For other versions of this work, see The Palace of Art.
THE PALACE OF ART.
I.
I built my soul a lordly pleasurehouse,
Wherein at ease for aye to dwell.
I said, "Oh Soul, make merry and carouse,
Dear Soul, for all is well.
I built my soul a lordly pleasurehouse,
Wherein at ease for aye to dwell.
I said, "Oh Soul, make merry and carouse,
Dear Soul, for all is well.
II.
A huge crag-platform, smooth as burnished brass,
I chose, whose rangèd ramparts bright
From great broad meadowbases of deep grass
Suddenly scaled the light.
A huge crag-platform, smooth as burnished brass,
I chose, whose rangèd ramparts bright
From great broad meadowbases of deep grass
Suddenly scaled the light.
III.
Thereon I built it firm. Of ledge or shelf
The rock rose clear, or winding stair.
My soul would live alone unto herself
In her high palace there.
Thereon I built it firm. Of ledge or shelf
The rock rose clear, or winding stair.
My soul would live alone unto herself
In her high palace there.
IV.
"While the world runs round and round," I said,
"Reign thou apart, a quiet king;
Still as, while Saturn whirls, his steadfast shade
Sleeps on his luminous ring.
"While the world runs round and round," I said,
"Reign thou apart, a quiet king;
Still as, while Saturn whirls, his steadfast shade
Sleeps on his luminous ring.
V.
"And richly feast within thy palacehall,
Like to the dainty bird that sups,
Lodged in the lustrous crown-imperial,
Draining the honeycups."
"And richly feast within thy palacehall,
Like to the dainty bird that sups,
Lodged in the lustrous crown-imperial,
Draining the honeycups."
VI.
To which my soul made answer readily.
"Trust me, in bliss I shall abide
In this great mansion that is built for me
So royalrich and wide."
To which my soul made answer readily.
"Trust me, in bliss I shall abide
In this great mansion that is built for me
So royalrich and wide."
VII.
Full of long-sounding corridors it was
That overvaulted grateful glooms,
Roofed with thick plates of green and orange glass
Ending in stately rooms.
Full of long-sounding corridors it was
That overvaulted grateful glooms,
Roofed with thick plates of green and orange glass
Ending in stately rooms.
VIII.
Full of great rooms and small the palace stood,
All various, all beautiful,
Looking all ways, fitted to every mood
And change of my still soul.
Full of great rooms and small the palace stood,
All various, all beautiful,
Looking all ways, fitted to every mood
And change of my still soul.
IX.
For some were hung with arras green and blue
Showing a gaudy summer morn,
Where with puffed cheek the belted hunter blew
His wreathèd buglehorn.
For some were hung with arras green and blue
Showing a gaudy summer morn,
Where with puffed cheek the belted hunter blew
His wreathèd buglehorn.
X.
One showed an English home—gray twilight poured
On dewy pastures, dewy trees,
Softer than sleep—all things in order stored—
A haunt of ancient Peace.
One showed an English home—gray twilight poured
On dewy pastures, dewy trees,
Softer than sleep—all things in order stored—
A haunt of ancient Peace.
XI.
Some were all dark and red, glimmering land
Lit with a low large moon,
Among brown rocks a man upon the sand
Went weeping all alone.
Some were all dark and red, glimmering land
Lit with a low large moon,
Among brown rocks a man upon the sand
Went weeping all alone.
XII.
One seemed a foreground black with stones and slags.
Below sunsmitten icy spires
Rose striped with long white cloud the scornful crags,
Deeptrenched with thunderfires.
One seemed a foreground black with stones and slags.
Below sunsmitten icy spires
Rose striped with long white cloud the scornful crags,
Deeptrenched with thunderfires.
XIII.
Some showed far-off thick woods mounted with towers,
Nearer, a flood of mild sunshine
Poured on long walks and lawns and beds and bowers
Trellised with bunchy vine.
Some showed far-off thick woods mounted with towers,
Nearer, a flood of mild sunshine
Poured on long walks and lawns and beds and bowers
Trellised with bunchy vine.
XIV.
[1]Or the maidmother by a crucifix,
In yellow pastures sunnywarm,
Beneath branchwork of costly sardonyx,
Sat smiling, babe in arm.
