Thomas Gray

Thomas Gray (December 26, 1716 – July 30, 1771) was an English poet, classical scholar, and professor of history at Cambridge University.

Quotes


Now Autumn bears a cloud brow The flowers of Spring are swept way And Summer fruits desert the bough
 * T'was Spring, t'was Summer, all was gay
 * from Autumn

Thou tamer of the human breast, Whose iron scourge and tort'ring hour The bad affright, afflict the best!
 * Daughter of Jove, relentless power,
 * Hymn to Adversity, St. 1 (1742)

And from her own she learned to melt at others' woe.
 * What sorrow was, thou bad'st her know,
 * Hymn to Adversity, St. 2 (1742)

High he rears his ruby crest. There the thundering strokes begin, There the press and there the din; Talymalfra's rocky shore Echoing to the battle's roar.
 * In glittering arms and glory dressed,
 * "The Triumphs of Owen. A Fragment", from Mr. Evans's Specimens of the Welch Poetry (1764)

Thousand banners round him burn. Where he points his purple spear, Hasty, hasty Rout is there, Marking with indignant eye Fear to stop and shame to fly. There Confusion, Terror's child, Conflict fierce and Ruin wild, Agony that pants for breath, Despair and honourable Death.
 * Where his glowing eye−balls turn,
 * "The Triumphs of Owen. A Fragment", from Mr. Evans's Specimens of the Welch Poetry (1764)

Leave me, leave me to repose!
 * Now my weary lips I close;
 * Descent of Odin, Line 71 (1761)

Hurtles in the darkened air.
 * Iron sleet of arrowy shower
 * The Fatal Sisters (1761), line 3

He had not the method of making a fortune.
 * Too poor for a bribe, and too proud to importune,
 * On His Own Character (1761)


 * I shall be but a shrimp of an author.
 * Letter to Horace Walpole (February 25, 1768)


 * Comus and his midnight crew.
 * Ode for Music (1769), line 2


 * While bright-eyed Science watches round.
 * Ode for Music (1769), Chorus, line 3

The bee's collected treasures sweet, Sweet music's melting fall, but sweeter yet The still small voice of gratitude.
 * Sweet is the breath of vernal shower,
 * Ode for Music (1769), V, line 8


 * And weep the more, because I weep in vain.
 * Sonnet, On the Death of Mr. West; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)

And passages that lead to nothing.
 * Rich windows that exclude the light,
 * A Long Story; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)


 * The social smile, the sympathetic tear.
 * Education and Government; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)

And gospel-light first dawn'd from Bullen's eyes.
 * When love could teach a monarch to be wise,
 * Education and Government; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)


 * Now as the Paradisiacal pleasures of the Mahometans consist in playing upon the flute and lying with Houris, be mine to read eternal new romances of Marivaux and Crebillon.
 * To Mr. West, Letter iv, Third Series; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)

Ode on the Pleasure Arising from Vicissitude (1754)
Approaching Comfort view: The hues of bliss more brightly glow Chastised by sabler tints of woe, And blended form, with artful strife, The strength and harmony of life.
 * Behind the steps that Misery treads
 * Line 35

On the thorny bed of pain, At length repair his vigour lost, And breathe and walk again: The meanest floweret of the vale, The simplest note that swells the gale, The common sun, the air, the skies, To him are opening paradise.
 * See the wretch that long has tost
 * Line 41

To sweet repast and calm repose.
 * And hie him home, at evening's close,
 * Line 87

From busy day the peaceful night; Rich, from the very want of wealth, In heaven's best treasures, peace and health.
 * From toil he wins his spirits light,
 * Line 93

The Progress of Poesy (1754)
A thousand rills their mazy progress take.
 * From Helicon's harmonious springs
 * I. 1, Line 3


 * Glance their many-twinkling feet.
 * I. 3, Line 11

The bloom of young Desire and purple light of Love.
 * O'er her warm cheek and rising bosom move
 * I. 3, Line 16

Glory pursue, and gen'rous shame, Th' unconquerable mind, 3 and freedom's holy flame.
 * Her track, where'er the goddess roves,
 * II. 2, Line 10

In thy green lap was Nature's Darling laid.
 * Far from the sun and summer-gale,
 * III. 1, Line 1


 * Or ope the sacred source of sympathetic tears.
 * III. 1, Line 12

The living throne, the sapphire-blaze, Where angels tremble, while they gaze, He saw; but blasted with excess of light, Closed his eyes in endless night.
 * He passed the flaming bounds of place and time:
 * III. 2, Line 4

