<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=us-ascii"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div class="detail-hd" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="hdg hdg_1">Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard</span><a href="http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/44299#" class="controlBox-anchor" data-role="LearningControlsView:annotation"><span data-role="LearningControlsView:annotation-text" data-state="on" class=""></span><span class="hdg hdg_utility"></span><br class=""><span class="hdg hdg_utility"></span></a><div class="modal js-modal" role="dialog" aria-hidden="true" data-trigger=".js-modal-trigger" tabindex="0"><div class="modal-bd"><div class="modal-bd-content"><div class="detail-byline"><span class="hdg hdg_utility"><br class=""></span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="detail-bd" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div class="user-content"><div class="user-content-text"><div class="poem" data-view="ContentView"><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">The curfew tolls the knell of parting day, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">The plowman homeward plods his weary way, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> And leaves the world to darkness and to me. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Now fades the glimm'ring landscape on the sight, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> And all the air a solemn stillness holds, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds; <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Save that from yonder ivy-mantled tow'r <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> The moping owl does to the moon complain <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Of such, as wand'ring near her secret bow'r, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Molest her ancient solitary reign. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Beneath those rugged elms, that yew-tree's shade, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Where heaves the turf in many a mould'ring heap, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Each in his narrow cell for ever laid, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">The breezy call of incense-breathing Morn, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> The swallow twitt'ring from the straw-built shed, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">The cock's shrill clarion, or the echoing horn, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Or busy housewife ply her evening care: <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">No children run to lisp their sire's return, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke; <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">How jocund did they drive their team afield! <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> How bow'd the woods beneath their sturdy stroke! <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Let not Ambition mock their useful toil, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Their homely joys, and destiny obscure; <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Nor Grandeur hear with a disdainful smile <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> The short and simple annals of the poor. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">The boast of heraldry, the pomp of pow'r, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Awaits alike th' inevitable hour. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> The paths of glory lead but to the grave. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Nor you, ye proud, impute to these the fault, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> If Mem'ry o'er their tomb no trophies raise, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Where thro' the long-drawn aisle and fretted vault <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> The pealing anthem swells the note of praise. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Can storied urn or animated bust <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath? <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Can Honour's voice provoke the silent dust, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Or Flatt'ry soothe the dull cold ear of Death? <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Perhaps in this neglected spot is laid <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Some heart once pregnant with celestial fire; <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Hands, that the rod of empire might have sway'd, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Or wak'd to ecstasy the living lyre. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">But Knowledge to their eyes her ample page <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Rich with the spoils of time did ne'er unroll; <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Chill Penury repress'd their noble rage, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> And froze the genial current of the soul. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Full many a gem of purest ray serene, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> The dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear: <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Full many a flow'r is born to blush unseen, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> And waste its sweetness on the desert air. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Some village-Hampden, that with dauntless breast <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> The little tyrant of his fields withstood; <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Some Cromwell guiltless of his country's blood. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Th' applause of list'ning senates to command, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> The threats of pain and ruin to despise, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">To scatter plenty o'er a smiling land, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> And read their hist'ry in a nation's eyes, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Their lot forbade: nor circumscrib'd alone <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Their growing virtues, but their crimes confin'd; <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Forbade to wade through slaughter to a throne, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> And shut the gates of mercy on mankind, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">The struggling pangs of conscious truth to hide, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> To quench the blushes of ingenuous shame, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Or heap the shrine of Luxury and Pride <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> With incense kindled at the Muse's flame. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Their sober wishes never learn'd to stray; <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Along the cool sequester'd vale of life <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> They kept the noiseless tenor of their way. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Yet ev'n these bones from insult to protect, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Some frail memorial still erected nigh, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">With uncouth rhymes and shapeless sculpture deck'd, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Implores the passing tribute of a sigh. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Their name, their years, spelt by th' unletter'd muse, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> The place of fame and elegy supply: <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">And many a holy text around she strews, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> That teach the rustic moralist to die. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">For who to dumb Forgetfulness a prey, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> This pleasing anxious being e'er resign'd, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Left the warm precincts of the cheerful day, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Nor cast one longing, ling'ring look behind? <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">On some fond breast the parting soul relies, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Some pious drops the closing eye requires; <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Ev'n from the tomb the voice of Nature cries, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Ev'n in our ashes live their wonted fires. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">For thee, who mindful of th' unhonour'd Dead <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Dost in these lines their artless tale relate; <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">If chance, by lonely contemplation led, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Some kindred spirit shall inquire thy fate, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Haply some hoary-headed swain may say, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> "Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Brushing with hasty steps the dews away <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> To meet the sun upon the upland lawn. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">"There at the foot of yonder nodding beech <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> That wreathes its old fantastic roots so high, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">His listless length at noontide would he stretch, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> And pore upon the brook that babbles by. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">"Hard by yon wood, now smiling as in scorn, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Mutt'ring his wayward fancies he would rove, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Now drooping, woeful wan, like one forlorn, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Or craz'd with care, or cross'd in hopeless love. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">"One morn I miss'd him on the custom'd hill, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Along the heath and near his fav'rite tree; <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Another came; nor yet beside the rill, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Nor up the lawn, nor at the wood was he; <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">"The next with dirges due in sad array <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Slow thro' the church-way path we saw him borne. <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">Approach and read (for thou canst read) the lay, <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> Grav'd on the stone beneath yon aged thorn." <br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class="">THE EPITAPH <br class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><em class="">Here rests his head upon the lap of Earth</em><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> <em class="">A youth to Fortune and to Fame unknown. </em><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><em class="">Fair Science frown'd not on his humble birth, </em><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> <em class="">And Melancholy mark'd him for her own. </em><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><em class="">Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere, </em><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> <em class="">Heav'n did a recompense as largely send: </em><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><em class="">He gave to Mis'ry all he had, a tear, </em><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> <em class="">He gain'd from Heav'n ('twas all he wish'd) a friend. </em><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><em class="">No farther seek his merits to disclose, </em><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> <em class="">Or draw his frailties from their dread abode, </em><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""><em class="">(There they alike in trembling hope repose) </em><br class=""></div><div style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" class=""> <em class="">The bosom of his Father and his God. </em></div></div></div></div></div><br style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Thomas Gray </span><div class=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br class=""></span></div><div class=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br class=""></span></div><div class=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br class=""></span>
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