Thomas Gray Quotes
1716–1771 England
Thomas Gray (December 26, 1716 – July 30, 1771) was an English poet, classical scholar, and professor of history at Cambridge University.
- England
- Poets
Also known as: Gray, Thomas
116 quotes
Some bold adventurers disdain
The limits of their little reign,
And unknown regions dare descry.
The insect-youth are on the wing,
Eager to taste the honied spring,
And float amid the liquid noon!
Forbade to wade through slaughter to a throne,
And shut the gates of mercy on mankind.
Save that from yonder ivy-mantled tow'r
The moping owl does to the moon complain.
Each in his narrow cell forever laid,
The rude Forefathers of the hamlet sleep.
Brushing with hasty steps the dews away,
To meet the sun upon the upland lawn.
Loose his beard, and hoary hair
Stream'd, like a meteor, to the troubled air.
From Helicon's harmonious springs
A thousand rills their mazy progress take.
The hues of bliss more brightly glow,
Chastis'd by sabler tints of woe.
To brisk notes in cadence beating
Glance their many-twinkling feet.
Ye distant spires, ye antique towers,
That crown the wat'ry glade.
The tear forgot as soon as shed,
The sunshine of the breast.
And moody madness laughing wild
Amid severest woe.
Attribution
Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Thomas Gray (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.