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Home  »  The Complete Poetical Works by William Wordsworth  »  X. THE SOURCE OF THE DANUBE

MEMORIALS OF A TOUR ON THE CONTINENT, 1820

X. THE SOURCE OF THE DANUBE

MEMORIALS OF A TOUR ON THE CONTINENT, 1820


NOT, like his great Compeers, indignantly Doth DANUBE spring to life! The wandering Stream (Who loves the Cross, yet to the Crescent’s gleam Unfolds a willing breast) with infant glee Slips from his prison walls: and Fancy, free To follow in his track of silver light, Mounts on rapt wing, and with a moment’s flight Hath reached the encincture of that gloomy sea Whose waves the Orphean lyre forbade to meet In conflict; whose rough winds forgot their jars 10 To waft the heroic progeny of Greece; When the first Ship sailed for the Golden Fleece– ARGO–exalted for that daring feat To fix in heaven her shape distinct with stars.