By Samuel Taylor Coleridge
PART I
It is an ancient Mariner,
And he stoppeth one of three.
‘By thy long grey beard and glittering eye,
Now wherefore stopp’st thou me?’
Translation in Bangla:
It is = ইনি হলেন / তিনি হলেন an ancient Mariner = একজন প্রাচীন (বৃদ্ধ) নাবিক And = এবং he stoppeth = তিনি থামান one of three = তিনজনের মধ্যে একজনকে By thy = তোমার long grey beard = লম্বা ধূসর দাড়ি and = এবং glittering eye = ঝলমলে চোখ Now = এখন wherefore = কেন stopp’st thou me? = তুমি আমাকে থামিয়েছ? / তুমি আমাকে কেন থামিয়েছ?
summary:
These lines introduce an old sailor who suddenly stops one of three men on his way to a wedding. The Wedding-Guest becomes surprised and questions him. The description of the Mariner’s “long grey beard” and “glittering eye” creates a mysterious and supernatural atmosphere. These lines set the beginning of the poem with a sense of curiosity and interruption.
The Bridegroom’s doors are opened wide,
And I am next of kin;
The guests are met, the feast is set:
May’st hear the merry din.’
Translation in Bangla:
The Bridegroom’s doors = বরের বাড়ির দরজাগুলো are opened wide = প্রশস্তভাবে খোলা আছে And = এবং I am = আমি next of kin = নিকটতম আত্মীয় The guests = অতিথিরা are met = সমবেত হয়েছে the feast = ভোজ is set = প্রস্তুত হয়েছে / সাজানো হয়েছে May’st hear = তুমি শুনতে পারো the merry din = আনন্দমুখর কোলাহল।
summary:
present the Wedding-Guest’s reaction when he is stopped by the Mariner. He explains that the bridegroom’s house is already open for the celebration and that he is a close relative, which makes his presence important. He further describes that all the guests have gathered and the feast is ready, and the joyful noise of the celebration can already be heard. This highlights the festive and lively atmosphere of the wedding. At the same time, it creates a strong contrast between the happiness of the occasion and the interruption caused by the Mariner, increasing the reader’s sense of tension and curiosity.
He holds him with his skinny hand,
‘There was a ship,’ quoth he.
‘Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!’
Eftsoons his hand dropt he.
Translation in Bangla:
He holds him = তিনি তাকে ধরে রাখেন with his skinny hand = তাঁর শীর্ণ (রোগা) হাত দিয়ে There was = সেখানে ছিল / ছিল a ship = একটি জাহাজ quoth he = তিনি বললেন Hold off! = ছাড়ো! / সরে যাও! unhand me = আমার গা ছাড়ো / আমাকে ছেড়ে দাও grey-beard = ধূসর দাড়িওয়ালা বুড়ো loon! = পাগল! Eftsoons = সঙ্গে সঙ্গে / তৎক্ষণাৎ his hand = তাঁর হাত dropt he = তিনি ছেড়ে দিলেন।
summary:
Show the moment when the Ancient Mariner forcefully stops the Wedding-Guest and begins his story. The Mariner grabs him with his skinny hand and starts speaking about a ship, marking the beginning of his narrative. The Wedding-Guest reacts with anger and calls him a “grey-beard loon,” meaning a mad old man, and demands to be released. The Mariner then immediately lets go of his hand. This scene highlights the conflict between the Mariner and the Wedding-Guest, while also establishing the Mariner as a mysterious and determined storyteller. It builds curiosity and tension, encouraging readers to continue reading the poem to discover what happens next.
He holds him with his glittering eye—
The Wedding-Guest stood still,
And listens like a three years’ child:
The Mariner hath his will.
Translation in Bangla:
He holds him = তিনি তাকে ধরে রাখেন with his glittering eye = তাঁর ঝলমলে চোখ দিয়ে The Wedding-Guest = বিয়ের অতিথি stood still = স্থির হয়ে দাঁড়িয়ে রইল And listens = এবং শুনতে থাকে like a three years’ child = তিন বছরের শিশুর মতো The Mariner = নাবিক hath = আছে / লাভ করেছে his will = তাঁর ইচ্ছা পূর্ণ হয়েছে / তাঁর মনোমতো হয়েছে।
summary:
show the powerful and almost magical influence of the Mariner over the Wedding-Guest. The Mariner does not physically hold him anymore, but instead controls him with his “glittering eye,” which suggests a mysterious or hypnotic power. As a result, the Wedding-Guest becomes completely still and cannot resist listening. He is compared to a “three years’ child,” which shows that he is now helpless, innocent, and fully under control. The line “The Mariner hath his will” means that the Mariner successfully forces him to listen to his story. This part highlights the supernatural influence of the MariThe Wedding-Guest sat on a stone:
The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone:
He cannot choose but hear;
And thus spake on that ancient man,
The bright-eyed Mariner.
