'The Bard' by Thomas Gray
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Pindaric Ode
"Ruin seize thee, ruthless King!
Confusion on thy banners wait!
Tho' fanned by Conquest's crimson wing,
They mock the air with idle state.
Helm, nor hauberk's twisted mail,
Nor e'en thy virtues, Tyrant, shall avail
To save thy secret soul from nightly fears,
From Cambria's curse, from Cambria's tears!"
Such were the sounds that o'er the crested pride
Of the first Edward scattered wild dismay,
As down the steep of Snowdon's shaggy side
He wound with toilsome march his long array.
Stout Glo'ster stood aghast in speechless trance:
"To arms!" cried Mortimer, and couched his quiv'ring lance.
On a rock, whose haughty brow
Frowns o'er cold Conway's foaming flood,
Robed in the sable garb of woe
With haggard eyes the Poet stood;
(Loose his beard and hoary hair
Streamed like a meteor to the troubled air)
And with a master's hand, and prophet's fire,
Struck the deep sorrows of his lyre.
"Hark, how each giant-oak and desert-cave
Sighs to the torrent's awful voice beneath!
O'er thee, O King! their hundred arms they wave,
Revenge on thee in hoarser murmurs breathe;
Vocal no more, since Cambria's fatal day,
To high-born Hoel's harp, or soft Llewellyn's lay.
"Cold is Cadwallo's tongue,
That hushed the stormy main;
Brave Urien sleeps upon his craggy bed:
Mountains, ye mourn in vain
Modred, whose magic song
Made huge Plinlimmon bow his cloud-topt head.
On dreary Arvon's shore they lie,
Smeared with gore, and ghastly pale:
Far, far aloof th' affrighted ravens sail;
The famished eagle screams, and passes by.
Dear lost companions of my tuneful art,
Dear as the light that visits these sad eyes,
Dear as the ruddy drops that warm my heart,
Ye died amidst your dying country's cries—
No more I weep. They do not sleep.
On yonder cliffs, a grisly band,
I see them sit; they linger yet,
Avengers of their native land:
With me in dreadful harmony they join,
And weave with bloody hands the tissue of thy line.
"Weave, the warp! and weave, the woof!
The winding sheet of Edward's race:
Give ample room and verge enough
The characters of hell to trace.
Mark the year and mark the night
When Severn shall re-echo with affright
The shrieks of death, thro' Berkley's roof that ring,
Shrieks of an agonizing king!
She-wolf of France, with unrelenting fangs,
That tear'st the bowels of thy mangled mate,
From thee be born, who o'er thy country hangs
The scourge of Heaven! What terrors round him wait!
Amazement in his van, with Flight combined,
And Sorrow's faded form, and Solitude behind.
"Mighty victor, mighty lord!
Low on his funeral couch he lies!
No pitying heart, no eye, afford
A tear to grace his obsequies.
Is the sable warrior fled?
Thy son is gone. He rests among the dead.
The swarm that in thy noon-tide beam were born?
Gone to salute the rising morn.
Fair laughs the morn, and soft the zephyr blows,
While proudly riding o'er the azure realm
In gallant trim the gilded vessel goes:
Youth on the prow, and Pleasure at the helm:
Regardless of the sweeping whirlwind's sway,
That, hushed in grim repose, expects his ev'ning prey.
"Fill high the sparkling bowl,
The rich repast prepare;
Reft of a crown, he yet may share the feast:
Close by the regal chair
Fell Thirst and Famine scowl
A baleful smile upon their baffled guest.
Heard ye the din of battle bray,
Lance to lance, and horse to horse?
Long years of havoc urge their destined course,
And thro' the kindred squadrons mow their way.
Ye towers of Julius, London's lasting shame,
With many a foul and midnight murder fed,
Revere his consort's faith, his father's fame,
And spare the meek usurper's holy head.
Above, below, the rose of snow,
Twined with her blushing foe, we spread:
The bristled Boar in infant-gore
Wallows beneath the thorny shade.
Now, brothers, bending o'er the accursed loom,
Stamp we our vengeance deep, and ratify his doom.
"Edward, lo! to sudden fate
(Weave we the woof. The thread is spun.)
Half of thy heart we consecrate.
(The web is wove. The work is done.)
Stay, oh stay! nor thus forlorn
Leave me unblessed, unpitied, here to mourn:
In yon bright track that fires the western skies
They melt, they vanish from my eyes.
