The Deserted Village
Reference to the Context
Introduction
The lines given for
explanation are an extract from the poem The Deserted Village written by Oliver
Goldsmith. The poem presents two contrasting pictures of an Irish village which
fell a victim to the cruelty and inhuman treatment of the feudal lords. The simpler,
hardworking rustics were forced to leave their native land as a result of the
agricultural revolution when the big land owners switched over from general
farming to sheep farming in order to earn greater profits. On the one hand,
this poem shows the joy and activities of the people before the village was
deserted, while on the other hand, it presents a gloomy picture of the same
village after the eviction of the rural population.
Lines
SWEET AUBURN!
LOVELIEST VILLAGE OF THE PLAIN,
WHERE HEALTH AND PLENTY CHEERED THE LABOURING SWAIN,
WHERE SMILING SPRING ITS EARLIEST VISIT PAID,
AND PARTING SUMMER’S LINGERING BLOOMS DELAYED:
DEAR LOVELY BOWERS OF INNOCENCE AND EASE,
SEATS OF MY YOUTH, WHEN EVERY SPORT COULD PLEASE
HOW OFTEN HAVE I LOITERED O’ER THY GREEN,
WHERE HUMBLE HAPPINESS ENDEAR’D EACH SCENE!
HOW OFTEN HAVE I PAUSED ON EVERY CHARM
THE SHELTERED COT, THE CULTIVATED FARM,
THE NEVER FAILING BROOK, THE BUSY MILL,
THE DECENT CHURCH THAT TROPPED THE NEIGHBOURING
THE HAWTHORN BUSH, WITH SEATS BENEATH THE SHADE,
FOR TALKING AGE AND WHISPERING LOVERS MADE !
WHERE HEALTH AND PLENTY CHEERED THE LABOURING SWAIN,
WHERE SMILING SPRING ITS EARLIEST VISIT PAID,
AND PARTING SUMMER’S LINGERING BLOOMS DELAYED:
DEAR LOVELY BOWERS OF INNOCENCE AND EASE,
SEATS OF MY YOUTH, WHEN EVERY SPORT COULD PLEASE
HOW OFTEN HAVE I LOITERED O’ER THY GREEN,
WHERE HUMBLE HAPPINESS ENDEAR’D EACH SCENE!
HOW OFTEN HAVE I PAUSED ON EVERY CHARM
THE SHELTERED COT, THE CULTIVATED FARM,
THE NEVER FAILING BROOK, THE BUSY MILL,
THE DECENT CHURCH THAT TROPPED THE NEIGHBOURING
THE HAWTHORN BUSH, WITH SEATS BENEATH THE SHADE,
FOR TALKING AGE AND WHISPERING LOVERS MADE !
Explanation
In the lines given
for explanation, the poet points out that Auburn was the most Beautiful village
of the area. The rustics enjoyed good health and found all the necessities of
life in abundance. They worked hard and remained happy. The first signs of the
spring were visible and summer lasted the longest. The poet had passed his
childhood and early youth in this village. He had participated in different
kinds of activities. He had observed all the beautiful sights of Nature. He had
seen the beautiful cottages and the picturesque natural surrounding. He had
also admired the flowing stream, the working mill and the ploughed fields. The
seats under the trees were occupied either by the old, fond of talking all the
time or the young lovers whispering to each other.
Lines
HOW OFTEN HAVE I
BLEST THE COMING DAY,
WHEN TOIL REMITTING LENT ITS TURN TO PLAY,
AND ALL THE VILLAGE TRAIN, FROM LABOUR FREE,
LED UP THEIR SPORTS BENEATH THE SPREADING TREE;
WILL MANY A PASTIME CIRCLED IN THE SHADE,
THE YOUNG CONTENDING AS THE OLD SURVEYED;
AND MANY A GAMBOL FROLICKED O’ER THE GROUND,
AND SLEIGHTS OF ART AND FEATS OF STRENGTH WENT ROUND;
AND STILL AS EACH REPEATED PLEASURE TIRED,
SUCCEEDDING SPORTS THE MIRTHFUL BAND INSPIRED;
THE DANCING PAIR THAT SIMPLY SOUGHT RENOWN
BY HOLDING OUT TO TIRE EACH OTHER DOWN;
THE SWAIN MISTRUSTLESS OF HIS SMUTTED FACE,
WHILE SECRET LAUGHTER TITTERED ROUND THE PLACE;
THE BASHFUL VIRGIN’S SIDE-LONG LOOKS OF LOVE,
THE MATRON’S GLANCE THAT WOULD THOSE LOOKS REPROVE!
