Far from the madding crowd's ignoble ftrife,
Their fober wishes never learn'd to stray;
Along the cool fequefter'd vale of life
They kept the noiseless tenor of their way.
Yet ev❜n these bones from infult to protect
Some frail memorial ftill erected nigh,
With uncouth rhimes andfhapeless sculpture deck'
Implores the paffing tribute of a figh.
Their name, their years, fpelt by th’unletter'd muf
The place of fame and elegy supply:
And many a holy text around the ftrews,
That teach the ruftic moralist to die.
For who, to dumb forgetfulness a prey,
This pleafing anxious being e'er refign'd,
Left the warm precincts of the chearful day,
Nor caft one longing ling'ring look behind?
On fome fond breast the parting foul relies,
Some pious drops the clofing eye requires;
Ev'n from the tomb the voice of nature cries,
Ev'n in our afhes live their wonted fires.
Lunge dal popolar tumulto infano
Non mai torfero il piè dal dritto calle,
Seguendo il corfo lor tranquillo e piano,
Per l'erma de la vita opaca valle.
Pur a difender da villano infulto
Quest' offa, eretto alcun faffo vicino,
D' incolte rime, e rozze forme sculto,
Qualche fofpir richiede al peregrino.
I nomi e gli anni, senza ftudio ed arte,
Di carmi in vece, indotta man vi segna,
E con facre fentenze intorno sparte,
Al buon cultore di morire infegna.
Chi mai chi de l'oblio nel fofco velo
Quefta affannosa amabil vita avvolse,
E lafciò le contrade alme del cielo,
Nè un fofpirofo fguardo indietro volse?
Pofa, fpirando, in grembo amico e fido
L'alma, e chiede di pianto alcuna stilla.
Da la tomba anco alza natura il grido,
E fotto il cener freddo amor sfavilla.
For thee, who mindful of th' unhonour'd dead
Doft in these lines their artless tale relate;
If chance, by lonely contemplation lead,
Some kindred spirit fhall inquire thy fate,
Haply fome hoary-headed fwain may say:
Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn
Brushing with hafty steps the dews away,
To meet the fun upon the upland lawn.
There at the foot of yonder nodding beech, That wreathes its old fantastic roots fo high, His listless length at noontide would he stretch, And pore upon the brook that babbles by.
Hard by yon wood, now fmiling as in fcorn, Mutt'ring his wayward fancies he would rove, Now drooping, woeful wan, like one forlorn, Or craz'd with care, or cross'd in hopeless love.
One morn I miss'd him on the custom'd hill,
Along the heath, and near his fav'rite tree;
Another came; nor yet befide the rill,
Nor up the lawn, nor at the wood was he.
Ma fe di te, che in femplice favella
Narri ftoria di gente ofcura umìle,
Fia che brami faper qualche novella
Quà giunto a forte fpirto ermo e gentile;
Speffo, forfe dirà Pastor canuto,
La rugiada crollar giù da l' erbetta,
Frettolofo in fu l'alba i' l' ho veduto,
Per incontrare il Sol fu l''alta vetta.
Sotto quell' ondeggiante antico faggio,
Che radici ha bizzarre e sì profonde,
Proftefo e lento, al più cocente raggio,
Fifo afcoltava il mormorar de l' onde.
Ora ridente di schernevol rifo
Movea preffo quel bofco il paffo errante,
Mormorando fue fole, or mefto in vifo,
O pien di cure, o difperato amante.
Una mattina in fu l'usato monte
Io più nol vidi al caro arbore appresso :
Venne poi l'altra, e pur in quella al fonte
Non si mostrò, nè al poggio, o al bosco istesso.
The next with dirges due in fad array
Slow thro' the church-way path we saw him born,
Approach and read (for thou can'ft read) the lay,
Grav'd on the ftone beneath yon aged thorn.
Here refts his head upon the lap of earth
A youth to fortune and to fame unknown;
Fair fcience frown'd not on his humble birth,
And melancholy mark'd him for her own.
Large was his bounty, and his foul fincere,
Heav'n did a recompence as largely fend:
He gave to mis'ry all he had, a tear;
He gain'd from heav'n ('twas all he wish'd) a friend.
No farther feek his merits to disclose,
Or draw his frailties from their dread abode, (There they alike in trembling hope repose) The bofom of his Father and his God.
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