Translation in Bangla:
The Wedding-Guest = বিয়ের অতিথি sat on a stone = একটি পাথরের ওপর বসল He cannot choose but hear = তার শোনা ছাড়া আর কোনো উপায় নেই And thus = এবং এভাবে spake on = বলে চললেন that ancient man = সেই প্রাচীন (বৃদ্ধ) ব্যক্তি The bright-eyed Mariner = উজ্জ্বল চোখের নাবিক।
summary:
The Wedding Guest has now fully surrendered to the Mariner’s influence. He sits down on a stone and has no choice but to listen to the story. This indicates that he is completely controlled by the Mariner’s strange and powerful presence. The phrase “he cannot choose but hear” emphasizes that he is forced to listen whether he wants to or not. The Mariner, described as the “bright-eyed Mariner,” then continues his tale. This part highlights the Mariner’s strong storytelling power and builds a mysterious and engaging atmosphere, drawing the reader deeper into the poem.
‘The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared,
Merrily did we drop
Below the kirk, below the hill,
Below the lighthouse top.
Translation in Bangla:
The ship = জাহাজটি was cheered = উল্লাসধ্বনির মাধ্যমে বিদায় জানানো হয়েছিল the harbour = বন্দর cleared = ছেড়ে এসেছিল / ত্যাগ করেছিল Merrily = আনন্দের সঙ্গে did we drop = আমরা এগিয়ে চললাম / যাত্রা করলাম Below the kirk = গির্জার নিচ দিয়ে below the hill = পাহাড়ের নিচ দিয়ে Below the lighthouse top = বাতিঘরের চূড়ার নিচ দিয়ে।
summary:
These lines from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner describe the beginning of the Mariner’s sea journey. The ship leaves the harbor with great excitement and happiness, as people cheer it goodbye. The word “merrily” shows a joyful and positive atmosphere at the start of the voyage. As the ship moves away, it passes familiar landmarks like the church (“kirk”), the hill, and the lighthouse. This creates a clear visual picture of the ship slowly leaving land behind and entering the sea. Overall, these lines highlight a cheerful beginning of the journey and set a calm and optimistic mood before the events of the story turn darker later.
The Sun came up upon the left,
Out of the sea came he!
And he shone bright, and on the right
Went down into the sea.
Translation in Bangla:
The Sun = সূর্য came up = উদিত হলো upon the left = বাম দিকে Out of the sea = সমুদ্র থেকে came he = তিনি (সূর্য) উঠে এলেন And he = এবং তিনি (সূর্য) shone bright = উজ্জ্বলভাবে আলো দিলেন and on the right = এবং ডান দিকে went down = অস্ত গেলেন into the sea = সমুদ্রের মধ্যে।
summary:
Describe the movement of the sun during the Mariner’s voyage at sea. The sun rises on the left side from the sea and shines brightly across the sky. Then it sets on the right side back into the sea. This shows the natural cycle of day and night in a simple and clear way. The repetition of the sea emphasizes the vastness of the ocean and the isolation of the ship. These lines also help create a vivid visual image of the journey and show how nature plays an important role in the poem’s setting.
Higher and higher every day,
Till over the mast at noon—’
The Wedding-Guest here beat his breast,
For he heard the loud bassoon.
Translation in Bangla:
Higher and higher = আরও উঁচুতে ও আরও উঁচুতে every day = প্রতিদিন Till = যতক্ষণ না / অবশেষে over the mast = মাস্তুলের ওপরে at noon = দুপুরবেলায় The Wedding-Guest = বিয়ের অতিথি here = এখানে beat his breast = নিজের বুকে আঘাত করল For = কারণ he heard = সে শুনতে পেল the loud bassoon = উচ্চস্বরের ব্যাসুনের (বাদ্যযন্ত্রের) শব্দ।
How the Mariner continues his story about the ship’s journey. The phrase “Higher and higher every day” shows that the sun keeps rising to its highest point at noon, indicating the passage of time at sea. The line “till over the mast at noon” suggests that the sun is directly above the ship, creating a strong and intense atmosphere. At this moment, the narrative briefly shifts back to the present situation, where the Wedding-Guest reacts by beating his breast because he hears the sound of the bassoon from the wedding feast. This shows his inner conflict between listening to the Mariner’s story and attending the joyful celebration. It also highlights the contrast between the serious, mysterious tale and the lively wedding atmosphere.
The bride hath paced into the hall,
Red as a rose is she;
Nodding their heads before her goes
The merry minstrelsy.
Translation in Bangla:
The bride = কনে hath paced = হেঁটে এসেছে into the hall = সভাকক্ষে / হলঘরে Red as a rose = গোলাপের মতো লাল is she = সে Nodding their heads = মাথা দুলিয়ে before her = তার সামনে goes = এগিয়ে যায় The merry minstrelsy = আনন্দময় বাদ্যযন্ত্রীদের দল।
Briefly shift the focus back to the wedding scene. The bride enters the hall looking very beautiful and cheerful, and she is compared to a “red rose,” which symbolizes beauty, love, and celebration. The “merry minstrelsy” (musicians) go ahead of her, nodding their heads as they play joyful music, which shows the lively and festive atmosphere of the wedding. These lines create a strong contrast between the happiness of the wedding celebration and the serious, mysterious story being told by the Mariner, highlighting the Wedding-Guest’s divided attention between joy and storytelling.