THOMAS GRAY. THOMAS HOMAS GRAY, a distinguished poet, was the son laureat, vacant by the death of Cibber, was offered of a money-scrivener in London, where he was to Gray, but declined by him. In the same year he born in 1716. He received his education at Eton-published two odes, “On the Progress of Poesy," school, whence he was sent to the university of and "The Bard," which were not so popular as his Cambridge, and entered as a pensioner at St. Pe- Elegy had been, chiefly, perhaps, because they were ter's College. He left Cambridge in 1738, and less understood. The uniform life passed by this occupied a set of chambers in the Inner Temple, eminent person admits of few details, but the transfor the purpose of studying the law. From this action respecting the professorship of modern history intention he was diverted by an invitation to accom- at Cambridge, a place worth four hundred pounds pany Mr. Horace Walpole, son of the celebrated a year, is worthy of some notice. When the situstatesman, with whom he had made a connection at ation became vacant in Lord Bute's administration, Eton, in a tour through Europe. Some disagree- it was modestly asked for by Gray, but had already ment, of which Mr. Walpole generously took the been bespoken by another. On a second vacancy blame, caused them to separate in Italy; and Gray in 1768, the Duke of Grafton being now in power, returned to England in September, 1741, two months it was, "unsolicited and unsuspected," conferred before his father's death. Gray, who now depended upon him; in return for which he wrote his "Ode chiefly upon his mother and aunt, left the law, and for Music," for the installation of that nobleman as returned to his retirement at Cambridge. In the chancellor of the university. This professorship, next year he had the misfortune to lose his dear though founded in 1724, had hitherto remained a friend West, also an Eton scholar, and son to the perfect sinecure; but Gray prepared himself to Chancellor of Ireland, which left a vacancy in his execute the duties of his office. Such, however, affections, that seems never to have been supplied. were the baneful effects of habitual indolence, that, From this time his residence was chiefly at Cam- with a mind replete with ancient and modern knowbridge, to which he was probably attached by an in- ledge, he found himself unable to proceed farther satiable love of books, which he was unable to gra- than to draw a plan for his inauguration speech. tify from his own stores. Some years passed in this But his health was now declining; an irregular favourite indulgence, in which his exquisite learning hereditary gout made more frequent attacks than and poetic talents were only known to a few friends; formerly; and at length, while he was dining in the and it was not till 1747, that his "Ode on a distant College-hall, he was seized with a complaint in the Prospect of Eton College" made its appearance stomach, which carried him off on July 30. 1771, in before the public. It was in 1751 that his cele- the fifty-fifth year of his age. His remains were brated "Elegy written in a Country Church-yard," deposited, with those of his mother and aunt, in the chiefly composed some years before, and even now church-yard of Stoke-Pogis, Buckinghamshire. sent into the world without the author's name, made its way to the press. Few poems were ever so popular: it soon ran through eleven editions; was translated into Latin verse, and has ever since borne the marks of being one of the most favourite productions of the British Muse. In the manners of Gray there was a degree of effeminacy and fastidiousness which exposed him to the character of a fribble; and a few riotous young inen of fortune in his college thought proper to make him a subject for their boisterous tricks. He made remonstrances to the heads of the society upon this usage, which being treated, as he thought, without due attention, he removed in 1756 to Pembroke-hall. In the next year, the office of poet It is exclusively as a poet that we record the name of Gray; and it will, perhaps, be thought that we borrow too large a share from a single small volume; yet this should be considered as indicative of the high rank which he has attained, compared with the number of his compositions. With respect to his character as a man of learning, since his acquisitions were entirely for his own use, and produced no fruits for the public, it has no claim to particular notice. For though he has been called by one of his admirers "perhaps the most learned man in Europe," never was learning more thrown away. A few picces of Latin poetry are all that he has