In Part IV, as the Mariner admires the water-snakes, he feels a "spring of love" gushing from his heart:
A spring of love gusht from my heart,
And I bless'd them unaware!
Sure my kind saint took pity on me,
And I bless'd them unaware.
Here, the Mariner expresses genuine awe and love for the water-snakes. The snakes serve as a metaphor for nature as a whole, as they are a single example of the vast natural world that the Mariner once disrespected by killing the albatross but later comes to love and respect.
Moreover, the "spring" that comes from the Mariner's heart not only suggests the source or origin of this love but also invokes imagery of a natural, life-giving force. Just as a spring is a fresh, pure source of water, untainted by external influences, the love that emanates from the Mariner's heart seems untainted and genuine. Prior to this moment, the Mariner has been burdened by guilt and the weight of his actions, particularly the killing of the albatross. The sudden emergence of love represents redemption, a cleansing and renewing experience for the Mariner's soul. It highlights the capacity for human transformation and the possibility of redemption through love and compassion. This metaphor appears just before the albatross falls from the Mariner's neck, freeing him from the burden of guilt and opening his mind to the beauty of nature.
