In the character of his Elegy I rejoice to concur with the common reader; for by the common sense of readers, uncorrupted with literary prejudices, after all the refinements of subtilty and the dogmatism of learn. ing, must be finally decided all claim to poetical honours. The Church yard' abounds with images which find a mirror in every mind, and with sentiments to which every bosom returns an echo. The four stanzas, beginning Yet even these bones,' are to me original: I have never seen the notions in any other place; yet he that reads them here persuades himself that he has always felt them. Had Gray written often thus, it had been vain to blame, and useless to praise him. ODES. I. ON THE SPRING. Lo! where the rosy-bosom'd Hours, Where'er the oak's thick branches stretch Where'er the rude and moss-grown beech Beside some water's rushy brink (At ease reclined in rustic state) How vain the ardour of the crowd, How indigent the great! Still is the toiling hand of Care: Yet hark, how through the peopled air The busy murmur glows! The insect youth are on the wing, Eager to taste the honied spring, .G And float amid the liquid noon : To Contemplation's sober eye Such is the race of man: And they that creep, and they that fly, Alike the busy and the gay But flutter through life's little day, They leave, in dust to rest. Methinks I hear in accents low The sportive kind reply: 'Poor moralist! and what art thou? A solitary fly! Thy joys no glittering female meets, On hasty wings thy youth is flown; II. ON THE DEATH OF A FAVOURITE CAT. Drowned in a Tub of Gold Fishes. "TWAS on a lofty vase's side, Her conscious tail her joy declared; Her coat, that with the tortoise vies, Her ears of jet, and emerald eyes, She saw; and purr'd applause. Still had she gazed; but 'midst the tide Their scaly armour's Tyrian hue The hapless Nymph with wonder saw : She stretch'd in vain to reach the prize. What female heart can gold despise? What Cat's averse to fish? Presumptuous Maid! with looks intent Again she stretch'd, again she bent, Nor knew the gulf between. (Malignant Fate sate by, and smiled) The slipp'ry verge her feet beguiled, She tumbled headlong in. Eight times emerging from the flood, No Dolphin came, no Nereid stirr❜d: From hence, ye beauties, undeceived, Not all that tempts your wand'ring eyes III. ON A DISTANT PROSPECT OF "Ανθρωπος ἱκανὴ πρόφασις εἰς τὸ δυστυχεῖν. YE distant spires, ye antique towers, That crown the wat❜ry glade, Where grateful Science still adores Her Henry's holy shade; Menander. And ye, that from the stately brow Of grove, Whose turf, whose shade, whose flowers among Wanders the hoary Thames along His silver-winding way! Ah happy hills! ah pleasing shade! Ah fields beloved in vain, Where once my careless childhood stray'd I feel the gales that from ye blow As waving fresh their gladsome wing, Say, Father Thames, for thou hast seen To chase the rolling circle's speed, Or urge the flying ball? King Henry the Sixth, founder of the College. |