of work They worked in the fields cut the corn and broke the hard soil Gray says Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield He also says that they often broke the hard soil while making rows in the field It shows us that they were strong and honest workers They lived close to nature They woke up with the cock s sound and heard the small birds singing They started their day with the morning light Gray glorifies this simple life He shows that real beauty lies in quiet duty not in high pride Family Love Gray glorifies simple villagers by showing that their family life is filled with love He says that the warm fire in their homes will never burn for them again This shows a warm family fire in the evening He also writes No children run to lisp their sire s return This shows the soft love between fathers and children These pictures prove that their life was rich in human feeling Their hearts were full even though they were poor So Gray lifts them up through these tender family moments Hidden Talent Gray also glorifies simple villagers by showing their hidden greatness He stands near the village churchyard He says maybe some great man lies buried here He writes Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest He also writes that there might be a brave man like a village Hampden among them These lines show that among these common men there may have been a poet like Milton or a brave leader like Hampden or a powerful ruler like a bloodless Cromwell But poverty stopped them Poverty closed the doors of knowledge Gray says Chill Penury repress'd their noble rage This means they had talent but no chance In this way Gray honors their hidden power Equality in Death Gray glorifies the simple villagers by saying that the rich and the poor share the same end He writes The paths of glory lead but to the grave This line shows that the rich and the famous cannot escape death So the simple villagers are not less important Their graves in the quiet churchyard are as meaningful as graves in great cities This equality in death gives them dignity and honour Peaceful and Honest Life Gray also glorifies simple villagers by saying they lived far from cruelty and sin He says that they lived far away from noisy people They lived in a quiet and cool valley This shows peace honesty and a clean heart Gray says they never harmed the land They never chased power They never became cruel rulers His lines show that their quiet life was morally higher than the noisy life of proud men Gray walks through the country churchyard and looks at the graves of the simple forefathers of the village He remembers their dreams their work their families and their silent strength Through village scenes quiet sounds and touching words Gray glorifies them He proves that common men also carry dignity value and greatness in their simple lives