Ballads and Lyrical poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

I love to lie in leafy woods,
When summer days grow long,
To hear the fall
Of brooklets small,
Or blackbirds' mellow song:
To watch the dapple clouds afloat,
And trace upon the sky,
In hues of light,
All golden bright,
A thousand castles high.
Stay, O Truth! thy hand relentless,
And, I prithee, spare
My bowers of Bliss—so beautiful—
My castles in the air.

II

In one abides unchanging Love;—
No guile is on his tongue,
His heart is clear,
His vow sincere,
His passion ever young:

And Care and Penury and Pain
Are powerless to destroy
His early heat,
Communion sweet,
And still recurring joy.
Smooth, O Truth! thy brow majestic,
And in pity spare
My bower of Love so beautiful—
My castle in the air.

III

True Friendship, in my sky-built halls,
Her presence has bestow'd;
Each airy dome
Is Virtue's home,
And Honour's own abode;
And there they flourish evermore,
And twine together still,
Though fortune blind,
And men unkind,
Conspire to work them ill.
Prithee, Truth, look down auspicious,
Stay thine hand, and spare
My bower, for Faith and Friendship built—
My castle in the air.

IV

The statesmen, governors, and kings,
That in my mansions dwell,
Desire not pelf,
Nor think of self,
But love their country well.

They give to Merit just reward,
To Guilt befitting shame,
And shower on worth,
And not on birth,
The dignities of fame.
Truth, I prithee, stay thine anger,
And my buildings spare,
My bowers for Public Virtue built—
My castles in the air.

V

Smile on them, Truth! behold how bright
They glitter in the skies.
Behold how proud,
O'er mist and cloud,
Their golden turrets rise.
But no! thou frownest, and in vain
Thine angry looks I shun:
My castles tall
Down crumbling fall,
Like ice-drops in the sun.
Thou hast destroy'd my visions lovely,
All my mansions fair,
My bowers of Bliss—so beautiful—
My castles in the air.