Country in days gone by having spoken (8)
I believe the answer is:
pastoral
'country' is the definition.
(both can mean rural)
'days gone by having spoken' is the wordplay.
'days gone by' becomes 'past' (I've seen this in another clue).
'having' says to put letters next to each other.
'spoken' becomes 'oral' (similar in meaning).
'past'+'oral'='PASTORAL'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for pastoral that I've seen before include "Of shepherds or spiritual guides" , "of minister's duties" , "Relating to country life or personal care" , "(Poem) of country life" , "Country style" .)