Andhelaunchedashipofsilvermail，Withfiftyladstohoistthesail，Andtwentywisealltonguestheyknew，AndAflatun，andAristu。
TherehadnotdawnedtheseconddayButtheglitteringgalleonsailedaway，AndthroughthenightlikeonegreatbellThemarshalledarmiessangfarewell。
IntwentydaysthesilvershipHadpassedtheIsleofSerendip，AndmadetheflatArauniancoastsInhabited，atnoon，byGhosts。
InthirtydaystheshipwasfarBeyondthelandofCalcobar，WheremendrinkDeadMen\'sBloodforwine，Anddyetheirbeardsalizarine。
ButonthehundredthdaytherecameStormwithhiswindywingsaflame，AnddravethemouttothatLoneSeaWhoseshoresarenearEternity。
ForsevenyearsandsevenyearsSailedthoseforgottenmariners，NorcouldtheyspyoneitherhandThefaintestlevelofgoodredland。
Birdorfishtheysawnotone;
Thereswamnoshipbesidetheirown，AnddaynightlongtheliliedDeepLayroundthem，withitsflowersasleep。
Thebeamsbegantowarpandcrack，Thesilverplatesturnedfilthyblack，AnddroopingdownonthecarvenrailsHungthoseoncelovelysilkensails。
Andallthegreatship\'screwwhowereSuchnobleladstodoanddareGrewoldandtiredofthechangelessskyAndlaidthemdownonthedecktodie。
AndtheywhospakealltonguestherebeMadeanticswithsolemnity，OrcloselyhuddledeachtoeachTalkedribaldinaforeignspeech。
AndAflatunandAristuLettheirBeardsgrow，andtheirBeardsgrewRoundandaboutthemainmasttreeWheretheystoodstill，andwatchedthesea。
AnddaybydaytheirCaptaingreyKneltontherottingpooptopray:
AndyetdespitetenthousandprayersTheysawnoshipthatwasnottheirs。
WhenthricethesevenyearshadpassedTheysawaship，ashipatlast！
Untarnishedgloweditssilvermail，Windlessbellieditssilkensail。
WithashoutthegrizzledsailorsroseCursingtheyearsofsickrepose，AndtheywhospakeintonguesunknownGladlyrevertedtotheirown。
TheCaptainleaptandlefthisprayersAndhasteneddownthedustdarkstairs，AndtakingtohandabrazenWhipHewoketolifethelongdeadship。
ButAflatunandAristu，Whohadnoworkthattheycoulddo，GazedatthestrangerShipandSeaWiththeirbeardsaroundthemainmasttree。
Nearerandnearerthenewboatcame，Tillthehandscriedoutontheoldship\'sshame
\"Silkensailtoasilverboat，Wetooshonewhenwefirstsetfloat！\"
Swifterandswifterthebrightboatsped，Butthehandsspakethinlikemenlongdead
\"HowstrikinglikethatboatwereweInthedays，sweetdays，whenweputtosea。
TheshipallblackandtheshipallwhiteMetlikethemeetingofdayandnight，Met，andtherelayserenedarkgreenAtwilightyardoftheseabetween。
AndthetwentymastersofforeignspeechOfeverytonguetheyknewtriedeach;
Smiling，thesilverCaptainheard，Butshookhisheadandsaidnoword。
ThenAflatunandAristuAddressedthesilverLordanew，SpeakingtheirlanguageofYoonistanLikecountrymentoacountryman。
And\"Whence，\"theycried，\"OSonsofPride，Sailyouthedarketernaltide？
LieyourhallstotheSouthorNorth，AndwhoistheKingthatsentyouforth？\"
\"Welive，\"repliedthatLordwithasmile，\"Amilebeyondthemillionthmile。
WeknownotSouthandweknownotNorth，AndSULTANISKANDERsentusforth。\"
SaidAristutoAflatun
\"SurelyourKing，despondentsoon，HassentthissecondshiptofindUnconqueredtractsofhumankind。\"
ButAflatunturnedroundonhimLaughingabitterlaughandgrim。
\"Alas，\"hesaid，\"OAristu，Awhiteweakthinoldfoolareyou。
\"AnddoesyonsilverShipappearAsshehadjourneyedtwentyyear？
AndhasthatsilverCaptain\'sfaceAmortalorImmortalgrace？
\"Theirsistheland（aswellIknow）
WherelivetheShapesofThingsBelow:
TheirsisthecountrywheretheykeepTheImagesmenseeinSleep。
\"TheirsistheLandbeyondtheDoor，Andtheirstheoldidealshore。
Theysteerourship:beholdourcrewIdeal，andourCaptaintoo。
\"Andlo！besidethatmainmasttreeTwotallandshiningformsIsee，Andtheyarewhatweoughttobe，Yetwearethey，andtheyarewe。\"
Hespake，andsomeyoungZephyrstirredThetwoshipstouched:nosoundwasheard;
TheBlackShipcrumbledintoair;
OnlythePhantomShipwasthere。
AndagreatcryrangroundtheskyOfglorioussingerssweepingby，AndcalmandfaironwavesthatshoneTheSilverShipsailedonandon。