Samuel Taylor Coleridge
PART VII
This Hermit good lives in that wood
Which slopes down to the sea.
How loudly his sweet voice he rears!
He loves to talk with marineres
That come from a far countree.
Translation in Bangla:
This Hermit good lives in that wood = সেই সৎ সন্ন্যাসী ওই বনে বাস করেন,
Which slopes down to the sea. = যে বনটি ঢালু হয়ে সমুদ্র পর্যন্ত নেমে গেছে।
How loudly his sweet voice he rears! = কী উচ্চস্বরে তিনি তাঁর মধুর কণ্ঠে গান গেয়ে ওঠেন!
He loves to talk with marineres = তিনি নাবিকদের সঙ্গে কথা বলতে ভালোবাসেন,
That come from a far countree. = যারা দূর-দূরান্তের দেশ থেকে আসে।
summary:
These lines describe the Hermit as a holy and kind man who lives in the forest near the sea. His loud and sweet voice shows his devotion to God through prayers and hymns. He is friendly and loves to speak with sailors who come from distant lands. The Mariner sees him as a spiritual helper who can listen to his confession and offer forgiveness for his sins.
He kneels at morn, and noon, and eve—
He hath a cushion plump:
It is the moss that wholly hides
The rotted old oak-stump.
Translation in Bangla:
He kneels at morn, and noon, and eve— = তিনি সকাল, দুপুর ও সন্ধ্যায় হাঁটু গেড়ে প্রার্থনা করেন—
He hath a cushion plump: = তাঁর একটি নরম আসন আছে,
It is the moss that wholly hides = সেটি আসলে শ্যাওলা, যা সম্পূর্ণ ঢেকে রেখেছে
The rotted old oak-stump. = একটি পচে যাওয়া পুরোনো ওক গাছের গুঁড়িকে।
summary:
These lines describe the Hermit’s simple and devout life. He prays three times a day—morning, noon, and evening—showing his deep religious faith. His “cushion” is not made by humans but is soft moss covering an old, decayed oak tree stump. This highlights his humble, natural, and spiritual lifestyle, close to nature and far from worldly comforts.
The skiff-boat neared: I heard them talk,
‘Why, this is strange, I trow!
Where are those lights so many and fair,
That signal made but now?’
Translation in Bangla:
The skiff-boat neared: = ছোট নৌকাটি কাছে এসে পৌঁছাল,
I heard them talk, = আমি তাদের কথা বলতে শুনলাম,
‘Why, this is strange, I trow! = ‘আরে, আমার তো মনে হচ্ছে, এটা খুবই অদ্ভুত!
Where are those lights so many and fair, = এতগুলো সুন্দর আলো কোথায় গেল,
That signal made but now?’ = যেগুলো একটু আগেই সংকেত দিচ্ছিল?’
summary:
These lines show confusion and mystery as the rescue boat approaches. The Mariner hears the sailors in the skiff talking in surprise. They cannot see the bright lights that were earlier seen on the ship. This suggests that the supernatural vision is disappearing as normal human reality returns. The contrast highlights the mystery of what the sailors cannot understand.
‘Strange, by my faith!’ the Hermit said—
‘And they answered not our cheer!
The planks looked warped! and see those sails,
How thin they are and sere!
I never saw aught like to them,
Unless perchance it were
Translation in Bangla:
‘Strange, by my faith!’ the Hermit said— = ‘সত্যিই অদ্ভুত, ঈশ্বরের কসম!’—সন্ন্যাসী বললেন।
‘And they answered not our cheer! = ‘আর তারা আমাদের শুভেচ্ছার ডাকের কোনো উত্তরও দিল না!
The planks looked warped! = জাহাজের তক্তাগুলো বেঁকে যাওয়া মনে হচ্ছে!
and see those sails, = আর ওই পালগুলোর দিকে তাকাও,
How thin they are and sere! = কত পাতলা আর শুকনো (জীর্ণ) সেগুলো!
I never saw aught like to them, = আমি কখনও এরকম কিছু দেখিনি,
Unless perchance it were = যদি না হয়তো সেটা ছিল…
summary:
These lines show the Hermit’s shock and confusion as he sees the strange condition of the ship. He is surprised because the sailors on the ship do not respond to their greetings. The ship itself looks unnatural—the planks seem warped and the sails look thin and dried up. The Hermit has never seen anything like it before, which increases the mysterious and supernatural feeling of the scene.
Brown skeletons of leaves that lag
My forest-brook along;
When the ivy-tod is heavy with snow,
And the owlet whoops to the wolf below,
That eats the she-wolf’s young.’
