Page "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" Paragraph 3

The Mariner's tale begins with his ship departing on its journey.

Despite initial good fortune, the ship is driven south off course by a storm and eventually reaches Antarctica.

An albatross appears and leads them out of the Antarctic but, even as the albatross is praised by the ship's crew, the Mariner shoots the bird (" with my cross-bow / I shot the albatross ").

The crew is angry with the Mariner, believing the albatross brought the south wind that led them out of the Antarctic.

However, the sailors change their minds when the weather becomes warmer and the mist disappears ("' Twas right, said they, such birds to slay / that bring the fog and mist ").

However, they made a grave mistake in supporting this crime as it arouses the wrath of spirits who then pursue the ship " from the land of mist and snow "; the south wind that had initially led them from the land of ice now sends the ship into uncharted waters, where it is becalmed.