The Castle over the Sea

"SAWEST thou the castle that beetles over
The wine-dark sea?
The rosy sunset clouds do hover

Above it so goldenly!

"It hath a leaning as though it would bend to

The waves below;
It hath a longing as though to ascend to

The skies in their gorgeous glow." —

"— Well saw I the castle that beetles over

The wine-dark sea;
And a pall of watery clouds did cover

Its battlements gloomsomely." —

"— The winds and the moonlit Weaves were singing

A choral song?
And the brilliant castle-hall was ringing

With melody all night long?"—

"— The winds and the moonless waves were sleeping

In stillness all;
But many voices of woe and weeping

Rose out from the castle-hall." —

— " And sawest thou not step forth so lightly

The King and the Queen,
Their festal dresses bespangled brightly,

Their crowns of a dazzling sheen?

"And by their side a resplendent vision,

A virgin fair,
The glorious child of some clime elysian,

With starry gems in her hair?" —

"— Well saw I the twain by the wine-dark water

Walk slower and slower;
They were clad in weeds, and their virgin daughter

Was found at their side no more!"