[1]Or the maidmother by a crucifix,
In yellow pastures sunnywarm,
Beneath branchwork of costly sardonyx,
Sat smiling, babe in arm.
XV.
Or Venus in a snowy shell alone,
Deepshadowed in the glassy brine,
Moonlike glowed double on the blue, and shone
A naked shape divine.
Or Venus in a snowy shell alone,
Deepshadowed in the glassy brine,
Moonlike glowed double on the blue, and shone
A naked shape divine.
XVI.
Or in a clearwalled city on the sea,
Near gilded organpipes (her hair
Wound with white roses) slept Saint Cecily;
An angel looked at her.
Or in a clearwalled city on the sea,
Near gilded organpipes (her hair
Wound with white roses) slept Saint Cecily;
An angel looked at her.
XVII.
Or that deepwounded child of Pendragon
Mid misty woods on sloping greens
Dozed in the valley of Avilion,
Tended by crownèd queens.
Or that deepwounded child of Pendragon
Mid misty woods on sloping greens
Dozed in the valley of Avilion,
Tended by crownèd queens.
XVIII.
Or blue-eyed Kriemhilt from a craggy hold,
Athwart the lightgreen rows of vine.
Poured blazing hoards of Nibelungen gold,
Down to the gulfy Rhine.
Or blue-eyed Kriemhilt from a craggy hold,
Athwart the lightgreen rows of vine.
Poured blazing hoards of Nibelungen gold,
Down to the gulfy Rhine.
XIX.
Europa's scarf blew in an arch, unclasped,
From her bare shoulder backward borne;
From one hand drooped a crocus: one hand grasped
The mild bull's golden horn.
Europa's scarf blew in an arch, unclasped,
From her bare shoulder backward borne;
From one hand drooped a crocus: one hand grasped
The mild bull's golden horn.
XX.
He thro' the streaming crystal swam, and rolled
Ambrosial breaths that seemed to float
In lightwreathed curls. She from the ripple cold
Updrew her sandalled foot.
He thro' the streaming crystal swam, and rolled
Ambrosial breaths that seemed to float
In lightwreathed curls. She from the ripple cold
Updrew her sandalled foot.
XXI.
Or else flushed Ganymede, his rosy thigh
Half-buried in the eagle's down,
Sole, as a flying star, shot thro' the sky
Over the pillared town.
Or else flushed Ganymede, his rosy thigh
Half-buried in the eagle's down,
Sole, as a flying star, shot thro' the sky
Over the pillared town.
XXII.
Not these alone: but many a legend fair,
Which the supreme Caucasian mind
Carved out of nature for itself, was there
Broidered in screen and blind.
Not these alone: but many a legend fair,
Which the supreme Caucasian mind
Carved out of nature for itself, was there
Broidered in screen and blind.
XXIII.
So that my soul beholding in her pride
All these, from room to room did pass;
And all things that she saw, she multiplied,
A manyfacèd glass;
So that my soul beholding in her pride
All these, from room to room did pass;
And all things that she saw, she multiplied,
A manyfacèd glass;
XXIV.
And, being both the sower and the seed,
Remaining in herself became
All that she saw, Madonna, Ganymede,
Or the Asiatic dame—
And, being both the sower and the seed,
Remaining in herself became
All that she saw, Madonna, Ganymede,
Or the Asiatic dame—
XXV.
Still changing, as a lighthouse in the night
Changeth athwart the gleaming main,
From red to yellow, yellow to pale white,
Then back to red again.
Still changing, as a lighthouse in the night
Changeth athwart the gleaming main,
From red to yellow, yellow to pale white,
Then back to red again.
XXVI.
"From change to change four times within the womb
The brain is moulded," she began,
"So thro' all phases of all thought I come
Into the perfect man.
"From change to change four times within the womb
The brain is moulded," she began,
"So thro' all phases of all thought I come
Into the perfect man.
XXVII.
"All nature widens upward: evermore
The simpler essence lower lies.
More complex is more perfect, owning more
Discourse, more widely wise.
"All nature widens upward: evermore
The simpler essence lower lies.
