In the greenest of our valleys
By good angels tenanted
Once a fair and stately palace —
Radiant 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 odor went away
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 ruler of the realm was seen
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 surpa**ing beauty
The wit and wisdom of their king
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
And travellers, now, within that valley
Through the red-litten windows
See
Vast forms, that move fantastically
To a discordant melody
While, like a ghastly rapid river
Through the pale door
A hideous throng rush out forever
And laugh — but smile no more