In the greenest of our valleys

By good angels tenanted,

[[n]]

Once a fair and stately palace —

[[v]]

Radiant palace — reared its head. [page 103:]

5

[[n]]

In the monarch Thought's dominion,

It stood there!

[[v]]

Never seraph spread a pinion

Over fabric half so fair!

 

[[n]]

Banners yellow, glorious, golden,

10

[[n]]

On its roof did float and flow,

(This — all this — was in the olden

[[n]]

Time long ago,)

And every gentle air that dallied,

In that sweet day,

15

Along the ramparts plumed and pallid,

[[n]]

A wingèd odor went away.

 

[[v]]

Wanderers in that happy valley,

Through two luminous windows, saw

Spirits moving musically,

20

To a lute's well-tunèd law,

Round about a throne where, sitting,

[[n]]

Porphyrogene,

In state his glory well befitting,

[[v]]

The ruler of the realm was seen.

 

25

And all with pearl and ruby glowing

Was the fair palace door,

[[n]]

Through which came flowing, flowing, flowing

And sparkling evermore,

[[v]]

A troop of Echoes, whose sweet duty

30

[[n]]

Was but to sing,

In voices of surpassing beauty,

The wit and wisdom of their king. [page 104:]

 

But evil things, in robes of sorrow,

Assailed the monarch's high estate.

35

(Ah, let us mourn! — for never morrow

[[n]]

Shall dawn upon him desolate!)

And round about his home the glory

That blushed and bloomed

Is but a dim-remembered story

40

Of the old-time entombed.

 

And travellers, now, within that valley,

[[n]]

Through the encrimson’d windows see

[[n]]

Vast forms that move fantastically

To a discordant melody,

45

[[v]]

[[n]]

While, like a ghastly rapid river,

Through the pale door

A hideous throng rush out forever

And laugh — but smile no more.

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