"A wilderness of building, sinking far
And self-withdrawn into a wondrous depth,
Far sinking into splendour--without end:
Fabric it seemed of diamond and of gold,
With alabaster domes, and silver spires,
And blazing terrace upon terrace, high
Uplifted."
WORDSWORTH.
But when, after a sleep, which, although dreamless, yet left behind it a
sense of past blessedness, I awoke in the full morning, I found, indeed,
that the room was still my own; but that it looked abroad upon an
unknown landscape of forest and hill and dale on the one side--and on
the other, upon the marble court, with the great fountain, the crest of
which now flashed glorious in the sun, and cast on the pavement beneath
a shower of faint shadows from the waters that fell from it into the
marble basin below.
Agreeably to all authentic accounts of the treatment of travellers in
Fairy Land, I found by my bedside a complete suit of fresh clothing,
just such as I was in the habit of wearing; for, though varied
sufficiently from the one removed, it was yet in complete accordance
with my tastes. I dressed myself in this, and went out. The whole palace
shone like silver in the sun. The marble was partly dull and partly
polished; and every pinnacle, dome, and turret ended in a ball, or cone,
or cusp of silver. It was like frost-work, and too dazzling, in the sun,
for earthly eyes like mine.
I will not attempt to describe the environs, save by saying, that all
the pleasures to be found in the most varied and artistic arrangement of
wood and river, lawn and wild forest, garden and shrubbery, rocky hill
and luxurious vale; in living creatures wild and tame, in gorgeous
birds, scattered fountains, little streams, and reedy lakes--all were
here. Some parts of the palace itself I shall have occasion to describe
more minutely.
For this whole morning I never thought of my demon shadow; and not till
the weariness which supervened on delight brought it again to my
memory, did I look round to see if it was behind me: it was scarcely
discernible. But its presence, however faintly revealed, sent a pang to
my heart, for the pain of which, not all the beauties around me could
compensate. It was followed, however, by the comforting reflection that,
peradventure, I might here find the magic word of power to banish
the demon and set me free, so that I should no longer be a man beside
myself.
The Queen of Fairy Land, thought I, must dwell here: surely she
will put forth her power to deliver me, and send me singing through
the further gates of her country back to my own land. "Shadow of me!"
I said; "which art not me, but which representest thyself to me as me;
here I may find a shadow of light which will devour thee, the shadow of
darkness! Here I may find a blessing which will fall on thee as a curse,
and damn thee to the blackness whence thou hast emerged unbidden." I
said this, stretched at length on the slope of the lawn above the river;
and as the hope arose within me, the sun came forth from a light fleecy
cloud that swept across his face; and hill and dale, and the great river
winding on through the still mysterious forest, flashed back his rays as
with a silent shout of joy; all nature lived and glowed; the very earth
grew warm beneath me; a magnificent dragon-fly went past me like an
arrow from a bow, and a whole concert of birds burst into choral song.