Thomas Gray
Thomas Gray
Thomas Graywas an English poet, letter-writer, classical scholar and professor at Pembroke College, Cambridge University. He is widely known for his Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, published in 1751...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth26 December 1716
laughter laughing woe
And moody madness laughing wild Amid severest woe.
sky air paradise
The meanest flowret of the vale, / The simplest note that swells the gale, / The common sun, the air, and skies, / To him are opening paradise.
sleep cells rude
Each in his narrow cell forever laid, The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep.
simple simplicity poor
Nor grandeur hear with a disdainful smile The short and simple annals of the poor.
vain
And weep the more, because I weep in vain.
life eye angel
He pass'd the flaming bounds of place and time: The living throne, the sapphire blaze, Where angels tremble while they gaze, He saw; but blasted with excess of light, Closed his eyes in endless night.
life hands might
Hands that the rod of empire might have sway'd, Or waked to ecstasy the living lyre.
feet ballet cadence
To brisk notes in cadence beating, glance their many-twinkling feet.
eye men race
To Contemplation's sober eye. / Such is the race of Man.
cat heart gold
What female heart can gold despise? What cat 's averse to fish?
shrimp
I shall be but a shrimp of an author.
voice dust honor
Can honor's voice provoke the silent dust, or flattery soothe the dull, cold ear of death?
eye heart gold
Not all that tempts your wandering eyes And heedless hearts, is lawful prize; Nor all that glisters gold.
passing sigh tribute
Implores the passing tribute of a sigh.