[365-24] This line means that they could not become rulers by fighting and killing their fellowmen as Napoleon did not long afterward. [366-25] Many of the English poets wrote in praise of the wealthy and titled in order to be paid or favored by the men they flattered. Gray thinks that such conduct is disgraceful, and rejoices that the rude forefathers of the hamlet were prevented from writing poetry for such an end. The Greeks thought poetry was inspired by one of the Muses, and genius is often spoken as a flame. [366-26] _Madding_ means _excited_ or _raging_. [366-27] The _frail memorials_ were simple headstones, similar to those one may see in any country graveyard in America. On such headstones may often be seen _shapeless sculpture_ that would almost provoke a smile, were it not for its pathetic meaning. A picture of Stoke-Pogis churchyard shows many stories of the ordinary type. [366-28] The rhymes were _uncouth_ in the sense that they were unlearned and unpolished. [366-29] What facts were inscribed on the headstones? _Elegy_ here means _praise_. Where were the texts strewn? Why were the texts called _holy?_ What was the nature of the texts? Can you think of one that might have been used? [367-30] This is one of the difficult stanzas, and there is some dispute as to its exact meaning, owing to the phrase, _to dumb forgetfulness a prey_. Perhaps the correct meaning is shown in the following prose version: "For who has ever died (resigned this pleasing, anxious being, left the warm precincts of this cheerful day), a prey to dumb forgetfulness, and cast not one longing, lingering look behind?" [367-31] _Thee_ refers to the poet, Gray himself. The remainder of the poem is personal. Summed up briefly it means that perhaps a sympathetic soul may some day come to inquire as to the poet's fate, and will be told by some hoary-headed swain a few of the poet's habits, and then will have pointed out to him the poet's own grave, on which may be read his epitaph. [368-32] _Due_ means _appropriate_ or _proper_. [368-33] As first written, the poem contained the following stanza, placed before the epitaph; but in the final revision Gray rejected it as unworthy. It seems a very critical taste that would reject such lines as these: "There scatter'd oft, the earliest of the year, By hands unseen are show'rs of violets found: The redbreast loves to build and warble there, And little footsteps lightly print the ground." THE SHIPWRECK[371-1] _By_ ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON I went down, and drank my fill; and then came up, and got a blink at the moon; and then down again. They say a man sinks the third time for good. I cannot be made like other folk, then, for I would not like to write how often I went down or how often I came up again. All the while, I was being hurled along, and beaten upon and choked, and then swallowed whole; and the thing was so distracting to my wits, that I was neither sorry nor afraid.