 | The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") |  |
THE CASTLE IN AIR.
There's a ladder of ropes which some lovers ascend
When parents object to the wooing,
And a ladder of hopes, having no upper end,
Which we oftentimes mount to undoing.
When parents object to the wooing,
And a ladder of hopes, having no upper end,
Which we oftentimes mount to undoing.
There's a ladder of fame, which the bold love to climb,
Casting down looks of scorn on the humble;
And a ladder of life, with its base upon Time,
From whose top every mortal must tumble.
Casting down looks of scorn on the humble;
And a ladder of life, with its base upon Time,
From whose top every mortal must tumble.
There's a ladder of wealth, and we have it in proof
That sometimes it is longer or shorter;
And a ladder that goes to a four-story roof,
By which laborers carry up mortar.
That sometimes it is longer or shorter;
And a ladder that goes to a four-story roof,
By which laborers carry up mortar.
Now, I have a ladder with foot on the ground,
Whose top hid by clouds in the sky is;
My spirit, which frequently mounts the first round,
Not a step farther up ever rises.
Whose top hid by clouds in the sky is;
My spirit, which frequently mounts the first round,
Not a step farther up ever rises.
639
I meant it to lead to my castle in air,
One of those called Chateaux en Espagne;
For I boasted—if ever I get a seat there,
Want, woe, and calumny, I ban ye!
One of those called Chateaux en Espagne;
For I boasted—if ever I get a seat there,
Want, woe, and calumny, I ban ye!
There once was a ladder to heaven arose
For a patriarch; but I must make observation
that angels climbed on it, which shows
Mine is not the Original Jacob's.
For a patriarch; but I must make observation
that angels climbed on it, which shows
Mine is not the Original Jacob's.
For mine has but imps perched upon it—a crew
That are not calculated to raise your
Good thoughts—they are spirits that some folks call blue,
But their color is darker than azure.
That are not calculated to raise your
Good thoughts—they are spirits that some folks call blue,
But their color is darker than azure.
Ah, were it a ladder to heaven indeed,
Were its rounds made of true Christian virtues,
Hope, Charity, Faith would all stand me in need,
And my own time to mount I could there choose.
Were its rounds made of true Christian virtues,
Hope, Charity, Faith would all stand me in need,
And my own time to mount I could there choose.
But humility aids me not here in my strait,
And sorrow my spirit so crushes,
That down by the foot of my ladder I wait,
Till my lost courage back to me rushes.
And sorrow my spirit so crushes,
That down by the foot of my ladder I wait,
Till my lost courage back to me rushes.
It is here! It is here! I am up! I am up!
Black clouds and white mists, I go by ye!
Fair Hebe the nectar presents in her cup!
Ye base carles of earth, I defy ye!
Black clouds and white mists, I go by ye!
Fair Hebe the nectar presents in her cup!
Ye base carles of earth, I defy ye!
I am Count of Air Castle, of Fancy grandee;
My proud robe of state I have that on;
The chiefest of nobles doff bonnet to me,
As I stand by the king with my hat on.
My proud robe of state I have that on;
The chiefest of nobles doff bonnet to me,
As I stand by the king with my hat on.
640
Let down the portcullis! vile warder, keep out
Old friends, who would bring me disaster;
I ask not the visits of base rabble rout;
Of the Castle in Air I am master.
Old friends, who would bring me disaster;
I ask not the visits of base rabble rout;
Of the Castle in Air I am master.
| The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") | |