[363-14] The inevitable hour (death) alike awaits the boast of heraldry, the pomp of power, and all that beauty, all that wealth e’er gave.
[363-15] This is perhaps the most famous stanza in the poem. The following story is told of General Wolfe as he was leading his troops to the daring assault on Quebec in 1759: “At past midnight, when the heavens were hung black with clouds, and the boats were floating silently back with the tide to the intended landing-place at the chosen ascent to the Plains of Abraham, he repeated in low tones to the officers around him this touching stanza of Gray’s Elegy. ‘Now, gentlemen,’ said Wolfe, ‘I would rather be the author of that poem than the possessor of the glory of beating the French to-morrow!’ He fell the next day, and expired just as the shouts of the victory of the English fell upon his almost unconscious ears.”
[364-16] Now, an aisle is the passageway between the pews or the seats in a church or other public hall: in the poem it means the passageways running to the sides of the main body of the church.
[364-17] A storied urn is an urn-shaped monument on which are inscribed the virtues of the dead. Why should a bust be called animated? What is the mansion of the fleeting breath?
[364-18] In this instance provoke means what it originally meant in the Latin language; namely, call forth.
[364-19] The line means, “Some heart once filled with the heavenly inspiration.”
[364-20] A poet or musician is said to sing, and the lyre is the instrument with which the ancients accompanied their songs. To wake to ecstasy the living lyre is to write the noblest poetry, to sing the most inspired songs.
[364-21] The books of the ancients were rolls of manuscripts. Did any of those persons resting in this neglected spot ever write great poetry, rule empires or sing inspiring songs? If not, what prevented them from doing such things if they had the ability?
[365-22] At first this stanza was written thus:
“Some village Cato, who with dauntless breast
The little tyrant of his fields withstood;
Some mute, inglorious Tully here may rest;
Some Caesar guiltless of his country’s blood.”