Ed Sanders - The Haunted Palace lyrics

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