THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, VOL. 8 (Completed)

X - NEAR ANIO'S STEAM, I SPIED A GENTLE DOVE

Near Anio's stream,[119] I spied a gentle Dove

Perched on an olive branch, and heard her cooing

'Mid new-born blossoms that soft airs were wooing,

While all things present told of joy and love.

But restless Fancy left that olive grove 

To hail the exploratory Bird renewing

Hope for the few, who, at the world's undoing,

On the great flood were spared to live and move.

O bounteous Heaven! signs true as dove and bough

Brought to the ark are coming evermore,

Given though we seek them not, but, while we plough[120]

This sea of life without a visible shore,

Do neither promise ask nor grace implore

In what alone is ours, the living Now.[121]


[119] The Anio joins the Tiber north of Rome, flowing from the north-east past Tivoli.--ED.

[120] 1845.

Even though men seek them not, but, while they plough

1842.

[121] 1845.

... the vouchsafed Now.

1842.