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, Is but a dim-remembered story Of the old time entombed. And travellers now, within that valley, Through the red-litten windows see While, like a ghastly rapid river, A hideous throng rush out for ever In a world of moan And my soul was a stagnant tide, Till the fair and gentle Eulalie became my blushing bride Till the yellow-haired young Eulalie became my smiling bride. Ah less-less bright The stars of the night Than the eyes of the radiant girl ! And never a flake That the vapour can make With the moon-tints of purple and pearl, Can vie with the modest Eulalie's most unregarded curlCan compare with the bright-eyed Eulalie's most humble and careless curl. Now Doubt-now Pain Come never again, For her soul gives me sigh for sigh, And all day long Shines bright and strong, Astarte within the sky, While ever to her dear Eulalie upturns her matron eye— While ever to her young Eulalie upturns her violet eye. BELOVED! amid the earnest woes That crowd around my earthly path(Drear path, alas! where grows Not even one lonely rose)— My soul at least a solace hath In dreams of thee, and therein knows An Eden of bland repose. And thus thy memory is to me Like some enchanted far-off isle In some tumultuous sea Some ocean throbbing far and free With storms-but where meanwhile Serenest skies continually Just o'er that one bright island smile. E |