| Hunt and Lee, comps. The Book of the Sonnet. 1867. | | | | On the Death of His Friend West | | By Thomas Gray (1716–1771) |
| | | IN 1 vain to me the smiling mornings shine, | |
| And reddening Phœbus lifts his golden fire; | |
| The birds in vain their amorous descant join, | |
| Or cheerful fields resume their green attire: | |
| These ears, alas! for other notes repine; | 5 |
| A different object do these eyes require; | |
| My lonely anguish melts no heart but mine; | |
| And in my breast the imperfect joys expire. | |
| Yet morning smiles the busy race to cheer, | |
| And new-born pleasure brings to happier men; | 10 |
| The fields to all their wonted tribute bear; | |
| To warm their little loves the birds complain; | |
| I fruitless mourn to him that cannot hear; | |
| And weep the more, because I weep in vain. | |
| | | Note 1. For a defence of this beautiful sonnet against the hypercriticism of Wordsworth, see Introductory Essay. [back] | | |
|
|
|