THESE WERE THEY CHARMS, SWEET VILLAGE, SPORTS LIKE THESE,
WITH SWEET SUCCESSION,TAUGHT EVEN TOIL TO PLEASE;
THESE ROUND THY BOWERS THEIR CHEERFUL INFLUENCE SHED
THESE WERE THY CHARMS-BUT ALL THESE CHARMS ARE FLED.
WHEN TOIL REMITTING LENT ITS TURN TO PLAY,
AND ALL THE VILLAGE TRAIN, FROM LABOUR FREE,
LED UP THEIR SPORTS BENEATH THE SPREADING TREE;
WILL MANY A PASTIME CIRCLED IN THE SHADE,
THE YOUNG CONTENDING AS THE OLD SURVEYED;
AND MANY A GAMBOL FROLICKED O’ER THE GROUND,
AND SLEIGHTS OF ART AND FEATS OF STRENGTH WENT ROUND;
AND STILL AS EACH REPEATED PLEASURE TIRED,
SUCCEEDDING SPORTS THE MIRTHFUL BAND INSPIRED;
THE DANCING PAIR THAT SIMPLY SOUGHT RENOWN
BY HOLDING OUT TO TIRE EACH OTHER DOWN;
THE SWAIN MISTRUSTLESS OF HIS SMUTTED FACE,
WHILE SECRET LAUGHTER TITTERED ROUND THE PLACE;
THE BASHFUL VIRGIN’S SIDE-LONG LOOKS OF LOVE,
THE MATRON’S GLANCE THAT WOULD THOSE LOOKS REPROVE!
THESE WERE THEY CHARMS, SWEET VILLAGE, SPORTS LIKE THESE,
WITH SWEET SUCCESSION,TAUGHT EVEN TOIL TO PLEASE;
THESE ROUND THY BOWERS THEIR CHEERFUL INFLUENCE SHED
THESE WERE THY CHARMS-BUT ALL THESE CHARMS ARE FLED.
Explanation
In the lines given
for elucidation, the poet is describing the leisure activities of the simple
villagers, which have now come to an end as the village wears a deserted look.
The toiling masses worked hard for the whole week and eagerly waited the seventh
day when they could enjoy themselves to their heart’s content. On a holiday,
the people gathered at different places and took part in various activities.
While the young people competed with one another, the old observed them. When
the people were tired of one game, they began something else. They divided
themselves into couples, each couple trying to dance for the longest time to
get renown. They also blackened the face of some innocent rustic and then
laughed at him secretly. Young girls tried to look secretly at their lovers but
such looks were disapproved of by their matron. Once the laborer rustics were
compelled to leave their native land, the village looked barren and deserted.
All the charms of the village were gone with the rustics no more being there.
Lines
ILL FARES THE LAND,
TO HASTENING ILLS A PREY
WHERE WEALTH ACCUMULATES, AND MEN DECAY;
PRINCESS AND LORDS MAY FLOURISH, OR MAY FADE;
A BREATH CAN MAKE THEM, AS A BREATH HAS MADE;
BUT A BOLD PEASANTRY, THEIR COUNTRY’S PRIDE
WHEN ONCE DESTROYED CAN NEVER BE SUPPLIED.
WHERE WEALTH ACCUMULATES, AND MEN DECAY;
PRINCESS AND LORDS MAY FLOURISH, OR MAY FADE;
A BREATH CAN MAKE THEM, AS A BREATH HAS MADE;
BUT A BOLD PEASANTRY, THEIR COUNTRY’S PRIDE
WHEN ONCE DESTROYED CAN NEVER BE SUPPLIED.
Explanation
The lines given for
explanation present a picture of the village after it was deserted. The simple
abode of the innocent rustics had fell a prey to injustice and cruelty. Wealth
was accumulating in a few hands while the common man suffered from misery,
poverty and deprivation. The bulk of the population consists of hardworking
villagers. The rich may grow richer and get all the honor and titles but that
does not make much difference. The real asset and wealth of the country are the
poor, toiling formers. If they are once destroyed, no one can replace them. The
joy and satisfaction life is lost forever.
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