They moved in tracks of shining white,
And when they reared, the elfish light
Fell off in hoary flakes.
Within the shadow of the ship
I watched their rich attire:
Blue, glossy green, and velvet black,
They coiled and swam; and every track
Was a flash of golden fire.
And I bless-ed them unaware:
Sure my kind saint took pity on me,
And I blessed them unaware.
The self-same moment I could pray;
And from my neck so free
The Albatross fell off, and sank
Like lead into the sea.
Part V
- Oh sleep! it is a gentle thing,
- Beloved from pole to pole!
- To Mary Queen the praise be given!
- She sent the gentle sleep from Heaven,
- That slid into my soul.
- The silly buckets on the deck,
- That had so long remained,
- I dreamt that they were filled with dew;
- And when I awoke, it rained.
- My lips were wet, my throat was cold,
- My garments all were dank;
- Sure I had drunken in my dreams,
- And still my body drank.
- I moved, and could not feel my limbs:
- I was so light--almost
- I thought that I had died in sleep,