from Aeschylus 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 Aeschylus have the reading, [Greek: ton (some,
toi) 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: Ate], 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 thugater Ate, he pantas aatai).
Perhaps, however, Gray only alluded to the passage of Aeschylus 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.'"

3. _Torturing hour_. Cf. Milton, _P. L._ ii. 90:

"The vassals of his anger, when the scourge
Inexorable, and the torturing hour,
Calls us to penance."

5. _Adamantine chains_. Wakefield quotes Aeschylus, _Prom. Vinct._
vi.: [Greek: Adamantinon desmon en arrektois pedais]. Cf. Milton, _P.
L._ i. 48: "In adamantine chains and penal fire;" and Pope,
_Messiah_, 47: "In adamantine chains shall Death be bound."

7. _Purple tyrants_. Cf. Pope, _Two Choruses to Tragedy of Brutus_:
"Till some new tyrant lifts his purple hand." Wakefield cites Horace,
_Od._ i. 35, 12: "Purpurei metuunt tyranni."

8. _With pangs unfelt before_. Cf. Milton, _P. L._ ii. 703: "Strange
horror seize thee, and pangs unfelt before."

9-12. Cf. Bacon, _Essays_, v. (ed. 1625): "Certainly, Vertue is like
pretious Odours, most fragrant when they are incensed [that is,
burned], or crushed:[1] For _Prosperity_ doth best discover Vice;[2]
But _Adversity_ doth best discover Vertue."

[Footnote 1: So in his _Apophthegms_, 253, Bacon says: "Mr. Bettenham
said: that virtuous men were like some herbs and spices, that give
not their sweet smell till they be broken or crushed."]

[Footnote 2: Cf. Shakespeare, _Julius Caesar_, ii. 1: "It is the
bright day that brings forth the adder."]

Cf. also Thomson:

"If Misfortune comes, she