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. [Sidenote: No twilight within the[195:1] courts of the Sun.] The Sun's rim dips: the stars rush out: At one stride comes the dark; 200 With far-heard whisper, o'er the sea, Off shot the spectre-bark. [Sidenote: At the rising of the Moon.] 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 above the eastern bar The hornéd Moon, with one bright star 210 Within the nether tip. [Sidenote: One after another,] 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 [Sidenote: His shipmates drop down dead.] Four times fifty living men, (And I heard nor sigh nor groan) With heavy thump, a lifeless lump, They dropped down one by one. [Sidenote: But Life-in-Death begins her work on the ancient Mariner.] 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 [Sidenote: The Wedding-Guest feareth that a Spirit is talking to him;] 'I fear thee, ancient Mariner! I fear thy skinny hand! 225 And thou art long, and lank, and brown, As is the ribbed sea-sand.[196:1] [Sidenote: But the ancient Mariner assureth him of his bodily life, and proceedeth to relate his horrible penance.] I fear thee and thy glittering eye, And thy skinny hand, so brown.'-- Fear not, fear not, thou Wedding-Guest! 230 This body dropt 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 [Sidenote: He despiseth the creatures of the calm,] The many men, so beautiful! And they all dead did lie: And a thousand thousand slimy things Lived on; and so did I. [Sidenote: And envieth that _they_ should live, and so many lie dead.] I looked upon the rotting sea, 240 And drew my eyes away; I looked upon the rotting deck, And there the dead men lay. I looked to heaven, and tried to pray; But or ever a prayer had gusht, 245 A wicked whisper came, and made My heart as dry as dust.