More complex is more perfect, owning more
Discourse, more widely wise.
XXVIII.
"I take possession of men's minds and deeds.
I live in all things great and small.
I dwell apart, holding no forms of creeds,
But contemplating all."
"I take possession of men's minds and deeds.
I live in all things great and small.
I dwell apart, holding no forms of creeds,
But contemplating all."
XXIX.
Four ample courts there were, East, West, South, North,
In each a squarèd lawn wherefrom
A golden-gorgèd dragon spouted forth
The fountain's diamond foam.
Four ample courts there were, East, West, South, North,
In each a squarèd lawn wherefrom
A golden-gorgèd dragon spouted forth
The fountain's diamond foam.
XXX.
All round the cool green courts there ran a row
Of cloisters, branched like mighty woods,
Echoing all night to that sonorous flow
Of spouted fountain floods.
All round the cool green courts there ran a row
Of cloisters, branched like mighty woods,
Echoing all night to that sonorous flow
Of spouted fountain floods.
XXXI.
From those four jets four currents in one swell
Over the black rock streamed below
In steamy folds, that, floating as they fell,
Lit up a torrentbow;
From those four jets four currents in one swell
Over the black rock streamed below
In steamy folds, that, floating as they fell,
Lit up a torrentbow;
XXXII.
And round the roofs ran gilded galleries
That gave large view to distant lands,
Tall towns and mounds, and close beneath the skies
Long lines of amber sands.
And round the roofs ran gilded galleries
That gave large view to distant lands,
Tall towns and mounds, and close beneath the skies
Long lines of amber sands.
XXXIII.
Huge incense-urns along the balustrade,
Hollowed of solid amethyst,
Each with a different odour fuming, made
The air a silver mist.
Huge incense-urns along the balustrade,
Hollowed of solid amethyst,
Each with a different odour fuming, made
The air a silver mist.
XXXIV.
Far-off 'twas wonderful to look upon
Those sumptuous towers between the gleam
Of that great foambow trembling in the sun,
And the argent incense-steam;
Far-off 'twas wonderful to look upon
Those sumptuous towers between the gleam
Of that great foambow trembling in the sun,
And the argent incense-steam;
XXXV.
And round the terraces and round the walls,
While day sank lower or rose higher,
To see those rails with all their knobs and balls,
Burn like a fringe of fire.
And round the terraces and round the walls,
While day sank lower or rose higher,
To see those rails with all their knobs and balls,
Burn like a fringe of fire.
XXXVI.
Likewise the deepset windows, stained and traced,
Burned, like slowflaming crimson fires,
From shadowed grots of arches interlaced,
And topped with frostlike spires.
Likewise the deepset windows, stained and traced,
Burned, like slowflaming crimson fires,
From shadowed grots of arches interlaced,
And topped with frostlike spires.
XXXVII.
Up in the towers I placed great bells that swung
Moved of themselves with silver sound:
And with choice paintings of wise men I hung
The royal daïs round.
Up in the towers I placed great bells that swung
Moved of themselves with silver sound:
And with choice paintings of wise men I hung
The royal daïs round.
XXXVIII.
There deephaired Milton like an angel tall
Stood limnèd, Shakspeare bland and mild,
Grim Dante pressed his lips, and from the wall
The hald blind Homer smiled.
There deephaired Milton like an angel tall
Stood limnèd, Shakspeare bland and mild,
Grim Dante pressed his lips, and from the wall
The hald blind Homer smiled.
XXXIX.
And underneath freshcarved in cedarwood,
Somewhat alike in form and face,
The Genii of every climate stood,
All brothers of one race:
And underneath freshcarved in cedarwood,
Somewhat alike in form and face,
The Genii of every climate stood,
All brothers of one race:
XL.
Angels who sway the seasons by their art,
And mould all shapes in earth and sea;
And with great effort build the human heart
From earliest infancy.
Angels who sway the seasons by their art,
And mould all shapes in earth and sea;
And with great effort build the human heart
From earliest infancy.
XLI.
