Quote#Death
The boast of heraldry, the pomp of pow'r
Quote byThomas Gray · 1716–1771
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard (written 1750, publ. 1751), St. 9.
English (original)
The boast of heraldry, the pomp of pow'r, And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, Await alike the inevitable hour: The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
— Thomas Gray
More from Thomas Gray
Where his glowing eye−balls turn, Thousand banners round him burn. Where he points his purple spear, Hasty, hasty Rout is there, Marking with indignant eye Fear to stop and shame to fly.
Daughter of Jove, relentless power, Thou tamer of the human breast, Whose iron scourge and tort'ring hour The bad affright, afflict the best!
What sorrow was, thou bad'st her know, And from her own she learned to melt at others' woe.
In glittering arms and glory dressed, High he rears his ruby crest. There the thundering strokes begin, There the press and there the din; Talymalfra's rocky shore Echoing to the battle's roar.
'Twas Spring, 'twas Summer, all was gay Now Autumn bears a cloud brow The flowers of Spring are swept way And Summer fruits desert the bough.
Now my weary lips I close; Leave me, leave me to repose!