Volume 17 — CASTLES IN THE AIR.

"But 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, In trains of vapor, through the empty air. Meantime the astonished builder, dispossessed, Stands 'mid the drifting rack. A brief despair Seizes him; but the wand is in his hand, And soon he turns him to his task again. "Behold," said the fair being at my side, "How one has made himself a diadem Out of the bright skirts of a cloud that lay Steeped in the golden sunshine, and has bound The bauble on his forehead! See, again, How from these vapors he calls up a host With arms and banners! A great multitude Gather and bow before him with bare heads. To the four winds his messengers go forth, And bring him back earth's homage. From the ground Another calls a wingèd image, such As poets give to Fame, who, to her mouth Putting a silver trumpet, blows abroad A loud, harmonious summons to the world, And all the listening nations shout his name. Another yet, apart from all the rest, Casting a fearful glance from side to side, Touches the ground by stealth. Beneath his wand A glittering pile grows up, ingots and bars Of massive gold, and coins on which earth's kings Have stamped their symbols." As these words were said, The north wind blew again across the vale, And, lo! the beamy crown flew off in mist; The host of armèd men became a scud Torn by the angry blast; the form of Fame Tossed its long arms in air, and rode the wind, A jagged cloud; the glittering pile of gold Grew pale and flowed in a gray reek away. Then there were sobs and tears from those whose work The wind had scattered: some had flung themselves Upon the ground in grief; and some stood fixed In blank bewilderment; and some looked on Unmoved, as at a pageant of the stage Suddenly hidden by the curtain's fall. "Take thou this wand," my bright companion said. I took it from her hand, and with it touched The knolls of snow-white mist, and they grew green With soft, thick herbage. At another touch, A brook leaped forth, and dashed and sparkled by; And shady walks through shrubberies cool and close Wandered; and where, upon the open grounds, The peaceful sunshine lay, a vineyard nursed Its pouting clusters; and from boughs that drooped Beneath their load an orchard shed its fruit; And gardens, set with many a pleasant herb And many a glorious flower, made sweet the air. I looked, and I exulted; yet I longed For Nature's grander aspects, and I plied The slender rod again; and then arose Woods tall and wide, of odorous pine and fir, And every noble tree that casts the leaf In autumn. Paths that wound between their stems Led through the solemn shade to twilight glens, To thundering torrents and white waterfalls, And edge of lonely lakes, and chasms between The mountain-cliffs. Above the trees were seen Gray pinnacles and walls of splintered rock. But near the forest margin, in the vale, Nestled a dwelling half embowered by trees, Where, through the open window, shelves were seen Filled with old volumes, and a glimpse was given Of canvas, here and there along the walls, On which the hands of mighty men of art Had flung their fancies. On the portico Old friends, with smiling faces and frank eyes, Talked with each other: some had passed from life Long since, yet dearly were remembered still. My heart yearned toward them, and the quick, warm tears Stood in my eyes. Forward I sprang to grasp The hands that once so kindly met my own,— I sprang, but met them not: the withering wind Was there before me. Dwelling, field, and brook, Dark wood, and flowery garden, and blue lake, And beetling cliff, and noble human forms, All, all had melted into that pale sea Of billowy vapor rolling round my feet.