Of monstrous beings whose sight would blast
One who beheld them. But the king
So dearly loved adventuring
That with his following he passed
The gates. Though obscene rubbish massed
Its streets, he never recked the fall
Of sagging roof or crumbling wall,
And so unhurt, he gained at last
One who beheld them. But the king
So dearly loved adventuring
That with his following he passed
The gates. Though obscene rubbish massed
Its streets, he never recked the fall
Of sagging roof or crumbling wall,
And so unhurt, he gained at last
The palace in its center set.
Now, all around like molten glass
The flat sand glared save where parched grass
Or bristling cactus showed, and yet
'Twas plain in years the stars forget
This palace stood beside the sea;
Its walls were painted wondrously
With shapes that underwave are met.
Now, all around like molten glass
The flat sand glared save where parched grass
Or bristling cactus showed, and yet
'Twas plain in years the stars forget
This palace stood beside the sea;
Its walls were painted wondrously
With shapes that underwave are met.
Here lay a toppled column slim
Of sea-green onyx and around
Its shallow capital they found
Lithe, springing dolphins carved. A dim
Fresco showed wild white swans aswim,
While over them an arching flight
Of long-winged fish gleamed ghostly bright
As splintered jewels along the rim
Of sea-green onyx and around
Its shallow capital they found
Lithe, springing dolphins carved. A dim
Fresco showed wild white swans aswim,
While over them an arching flight
Of long-winged fish gleamed ghostly bright
As splintered jewels along the rim
Of the low cornice. Still, the king
Pressed ever onward till he came
To a small chamber where a name
That none could read was glittering
Pressed ever onward till he came
To a small chamber where a name
That none could read was glittering
[ 40 ]
