ELEGY WRITTEN IN A COUNTRY CHURCH-YARD. I. THE curfew tolls the knell of parting day,' The lowing herd winds slowly o'er the lea; The plowman homeward plods his weary way, And leaves the world to darkness and to me. The knell of parting day,] Squilla di lontano, Che paia 'lgiorno pianger, che si muore. DANTE, Purgat. 1. 8. ELEGY WRITTEN IN A COUNTRY CHURCH-YARD. I. THE curfew tolls the knell of parting day,' The lowing herd winds slowly o'er the lea; The plowman homeward plods his weary way, And leaves the world to darkness and to me. "The knell of parting day,] Squilla di lontano, Che paia 'Igiorno pianger, che si muore. DANTE, Purgat. 1. 8. II. Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight, And all the air a solemn stillness holds ; III. Save that, from yonder ivy-mantled tower, The moping owl does to the moon complain Of such, as, wand'ring near her secret bower, Molest her ancient, solitary reign. IV. Beneath those rugged elms, that yew-tree's shade, Where heaves the turfin many a mould'ring heap, Each in his narrow cell for ever laid, The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep. V. The breezy call of incense-breathing morn, The swallow twittering from the straw-built shed, The cock's shrill clarion, and the echoing horn, No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed. |