The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-05-31
From the London Courier.

linS uctcrlnlncu 10 make the best oil tho
time, | left London. in company with 6
young friend for Stoke Pogcis Church a
bout twenty miles from the metropolis
in Buckingliamshire, place celebrated
as the burial-spot of the poet Gray, and
the scene ofhis splendid " Elogy Writer
in the country church-yard"
As We rccedcd from tho city the
clouds that hovcrcd over London dhap
pearod, and on reaching Slough, the sta
ton nearest Stoke, the sun glittcrod
through the sky sufficiently clear to sat
lsfy us there would be no rain. Alight
ing from the cars, VIC pursued our way
along a secluded, quiet road, lined with
groen hedges, trimmed to niccty, the
lofty trees and there throwing grcatfuI
shade across the calm avenues The all
was redolent of spring, and the young
leaves rustlcd in the creeping winds like
sllken garment, while aloft in the heav-
ems beyond our ken, sang the tunoful
lark.
A more tranquil quiet than London
ever witnessed prevailed around, and as
VIC walked slowly on, our conversation
was of the rural splenlors Of the sweet
landscape. The road was serpontinc.
and at every bend new picture was
presented to our delighted sight a few
rustics were seen going churchward a
cross the fields. and the white spirc of
the picturesque fame pcered modcstly up
from n grove Of trees We left the road.
and turning into lane soon came up to
stilc which leads into the grounds of
Stoke Pogcis Church. The sun burst
out in splcndor when we reached this
point, and thus, under bright sky, we
enjoyed the natural beauties Of the
place. The land lies somewhat higher
than the adjacent fields, commanding a
splendid prospect Of Win1s Castle,
with towers and turrets crowned about
three miles distant The intervening
landscape sufpasses my descriptive pow.
ors, and after mentioning hedges, waving
grass, silent herds, and rich vordurc,
shall leave the rest to the imagination of
your readers, to bo filled up as they
please.
As wo entered the enclosure we turn.
ed to the left, whore stands, on mound
a monument to Gray 1t occupies the
site of the spot which gave rise to his
= Ode on distant prospect of Eton Col
lege," and commands splendid view of
that celebrated seat of learning, as we'll
as the lofty walls of Windsor Castle, and
the distant hills of Berkshire The po-
sition of the monument. which is die
with ornamental mouldings surmounted
by square shaft is on green mound,
the sides on which decline gently into a
waterlcss moat, rich in flowers and shrub.
berry. The grass which covers the earth
is emerald green and soft as velvet
The inscriptions are from the poets
works, and prudently chosen. The first
We read was like unto an usher who was
there to direct us to the famous rustic
graveyard. 1t seems to point and say
" Beneath those rugged clms,' that yew-
trees shade,
Where heaves the turf in many a mould
ring heap,
Each in his narrow cell for ever laid
The rude forefathers OF the hamlet sleep"
The hint was all sufficient not forty
yards in front is the scene. The peas
ants were silently vending their way a.
long tho pensive paths Of the meadows,
over which their ancestors for centuries
have gone up to Gods house, and with
cautious feet treading softly near their
lowly bed" inwardly repeated
u Let not ambition mock their useful toll,
Their homcly joys, and destiny obscure,
Nor grandeur hear with disdainful smile,
The short but simple ANNALS Of the poor"
The memorial gives reality to the
Ode written there, and when read tho
lines on the stone in the full
prospect of Eton College and Windsor
Castle, their force and truth were fully
realized
Ye distant spires, ye antique towers,
That crown the Natry glade
Where greatc1ll Science still adorcs
Her lIENRY's holy shade.
Ali, happy hills ah, pleasing shade
All licdS beloved in vain
Where once my careless childhood straycd
A stranger yet to pain
feel the gales that from yc blow
A momcntary bliss bestow r.
After indulging in reveries on tho
Gene, We proceeded toward the church
| building unsurpassed III beauty and I
'icturesquenoss of design or locality
wen in England. 1t stands between
wo gloves, one Of them formed by the |
rugged elm" and yews made perennial I
o fame by the poet; and around are tho .
raves of the namoless dead. The cd Z
flee has two chancles and a nave, Il IS
presenting three sharp gables TO the
'ast, which form in connection with the |
over and steeplc, u view exquistely
ine. Ivy mantlcs tho gray tower,
lambers over the external ohancel walls,
md curtains the windows The rich
green of tho ruin hunting vine, the dark
rms of the yews, aud the softer hues of
he elms, Expresses and frs, which form
ho groves, blended with the gray walls,
he dark tiled roof and the white spirc,
make picture no country but England
AN supply.
We were too late to join in the SER
ice the national fast and humiliation
rising out Of the present war-and de-
crmined to pass our time in the grounds.
\ few rustics were listlessly reposing on
he grass, but they paid no regard to US
Dur endeavors to enlist them in con-
'ersation failed, and turning from them
o objects inanimate, we profted by the
hangc.
The poet is buried in the same grave
With his mother, Immediately in front OF
he east window of the south chancel, the
omb being au oblong, raised some feet
bove the earth, and covered with fat,