Phantastes, A Faerie Romance

"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And self-withdrawn into a wondrous depth,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.