Bright-eyed Fancy hovering o'er Scatters from her pictured urn Thoughts that breathe, and words that burn.
 * Hark, his hands the lyre explore!
 * III. 3, Line 2

Beneath the good how far,—but far above the great.
 * Beyond the limits of a vulgar fate,
 * III. 3, Line 16

Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College (written 1742–1750)
That crown the wat'ry glade.
 * Ye distant spires, ye antique towers,
 * St. 1

Ah, fields beloved in vain! Where once my careless childhood stray'd, A stranger yet to pain! I feel the gales that from ye blow A momentary bliss bestow.
 * Ah, happy hills! ah, pleasing shade!
 * St. 2

They hear a voice in every wind, And snatch a fearful joy.
 * Still as they run they look behind,
 * St. 4

Less pleasing when possest; The tear forgot as soon as shed, The sunshine of the breast.
 * Gay hope is theirs by fancy fed,
 * St. 5

The little victims play! No sense have they of ills to come, Nor care beyond today.
 * Alas, regardless of their doom,
 * St. 6


 * Ah, tell them they are men!
 * St. 6


 * Grim-visaged comfortless Despair.
 * St. 7

Amid severest woe.
 * And moody madness laughing wild
 * St. 8

Condemn'd alike to groan, The tender for another's pain; Th' unfeeling for his own. Yet ah! why should they know their fate? Since sorrow never comes too late, And happiness too swiftly flies. Thought would destroy their paradise. No more; '''where ignorance is bliss, 'Tis folly to be wise.'''
 * To each his suff'rings: all are men,
 * St. 10

On the Death of a Favourite Cat (1747)
Where China's gayest art had dyed The azure flowers, that blow; Demurest of the tabby kind, The pensive Selima reclined, Gazed on the lake below.
 * 'Twas on a lofty vase's side,
 * St. 1

What cat's averse to fish?
 * What female heart can gold despise?
 * St. 4

Nor cruel Tom, nor Susan heard. A favourite has no friend!
 * No dolphin came, no Nereid stirred;
 * St. 6

And heedless hearts, is lawful prize; Nor all that glisters gold.
 * Not all that tempts your wandering eyes
 * St. 7

Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard (written 1750, publ. 1751)
The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea, The plowman homeward plods his weary way, And leaves the world to darkness and to me.
 * The Curfew tolls the knell of parting day,
 * St. 1

And all the air a solemn stillness holds, Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight, And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds.
 * Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight,
 * St. 2

The moping owl does to the moon complain.
 * Save that from yonder ivy-mantled tow'r
 * St. 3

The rude Forefathers of the hamlet sleep.
 * Each in his narrow cell forever laid,
 * St. 4


 * The breezy call of incense-breathing morn.
 * St. 5

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.
 * For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn,
 * St. 6

Their homely joys, and destiny obscure; Nor Grandeur hear with a disdainful smile, The short and simple annals of the poor.
 * Let not Ambition mock their useful toil,
 * St. 8

And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, Await alike the inevitable hour: The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
 * The boast of heraldry, the pomp of pow'r,
 * St. 9

The pealing anthem swells the note of praise.
 * Where through the long-drawn aisle and fretted vault
 * St. 10

Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath? Can Honour's voice provoke the silent dust, Or Flatt'ry soothe the dull cold ear of Death?
 * Can storied urn, or animated bust
 * St. 11

Or waked to ecstasy the living lyre.
 * Hands, that the rod of empire might have swayed,
 * St. 12

Rich with the spoils of time did ne'er unroll; Chill Penury repressed their noble rage, And froze the genial current of the soul.
 * But Knowledge to their eyes her ample page
 * St. 13

The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear: Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air.
 * Full many a gem of purest ray serene,
 * St. 14

The little Tyrant of his fields withstood; Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest, Some Cromwell guiltless of his country's blood.
 * Some village Hampden, that with dauntless breast
 * St. 15

The threats of pain and ruin to despise, To scatter plenty o'er a smiling land, And read their hist'ry in a nation's eyes.
 * The applause of list'ning senates to command,
 * St. 16

And shut the gates of mercy on mankind.
 * Forbade to wade through slaughter to a throne,
 * St. 17

Their sober wishes never learned to stray; Along the cool sequestered vale of life They kept the noiseless tenor of their way.
 * Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife,
 * St. 19


 * Implores the passing tribute of a sigh.
 * St. 20

That teach the rustic moralist to die.
 * And many a holy text around she strews,
 * St. 21

This pleasing anxious being e'er resigned, Left the warm precincts of the cheerful day, Nor cast one longing ling'ring look behind?
 * For who to dumb Forgetfulness a prey,
 * St. 22

