His magic music rears above me,

[209]No falser friends, no truer foes,—

And does not Doña Clara love me?

Cloaked shapes, a twanging of guitars,

A rush of feet, and rapiers clashing,

Then silence deep with breathless stars,

And overhead a white hand flashing.

O music of all moods and climes,

Vengeful, forgiving, sensuous, saintly,

Where still, between the Christian chimes,