
That tenderest strain of all the ditty,
My falt'ring voice and pausing harp
Disturb'd her soul with pity!

All impulses of soul and sense
Had thrill'd my guileless Genevieve,
The music, and the doleful tale,
The rich and balmy Eve;

And Hopes, and Fears that kindle Hope,
An undistinguishable throng!
And gentle wishes long subdued,
Subdued and cherish'd long!

She wept with pity and delight;
She blush'd with love and maiden shame;
And, like the murmur of a dream,
I heard her breathe my name.

Her bosom heav'd-she stepp'd aside;
As conscious of my look, she stepp'd-
Then suddenly with timorous eye
She fled to me and wept.

She half inclosed me with her arms,
She press'd me with a meek embrace;
And bending back her head look'd up,
And gaz'd upon my face.

'Twas partly Love, and partly Fear,
And partly 'twas a bashful Art
That I might rather feel than see
The Swelling of her Heart.

I calm'd her fears, and she was calm, And told her Love with virgin pride. And so I won my Genevieve,

My bright and beauteous Bride!

THE ANCIENT MARINER,

A POET'S REVERIE.

ARGUMENT.

How a Ship having first sailed to the Equator, was driven by Storms to the cold Country towards the South Pole: How the Ancient Mariner, cruelly and in contempt of the Laws of Hospitality, killed a Sea-bird; and how he was followed by many and strange Judgments; and in what Manner he came back to his own Country.

THE RIME

OF THE

ANCYENT MARINERE,

IN SEVEN PARTS.

I.

It is an ancyent Marinere,
And he stoppeth one of three:

'By thy long grey beard and thy glittering eye "Now wherefore stoppest me?

"The Bridegroom's doors are open'd wide "And I am next of kin;

"The Guests are met, the Feast is set,"May'st hear the merry din."

But still he holds the wedding-guest'There was a Ship,' quoth he

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Nay, if thou'st got a laughsome tale, "Marinere! come with me."

VOL. I. B

He holds him with his skinny hand,
Quoth he, There was a Ship-'

"Now get the hence, thou grey-beard Loon! "Or my Staff shall make thee skip."

He holds him with his glittering eye-
The wedding-guest stood still,
And listens like a three year's child;
The Marinere hath his will.

The wedding-guest sate on a stone,
He cannot chuse but hear:
And thus spake on that ancyent Man,
The bright-eyed Marinere.

The ship was cheer'd, the harbour clear'd

6

Merrily did we drop

Below the kirk, below the hill,

Below the light-house top.

The Sun came up upon the left, "Out of the sea came he:

And he shone bright, and on the right 'Went down into the sea.

• Higher and higher every day,

'Till over the mast at noon

The wedding-guest here beat his breast,
For he heard the loud bassoon.