45 THE CASTLE OF CONTENT

Through the mist of years does it gleam as yet— That fair and free extent Of moonlit turret and parapet, Which castled, once, Content? Ei ho! Ei ho! the Castle of Content, With drowsy music drowning merriment Where Dreams and Visions held high carnival, And frolicking frail Loves made light of all,— Ei ho! the vanished Castle of Content! Such toll we took of his niggling Hours That the troops of Time were sent To seize the treasures and fell the towers Of the Castle of Content. Ei ho! Ei ho! the Castle of Content, With flaming roof and tumbling battlement Where Time hath conquered, and the firelight streams Above sore-wounded Loves and dying Dreams,— Ei ho! the vanished Castle of Content! The towers are fallen; no laughter rings Through the rafters, charred and rent; The ruin is wrought of all goodly things In the Castle of Content. Ei ho! Ei ho! the Castle of Content, Razed in the Land of Youth, where mirth was meant! Nay, all is ashes there; and all in vain Hand-shadowed eyes turn backward, to regain Disastrous memories of that dear domain,— Ei ho! the vanished Castle of Content!