George P. Morris

Written at the request of the Corporation of the City of New York and sung near the Park Fountain by the members of the New York Sacred Music Society, on the completion of the Croton Aqueduct, celebrated October 14, 1842.

GUSHING from this living fountain,

Music pours a falling strain,

As the goddess of the mountain

Comes with all her sparkling train.

From her grotto-springs advancing,

Glittering in her feathery spray,

Woodland fays beside her dancing,

She pursues her winding way.

Gently o’er the rippling water,

In her coral-shallop bright,

Glides the rock-king’s dove-eyed daughter,

Decked in robes of virgin white.

Nymphs and naiads, sweetly smiling,

Urge her back with pearly hand,

Merrily the sylph beguiling

From the nooks of fairy land.

Round the aqueducts of story,

As the mists of Lethé throng,

Croton’s waves in all her glory

Troop in melody along.

Ever sparkling, bright, and single,

Will this rock-ribbed stream appear,

When posterity shall mingle

Like the gathered waters here.

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