Poems and Letters of Thomas Gray: With Memoirs of His Life and Writings |
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Page 14
I have not thought it necessary to insert these hexameters , as adulatory verses of
this kind , however well written , deserve not to be transmitted to posterity ; and ,
indeed , are usually buried , as they ought to be , in the trash with which they are
...
I have not thought it necessary to insert these hexameters , as adulatory verses of
this kind , however well written , deserve not to be transmitted to posterity ; and ,
indeed , are usually buried , as they ought to be , in the trash with which they are
...
Page 19
The reason I choose so melancholy a kind of poesie , is because my low spirits
and constant ill health ( things in me not imaginary , as you surmise , but too real ,
alas ! and I fear constitutional ) “ have tuned my heart to elegies of woe ; " and ...
The reason I choose so melancholy a kind of poesie , is because my low spirits
and constant ill health ( things in me not imaginary , as you surmise , but too real ,
alas ! and I fear constitutional ) “ have tuned my heart to elegies of woe ; " and ...
Page 32
Seriously , you write in that language with a grace and an Augustan urbanity that
amazes me : your Greek too is perfect in its kind . And here let me wonder that a
man , longč Gręcorum doctissimus , should be at a loss for the verse and ...
Seriously , you write in that language with a grace and an Augustan urbanity that
amazes me : your Greek too is perfect in its kind . And here let me wonder that a
man , longč Gręcorum doctissimus , should be at a loss for the verse and ...
Page 63
... to entertain strangers , ( for the rest must neither speak one to another , nor to
any one else ) received us very kindly ; and set before us a repast of dried fish ,
eggs , butter , and fruits , all excellent in their kind , and extremely neat .
... to entertain strangers , ( for the rest must neither speak one to another , nor to
any one else ) received us very kindly ; and set before us a repast of dried fish ,
eggs , butter , and fruits , all excellent in their kind , and extremely neat .
Page 73
After this we went to the Annonciata , a church built by the family Lomellini , and
belonging to it ; which is , indeed , a most stately structure , the inside wholly
marble of various kinds , except where gold and painting take its place . From
hence ...
After this we went to the Annonciata , a church built by the family Lomellini , and
belonging to it ; which is , indeed , a most stately structure , the inside wholly
marble of various kinds , except where gold and painting take its place . From
hence ...
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Popular passages
Page 17 - But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.
Page 461 - A stranger yet to pain ! I feel the gales that from ye blow A momentary bliss bestow, As waving fresh their gladsome wing My weary soul they seem to soothe, And, redolent of joy and youth, To breathe a second spring.
Page 466 - Aeolian lyre, awake, And give to rapture all thy trembling strings. From Helicon's harmonious springs A thousand rills their mazy progress take: The laughing flowers, that round them blow, Drink life and fragrance as they flow. Now the rich stream of music winds along, Deep, majestic, smooth, and strong, Through verdant vales and Ceres...
Page 492 - For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn, Or busy housewife ply her evening care ; No children run to lisp their sire's return, Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share. Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield, Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke ; How jocund did they drive their team afield ! How bow'd the woods beneath their sturdy stroke ! Let not Ambition mock their useful toil, Their homely joys, and destiny obscure ; y> Nor Grandeur hear with a disdainful smile The short...
Page 474 - Fair laughs the Morn, and soft the zephyr blows, While proudly riding o'er the azure realm In gallant trim the gilded Vessel goes : Youth on the prow, and Pleasure at the helm : Regardless of the sweeping Whirlwind's sway, That hush'd in grim repose expects his evening prey.
Page 511 - And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone : and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
Page 470 - Where Angels tremble while they gaze, He saw ; but blasted with excess of light. Closed his eyes in endless night. Behold, where Dryden's less presumptuous car, Wide o'er the fields of glory bear Two coursers of ethereal race, With necks in thunder clothed, and long-resounding pace.
Page 493 - Full many a gem of purest ray serene The dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear ; Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air. Some village Hampden, that with dauntless breast The little tyrant of his fields withstood ; Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest ; Some Cromwell, guiltless of his country's blood. Th...
Page 476 - Raised by thy breath, has quench'd the orb of day? To-morrow he repairs the golden flood And warms the nations with redoubled ray. Enough for me : with joy I see The different doom our fates assign: Be thine Despair and sceptred Care; 125 126 BOOK THIRD. To triumph and to die are mine.
Page 468 - Man's feeble race what ills await ! Labour and Penury, the racks of Pain, Disease, and Sorrow's weeping train, And Death, sad refuge from the storms of Fate ! The fond complaint, my song, disprove, And justify the laws of Jove.