Translation in Bangla:
Brown skeletons of leaves that lag = বাদামি রঙের কঙ্কালের মতো শুকনো পাতাগুলো, যা পড়ে থাকে,
My forest-brook along; = আমার বনভূমির ছোট ঝরনাটির ধারে।
When the ivy-tod is heavy with snow, = যখন আইভি-লতায় ঢাকা গাছের গুঁড়ি তুষারের ভারে নুয়ে পড়ে,
And the owlet whoops to the wolf below, = আর ছোট পেঁচাটি নিচের নেকড়ের উদ্দেশে ডাক দেয়,
That eats the she-wolf’s young.’ = যে নেকড়েটি মা-নেকড়ের শাবকগুলোকে খেয়ে ফেলে।
summary:
These lines create a dark and disturbing image using nature and violence. The “brown skeletons of leaves” show decay and death in the forest. Even the natural world seems lifeless and covered in winter snow. The mention of the owl and wolf adds to the frightening atmosphere, suggesting a cruel cycle of nature where stronger animals destroy the weaker ones. Overall, these images highlight destruction, death, and the eerie mood of the poem.
‘Dear Lord! it hath a fiendish look—
(The Pilot made reply)
I am a-feared’—’Push on, push on!’
Said the Hermit cheerily.
Translation in Bangla:
‘Dear Lord! it hath a fiendish look— = ‘হে প্রভু! এটিকে তো ভয়ংকর অশুভ কিছু মনে হচ্ছে—
(The Pilot made reply) = (পাইলট উত্তর দিলেন।)
I am a-feared’— = ‘আমি খুব ভয় পাচ্ছি’—
‘Push on, push on!’ = ‘এগিয়ে চলো, এগিয়ে চলো!’
Said the Hermit cheerily. = সন্ন্যাসী প্রফুল্ল কণ্ঠে বললেন।
summary:
These lines show a strong sense of fear and mystery. The Pilot becomes frightened after seeing the strange and “fiendish” appearance of the ship. He feels danger and anxiety, but the Hermit tries to stay calm and encourages them to move forward bravely. This contrast shows human fear facing the unknown supernatural experience of the Mariner’s ship.
The boat came closer to the ship,
But I nor spake nor stirred;
The boat came close beneath the ship,
And straight a sound was heard.
Translation in Bangla:
The boat came closer to the ship, = নৌকাটি জাহাজের আরও কাছে এসে পৌঁছাল,
But I nor spake nor stirred; = কিন্তু আমি না কোনো কথা বললাম, না নড়াচড়া করলাম।
The boat came close beneath the ship, = নৌকাটি জাহাজের একেবারে নিচে এসে পৌঁছাল,
And straight a sound was heard. = আর সঙ্গে সঙ্গেই একটি শব্দ শোনা গেল।
summary:
These lines show suspense and mystery as the rescue boat approaches the ship. The Mariner remains completely still and silent, unable to speak or move. As the boat comes right beneath the ship, a sudden sound is heard, creating tension and indicating that something unusual or supernatural is about to happen.
Under the water it rumbled on,
Still louder and more dread:
It reached the ship, it split the bay;
The ship went down like lead.
Translation in Bangla:
Under the water it rumbled on, = পানির নিচে সেটি গর্জন করতে লাগল,
Still louder and more dread: = ক্রমশ আরও জোরে ও আরও ভয়ংকর হয়ে উঠল।
It reached the ship, = সেটি জাহাজের কাছে পৌঁছাল,
it split the bay; = তা উপসাগরের জলরাশিকে দ্বিখণ্ডিত করে দিল।
The ship went down like lead. = জাহাজটি সিসার মতো ডুবে গেল।
summary:
These lines describe the final destruction of the ghostly ship. A deep, rumbling sound rises from under the water and becomes more frightening as it grows louder. It reaches the ship, splits the bay, and the ship sinks heavily like lead. This marks the end of the supernatural voyage and the release of the Mariner from his cursed journey.
Stunned by that loud and dreadful sound,
Which sky and ocean smote,
Like one that hath been seven days drowned
My body lay afloat;
But swift as dreams, myself I found
Within the Pilot’s boat.
Translation in Bangla:
Stunned by that loud and dreadful sound, = সেই প্রচণ্ড ও ভয়ংকর শব্দে আমি স্তম্ভিত হয়ে গেলাম,
Which sky and ocean smote, = যা আকাশ ও সমুদ্রকে যেন আঘাত করেছিল,
Like one that hath been seven days drowned = যেন সাত দিন ধরে ডুবে থাকা একজন মানুষের মতো,
My body lay afloat; = আমার দেহ পানির ওপর ভেসে ছিল।
But swift as dreams, = কিন্তু স্বপ্নের মতো দ্রুত,
myself I found = আমি নিজেকে দেখতে পেলাম,
Within the Pilot’s boat. = পাইলটের নৌকার ভেতরে।
summary:
These lines show the Mariner’s shocking experience as the ship sinks. The loud, terrible sound overwhelms him, as if both sky and sea are struck together. He feels weak and almost lifeless, like someone drowned for many days, but his body floats on the water. Then, in a sudden and dream-like moment, he finds himself in the Pilot’s boat. This shows a shift from supernatural chaos to uncertain human rescue.