Flower Pieces and other poems By William Allingham: With two designs by Dante Gabriel Rossetti |
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THE WONDROUS WELL. |
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 | Flower Pieces and other poems |  |
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THE WONDROUS WELL.
From north and south and east and west,
Four Pilgrims gain'd a mountain crest,
Each vow'd to search the wide world round,
Until the Wondrous Well be found;
For in this place, as old songs tell,
Shine sun and moon on that pure Well;
And now, the lonely crag their seat,
The water rises at their feet.
Four Pilgrims gain'd a mountain crest,
Each vow'd to search the wide world round,
Until the Wondrous Well be found;
For in this place, as old songs tell,
Shine sun and moon on that pure Well;
And now, the lonely crag their seat,
The water rises at their feet.
Said One, ‘This Well is small and mean,
Too petty for a village-green.’
Another said, ‘So smooth and dumb—
From earth's deep centre can it come?’
The Third, ‘This water's nothing rare,
Hueless and savourless as air.’
The Fourth, ‘A Fane I look'd to see:
Where the true Well is, that must be.’
Too petty for a village-green.’
Another said, ‘So smooth and dumb—
From earth's deep centre can it come?’
The Third, ‘This water's nothing rare,
Hueless and savourless as air.’
The Fourth, ‘A Fane I look'd to see:
Where the true Well is, that must be.’
They rose and left the lofty crest,
Went north, and south, and east, and west;
Through many seas and deserts wide
They wander'd, thirsting, till they died;
Because no other water can
Assuage the deepest thirst of man.
—Shepherds who by the mountain dwell,
Dip their pitchers in that Well.
Went north, and south, and east, and west;
Through many seas and deserts wide
They wander'd, thirsting, till they died;
Because no other water can
Assuage the deepest thirst of man.
—Shepherds who by the mountain dwell,
Dip their pitchers in that Well.
| Flower Pieces and other poems | |