The Ancient Rime of Jonah recounts the experiences of the prophet Jonah after he has returned home from his epic journey. The narrator recognizes the prophet as he enters the city gates and is anxious to hear his tale. Soon his audience is captivated by the emotional account of his interactions with sailors, a great fish, the people of Nineveh and the almighty God. There lay the sea the spacious sea. O, how its vats do teem With living things both great and small, abundant and pristine. His adventure dramatizes the truth that the same mercy and forgiveness available from God to Jonah is also available to his enemies when they repent and believe.