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 wingèd odour 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 surpassing 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,