Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (18331908). An American Anthology, 17871900. 1900. |
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1302. Incipit Vita Nova |
| By William Morton Payne |
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WHAT time the earth takes on the garb of Spring, | |
And new-born joy runs riot in the blood, | |
When the years tide turns refluent to its flood, | |
And blissful birds their songs are carolling, | |
When life once more is fair, and everything | 5 |
In nature smiles, when tender flowrets bud, | |
And deck the mead as stars the heavens stud, | |
What wonder that my heart leaps up to sing! | |
What wonder that to thee my song of praise | |
I bring, and burn sweet incense at thy shrine, | 10 |
And offer all the worship of my lays | |
To thee, whose loveliness hath lent my days | |
That life renewed whereof the Florentine | |
Sang ere he wrote the Comedy Divine! | |
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