A woman was playing,

   A man looking on;

   And the mould of her face,

   And her neck, and her hair,

   Which the rays fell upon

   Of the two candles there,

Sent him mentally straying

   In some fancy-place

   Where pain had no trace.

A cowled Apparition

   Came pushing between;

   And her notes seemed to sigh,

   And the lights to burn pale,

   As a spell numbed the scene.

   But the maid saw no bale,

And the man no monition;

   And Time laughed awry,

   And the Phantom hid nigh.