HERE 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, The ancient Mari- When looking westward, I beheld ner beholdeth a sign in the element A something in the sky.† afar off. 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: And as if it dodged a water-sprite, It plunged and tack'd and veer'd. * So pass'd a weary time.-1800. In the original version (1798) the Third Part opens: "I saw a something in the sky No bigger than my fist." With throats unslaked, with black lips baked, Through utter drought all dumb we stood!* I bit my arm, I suck'd the blood, And cried, 'A sail! a sail!' At its nearer ap proach, it seemeth him to be a ship; and at a dear ransom he freeth his speech from the bonds of thirst. 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. *Then while thro' drouth all dumb they stood.-1798. She doth not tack from side to side.—Ib. Withouten wind, withouten tide.—Ib. A flash of joy; And horror fol lows. For can it be a ship that comes onward without wind or tide? |