Poems by Mr. Gray

22.

Sollicita quis enim, quis amatæ dulcia Vitæ

Tædia, fuftinuit mutare filentibus umbris ;

Deferuitve almæ confinia læta diei,

Nec defiderio cunctantia lumina flexit?

$23.

Projicit in gremium fefe moriturus amicum, Deficienfque oculus lachrymas, pia munera, pofcit; Quinetiam fida ex ipfo Natura fepulchro

Exclamat, folitoque relucent igne favillæ.

22.

For who to dumb Forgetfulness a prey,

This pleafing anxious Being e'er refign'd,
Left the warm precincts of the chearful day,
Nor caft one longing, ling'ring look behind?

23.

'On fome fond breaft the parting foul relies, Some pious drops the clofing eye requires ; Ev'n from the tomb the voice of Nature cries, * Ev'n in our afhes live their wonted fires.

For

* Ch'i veggio nel penfier, dolce mio fuoco,
Fredda una lingua, & due begli occhi chiusi
Rimaner doppo noi pien di faville.

Petrarch. Son. 169.

24.

At te, cui curæ tumulo fine honore jacentes, Incomptoque memor qui pingis agreftia verfu; Si quis erit, tua qui cognato pectore quondam Fata roget, folâ fecum meditatus in umbrâ,

25.

Fortè aliquis memoret, canus jam tempora Paftor, Illum fæpe novo fub lucis vidimus ortu "Verrentem propero matutinos pede rores, "Nafcenti fuper arva jugofa occurrere Soli.

26.

"Illic antiquas ubi torquet devia fagus "Radices per humum, patulo fub tegmine, laffus "Solibus æftivis, fe effundere fæpe folebat,

"Lumina fixa tenens, rivumque notare loquacem.

"Sæpe

24.

For thee, who mindful of th' unhonour'd dead,

Doft in these lines their artless tale relate;

If chance, by lonely contemplation led,
Some kindred Spirit fhall inquire thy fate,

25.

Haply fome hoary-headed Swain may say,
"Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn
"Brufhing with hafty fteps the dews away,
"To meet the Sun upon the upland lawn.

26.

"There at the foot of yonder nodding beech

"That wreathes its old fantastic roots fo high, "His liftlefs length at noontide would he ftretch,

"And pore upon the brook that babbles by.