Page:The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 17.djvu/19

1866.]

UT there is yet a region of the clouds

Unseen from the low earth. Beyond the veil

Of these dark volumes rolling through the sky,

Its mountain summits glisten in the sun,—

The realm of Castles in the Air. The foot

Of man hath never trod those shining streets;

But there his spirit, leaving the dull load

Of bodily organs, wanders with delight,

And builds its structures of the impalpable mist,

Glorious beyond the dream of architect,

And populous with forms of nobler mould

Than ever walked the earth." So said my guide,

And led me, wondering, to a headland height

That overlooked a fair broad vale shut in

By the great hills of Cloudland. "Now behold

The Castle-builders!" Then I looked; and, lo!

The vale was filled with shadowy forms, that bore

Each a white wand, with which they touched the banks

Of mist beside them, and at once arose,

Obedient to their wish, the walls and domes

Of stately palaces, Gothic or Greek,

Or such as in the land of Mahomet

Uplift the crescent, or, in forms more strange,

Border the ancient Indus, or behold

Their gilded friezes mirrored in the lakes

Of China,—yet of ampler majesty,

And gorgeously adorned. Tall porticos

Sprang from the ground; the eye pursued afar

Their colonnades, that lessened to a point

In the faint distance. Portals that swung back

On musical hinges showed the eye within

Vast halls with golden floors, and bright alcoves,

And walls of pearl, and sapphire vault besprent

With silver stars. Within the spacious rooms

Were banquets spread; and menials, beautiful

As wood-nymphs or as stripling Mercuries,

Ran to and fro, and laid the chalices,

And brought the brimming wine-jars. Enters now

The happy architect, and wanders on

From room to room, and glories in his work.

Not long his glorying: for a chill north wind

Breathes through the structure, and the massive walls

Are folded up; the proud domes roll away

In mist-wreaths; pinnacle and turret lean

Forward, like birds prepared for flight, and stream,