Samuel Taylor Coleridge
PART VI
First Voice
‘But tell me, tell me! speak again,
Thy soft response renewing—
What makes that ship drive on so fast?
What is the ocean doing?’
But tell me → কিন্তু বলো আমাকে tell me → বলো আমাকে speak again → আবার বলো Thy soft response → তোমার কোমল উত্তর renewing → আবার শোনাও What makes → কী that ship → সেই জাহাজটিকে drive on → এগিয়ে নিয়ে যায় so fast → এত দ্রুত What is → কী করছে the ocean → সমুদ্র doing → করছে
These lines show the curiosity and wonder of the spirit about the mysterious movement of the ship. The speaker eagerly asks the other spirit to continue speaking in a soft and gentle voice. The questions “What makes that ship drive on so fast?” and “What is the ocean doing?” suggest amazement at the unnatural speed of the ship. Normally, a ship moves with the help of wind or waves, but here the ship is being driven by some supernatural force. Through these lines, Coleridge creates a mysterious atmosphere and emphasizes the presence of supernatural powers guiding the Mariner’s journey.
Second Voice
Still as a slave before his lord,
The ocean hath no blast;
His great bright eye most silently
Up to the Moon is cast—
Still as a slave → দাসের মতো স্থির before his lord → তার প্রভুর সামনে The ocean → সমুদ্র hath no blast → কোনো ঝড়ো হাওয়া নেই His great bright eye → তার বিশাল উজ্জ্বল চোখ most silently → অত্যন্ত নীরবে Up to the Moon → চাঁদের দিকে is cast → নিবদ্ধ রয়েছে
These lines describe the calm and obedient state of the ocean under the influence of supernatural power. The Second Voice explains that the ocean is completely still, “as a slave before his lord,” meaning that it silently obeys a higher authority. There is no wind or storm (“the ocean hath no blast”), yet the ship continues to move mysteriously fast. The phrase “His great bright eye” refers to the ocean looking up toward the moon, as if the sea is under the moon’s magical control. Through these lines, Coleridge creates a strong supernatural atmosphere and shows nature acting in obedience to mysterious spiritual forces.
If he may know which way to go;
For she guides him smooth or grim.
See, brother, see! how graciously
She looketh down on him.’
If he may know → যদি সে জানতে পারে which way to go → কোন পথে যেতে হবে For she guides him → কারণ সে তাকে পথ দেখায় smooth or grim → শান্ত বা ভয়ংকর অবস্থায় See, brother, see → দেখো ভাই দেখো how graciously → কত স্নেহভরে She looketh down → সে নিচে তাকিয়ে আছে on him → তার দিকে
These lines show the strong influence of the Moon over the movement of the ship and the fate of the Mariner. The Second Voice explains that the ship looks toward the Moon to know which direction to follow, because the Moon guides it whether the journey is calm (“smooth”) or difficult (“grim”). The phrase “She looketh down on him” personifies the Moon as a kind and protective female figure watching over the Mariner. These lines create a mysterious and supernatural atmosphere while also suggesting that divine or spiritual powers are guiding the Mariner through his journey and suffering.
First Voice
‘But why drives on that ship so fast,
Without or wave or wind?’
Second Voice
‘The air is cut away before,
And closes from behind.
But why → কিন্তু কেন drives on → এগিয়ে চলেছে that ship → সেই জাহাজটি so fast → এত দ্রুত Without → ছাড়া or wave → ঢেউ or wind → বা বাতাস Second Voice → দ্বিতীয় কণ্ঠ The air → বাতাস is cut away → সরে যাচ্ছে before → সামনে And closes → এবং বন্ধ হয়ে যাচ্ছে from behind → পেছন থেকে
One of the mysterious voices asks in surprise why the ship is moving so quickly even though there are no waves or wind to push it forward. This creates a strange and unnatural image, because ships normally depend on wind and sea currents for movement. The question increases the sense of wonder and mystery surrounding the ship.The second voice explains that the air in front of the ship is being cut apart and then closing again behind it as the ship passes. This suggests that some supernatural force is carrying the ship across the sea. The movement appears silent, smooth, and magical rather than natural. These lines strengthen the eerie and supernatural atmosphere of the poem and show that invisible spiritual powers are controlling the ship’s journey.
