Edgar Allan Poe: The Fall of the House of Usher

0. The Fall of the House of Usher (continued)

III.

               Wanderers in that happy valley
                  Through two luminous windows saw
                Spirits moving musically
                  To a lute's well tuned law,
                Round about a throne, where sitting
                  (Porphyrogene!)
                In state his glory well befitting,
                  The ruler of the realm was seen.

IV.

               And all with pearl and ruby glowing
                  Was the fair palace door,
                Through which came flowing, flowing, flowing
                  And sparkling evermore,
                A troop of Echoes whose sweet duty
                  Was but to sing,
                In voices of surpassing beauty,
                  The wit and wisdom of their king.

V.

               But evil things, in robes of sorrow,
                  Assailed the monarch's high estate;
                (Ah, let us mourn, for never morrow
                  Shall dawn upon him, desolate!)
                And, round about his home, the glory
                  That blushed and bloomed
                Is but a dim-remembered story,
                  Of the old time entombed.

VI.

               And travellers now within that valley,
                  Through the red-litten windows, see
                Vast forms that move fantastically
                  To a discordant melody;
                While, like a rapid ghastly river,
                  Through the pale door,
                A hideous throng rush out forever,
                  And laugh--but smile no more.