Shifting Scenes and Other Poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

The stony garlands wreath about the roof,
And up the fluted pillars; snakes of stone
Wind round stone fruits; and clumps of flowers and stems,
And pallid leaflets, wrought in marble, start
Out of the chiselled cornices; the stairs
That wind into the distant glooms, where lamps
Golden the far-off gorgeousness, are rich
And jocund with the swarms of slaves
Who wait upon the royal festival;
The halls are all aflame; the tables groan
Under their load of meats, and fruits, and wines;
The guests are all assembled, and the host—
The royal entertainer—sits in state,
His best friend at his side.

Let the wine wink,
Let mellow laughter gladden o'er the wine,
Let the lamps blaze, let all the lights laugh down
Over the ruddy cheeks of all the fruits,
Let all the costly tables clink with gold,
And let the merriest chant his merriest tale,
Let the stone globes burst out with purple juice,
And the stone serpent trail through crimson flowers,

And the stone stems sprout out their living buds,
And all the ceiling tumble o'er with blooms
In the high-mounting jubilance—and yet
There is a white and glimmering ghastliness
Somewhere behind the arras—ah! and yet
There is a shadow on the royal feast,
And yet—and yet—the wine is not so red
But it hath caught the pallor that is hid
Somewhere behind the arras!