Fond man! the vision of a moment made!
Dream of a dream! and shadow of a shade!

Fond man! the vision of a moment made!
Dream of a dream! and shadow of a shade!

My thoughts by night are often filled
With visions false as fair:
For in the past alone, read more

My thoughts by night are often filled
With visions false as fair:
For in the past alone, I build
My castles in the air.

Gorgons, and Hydras, and Chimaeras dire.

Gorgons, and Hydras, and Chimaeras dire.

And like a passing thought, she fled
In light away.

And like a passing thought, she fled
In light away.

Hence the fool's paradise, the statesman's scheme,
The air-built castle, and the golden dream,
The maid's romantic read more

Hence the fool's paradise, the statesman's scheme,
The air-built castle, and the golden dream,
The maid's romantic wish, the chemist's flame,
And poet's vision of eternal fame.

An angel stood and met my gaze,
Through the low doorway of my tent;
The tent is read more

An angel stood and met my gaze,
Through the low doorway of my tent;
The tent is struck, the vision stays;
I only know she came and went.

O visions ill foreseen! Better had I
Liv'd ignorant of future, so had borne
My part of read more

O visions ill foreseen! Better had I
Liv'd ignorant of future, so had borne
My part of evil only.

I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied
visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of read more

I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied
visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.

I wonder if ever a song was sung but the singer's heart sang
sweeter!
I wonder if ever read more

I wonder if ever a song was sung but the singer's heart sang
sweeter!
I wonder if ever a rhyme was rung but the thought surpassed the
meter!
I wonder if ever a sculptor wrought till the cold stone echoed
his ardent thought!
Or, if ever a painter with light and shade the dream of his
inmost heart portrayed!