Some village-Hampden, that with dauntless breast
The little tyrant of his fields withstood,
Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest,
Some Cromwell, guiltless of his country's blood.
These four lines are from the famous poem, "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard", composed by Thomas Gray, an eighteenth century poet. In these lines the poet has used three historical English names to glorify the humble villagers now buried in the country churchyard.
After comparing the unknown dead villagers, with gems and desert flowers, the poet compares them with great historical figures. He compares their courage with the courage of Hampden, the M.P. for Buckinghamshire, who revolted against the imposition of the tax on ship-money and was killed for that during the reign of Charles-1 (1625 1649). The humble villagers' courage was seen in cultivating the hard fields. Then the poet compares some of the dead villagers with Milton who was not well known during his lifetime. By this comparison the poet suggests that there might have been somebody in that village who had the genius of Milton but could not come to limelight because of adverse situation. Finally, the poet compares the villagers with Oliver Cromwell who fought against Charles-1 and defeated him. By this comparison, the poet suggests that in this churchyard is buried somebody who could have been a valorous leader against injustice. By these three metaphorical comparisons, Gray has suggested the dormant courage, genius and glory of the humble village who never got chances to show their good qualities when they were alive.