But oh! what solemn scenes on Snowdon's height
Descending slow their glittering skirts unroll?
Visions of glory, spare my aching sight,
Ye unborn ages, crowd not on my soul!
No more our long-lost Arthur we bewail.
All hail, ye genuine kings! Britannia's issue, hail!
"Girt with many a baron bold
Sublime their starry fronts they rear;
And gorgeous dames, and statesmen old
In bearded majesty, appear.
In the midst a form divine!
Her eye proclaims her of the Briton-line:
Her lion-port, her awe-commanding face,
Attempered sweet to virgin grace.
What strings symphonious tremble in the air,
What strains of vocal transport round her play!
Hear from the grave, great Taliessin, hear;
They breathe a soul to animate thy clay.
Bright Rapture calls, and soaring as she sings,
Waves in the eye of heav'n her many-coloured wings.
"The verse adorn again
Fierce War, and faithful Love,
And Truth severe, by fairy Fiction drest.
In buskined measures move
Pale Grief, and pleasing Pain,
With Horror, tyrant of the throbbing breast.
A voice, as of the cherub-choir,
Gales from blooming Eden bear;
And distant warblings lessen on my ear,
That lost in long futurity expire.
Fond impious man, think'st thou yon sanguine cloud,
Raised by thy breath, has quenched the orb of day?
Tomorrow he repairs the golden flood,
And warms the nations with redoubled ray.
Enough for me: with joy I see
The diff'rent doom our fates assign.
Be thine Despair and sceptred Care;
To triumph and to die are mine."
He spoke, and headlong from the mountain's height
Deep in the roaring tide he plunged to endless night.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Bard: A Masterpiece of Romanticism
Thomas Gray's The Bard is a classic poem that showcases the power of Romanticism in literature. This poem, written in 1757, is a captivating piece that takes readers on a journey through the heart of Wales. The Bard is a lyrical masterpiece that captures the essence of Welsh history, culture, and identity. It is a poem that celebrates the beauty of nature, the power of storytelling, and the resilience of a people who have endured countless struggles and hardships.
Overview of the Poem
The Bard is a narrative poem that tells the story of a Welsh bard who witnesses the downfall of his people at the hands of the invading English army. The bard, who is the last surviving member of his tribe, climbs to the top of a mountain to deliver a powerful lament for his fallen people. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each of which describes a different aspect of the bard's lament.
In the first stanza, the bard describes the beauty of the Welsh landscape and the glory of his people in their prime. He reminisces about the days when his tribe was free and ruled over the land with pride and honor.
In the second stanza, the bard laments the loss of his people and the destruction of their culture. He mourns the fact that his tribe has been reduced to nothing more than a memory, and that the English have taken over their land.
In the third stanza, the bard calls upon the spirits of his ancestors to rise up and seek revenge against the English invaders. He implores them to unleash their fury upon the oppressors and to restore the honor of their people.
In the final stanza, the bard delivers a powerful prophecy about the fate of the English empire. He predicts that their reign of power will be short-lived, and that they will eventually fall to the same fate as his people.
The Power of Nature
One of the most striking aspects of The Bard is the way in which nature is portrayed throughout the poem. Gray uses vivid and evocative imagery to describe the Welsh landscape, painting a picture of a land that is wild, untamed, and beautiful.
In the first stanza, the bard describes the mountains, valleys, and forests of Wales in all their glory. He speaks of the "rocky summits" that tower above the land, the "rushing streams" that flow through the valleys, and the "thundering torrents" that crash down the mountainsides. Through his words, we can visualize the rugged and majestic beauty of the Welsh landscape.
But nature is not just a backdrop to the bard's lament. It is a force in its own right, a powerful presence that shapes the mood and tone of the poem. In the second stanza, the bard describes the desolation and destruction that has been wrought upon the land by the English invaders. He speaks of the "darkness" and "ruin" that now reigns over his once-beautiful homeland.
Despite this, however, the natural world remains a source of strength and inspiration for the bard. In the third stanza, he calls upon the spirits of his ancestors to rise up and seek revenge against the English. He speaks of the "mighty dead" who will rise up from their graves and join in the battle for the land. Through these words, we see the power of nature to inspire and motivate even in the face of overwhelming odds.