And in the sunpierced Oriel's coloured flame
Immortal Michael Angelo
Looked down, bold Luther, largebrowed Verulam,
The king of those who know.[2]
And in the sunpierced Oriel's coloured flame
Immortal Michael Angelo
Looked down, bold Luther, largebrowed Verulam,
The king of those who know.[2]
XLII.
Cervantes, the bright face of Calderon,
Robed David touching holy strings,
The Halicarnasseän, and alone,
Alfred the flower of kings,
Cervantes, the bright face of Calderon,
Robed David touching holy strings,
The Halicarnasseän, and alone,
Alfred the flower of kings,
XLIII.
Isaïah with fierce Ezekiel,
Swarth Moses by the Coptic sea,
Plato, Petrarca, Livy, and Raphaël,
And eastern Confutzee:
Isaïah with fierce Ezekiel,
Swarth Moses by the Coptic sea,
Plato, Petrarca, Livy, and Raphaël,
And eastern Confutzee:
XLIV.
And many more, that in their lifetime were
Fullwelling fountainheads of Change,
Between the stone shafts glimmered, blazoned fair
In divers raiment strange.
And many more, that in their lifetime were
Fullwelling fountainheads of Change,
Between the stone shafts glimmered, blazoned fair
In divers raiment strange.
XLV.
Thro' which the lights, rose, amber, emerald, blue,
Flushed in her temples and her eyes,
And from her lips, as morn from Memnon, drew
Rivers of melodies.
Thro' which the lights, rose, amber, emerald, blue,
Flushed in her temples and her eyes,
And from her lips, as morn from Memnon, drew
Rivers of melodies.
XLVI.
No nightingale delighteth to prolong
Her low preamble all alone,
More than my soul to hear her echoed song
Throb thro' the ribbèd stone.
No nightingale delighteth to prolong
Her low preamble all alone,
More than my soul to hear her echoed song
Throb thro' the ribbèd stone.
XLVII.
Singing and murmuring in her feastful mirth
Joying to feel herself alive,
Lord over nature, lord o' the visible earth,
Lord of the senses five—
Singing and murmuring in her feastful mirth
Joying to feel herself alive,
Lord over nature, lord o' the visible earth,
Lord of the senses five—
XLVIII.
As some rich tropic mountain, that infolds
All change, from flats of scattered palms
Sloping thro' five great zones of climate, holds
His head in snows and calms—
As some rich tropic mountain, that infolds
All change, from flats of scattered palms
Sloping thro' five great zones of climate, holds
His head in snows and calms—
XLIX.
Full of her own delight and nothing else,
My vainglorious, gorgeous soul
Sat throned between the shining oriels,
In pomp beyond control;
Full of her own delight and nothing else,
My vainglorious, gorgeous soul
Sat throned between the shining oriels,
In pomp beyond control;
L.
With piles of flavorous fruits in basket-twine
Of gold, upheapèd, crushing down
Muskscented blooms—all taste—grape, gourd or pine—
In bunch, or singlegrown—
With piles of flavorous fruits in basket-twine
Of gold, upheapèd, crushing down
Muskscented blooms—all taste—grape, gourd or pine—
In bunch, or singlegrown—
LI.
Our growths, and such as brooding Indian heats
Make out of crimson blossoms deep,
Ambrosial pulps and juices, sweets from sweets
Sunchanged, when seawinds sleep.
Our growths, and such as brooding Indian heats
Make out of crimson blossoms deep,
Ambrosial pulps and juices, sweets from sweets
Sunchanged, when seawinds sleep.
LII.
With graceful chalices of curious wine,
Wonders of art—and costly jars,
And bossèd salvers. Ere young night divine
Crowned dying day with stars,
With graceful chalices of curious wine,
Wonders of art—and costly jars,
And bossèd salvers. Ere young night divine
Crowned dying day with stars,
LIII.
Making sweet close of his delicious toils,
She lit white streams of dazzling gas,
And soft and fragrant flames of precious oils
In moons of purple glass
Making sweet close of his delicious toils,
She lit white streams of dazzling gas,
And soft and fragrant flames of precious oils
In moons of purple glass
LIV.
Ranged on the fretted woodwork to the ground.
Thus her intense untold delight,
In deep or vivid colour, smell and sound,
Was flattered day and night.[3]
Ranged on the fretted woodwork to the ground.
