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。