Oh, leave the gay and festive scenes,

The halls of dazzling light.

H. S. Vandyk (1798-1828): The Light Guitar.

But who is this, what thing of sea or land,—

Female of sex it seems,—

That so bedeck'd, ornate, and gay,

Comes this way sailing

Like a stately ship

Of Tarsus, bound for th' isles

Of Javan or Gadire,

With all her bravery on, and tackle trim,

Sails fill'd, and streamers waving,

Courted by all the winds that hold them play,

An amber scent of odorous perfume

Her harbinger?

John Milton (1608-1674): Samson Agonistes. Line 710.

Far from gay cities and the ways of men.

Alexander Pope (1688-1744): The Odyssey of Homer. Book xiv. Line 410.

Form'd by thy converse, happily to steer

From grave to gay, from lively to severe.

Alexander Pope (1688-1744): Essay on Man. Epistle iv. Line 379.

For wheresoe'er I turn my ravish'd eyes,

Gay gilded scenes and shining prospects rise,

Poetic fields encompass me around,

And still I seem to tread on classic ground.

Joseph Addison (1672-1719): A Letter from Italy.

Alike all ages. Dames of ancient days

Have led their children through the mirthful maze,

And the gay grandsire, skill'd in gestic lore,

Has frisk'd beneath the burden of threescore.

Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774): The Traveller. Line 251.

Gay hope is theirs by fancy fed,

Less pleasing when possest;

The tear forgot as soon as shed,

The sunshine of the breast.

Thomas Gray (1716-1771): On a Distant Prospect of Eton College. Stanza 5.

Beautiful as sweet,

And young as beautiful, and soft as young,

And gay as soft, and innocent as gay!

Edward Young (1684-1765): Night Thoughts. Night iii. Line 81.

Is this that haughty gallant, gay Lothario?

Nicholas Rowe (1673-1718): The Fair Penitent. Act v. Sc. i.

Enjoy your dear wit and gay rhetoric,

That hath so well been taught her dazzling fence.

John Milton (1608-1674): Comus. Line 790.

Go! you may call it madness, folly;

You shall not chase my gloom away!

There's such a charm in melancholy

I would not if I could be gay.

Samuel Rogers (1763-1855): To ——.