Part 28 (1/2)

XV.

The towers of light, the castles in the air, The queenly things with diamonds in their hair, The toys of sound, the flowers of magic art-- All these depart.

XVI.

They seem'd to live; and lo! beyond recall, They take the sweet sad Silence for a pall, And, wrapt therein, consent to be dismiss'd, Though glory-kiss'd.

XVII.

O pride of Spain! O wizard with a wand More fraught with fervours of the life beyond Than books have taught us in these tawdry days, Take thou my praise.

XVIII.

Aye, take it, Pablo! Though so poor a thing, 'Twill serve to mind thee of an English spring When wealth, and worth, and fas.h.i.+on, each and all, Obey'd thy thrall.

XIX.

The lark that sings its love-song in the cloud Is G.o.d-inspired and glad,--but is not proud,-- And soon forgets the salvos of the breeze, As thou dost these.

XX.

The shouts, the praises, and the swift acclaim, That men have brought to magnify thy name, Affect thee barely as an idle cheer Affects a seer.

XXI.

But thou art ours, O Pablo! ours to-day, Ours, and not ours, in thy triumphant sway; And we must urge it by the right that brings Honour to kings.

XXII.

Honour to thee, thou stately, thou divine And far-famed minstrel of a mighty line!

Honour to thee, and peace, and musings high, Good-night! Good-bye!

MY AMAZON.

I.

My Love is a lady fair and free, A lady fair from over the sea, And she hath eyes that pierce my breast And rob my spirit of peace and rest.

II.