Then every eye the stately fabric drew To every part; for all were fair to view. The powerful chief the far-famed work descried, And heard the public voice that waked his pride. Pleased he began—“About, above, below, What more can wealth command, or science show? Here taste and grandeur join with massy strength; Slow comes perfection, but it comes at length. 70 Still must I grieve: these halls and towers sublime, Like vulgar domes, must feel the force of time; And, when decay’d, can future days repair What I in these have made so strong and fair? My future heirs shall want of power deplore, When Time destroys what Time cannot restore.” Sad in his glory, serious in his pride, At once the chief exulted and he sigh’d; Dreaming he sigh’d, and still, in sleep profound, His thoughts were fix’d within the favourite bound: 80 When lo! another Castle rose in view, That in an instant all his pride o’erthrew. In that he saw what massy strength bestows, And what from grace and lighter beauty flows— Yet all harmonious; what was light and free, Robb’d not the weightier parts of dignity; Nor what was ponderous hid the work of grace, But all were just, and all in proper place. Terrace on terrace rose, and there was seen Adorn’d with flowery knolls the sloping green, 90 Bounded by balmy shrubs from climes unknown, And all the nobler trees that grace our own. Above, he saw a giant-tower ascend, That seem’d the neighbouring beauty to defend Of some light graceful dome—“And this,” he cried, “Awakes my pleasure, though it wounds my pride.” He saw apartments where appear’d to rise What seem’d as men, and fix’d on him their eyes— Pictures that spoke; and there were mirrors tall, Doubling each wonder by reflecting all. 100 He saw the genial board, the massy plate, Grace unaffected, unencumber’d state; And something reach’d him of the social arts, That soften manners, and that conquer hearts. Wrapt in amazement, as he gazed he saw A form of heav’nly kind, and bow’d in awe: The spirit view’d him with benignant grace, And styled himself the Genius of the Place. “Gaze, and be glad!” he cried, “for this, indeed, Is the fair Seat that shall to thine succeed, 110 When these famed kingdoms shall as sisters be, And one great sovereign rule the powerful three. Then yon rich Vale, far stretching to the west, Beyond thy bound, shall be by _one_ possess’d; Then shall true grace and dignity accord— With splendour, ease—the Castle with its Lord.” The Baron waked—“It was,” he cried, “a view Lively as truth, and I will think it true. Some gentle spirit to my mind has brought Forms of fair works to be hereafter wrought; 120 But yet of mine a part will then remain, Nor will that Lord its humbler worth disdain; Mix’d with his mightier pile shall mine be found, By him protected, and with his renown’d;