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?
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."
He holds him with his skinny hand;
"There was a ship," quoth he.

In this excerpt from "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," Samuel Taylor Coleridge introduces the Mariner, a figure burdened by guilt and perpetually seeking redemption through storytelling. The Mariner interrupts a wedding guest, one of three, emphasizing the randomness yet inevitability of his need to share his tale. The guest's protest underscores the tension between worldly celebration and the ominous lesson the Mariner carries. The contrast between the festivities and the Mariner's grim tale highlights themes of isolation and the perpetual human struggle with morality. The Mariner's "long grey beard and glittering eye" suggest wisdom and an irresistible, otherworldly compulsion that commands attention despite the setting's joyous nature. This moment sets the stage for the unfolding narrative about the Mariner's journey of sin, penance, and the ultimate quest for redemption.