Poems by Mr. Gray

22.

Sollicita quis enim, quis amatæ dulcia Vitæ Tædia, fuftinuit mutare filentibus umbris ;

Deferuitve almæ confinia lata diei,

Nec defiderio cun&tantia lumina flexit?

23.

Projicit in gremium fefe moriturus amicum, Deficienfque oculus lacrymas, pia munera, pofcit;

Quinetiam fida ex ipfo Natura sepulchro

Exclamat, folitoque relucent igne faville.

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, * Evʼn in our afhes live their wonted fires.

For

* Ch'i veggio nel penfier, dolce mio fuoco, Fredda una lingua, & due begli occhi chiufi

Rimaner doppo noi pien di faville.

Petrarch. Son. 169.

24.

At te, cui curæ tumulo fine honore jacentes, Incomptoque memor qui pingis agrestia versu; 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 loqnacem.

"Sæpe

24.

For thee, who mindful of th' unhonour'd dead,
Doft in these lines their artlefs tale relate ;
If chance, by lonely contemplation led,
Some kindred Spirit fhall inquire thy fate,

25.

Haply fome hoary-headed Swain may fay,

Oft have we feen him at the peep of dawn "Brushing with hafty fteps the dews away, upon the upland lawn,

"To meet the Sun

26.

"There at the foot of yonder nodding beech "That wreathes its old fantastic roots so high, "His liftless length at noontide would he stretch, "And pore upon the brook that babbles by.

"Hard