PART III

'There pass'd a weary time. Each throat Was parch'd, and glazed each eye. A weary time! A weary time! How glazed each weary eye! When looking westward, I beheld A something in the sky.

'At first it seem'd a little speck, And then it seem'd a mist; It moved and moved, and took at last A certain shape, I wist.

'A speck, a mist, a shape, I wist! And still it near'd and near'd: As if it dodged a water-sprite, It plunged and tack'd and veered.

'With throats unslaked, with black lips baked, We could nor laugh nor wail; Through utter drought all dumb we stood! I bit my arm, I suck'd the blood, And cried, "A sail! a sail!"

'With throats unslaked, with black lips baked, Agape they heard me call: Gramercy! they for joy did grin, And all at once their breath drew in, As they were drinking all.

'See! see! (I cried) she tacks no more! Hither to work us weal; Without a breeze, without a tide, She steadies with upright keel!

'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 Betwixt us and the Sun.

'And straight the Sun was fleck'd with bars, (Heaven's Mother send us grace!) As if through a dungeon-grate he peered, With broad and burning face.

'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?

'Are those _her_ ribs through which the Sun 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, Her locks were yellow as gold: Her skin was as white as leprosy, The Night-mare Life-in-Death was she, Who thicks man's blood with cold.

'The naked hulk alongside came, 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; With far-heard whisper, o'er the sea Off shot the spectre-bark.

'We listen'd and look'd sideways up! Fear at my heart, as at a cup, My life-blood seem'd to sip! The stars were dim, and thick the night, The steersman's face by his lamp gleam'd white;

From the sails the dew did drip-- Till clomb above the eastern bar The horned Moon, with one bright star Within the nether tip.

'One after one, by the star-dogg'd Moon, Too quick for groan or sigh, Each turn'd his face with a ghastly pang, And cursed me with his eye.

'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,-- They fled to bliss or woe! And every soul, it pass'd me by, Like the whizz of my cross-bow!'