His bones were black with many a crack, Jet-black and bare, save where with rust They were patch'd* with purple and green. †] 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.t Like vessel, like crew. 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. *They're patch'd.—1798. The above stanza was omitted by the author in his own collected edi tions.-ED. Death and Lifein-Death have diced for the ship's erew, and she (the latter) winneth the ancient Mariner. No twilight within the courts of the sun. |