I 95 



BIRDS IN THE FROST FOG 



"And now there came both mist and snow, 



And it grew wondrous cold." Ancient Mariner. 



THE sufferings which fell on the Ancient Mariner 

 and his comrades for the wanton killing of the albatross 

 were the penalty of a bird murder of the most aggra- 

 vated kind, for in killing the albatross they broke the 

 bond of an alliance formed between comrades in mis- 

 fortune. The sea-bird suffered from the fog and mist 

 in the same degree and in the same way as did the lost 

 ship's crew. They saw in the bird a comrade, and the 

 bird found in the ship and its crew both society and a 

 home 



"At length did cross an Albatross, 



Through the fog it came ; 

 As it had been a Christian soul, 

 We hailed it in God's name. 



In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud, 



It perched for vespers nine ; 

 Whilst all the night, through fog-smoke white, 



Glimmered the bright moonshine. 



It ate the food it ne'er had eat, 



And round and round it flew. 

 The ice did split with a thunder fit, 



And the helmsman steered us through ! " 



