[Ode on the Pleasure Arising from Vicissitude]
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[Ode on the Pleasure Arising from Vicissitude]
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Metrical foot type: iambic (-+)
Metrical foot number: tetrameter (4 feet), trimeter (3 feet) (catalectic)
Rhyme scheme: ababccdd
Syllable pattern: 7.7.8.6.8.8.8.8
Stanza: octet (8 lines)
Notation symbols: | (foot boundary), || (caesura), / (metrical line boundary), + (metrically prominent), - (metrically non-prominent)
Metre: +|-+|-+|-+/ | Syllables: 7
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Metre: -+|-+|-+|-+/ | Syllables: 8
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Metre: +|-+|-+|-+/ | Syllables: 7
Metre: +|-+|-+|-+/ | Syllables: 7
Metre: -+|-+|-+|-+/ | Syllables: 8
Metre: -+|-+|-+/ | Syllables: 6
Metre: -+|-+|-+|-+/ | Syllables: 8
Metre: -+|-+|-+|-+/ | Syllables: 8
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Metre: +|-+|-+|-+/ | Syllables: 7
Expanding the poem lines () shows notes and queries taken from various critical editions of Gray's works, as well as those contributed by users of the Archive. There are 2 textual and 5 explanatory notes/queries.
[Ode on the Pleasure Arising from Vicissitude] 1 Textual Skip to next line
Title/Paratext] "This Ode was left unfinished [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"This Ode was left unfinished by Gray; it was first published by Mason in
his "Memoirs" of Gray, 1775,
and he "had the boldness to
attempt to finish it himself, making use of some other lines and broken
stanzas which Gray had written." Almost every editor of Gray's
"Poems" has reprinted this Ode as defaced by Mason.
Gray wrote what we have of this Ode probably in the winter of 1754-55.
In a letter to Dr.
Wharton, dated 9th March, 1755, he speaks of his objection to publishing
the Ode on the "Progress of Poesy" alone; and adds:—"I
have two or three ideas more in my head"; "one of these," says
Mason, "was unquestionably this Ode,—since I found in his memorandum book, of 1754, a sketch of his design as
follows:—Contrast between the winter past and coming spring.—Joy
owing to that vicissitude.—Many that never feel that
delight.—Sloth.—Envy.—Ambition. How much happier the rustic
that feels it, though he knows not how.""
13.1 - 16.6 But ... light.] "Cf. Wordsworth's "To a Skylark":— [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"Cf. Wordsworth's "To a Skylark":—
"To the last point of vision, and beyond,The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 254.
Mount, daring warbler!—that love-prompted strain . . .
Thrills not the less the bosom of the plain.""
13.1 - 16.6 But ... light.] "Cf. Wordsworth's "To a Skylark":— [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"Cf. Wordsworth's "To a Skylark":—
"To the last point of vision, and beyond,The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 254.
Mount, daring warbler!—that love-prompted strain . . .
Thrills not the less the bosom of the plain.""
13.1 - 16.6 But ... light.] "Cf. Wordsworth's "To a Skylark":— [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"Cf. Wordsworth's "To a Skylark":—
"To the last point of vision, and beyond,The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 254.
Mount, daring warbler!—that love-prompted strain . . .
Thrills not the less the bosom of the plain.""
13.1 - 16.6 But ... light.] "Cf. Wordsworth's "To a Skylark":— [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"Cf. Wordsworth's "To a Skylark":—
"To the last point of vision, and beyond,The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 254.
Mount, daring warbler!—that love-prompted strain . . .
Thrills not the less the bosom of the plain.""
17.1-4 Yesterday ... year] "[Note on stanza 'Rise, my [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"[Note on stanza 'Rise, my soul! on wings of fire,'] "I
have heard Gray say, that Gresset's "Epitre à ma Soeur" gave
him the first idea of this Ode; and whoever compares it with the French poem
will find some slight traits of resemblance, but chiefly in our author's
seventh stanza."—Mason.
Mitford quotes the following lines from
Gresset:—
"Mon âme, trop long terns flétrieThe Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 254.
Va de nouveau s'épanouir;
Et loin de toute réverie
Voltiger avec le Zéphire,
Occupé tout entier du soin du plaisir d'être," etc."