Fly, brother, fly! more high, more high!
Or we shall be belated:
For slow and slow that ship will go,
When the Mariner’s trance is abated.’
Fly → উড়ে চলো brother → ভাই fly → উড়ে চলো more high → আরও উঁচুতে more high → আরও উঁচুতে Or → নইলে we shall be → আমরা হব belated → বিলম্বিত For → কারণ slow and slow → ধীরে ধীরে that ship → সেই জাহাজটি will go → চলবে When → যখন the Mariner’s → নাবিকের trance → সম্মোহিত অবস্থা is abated → কেটে যাবে
One of the supernatural voices urges the other spirit to fly faster and higher so that they will not be delayed. The voice fears that once the Ancient Mariner’s trance or unconscious state ends, the ship will begin to move slowly again. This suggests that the ship’s unnatural speed depends on the Mariner remaining under a supernatural influence.The lines create a mysterious and magical atmosphere by showing that invisible spirits are controlling the movement of the ship. The word “trance” suggests that the Mariner is caught in a strange spiritual condition, separated from ordinary reality. These lines further strengthen the supernatural mood of the poem and show that powerful unseen forces are guiding both the ship and the Mariner’s fate.
I woke, and we were sailing on
As in a gentle weather:
‘Twas night, calm night, the moon was high;
The dead men stood together.
I woke → আমি জেগে উঠলাম and we were sailing on → এবং আমরা এগিয়ে চলছিলাম As in → যেন a gentle weather → শান্ত আবহাওয়ায় ‘Twas night → সেটি ছিল রাত calm night → শান্ত রাত the moon was high → চাঁদ ছিল আকাশের অনেক উঁচুতে The dead men → মৃত লোকগুলো stood together → একসঙ্গে দাঁড়িয়ে ছিল
The poet creates a strange and supernatural atmosphere here. The Mariner wakes up and sees the ship moving smoothly in the calm moonlit night. Nature appears peaceful, but the scene suddenly becomes terrifying when the dead sailors stand up together. This supernatural event creates horror and mystery. The contrast between the calm beauty of nature and the frightening image of the dead bodies increases the eerie mood of the poem. These lines also reflect the Mariner’s fear, guilt, and mental suffering.
All stood together on the deck,
For a charnel-dungeon fitter:
All fixed on me their stony eyes,
That in the Moon did glitter.
All stood together → সবাই একসঙ্গে দাঁড়িয়ে ছিল on the deck → ডেকের উপর For → যেন a charnel-dungeon → একটি মৃতদেহের অন্ধকূপ fitter → আরও উপযুক্ত All fixed on me → সবাই আমার দিকে স্থির করে রেখেছিল their stony eyes → তাদের পাথরের মতো চোখ That → যা in the Moon → চাঁদের আলোয় did glitter → ঝলমল করছিল
These lines create a fearful and ghostly atmosphere. The dead sailors stand together on the deck like corpses in a graveyard. Their “stony eyes” shining in the moonlight make the scene more terrifying. The sailors silently stare at the Mariner, which increases his fear and guilt. Through this supernatural image, the poet presents the horror and mental suffering of the Mariner.
The pang, the curse, with which they died,
Had never passed away:
I could not draw my eyes from theirs,
Nor turn them up to pray.
The pang → যন্ত্রণা the curse → অভিশাপ with which → যা নিয়ে they died → তারা মারা গিয়েছিল Had never → কখনোই passed away → দূর হয়নি I could not → আমি পারিনি draw my eyes → আমার চোখ সরাতে from theirs → তাদের চোখ থেকে Nor → এমনকি না turn them up → উপরে তুলতে to pray → প্রার্থনা করার জন্য
These lines express the Mariner’s deep fear and guilt. The pain and curse in the eyes of the dead sailors still remain even after death. Their fixed stare terrifies the Mariner so much that he cannot look away or even pray to God. This shows his mental suffering and spiritual isolation.