IN the greenest of our valleys,

By good angels tenanted,

Once a fair and stately palace

(Snow-white palace) reared its head.

In the monarch Thought's dominion

It stood there!

Never seraph spread a pinion

Over fabric half so fair.

 

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 ramparts plumed and pallid,

A winged odour went away.

 

Wanderers in that happy valley

Through two luminous windows saw

Spirits moving musically,

To a lute's well-tunéd law;

Round about a throne, where, sitting

(Porphyrogene)!

In state his glory well befitting,

The ruler of the realm was seen. [page 278:]

 

And all with 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.

 

But evil things in robes of sorrow,

Assail'd 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 blush'd and bloom'd,

Is but a dim-remember'd story

Of the old time entomb'd.

 

And travellers now within that valley,

Through the red-litten 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.