to produce. For thee, who, mindful of th' unhonour'd dead, Haply some hoary-headed swain may say, Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn Brushing with hasty steps the dews away To meet the Sun upon the upland lawn. "There at the foot of yonder nodding beech, That wreathes its old fantastic roots so high, His listless length at noontide would he stretch, And pore upon the brook that bubbles by. "Hard by yon wood, now smiling as in scorn, Muttering his wayward fancies he would rove, Now drooping woeful wan, like one forlorn, Or craz'd with care, or cross'd in hopeless love. Oh! sovereign of the willing soul, And frantic passions, hear thy soft control: And dropp'd his thirsty lance at thy command: Of Jove, thy magic lulls the feather'd king Thee the voice, the dance, obey, With antic sports and blue-ey'd pleasures, Slow-melting strains their queen's approach declare : II. Man's feeble race what ills await, Labour and Penury, the racks of Pain, Disease, and Sorrow's weeping train, Thine too these golden keys, immortal boy! Or ope the sacred source of sympathetic tears.” Nor second he †, that rode sublime Upon the seraph-wings of Ecstasy, He pass'd the flaming bounds of place and time: Behold, where Dryden's less presumptuous car, Two coursers of ethereal race‡, [ing pace. With necks in thunder cloth'd, and long-resound And Death, sad refuge from the storms of Fate! Hark, his hands the lyre explore! The fond complaint, my song, disprove, And justify the laws of Jove. Say, has he given in vain the heavenly Muse? Her spectres wan, and birds of boding cry, In climes beyond the solar road, [war. Where shaggy forms o'er ice-built mountains roam, To cheer the shivering native's dull abode. She deigns to hear the savage youth repeat, In loose numbers wildly sweet, Their feather-cinctur'd chiefs, and dusky loves. Th' unconquerable mind, and Freedom's holy flame. Woods, that wave o'er Delphi's steep, How do your tuneful Echoes languish Left their Parnassus, for the Latian plains. And coward Vice, that revels in her chains. When Latium had her lofty spirit lost, They sought, oh Albion! next thy sea-encircled coast. Bright-ey'd Fancy, hovering o'er, Thoughts that breathe, and words that burn. But ah! 't is heard no more Lo! where the rosy-bosom'd Hours, The untaught harmony of Spring: While, whispering pleasure as they fly, Cool Zephyrs through the clear blue sky Their gather'd fragrance fling. Where'er the oak's thick branches stretch Beside some water's rushy brink (At ease reclin'd in rustic state) Still is the toiling hand of Care : The panting herds repose: Yet hark, how through the peopled air "HENCE, avaunt, ('t is holy ground,) Where willowy Camus lingers with delight! Oft at the blush of dawn I trod your level lawn, Oft woo'd the gleam of Cynthia silver-bright But hark! the portals sound, and pacing forth High potentates and dames of royal birth, And sad Chatillon †, on her bridal morn That wept her bleeding love, and princely Claret, And either Henry ¶ there, The murder'd saint, and the majestic lord, (Their tears, their little triumphs o'er, "What is grandeur, what is power? * Edward the Third; who added the fleur-delis of France to the arms of England. He founded Trinity College. Mary de Valentia, Countess of Pembroke, daughter of Guy de Chatillon, Comte de St. Paul in France of whom tradition says, that her hus Let painted Flattery hide her serpent-train in flowers. band, Audemar de Valentia, Earl of Pembroke, was Nor Envy base, nor creeping Gain, Dare the Muse's walk to stain, While bright-ey'd Science watches round: Hence, away, 't is holy ground!" From yonder realms of empyrean day To bless the place, where on their opening soul 'T was Milton struck the deep-ton'd shell, "Ye brown o'er-arching groves, That Contemplation loves, slain at a tournament on the day of his nuptials. She was the foundress of Pembroke College or Hall, under the name of Aula Mariæ de Valentia. Elizabeth de Burg, Countess of Clare, was wife of John de Burg, son and heir of the Earl of Ulster, and daughter of Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, by Joan of Acres, daughter of Edward the First. Hence the poet gives her the epithet of princely. She founded Clare-Hall. § Margaret of Anjou, wife of Henry the Sixth, foundress of Queen's College. The poet had celebrated her conjugal fidelity in a former ode. Elizabeth Widville, wife of Edward the Fourth (hence called the paler rose, as being of the house of York). She added to the foundation of Margaret of Anjou. Henry the Sixth and Eighth. The former the founder of King's, the latter the greatest benefactor to Trinity College. |