Gray

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Gray Born in Cornhill, london December 26 1716 - July 30,1771

Thomas Gray was born in [|Cornhill, London], the son of an exchange broker and a milliner. He was the fifth of 12 children and the only child of Philip and Dorothy Gray to survive infancy. He lived with his mother after she left his abusive father. He was educated at [|Eton College] where his uncle was one of the masters. He recalled his schooldays as a time of great happiness, as is evident in his //Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College//. Gray was a delicate and scholarly boy who spent his time reading and avoiding [|athletics]. Gray began seriously writing poems in 1742, mainly after his close friend Richard West died. He moved to Cambridge and began a self-imposed programme of literary study, becoming one of the most learned men of his time, though he claimed to be lazy by inclination. He became a [|Fellow] first of [|Peterhouse], and later of [|Pembroke College, Cambridge]. It is said that the change of college was the result of a practical joke. Terrified of fire, he had installed a metal bar by his __window__ on the top floor of the Burrough’s building at [|Peterhouse], so that in the event of a fire he could tie his sheets to it and climb to safety ... Gray spent most of his life as a scholar in Cambridge, and only later in his life did he begin travelling again. Although he was one of the least productive poets (his collected works published during his lifetime amount to fewer than 1,000 lines), he is regarded as the foremost English-language poet of the mid-18th century. In 1757, he was offered the post of [|Poet Laureate], which he refused.



media type="custom" key="14201346" Written By Gray

Ode on the Death of a Favourite Cat, Drowned in a Tub of Gold Fishes

Twas on a lofty vase's side, Where China's gayest art had dyed The azure flowers that blow; Demurest of the tabby kind, The pensive Selima, reclined, Gazed on the lake below. Her conscious tail her joy declared; The fair round face, the snowy beard, The velvet of her paws,

Her coat, that with the tortoise vies, Her ears of jet, and emerald eyes, She saw: and purred applause. Still had she gazed; but 'midst the tide Two angel forms were seen to glide, The Genii of the stream; Their scaly armour's Tyrian hue Thro' richest purple to the view Betrayed a golden gleam. The hapless nymph with wonder saw: A whisker first and then a claw, With many an ardent wish, She stretched in vain to reach the __prize__. What female heart can gold despise? What cat's averse to fish?

Presumptuous maid! with __looks__ intent Again she stretched, again she bent, Nor knew the gulf between. (Malignant Fate sat by, and smiled) The slippery verge her feet beguiled, She tumbled headlong in.

Eight times emerging from the flood She mewed to every watery god, Some speedy __aid__ to send. No Dolphin came, no Nereid stirred; Nor cruel Tom, nor Susan heard. A favorite has no friend! From hence, ye beauties, undeceived, Know, one false step is ne'er retrieved, And be with caution bold.

Not all that tempts your wandering eyes And heedless hearts is lawful prize, Nor all, that glisters, gold.

__** Questions **__ Do you think this was his cat? Other than for comedic humor, why do you think Gray wrote this poem?