Sonnet [on the Death of Mr Richard West]

1 In vain to me the smiling mornings shine,
2 And reddening Phoebus lifts his golden fire:
3 The birds in vain their amorous descant join,
4 Or cheerful fields resume their green attire:
5 These ears, alas! for other notes repine,
6 A different object do these eyes require.
7 My lonely anguish melts no heart but mine;
8 And in my breast the imperfect joys expire.
9 Yet morning smiles the busy race to cheer,
10 And new-born pleasure brings to happier men:
11 The fields to all their wonted tribute bear;
12 To warm their little loves the birds complain.
13 I fruitless mourn to him that cannot hear,
14 And weep the more because I weep in vain.

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About this text

Title (in Source Edition): Sonnet [on the Death of Mr Richard West]
Author: Thomas Gray
Themes:
Genres: sonnet

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Source edition

Gray, Thomas, 1716-1771. Thomas Gray: English poems. Web. Oxford: Thomas Gray Archive, 2002. http://www.thomasgray.org/texts/poems.shtml

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The text is that of the source edition. This ECPA text has been edited to conform to the recommendations found in Level 5 of the Best Practices for TEI in Libraries version 4.0.0.

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