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In 18th stanza, "Or crown the shrine," etc.

 

After this stanza, the MS. has the following four stanzas, now omitted:

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The second of these stanzas has been remodelled and used as the 24th of the present version. Mason thought that there was a pathetic melancholy in all four which claimed preservation. The third he considered equal to any in the whole Elegy. The poem was originally intended to end here, the introduction of "the hoary-headed swain" being a happy after-thought.

In the 19th stanza, the MS. has "never learn'd to stray."

In the 21st stanza, "fame and epitaph," etc.

In the 23d stanza, the last line reads,

"Social" subsequently became "wonted," and other changes were made (see above, foot-note) before the line took its present form.

 

The 24th stanza reads,

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The last line of the 25th stanza reads,

Then comes the following stanza, afterwards omitted:

Mason remarked: "I rather wonder that he rejected this stanza, as it not only has the same sort of Doric delicacy which charms us peculiarly in this part of the poem, but also completes the account of his whole day; whereas, this evening scene being omitted, we have only his morning walk, and his noontide repose."

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