Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900.djvu/542

SAMUEL JOHNSON

Then with no fiery throbbing pain,
   No cold gradations of decay,
Death broke at once the vital chain,
   And freed his soul the nearest way.

RICHARD JAGO

1715-1781

WITH leaden foot Time creeps along
While Delia is away:
With her, nor plaintive was the song,
   Nor tedious was the day.

Ah, envious Pow'r! reverse my doom;
   Now double thy career,
Strain ev'ry nerve, stretch ev'ry plume,
   And rest them when she's here!

THOMAS GRAY

1716-1771

THE Curfew tolls the knell of parting day,
The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea,
The plowman homeward plods his weary way,
   And leaves the world to darkness and to me.

Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight,
   And all the air a solemn stillness holds,
Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight,
   And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds;

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