I care not, Fortune, what you me deny : Through which Aurora' shows her brightening face; THOMAS GRAY.-Born, 1716; Died, 1771 Thomas Gray was born in London, and educated at Eton and Cambridge. His life was spent mainly at the University, where he became Professor of Modern History. His poems, few in number, are all exquisitely finished and perfect in their kind, but, with the exception of the Elegy, are too classical for the popular taste. The Elegy, however, is in all respects one of the most cherished compositions in the language. ELEGY WRITTEN IN A COUNTRY CHURCH-YARD. THE curfew1 tolls the knell of parting day 9 Aurora, the morning. I curfew, a bell still tolled from It was originally tolled, by command of William the Conqueror, at 8 p.m., as the signal for all to cover their fire (couvre-feu, Fr.); that is, to put out all lights. Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight, Beneath those rugged elms, that yew-tree's shade The rude Forefathers of the hamlet sleep. The breezy call of incense-breathing morn,* Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield, Their furrow oft the stubborn glebes has broke How bow'd the woods beneath their sturdy stroke! 2 moping, sad, stupid. 3 Her solitude. 4 The fragrance of the flowers and flelds in the early morning is compared to incense. 5 twittering, making a succession of sharp notes 6 A clarion is a kind of shrill, clearvoiced trumpet. The crowing of the cock is compared to its sound. 7 the echoing horn of the hunts man. 8 glebe, lit., soil. Let not Ambition mock their useful toil, The boast of heraldry,10 the pomp of power, The paths of glory lead but to the grave. Nor you, ye Proud, impute to these the fault, If Memory o'er their tomb no trophies12 raise, Can storied urn15 or animated bust16 Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath? Perhaps in this neglected spot is laid1 Some heart once pregnant1s with celestial fire; 10 The sounding titles given by the College of Heralds. Il inevitable, that cannot be es- 12 trophies, grand monuments. 14 These two lines refer to pompous 15 storied urn, an urn on the fu neral monument engraved with the story of him who lies beneath. 16 animated bust, life-like statue or bust. 17 The village church-yard. 19 The rod of empire is the royal But Knowledge to their eyes her ample page, Full many a gem of purest ray serene24 Some village Hampden,25 that with dauntless breast Some mute inglorious Milton" here may rest, Th' applause of list'ning senates to command, Their lot forbade: nor circumscribed alone 21 Penury, poverty. 22 noble rage, here, enthusiasm. 23 Poverty prevented them carrying out the noble and healthful wishes of their heart and intellect, as frost binds up the bright stream. serene, clear. 24 25 Hampden was the first to resist the illegal taxes of Charles the First. 26 dauntless, fearless. 27 Milton, author of "Paradise Lost." 28 Oliver Cromwell. Gray here supposes him to have caused the civil wars. But this is open to question. 29 senates, parliaments. 30 circumscribed, shut in within confined limits. 31 The struggling pangs of conscious truth to hide, Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife, Yet, e'en these bones from insult to protect, With uncouth rhymes and shapeless sculpture deck'd, Their name, their years, spelt by th' unletter'd Muse, And many a holy text37 around she strews, For who, to dumb forgetfulness a prey, On some fond breast the parting soul relies, |