The Haunted Palace

9Banners yellow, glorious, golden,

10 On its roof did float and flow,

11(This — all this — was in the olden

12 Time long ago),

13And every gentle air that dallied,

14 In that sweet day,

15Along the ramparts plumed and pallid,

16 A winged odor went away.

17Wanderers in that happy valley,

18 Through two luminous windows, saw

19Spirits moving musically,

20 To a lute's well-tunëd law,

21Bound about a throne where, sitting

22 (Porphyrogene!)

23In state his glory well befitting,

24 The ruler of the realm was seen.

25And all with pearl and ruby glowing

26 Was the fair palace door,

27Through which came flowing, flowing, flowing,

28 And sparkling evermore,

29A troop of Echoes, whose sweet duty

30 Was but to sing,

31In voices of surpassing beauty,

32 The wit and wisdom of their king.

33But evil things, in robes of sorrow,

34 Assailed the monarch's high estate.

35(Ah, let us mourn! — for never morrow

36 Shall dawn upon him desolate !)

37And round about his home the glory

38 That blushed and bloomed,

39Is but a dim-remembered story

40 Of the old time entombed.

41And travellers, now, within that valley,

42 Through the red-litten windows see

43Vast forms, that move fantastically

44 To a discordant melody,

45 While, like a ghastly rapid river,

46 Through the pale door

47A hideous throng rush out forever

48 And laugh — but smile no more.