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 long ago)

And every gentle air that dallied

In that sweet day

Along the ramparts plumed and pallid

A wingèd odor went away

Wanderers in that happy valley

Through two luminous windows saw

Spirits moving musically

To a lute's well-tunèd 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

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