25.1 - 32.7 Smiles ... day.] "This stanza is an expansion [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"This stanza is an expansion of lines 2[1]-2[4]; beasts and birds have no yesterday or to-morrow, but man has both Reflection and Hope."
The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 254.25.1 - 32.7 Smiles ... day.] "This stanza is an expansion [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"This stanza is an expansion of lines 2[1]-2[4]; beasts and birds have no yesterday or to-morrow, but man has both Reflection and Hope."
The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 254.25.1 - 32.7 Smiles ... day.] "This stanza is an expansion [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"This stanza is an expansion of lines 2[1]-2[4]; beasts and birds have no yesterday or to-morrow, but man has both Reflection and Hope."
The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 254.25.1 - 32.7 Smiles ... day.] "This stanza is an expansion [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"This stanza is an expansion of lines 2[1]-2[4]; beasts and birds have no yesterday or to-morrow, but man has both Reflection and Hope."
The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 254.25.1 - 32.7 Smiles ... day.] "This stanza is an expansion [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"This stanza is an expansion of lines 2[1]-2[4]; beasts and birds have no yesterday or to-morrow, but man has both Reflection and Hope."
The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 254.25.1 - 32.7 Smiles ... day.] "This stanza is an expansion [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"This stanza is an expansion of lines 2[1]-2[4]; beasts and birds have no yesterday or to-morrow, but man has both Reflection and Hope."
The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 254.25.1 - 32.7 Smiles ... day.] "This stanza is an expansion [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"This stanza is an expansion of lines 2[1]-2[4]; beasts and birds have no yesterday or to-morrow, but man has both Reflection and Hope."
The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 254.25.1 - 32.7 Smiles ... day.] "This stanza is an expansion [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"This stanza is an expansion of lines 2[1]-2[4]; beasts and birds have no yesterday or to-morrow, but man has both Reflection and Hope."
The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 254.41.1 - 48.5 See ... Paradise.] "This is one of the [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"This is one of the finest stanzas in Gray's poetry, and is quite distinct in tone from the artificial poetry of the eighteenth century, resembling in sentiment and in the ring of the verse Wordsworth's "Intimations of Immortality," the last lines of which may have been borrowed in part from this passage of Gray:—
"To me the meanest flower that blows can giveThe Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 254.
Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.""
41.1 - 48.5 See ... Paradise.] "This is one of the [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"This is one of the finest stanzas in Gray's poetry, and is quite distinct in tone from the artificial poetry of the eighteenth century, resembling in sentiment and in the ring of the verse Wordsworth's "Intimations of Immortality," the last lines of which may have been borrowed in part from this passage of Gray:—
"To me the meanest flower that blows can giveThe Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 254.
Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.""
41.1 - 48.5 See ... Paradise.] "This is one of the [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"This is one of the finest stanzas in Gray's poetry, and is quite distinct in tone from the artificial poetry of the eighteenth century, resembling in sentiment and in the ring of the verse Wordsworth's "Intimations of Immortality," the last lines of which may have been borrowed in part from this passage of Gray:—
"To me the meanest flower that blows can giveThe Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 254.
Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.""
41.1 - 48.5 See ... Paradise.] "This is one of the [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"This is one of the finest stanzas in Gray's poetry, and is quite distinct in tone from the artificial poetry of the eighteenth century, resembling in sentiment and in the ring of the verse Wordsworth's "Intimations of Immortality," the last lines of which may have been borrowed in part from this passage of Gray:—
"To me the meanest flower that blows can giveThe Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 254.
Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.""
41.1 - 48.5 See ... Paradise.] "This is one of the [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"This is one of the finest stanzas in Gray's poetry, and is quite distinct in tone from the artificial poetry of the eighteenth century, resembling in sentiment and in the ring of the verse Wordsworth's "Intimations of Immortality," the last lines of which may have been borrowed in part from this passage of Gray:—
"To me the meanest flower that blows can giveThe Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 254.
Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.""
41.1 - 48.5 See ... Paradise.] "This is one of the [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"This is one of the finest stanzas in Gray's poetry, and is quite distinct in tone from the artificial poetry of the eighteenth century, resembling in sentiment and in the ring of the verse Wordsworth's "Intimations of Immortality," the last lines of which may have been borrowed in part from this passage of Gray:—
"To me the meanest flower that blows can giveThe Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 254.
Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.""
41.1 - 48.5 See ... Paradise.] "This is one of the [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"This is one of the finest stanzas in Gray's poetry, and is quite distinct in tone from the artificial poetry of the eighteenth century, resembling in sentiment and in the ring of the verse Wordsworth's "Intimations of Immortality," the last lines of which may have been borrowed in part from this passage of Gray:—
"To me the meanest flower that blows can giveThe Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 254.
Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.""
41.1 - 48.5 See ... Paradise.] "This is one of the [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"This is one of the finest stanzas in Gray's poetry, and is quite distinct in tone from the artificial poetry of the eighteenth century, resembling in sentiment and in the ring of the verse Wordsworth's "Intimations of Immortality," the last lines of which may have been borrowed in part from this passage of Gray:—
"To me the meanest flower that blows can giveThe Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 254.
Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.""
51.5 crystalline] "a Miltonic word, "crystalline sphere," [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"a Miltonic word, "crystalline sphere," "Par. Lost," iii. 482; "the crystalline sky," vi. 772; "crystalline ocean," vii. 271; the "cool crystalline stream," "Samson Agonistes," 546."
The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 255.53.1 - 59.5 Far ... round.] "The following incomplete lines are [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"The following incomplete lines are in Gray's MS. Mason filled up the gaps, and added three stanzas more.
"Far below the crowd,The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 255.
Where broad and turbulent it grows
with resistless sweep
They perish in the boundless deep.
Mark where Indolence and Pride,
Softly rolling, side by side,
Their dull, but daily round.""
53.1 - 59.5 Far ... round.] "The following incomplete lines are [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"The following incomplete lines are in Gray's MS. Mason filled up the gaps, and added three stanzas more.
"Far below the crowd,The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 255.
Where broad and turbulent it grows
with resistless sweep
They perish in the boundless deep.
Mark where Indolence and Pride,
Softly rolling, side by side,
Their dull, but daily round.""
53.1 - 59.5 Far ... round.] "The following incomplete lines are [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"The following incomplete lines are in Gray's MS. Mason filled up the gaps, and added three stanzas more.
"Far below the crowd,The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 255.
Where broad and turbulent it grows
with resistless sweep
They perish in the boundless deep.
Mark where Indolence and Pride,
Softly rolling, side by side,
Their dull, but daily round.""
53.1 - 59.5 Far ... round.] "The following incomplete lines are [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"The following incomplete lines are in Gray's MS. Mason filled up the gaps, and added three stanzas more.
"Far below the crowd,The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 255.
Where broad and turbulent it grows
with resistless sweep
They perish in the boundless deep.
Mark where Indolence and Pride,
Softly rolling, side by side,
Their dull, but daily round.""
53.1 - 59.5 Far ... round.] "The following incomplete lines are [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"The following incomplete lines are in Gray's MS. Mason filled up the gaps, and added three stanzas more.
"Far below the crowd,The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 255.
Where broad and turbulent it grows
with resistless sweep
They perish in the boundless deep.
Mark where Indolence and Pride,
Softly rolling, side by side,
Their dull, but daily round.""
53.1 - 59.5 Far ... round.] "The following incomplete lines are [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"The following incomplete lines are in Gray's MS. Mason filled up the gaps, and added three stanzas more.
"Far below the crowd,The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 255.
Where broad and turbulent it grows
with resistless sweep
They perish in the boundless deep.
Mark where Indolence and Pride,
Softly rolling, side by side,
Their dull, but daily round.""
53.1 - 59.5 Far ... round.] "The following incomplete lines are [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"The following incomplete lines are in Gray's MS. Mason filled up the gaps, and added three stanzas more.
"Far below the crowd,The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 255.
Where broad and turbulent it grows
with resistless sweep
They perish in the boundless deep.
Mark where Indolence and Pride,
Softly rolling, side by side,
Their dull, but daily round.""
Works cited
- The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891.
Spelling has been modernized throughout, except in case of conscious archaisms. Contractions, italics and initial capitalization have been largely eliminated, except where of real import. Obvious errors have been silently corrected, punctuation has been supplied. The editor would like to express his gratitude to the library staff of the Göttingen State and University Library (SUB Göttingen) for their invaluable assistance.