The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray/Sonnet on the Death of Mr. Richard West

by Thomas Gray (1716-1771)

SONNET

ON THE DEATH OF MR. RICHARD WEST.

[See W. S. Landori Poemata, p. 186.]

 

In vain to me the smiling mornings^{[N 1]} shine,And redd'ning Phœbus lifts his golden fire:^{[N 2]} The birds in vain their amorous descant^{[N 3]} join;Or cheerful fields resume their green attire: These ears, alas! for other notes repine 5A different object do these eyes require: My lonely anguish melts no heart but mine;And in my breast the imperfect joys expire.^{[N 4]}

Yet morning smiles the busy race to cheer, 9And new-born pleasure brings to happier men: The fields to all their wonted tribute bear:To warm their little loves^{[N 5]} the birds complain: I fruitless mourn to him that cannot hear,And weep the more, because I weep in vain.^{[N 6]}

 

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Notes

1. V. 1. Milt. P. L. v. 168, "That crown'st the smiling morn". Luke.
2. V. 2. Lucret. vi, 204, "Devolet in terram liquidi color aureus ignis." Luke.
3. V. 3. Milt. P. L. iv. 602, "She all night long her amorous descant sung." Luke.
4. V. 8. "And in my ear the imperfect accent dies." Dryden. Ovid. Rogers.
5. V. 12. Spens. B. Id. cant. iii. st. 5: "On these Cupido winged armies led, of little loves." Luke.
6. V. 14. A line similar to this occurs in Cibber's Alteration of Richard the Third, act ii. sc. 2: