I
In the greenest of our valleys
By good angels tenanted,
Once a fair and stately palace--
Snow-White palace--reared its head.
In it the monarch Thought's dominion--
It stood there!
Never seraph spread his pinion
Over fabric half so fair!
II
Banners yellow, glorious, golden,
On its roof did float and flow--
(This--all this--was in the olden
Time long ago)
And every gentle air that dallied,
In that sweet day,
Along the rampart plumed and pallid,
A winged odor went away.
III
All wanderers in that happy valley,
Through two luminous windows, saw
Spirits moving musically,
To a lute's well-tuned law,
Round about a throne where, sitting,
Porphyrogene,
In state his glory well befitting
The sovereign of the realm was seen.
IV
And with all pearl and ruby glowing
Was the fair palace door,
Through which came flowing, flowing, flowing
And sparkling evermore,
A troop of Echoes whose sweet duty
Was but to sing,
In voices of surpassing beauty,
The wit and wisdom of their king.
V
But evil things, in robes of sorrow,
Assailed the monarch's high estate.
(Ah, let us mourn!--for never morrow
Shall dawn upon him, desolate!)
And round about his home the glory
That blushed and bloomed,
Is but a dim-remembered story
Of the old-time entombed.
VI
And travellers, now, within that valley
Through the encrimsoned windows see
Vast forms that move fantastically
To a discordant melody,
while, like a rapid ghastly river,
Through the pale door
A hideous throng rush out forever
And laugh--but smile no more.
(1839)