Thus her intense untold delight,
In deep or vivid colour, smell and sound,
Was flattered day and night.[3]
LV.
Sometimes the riddle of the painful earth
Flashed thro' her as she sat alone,
Yet not the less held she her solemn mirth,
And intellectual throne
Sometimes the riddle of the painful earth
Flashed thro' her as she sat alone,
Yet not the less held she her solemn mirth,
And intellectual throne
LVI.
Of fullsphered contemplation. So three years
She throve, but on the fourth she fell,
Like Herod, when the shout was in his ears,
Struck thro' with pangs of hell.
Of fullsphered contemplation. So three years
She throve, but on the fourth she fell,
Like Herod, when the shout was in his ears,
Struck thro' with pangs of hell.
LVII.
Lest she should fail and perish utterly,
God, before whom ever lie bare
The abysmal deeps of Personality,
Plagued her with sore despair.
Lest she should fail and perish utterly,
God, before whom ever lie bare
The abysmal deeps of Personality,
Plagued her with sore despair.
LVIII.
When she would think, wheree'er she turned her sight
The airy hand confusion wrought,
Wrote "Mene, mene," and divided quite
The kingdom of her thought.
When she would think, wheree'er she turned her sight
The airy hand confusion wrought,
Wrote "Mene, mene," and divided quite
The kingdom of her thought.
LIX.
Deep dread and loathing of her solitude
Fell on her, from which mood was born
Scorn of herself; again, from out that mood
Laughter at her selfscorn.
Deep dread and loathing of her solitude
Fell on her, from which mood was born
Scorn of herself; again, from out that mood
Laughter at her selfscorn.
LX.
"Who hath drawn dry the fountains of delight,
That from my deep heart everywhere
Moved in my blood and dwelt, as power and might
Abode in Sampson's hair?
"Who hath drawn dry the fountains of delight,
That from my deep heart everywhere
Moved in my blood and dwelt, as power and might
Abode in Sampson's hair?
LXI.
"What, is not this my place of strength," she said,
"My spacious mansion built for me,
Whereof the strong foundationstones were laid
Since my first memory?"
"What, is not this my place of strength," she said,
"My spacious mansion built for me,
Whereof the strong foundationstones were laid
Since my first memory?"
LXII.
But in dark corners of her palace stood
Uncertain shapes, and unawares
On white-eyed phantasms weeping tears of blood
And horrible nightmares,
But in dark corners of her palace stood
Uncertain shapes, and unawares
On white-eyed phantasms weeping tears of blood
And horrible nightmares,
LXIII.
And hollow shades enclosing hearts of flame,
And, with dim fretted foreheads all,
On corpses three-months-old at noon she came
That stood against the wall.
And hollow shades enclosing hearts of flame,
And, with dim fretted foreheads all,
On corpses three-months-old at noon she came
That stood against the wall.
LXIV.
A spot of dull stagnation, without light
Or power of movement, seemed my soul,
Mid downward-sloping motions infinite
Making for one sure goal.
A spot of dull stagnation, without light
Or power of movement, seemed my soul,
Mid downward-sloping motions infinite
Making for one sure goal.
LXV.
A still salt pool, locked in with bars of sand,
Left on the shore, that hears all night
The plunging seas draw backward from the land
Their moonled waters white.
A still salt pool, locked in with bars of sand,
Left on the shore, that hears all night
The plunging seas draw backward from the land
Their moonled waters white.
LXVI.
A star that with the choral starry dance
Joined not, but stood, and standing saw
The hollow orb of moving Circumstance
Rolled round by one fixed law.
A star that with the choral starry dance
Joined not, but stood, and standing saw
The hollow orb of moving Circumstance
Rolled round by one fixed law.
LXVII.
Back on herself her serpent pride had curled.
"No voice," she shrieked in that lone hall,
"No voice breaks through the stillness of this world—
"One deep, deep silence all."
Back on herself her serpent pride had curled.
"No voice," she shrieked in that lone hall,
"No voice breaks through the stillness of this world—
"One deep, deep silence all."
LXVIII.
