Incipit Vita Nova

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 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, 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!

Collection: 
English
William Morton Payne

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