E'en in our Ashes live their wonted Fires.
 * E'en from the tomb the voice of Nature cries,
 * St. 23

To meet the sun upon the upland lawn.
 * Brushing with hasty steps the dews away,
 * St. 25

Along the heath, and near his fav'rite tree: Another came; nor yet beside the rill, Nor up the lawn, nor at the wood was he.
 * One morn I miss'd him on the custom'd hill,
 * St. 28

A youth to Fortune and to Fame unknown. Fair Science frowned not on his humble birth. And Melancholy marked him for her own.
 * Here rests his head upon the lap of Earth
 * The Epitaph, St. 1

Heav'n did a recompense as largely send: He gave to Mis'ry all he had, a tear, He gained from Heav'n ('twas all he wished) a friend.
 * Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere,
 * The Epitaph, St. 2

Or draw his frailties from their dread abode, (There they alike in trembling hope repose,) The bosom of his Father and his God.
 * No farther seek his merits to disclose,
 * The Epitaph, St. 3

Or draw his frailties from their dread abode There they alike in trembling hope repose), The bosom of his Father and his God.
 * No further seek his merits to disclose,
 * The Epitaph

The Bard (1757)

 * The Bard (1757) on Wikisource.



Confusion on thy banners wait, Though fanned by Conquest's crimson wing They mock the air with idle state.
 * Ruin seize thee, ruthless King!
 * I. 1. lines 1-4

Nor even thy virtues, tyrant, shall avail To save thy secret soul from nightly fears, From Cambria's curse, from Cambria's tears!'''
 * '''Helm nor hauberk's twisted mail,
 * I, 1. lines 5-8


 * To high-born Hoel's harp, or soft Llewellyn's lay.
 * I. 2. line 28

Dear, as the ruddy drops that warm my heart.
 * Dear, as the light that visits these sad eyes;
 * I. 3. lines 39-40

The winding sheet of Edward's race. Give ample room and verge enough, The Characters of hell to trace.
 * Weave the warp, and weave the woof,
 * II. 1. lines 49-52

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, hushed in grim repose, expects his evening prey.
 * Fair laughs the morn, and soft the zephyr blows,
 * II. 2. lines 71-76

With many a foul and midnight murder fed.
 * Ye towers of Julius, London's lasting shame,
 * II. 3. lines 87-88

Ye unborn ages, crowd not on my soul!
 * Visions of glory, spare my aching sight,
 * III. 1. lines 107-108

They breathe a soul to animate thy clay. Bright Rapture calls, and soaring, as she sings, Waves in the eye of Heav'n her many-colour'd wings.
 * Hear from the grave, great Taliessin, hear;
 * III. 2. lines 121-124

Fierce War, and faithful Love, And Truth severe, by fairy Fiction drest.
 * The verse adorn again
 * III. 3. lines 125-127

Quotes about Thomas Gray

 * Gray thought his language more poetical as it was more remote from common use.
 * Samuel Johnson, Lives of the English Poets (1781), "The Life of Gray"


 * Next day I dined with Johnson at Mr. Thrale's. He attacked Gray, calling him "a dull fellow." BOSWELL. "I understand he was reserved, and might appear dull in company; but surely he was not dull in poetry." JOHNSON. "Sir, he was dull in company, dull in his closet, dull in every where. He was dull in a new way, and that made many people think him GREAT. He was a mechanical poet." He then repeated some ludicrous lines, which have escaped my memory, and said "Is not that GREAT, like his Odes?"
 * Samuel Johnson, in James Boswell, Life of Johnson (1791)


 * [The editor of Facetiae Cantabrigienses, Richard Gooch writes:] Those who remember Mr. Gray when at the University of Cambridge, where he resided the greater part of his life, will recollect that he was a little prim fastidous man, distinguished by a short shuffling step. He commonly held up his gown behind with one of his hands, at the same time cocking up his chin, and perking up his nose. Christopher Smart, who was contemporary with him at Pembroke Hall, used to say that Gray walked "as if he had fouled his small-clothes, and looked as if he smelt it."
 * Facetiae Cantabrigienses: Consisting of Anecdotes, Smart Sayings, Satirics, Retorts, &c, &c, by or Relating to Celebrated Cantabs, ed. R. Gooch (1825)


 * ... After the manner of Gilbert White, who, unknown to the poet, was making similar observations at Selborne, Gray kept a calendar in which he noted the opening of flowers and the arrival of birds.
 * John Vaughan, April 1917, quote p. 444