| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 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 year’s 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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