Page 261 - DENG405_BRITISH_POETRY

British Poetry

Notes Stanza 11
These people are not to be blamed, if no ornamental edifice rises over their graves. Like the graves
of great men, they do not possess the arch and the majestic decorations, neither thousands of people
gather and praises about them.
Beautiful decoration across the graves of great men and praise worthy speeches will not bring them
back to their mansions. The breath of life has left them and they are all dead, neither words of honor
nor the tricks of flattery will entertain the cold ears of the dead.
Stanza 12
There must have been in this unnoticed place, amongst the myriad villagers filled with spiritual,
moral and heavenly inspiration capable of ruling and Empire or write excellent poetry , only if had
been patronized fully.
Stanza 13
However the intellectual capabilities of these dead rustics never had the chance to bloom. They
died strange to all riches. Poverty was the reason that froze down all the noble inspirations and
ambition.
Stanza 14
The dead rustics of the village are compared to the bright gems and pearls that lay hidden and
unseen in the depths of ocean. They are akin to the beautiful flowers that bloom in the jungles
whose fragrance gets wasted and they fade away unnoticed.
Stanza 15
The graves of this village might shelter brave heroes like Hampden, the famous parliamentarian
and a martyr, who faced the tyrant King Charles I. Here may also lay, someone akin to the talent of
Milton or Cromwell.
Stanza 16
Some of them might have been great legislatures, greeted with the loud cheers of the morally pure
senators. Some would bring prosperity to the country by eliminating poverty and thus their great
deeds would be recorded in the history of their nation.
Stanza 17
Their bad luck not only forbade their virtue or talents to grow, but also their vises and crime. They
never thought of killing their brothers for the throne and keep themselves away from works of
charity.
Stanza 18
These poor rustics were denied by destiny to shine in life by means of tricks. Ambitious people try
to obtain great favor and praise by writing words of price or means of flattery. Thus they were
escaped from ‘killing their conscience” for the sake of getting patronage.
Stanza 19
The villagers led a very simple and secluded life; they kept themselves away from the bustle of city
life where people compete for wealth, power and fame. They never cherished high aspirations or
ambition. They lived in peace and solitude and didn’t hanker after fame and prosperity.
Stanza 20
No ornamental decorations could be raised over their trophies; these memorials didn’t have any
rhymes of praise and lacked beautiful sculpture. Yet to protect their honor from an insult they were
put forth on their graveyards so that passerby may show some respect towards their grave.
Stanza 21
The records of life that could be found on their tombs were written by some educated person of
their village. Texts and sayings from Bible were scattered over their tombs which gave some spiritual
consolidation to the rustics to enable them to meet death cheerfully.

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