The Applause Of List'ning Senates To Command, The Threats Of Pain And Ruin To Despise, To Scatter Plenty O'er A Smiling Land, And Read Their History In A Nation's Eyes.

Implores the passing tribute of a sigh.
-- Thomas Gray (1716-1771) -- Elegy in a Country Churchyard, Stanza 20...
The breezy call of incense-breathing morn.
-- Thomas Gray (1716-1771) -- Elegy in a Country Churchyard, Stanza 5...
But Knowledge to their eyes her ample page, Rich with the spoils of time, did ne'er unroll
Chill penury repress'd their noble rage, And froze the genial current of the soul....
Each in his narrow cell forever laid, The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep.
-- Thomas Gray (1716-1771) -- Elegy in a Country Churchyard, Stanza 4...
E'en from the tomb the voice of nature cries, E'en in our ashes live their wonted fires.
-- Thomas Gray (1716-1771) -- Elegy in a Country Churchyard, Stanza 23...
Forbade to wade through slaughter to a throne, And shut the gates of mercy on mankind.
-- Thomas Gray (1716-1771) -- Elegy in a Country Churchyard, Stanza 17...
Nor grandeur hear with a disdainful smile The short and simple annals of the poor.
-- Thomas Gray (1716-1771) -- Elegy in a Country Churchyard, Stanza 8...
Where through the long-drawn aisle and fretted vault, The pealing anthem swells the note of praise.
-- Thomas Gray (1716-1771) -- Elegy in a Country Churchyard, Stanza 10...
And many a holy text around she strews, That teach the rustic moralist to die.
-- Thomas Gray (1716-1771) -- Elegy in a Country Churchyard, Stanza 21...