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Inscribed in black ink upper right: "3"; in graphite center: "x"; on verso in black ink upper left: "4"; in graphite center: "x"

Lettered on inlaid page: "ELEGY | Written in a | COUNTRY CHURCH-YARD. | THE Curfew tolls the knell of parting day, | The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea, | The plowmen homeward plods his weary way, | And leaves the world to darkness, and to me. | Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight, | And all the air a solemn stillness holds, | Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight, | And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds; | Save"; Lettered on verso, on inlaid page: "150 ELEGY WRITTEN IN A | Save that from yonder ivy-mantled tower, | The moping owl does to the moon complain | Of such, as wand'ring near her secret bower, | Molest her ancient solitary reign. | Beneath those rugged elms, that yew-tree's shade, | Where heaves the turf in many a mouldring heap, | Each in his narrow cell for ever laid, | The rude Forefathers of the hamlet sleep. | The breezy call of incense breathing Morn, | The swallow twitt'ring from the straw-built shed, | The cock's shrill clarion, or the echoing horn, | No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed. | For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn, | Or busy housewife ply her evening-care; | No children run to lisp their sire's return, | Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share. | Oft"