The Resilience of a People
At its heart, The Bard is a poem about resilience. It is a tribute to the courage and strength of the Welsh people, who have endured countless hardships and struggles throughout their history.
The bard himself is a symbol of this resilience. Despite the fact that his people have been all but destroyed, he remains steadfast and resolute in his determination to honor their memory. He climbs to the top of the mountain, the highest point in the land, to deliver his lament and to call upon his ancestors for help.
Throughout the poem, we see the bard's unwavering commitment to his people and his culture. He mourns their loss, but he also refuses to let their memory be forgotten. His words are a powerful reminder of the importance of heritage and tradition, and the need to hold onto these things even in the face of adversity.
The Power of Storytelling
At its core, The Bard is a poem about the power of storytelling. The bard's lament is not just a mournful cry for his people, but a means of passing on their history, culture, and identity to future generations.
Through his words, the bard keeps the memory of his people alive. He tells their story to the world, sharing their triumphs, their struggles, and their ultimate defeat. In doing so, he ensures that their legacy will live on even after they are gone.
Moreover, the bard's storytelling is a means of resistance against the English invaders. By telling his people's story, he is refusing to let the English erase their culture and history. He is asserting their identity in the face of oppression, and refusing to be silenced.
Conclusion
The Bard is a masterful piece of poetry that showcases the power and beauty of Romanticism. Through its vivid imagery, powerful storytelling, and celebration of nature and resilience, the poem captures the essence of Welsh history, culture, and identity. It is a timeless tribute to the courage and strength of a people who have endured countless struggles and hardships, and a reminder of the importance of heritage, tradition, and the power of the written word.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Bard: A Masterpiece of Thomas Gray
Thomas Gray, one of the most celebrated poets of the 18th century, is known for his remarkable contribution to English literature. His poem, The Bard, is a classic example of his poetic genius. The Bard is a narrative poem that tells the story of a Welsh bard who, after witnessing the destruction of his people by the English army, curses the invaders and prophesies their downfall. The poem is a masterpiece of Gray's poetic style, which combines classical and romantic elements to create a powerful and moving work of art.
The poem begins with a description of the Welsh landscape, which is depicted as a wild and rugged terrain, full of mountains, forests, and rivers. The bard is introduced as a figure of great importance, a symbol of Welsh culture and tradition. He is described as a "hoary-headed swain," a wise old man who has lived through many years of hardship and struggle. The bard is also portrayed as a prophet, a visionary who can see into the future and foretell the fate of his people.
As the poem progresses, the bard begins to recount the history of his people, describing their heroic struggles against the English invaders. He tells of the battles they fought, the victories they won, and the sacrifices they made. He also speaks of the betrayal of his people by their own leaders, who sold out to the English in exchange for power and wealth. The bard's anger and bitterness towards the English is palpable, as he curses them for their cruelty and greed.
The most powerful and memorable part of the poem is the bard's prophecy of the downfall of the English. He foretells a time when the English will be defeated and driven out of Wales, when their power and wealth will be destroyed, and when their memory will be forgotten. The bard's prophecy is not just a prediction of future events, but a warning to the English of the consequences of their actions. It is a call to arms for the Welsh people to rise up and fight for their freedom and independence.
The Bard is a poem that is rich in symbolism and imagery. Gray uses vivid and evocative language to create a sense of the Welsh landscape and culture. He also employs a range of literary devices, such as alliteration, repetition, and metaphor, to enhance the emotional impact of the poem. For example, the repeated use of the word "woe" in the final stanza creates a sense of despair and hopelessness, while the metaphor of the "raven's wing" symbolizes death and destruction.
The poem is also notable for its use of classical and romantic elements. Gray draws on the traditions of classical epic poetry, with its emphasis on heroic deeds and grand themes, as well as the romantic movement, with its focus on emotion and imagination. The result is a poem that is both epic in scope and deeply personal in its emotional impact.
In conclusion, The Bard is a masterpiece of English literature, a poem that combines classical and romantic elements to create a powerful and moving work of art. Gray's use of vivid imagery, powerful language, and literary devices creates a sense of the Welsh landscape and culture, while his portrayal of the bard as a prophet and visionary adds a sense of grandeur and epic scope to the poem. The bard's prophecy of the downfall of the English is a warning to all those who would seek to oppress others, a call to arms for those who would fight for their freedom and independence. The Bard is a timeless work of art that continues to inspire and move readers today.
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