This poem first appeared in Dodsley's _Collection_, vol. iv.,
together with the "Elegy in a Country Churchyard." In Mason's and
Wakefield's editions it is called an "Ode," but the title given by
the author is as above.
The motto from Æschylus is not in Dodsley, but appears in the first
edition of the poems (1768) in the form given in the text. The best
modern editions of Æschylus have the reading, [Greek: ton (some, tôi)
pathei mathos]. Keck translates the passage into German thus:
"Ihn der uns zur Sinnigkeit
leitet, ihn der fest den Satz
Stellet, 'Lehre durch das Leid.'"
Plumptre puts it into English as follows:
"Yea, Zeus, who leadeth men in wisdom's way,
And fixeth fast the law
Wisdom by pain to gain."
Cf. Mrs. Browning's _Vision of Poets_:
"Knowledge by suffering entereth,
And life is perfected by death."
1. Mitford remarks: "[Greek: Atê], who may be called the goddess of
Adversity, is said by Homer to be the daughter of Jupiter (_Il._
[Greek: t.] 91: [Greek: presba Dios thugatêr Atê, hê pantas aatai).
Perhaps, however, Gray only alluded to the passage of Æschylus which
he quoted, and which describes Affliction as sent by Jupiter for the
benefit of man." The latter is the more probable explanation.
2. Mitford quotes Pope, _Dunciad_, i. 163: "Then he: 'Great tamer of
all human art.'"