The Restless Spirit - Elegy To Thomas Gray (1977)

foreign over much of England during the early part of the 17th century Tyrant landowners were engaged in enclosing the common land that the peasants depended on for their very livelihoods in vain The Village folk fought for what was theirs such a struggle for survival took place around the village of stoke poages in buckinghamshire Thomas Gray the poet sitting in the churchyard a century later remembered those forgotten Heroes of the common Folk in some of the finest lines in English literature [Music] although long dead himself Gray's poem remands a memorial to the forefathers of the Hamlet the curfew Bell still tells The churchyard Remains the Same an inspiration to many a country past where the present and past are joined in celebration of that which has no present everything which which [Music] Thomas Grace 1716 the 1771. and so it is when our friends die that part of us which lived with them dies also death like a tolling Bell summons its Wayward parishion as all but enough I sent you with this my poem it is entitled the Elegy Written In A Country Church the curfew tells the narrow of parting day allowing heard whines slowly over the Lee the plowman helmet plots his weary way and leaves the world to Darkness and to me now Fades the glimmering landscape on the site and all the air a solemn stillness holds say where the beetle wields his droning flight on drowsy tinklings allow the distant Folds [Music] foreign mantle Tower the moping owl does to the Moon complain of such as wandering near her secret power molest her ancient solitary reign beneath those rugged Elms that you trees shade where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap each in his narrow cell forever laid the rude forefathers of the Hamlet sleep a breezy cold of incense breathing mourn swallowed twittering from the straw built shed the Cox shrill Clarion or the echoing horn no more shall Rouse them from their lowly bed [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] thank you for them no more the Blazing heart shall burn a busy housewife apply her Evening Care no children run to lisp their size return climb his knees the envied kiss to share often the Harvest to their sickle yield they're Furrow off the stubborn Glebe has broke how joking did they drive their team afield how about the woods beneath their sturdy stroke [Applause] let not ambition mock their useful toil their homely Joys and Destiny obscure nor Grandeur here with a disdainful smile a short and simple annals of the poor the boast of heraldry pomp of power and all that beauty all that welfare gave a way to like the inevitable hour the powers of Glory lead but to the Grave nor you ye proud and beautiful if memory are there too no trophies raised where through the long-drawn Isle and fretted Vault appealing Anthem swells a note of praise and storieder or animated bust back to its Mansion called the fleeting breath and on his voice provoke the silent dust or flattery soothe the dull cold year of death perhaps in this neglected spot is laid some heart once pregnant with Celestial fire hands at the rod of Empire might have swayed or waked to ecstasy the living liar but knowledge to their eyes are ample page Rich With The Spoils of time didn't air unroll repressed their Noble rage froze of genial current of the Soul full many a gem of purist Ray Serene a dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear for many a flower to blush unseen and wasted sweetness the Desert Air [Music] foreign [Music] of his Fields withstood some muting glorious Milton here may rest some Cromwell Guiltless of his country's blood the Applause of listening sentence to command the threats of pain and ruined to despise to scatter plenty over a smiling land and read their history in the nation's eyes a lot for babe nor circumscribed alone their growing virtues but their crimes confined forbade to Wade through Slaughter to a throne and shut the gates of Mercy on mankind the struggling pans of conscious truth to hide quench the blushes of ingenuous shame or Heap the shrine of luxury and pride with incense kindled at the Muse's Flame far from the Madding crowds in Noble Strife their sober wishes never learned to stray along the cool sequestered veil of Life they kept the noiseless tenor of their way yet even these bones from insult to protect some frail Memorial still erected nigh with uncouth Rhymes and shapeless sculpture decked claws the passing tribute Versailles their name their years spelled by The unlettered Muse a place of Fame and energy Supply and many Are Holy text around she strews that teach The Rustic moralist to die hook into area in corruption in absorbed this walls in Victory [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] left the warm precincts of a cheerful day or cast one longing lingering look are some fun breast putting Soul relies some Pious drops the closing eye requires in from the tomb the voice of nature cries Even in our ashes live their wanted fires for thee who mindful of the unhonored Dead dust in these lines their heartless tail relate if Chance by Lonely contemplation LED some kindred spirit shall inquire thy fate happily some horry-headed Swain may say after we've seen him at the peep of dawn brushing with Hasty steps that Dews away to meet the sun upon the Upland lawn there at the foot of Yonder nodding Beach that wreaths its old fantastic route so high is listless length at noonti would he stretch poured upon the brook that babbles by him have we seen the Greenwood side along follow the heath we hide our labor done offers the woodlock piped her Farewell Song with wistful eyes pursue the Setting Sun [Music] by yonwood now smiling as in scorn muttering his Wayward fancies he would Rove now drooping woeful one like one forlorn or crazed with care crossed in Hopeless love one mourn I missed him on the customed hill along the heath and near his favorite tree another came nor yet beside the real or balloon lord of the wood was he the next with durges due in sad array slow through the church way path we saw him born approach and read for thou canstreet delay graved on the stone beneath on aged Thorne he arrests his head upon the lack of Earth a youth the fortune unto Fame unknown Fair science frown not on his humble birth Melancholy mocked him for her own large was his Bounty and his soul sincere Evan did a recompense as largely send he gave to Misery all he had a tear he gained from heaven it was all he wished a friend no father seek his merits to disclose or Draw his frailties from their dread abode there they are like and trembling hope propose the bosom of his father and his God [Music]