She, mouldering with the dull earth's mouldering sod,
Inwrapt tenfold in slothful shame,
Lay there exilèd from eternal God,
Lost to her place and name;
She, mouldering with the dull earth's mouldering sod,
Inwrapt tenfold in slothful shame,
Lay there exilèd from eternal God,
Lost to her place and name;
LXIX.
And death and life she hated equally,
And nothing saw, for her despair,
But dreadful time, dreadful eternity,
No comfort anywhere;
And death and life she hated equally,
And nothing saw, for her despair,
But dreadful time, dreadful eternity,
No comfort anywhere;
LXX.
Remaining utterly confused with fears,
And ever worse with growing time,
And ever unrelieved by dismal tears,
And all alone in crime;
Remaining utterly confused with fears,
And ever worse with growing time,
And ever unrelieved by dismal tears,
And all alone in crime;
LXXI.
Shut up as in a crumbling tomb, girt round
With blackness as a solid wall,
Far off she seemed to hear the dully sound
Of human footsteps fall.
Shut up as in a crumbling tomb, girt round
With blackness as a solid wall,
Far off she seemed to hear the dully sound
Of human footsteps fall.
LXXII.
As in strange lands a traveller walking slow,
In doubt and great perplexity,
A little before moonrise hears the low
Moan of an unknown sea,
As in strange lands a traveller walking slow,
In doubt and great perplexity,
A little before moonrise hears the low
Moan of an unknown sea,
LXXIII.
And knows not if it be thunder or the sound
Of stones thrown down, or one deep cry
Of great wild beasts; then thinketh, "I have found
A new land, but I die."
And knows not if it be thunder or the sound
Of stones thrown down, or one deep cry
Of great wild beasts; then thinketh, "I have found
A new land, but I die."
LXXIV.
She howled aloud "I am on fire within.
There comes no murmur of reply.
What is it that will take away my sin
Dying the death I die?"
She howled aloud "I am on fire within.
There comes no murmur of reply.
What is it that will take away my sin
Dying the death I die?"
LXXV.
So when four years were wholly finishèd,
She threw her royal robes away.
"Make me a cottage in the vale," she said,
"Where I may mourn and pray.
So when four years were wholly finishèd,
She threw her royal robes away.
"Make me a cottage in the vale," she said,
"Where I may mourn and pray.
LXXVI.
"Yet pull not down my palace towers, that are
So lightly, beautifully built:
Perchance I may return with others there
When I have purged my guilt."
"Yet pull not down my palace towers, that are
So lightly, beautifully built:
Perchance I may return with others there
When I have purged my guilt."
- ↑ When I first conceived the plan of the Palace of Art, I intended to have Introduced both sculptures and paintings into it; but it is the most difficult of all things to devise a statue in verse. Judge whether I have succeeded in the statues of Elijah and Olympias. One was the Tishbite whom the raven fed,
As when he stood on Carmel-steeps,
With one arm stretched out bare, and mocked and said,
"Come cry aloud—be sleeps."Tall, eager, lean and strong, his cloak windborne
Behind, his forehead heavenly-bright
From the clear marble pouring glorious scorn,
Lit as with inner light.One was Olympias: the floating snake
Rolled round her ancles, round her waist
Knotted, and folded once about her neck,
Her perfect lips to tasteRound by the shoulder moved; she seeming blythe
Declined her head: on every side
The dragon's curves melted and mingled with
The woman's youthful prideOf rounded limbs. - ↑ Il maëstro di color chi sanno.-Dante, Inf, iii.
- ↑ If the Poem were not already too long, I should have inserted in the text the following stanzas, expressive of the joy wherewith the soul contemplated the results of astronomical experiment. In the centre of the four quadrangles rose an immense tower.Hither, when all the deep unsounded skies
Shuddered with silent stars, she clomb,
And as with optic glasses her keen eyes
Pierced thro' the mystic dome,Regions of lucid matter taking forms,
Brushes of fire, hazy gleams,
Clusters and beds of worlds, and bee-like swarms
Of suns, and starry streams.She saw the snowy poles of moonless Mars,
That marvellous round of milky light
Below Orion, and those double stars
Whereof the one more brightIs circled by the other, &c.