"The western wave was all a-flame, The day was well-nigh done! Almost upon the western wave Rested the broad bright Sun; When that strange shape drove suddenly 175 Betwixt us and the Sun. "And straight[27] the Sun was flecked with bars,[28] (Heaven's Mother[29] send us grace!) As if through a dungeon grate he peered With broad and burning face. 180 "Alas! (thought I, and my heart beat loud) How fast she nears and nears! Are those her sails that glance in the Sun, Like restless gossameres?[30] "Are those her ribs through which the Sun 185 Did peer, as through a grate? And is that Woman all her crew? Is that a Death? and are there two? Is Death that woman's mate? "Her lips were red, her looks were free, 190 Her locks were yellow as gold: Her skin was as white as leprosy, The Nightmare Life-in-Death[31] was she Who thicks man's blood with cold. "The naked hulk alongside came, 195 And the twain were casting dice; 'The game is done! I've won, I've won!' Quoth she, and whistles thrice. "The Sun's rim dips; the stars rush out; At one stride comes the dark;[32] 200 With far-heard whisper o'er the sea Off shot the spectre-bark. "We listened and looked sideways up! Fear at my heart, as at a cup, My life-blood seemed to sip! 205 The stars were dim, and thick the night, The steersman's face by his lamp gleamed white; From the sails the dew did drip-- Till clomb[33] above the eastern bar The horned Moon, with one bright star 210 Within the nether tip.[34] "One after one, by the star-dogged Moon, Too quick for groan or sigh, Each turned his face with a ghastly pang, And cursed me with his eye. 215 "Four times fifty living men, (And I heard nor sigh nor groan) With heavy thump, a lifeless lump, They dropped down one by one. "The souls did from their bodies fly,-- 220 They fled to bliss or woe! And every soul, it passed me by, Like the whizz of my cross-bow!" PART IV "I fear thee,[35] ancient Mariner! I fear thy skinny hand! 225 And thou art long, and lank, and brown,[36] As is the ribbed sea-sand, "I fear thee and thy glittering eye, And thy skinny hand, so brown."-- "Fear not, fear not, thou Wedding-Guest! 230 This body dropped not down. "Alone, alone, all, all alone, Alone on a wide, wide sea! And never a saint took pity on My soul in agony. 235 "The many men, so beautiful! And they all dead did lie: And a thousand thousand slimy things Lived on; and so did I. "I looked upon the rotting sea, 240 And drew my eyes away; I looked upon the rotting deck, And there the dead men lay.