For me, whene'er all-conquering Death shall spread His wings around my unrepining head, 75 I care not; though this face be seen no more 89 Ó DE ON A DISTANT PROSPECT OF ETON COLLEGE. BY THOMAS GRAY, ESQ.* "Ανθρωπος" ἱκανὴ πρόφασις εἰς τὸ δυςυχεῖν. MENANDER YE diftant fpires, ye antique towers, Her HENRY'S + holy Shade; And ye, that from the stately brow 5 Of WINDSOR's heights th' expanse below Of grove, of lawn, of mead furvey, Whose turf, whose shade, whose flowers among His filver-winding way. Ah happy hills, ah pleafing fhade, Ah fields belov'd in vain, Born 1716; dyed 1771. + King Henry the fixth, founder of the college. 10 Where once my careless childhood stray'd, A ftranger yet to pain! I feel the gales, that from ye blow, A momentary bliss bestow, As waving fresh their gladfome wing, My weary foul they feem to footh, And, redolent of joy and youth, To breathe a second spring. Say, Father THAMES, for thou haft feen Full many a sprightly race 15 20 They hear a voice in every wind, Gay hope is theirs by fancy fed, Or pineing Love fhall waste their youth, Or Jealousy with rankling tooth, Ambition this shall tempt to rife, And grinning Infamy ; The ftings of Falfhood those shall try, 65 79 75 This racks the joints, this fires the veins, 85 That every labouring finew strains, Those in the deeper vitals rage: Lo, Poverty, to fill the band, 99 |