References: Starr/Hendrickson (eds.), Complete Poems (1966), pp. 12-17; Lonsdale (ed.), Poems (1969), pp. 155-177
Summary: Begun not earlier than September 1751 and completed by December 1754 when Gray sent the poem in a letter to Thomas Wharton, dated 26 December 1754. First published, as "Ode." in Odes by Mr. Gray (1757), p. 5.
Alternate Form:
Microfilm copy available in Poetic Commonplace Books and Manuscripts of Thomas Gray, 1716-1771, from Pembroke College, Cambridge (1999), reel one
References: Smith (ed.), Index (1989), item GrT 114, p. 90; Poetic C. B., Pembroke College (1999), p. 28; Martin, Chronologie (1931), p. 145
Contents: Autograph, revised, here entitled "Ode, in the Greek manner", the first line altered from "Awake my Lyre, my Glory, wake" to the first line as published, including an alternative version of five of the last six lines, and annotated "Finish'd in 1754. printed together with the Bard, an Ode. Aug: 8. 1757", in Gray's Commonplace Book, vol. II, pp. 727-728.
Archive MS ID: mss.0139
Title: "Ode, in the Greek Manner"
Date:26 December 1754
Physical Description: 4 pages, 240 mm x 191 mm; autograph fair copy
References: Smith (ed.), Index (1989), item GrT 115, p. 90; Toynbee/Whibley (eds.), Correspondence (1971), letter no. 194, vol. i, pp. 412-418 (subscription required); Starr, "Gray's Craftsmanship" (1946), particularly pp. 422-424
Contents: Autograph fair copy, here entitled "Ode, in the Greek Manner" and including the headings "Strophe", "Antistrophe", and "Epode", sent in and preceding a letter to Thomas Wharton, 26 December 1754.
References: Smith (ed.), Index (1989), item GrT 116, p. 90; Toynbee/Whibley (eds.), Correspondence (1971), letter no. 231, vol. ii, pp. 490-492 (subscription required); Starr, "Gray's Craftsmanship" (1946), particularly pp. 422-424
Contents: Autograph, here untitled, of ll. 1-24, in a letter to Edward Bedingfield, [29 December 1756].
References: Smith (ed.), Index (1989), item GrT 117, p. 90; Jones, Thomas Gray, Scholar (1937), "Register of Gray Autograph Manuscripts", VI. 20(b) "Ode to Poesy", p. 181; Munby (ed.), Sale Catalogues (1971), Evans sale (27-29 November 1845), lot 788(?), p. 20, Sotheby's sale (28 August 1851), lot 53(?), p. 45, Sotheby's sale (4 August 1854), lot 241, p. 73; W[right]., Catalogue (1851), [lot 53?,] p. 13
Contents: Autograph, revised, notes to the poem, in Gray's copy of Odes by Mr. Gray (1757). The notes were first published in the poem's version in Poems (1768).
Archive MS ID: mss.0142
Title: [untitled]
Date:[1?] February 1768
Physical Description: 3 pages, 324 mm x 200 mm; autograph, partial [motto, advertisement, and notes only]
References: Smith (ed.), Index (1989), item GrT 118, p. 90; Sutton (ed.), Location Register (1995), p. 414
Contents: Autograph of the motto, advertisement, and notes to the poem, untitled but numbered 5. and identified on f. 3r as "5. The progress of Poesy, a Pindaric Ode", in MS instructions to Dodsley for the 1768London edition, sent in a letter, [1?] February 1768.
Archive MS ID: mss.0143
Title: [untitled]
Date:1 February 1768
Physical Description: [3?] pages, 324 mm x 200 mm; autograph, partial [motto, advertisement, and notes only]
References: Smith (ed.), Index (1989), item GrT 119, p. 91; Heist, Michael, "RE: Modern (Bound) Manuscripts, vol.52, Robert H. Taylor Collection". E-mail to the editor, 11 January 2007
Contents: Autograph of the motto, advertisement, and notes to the poem, in MS instructions to Beattie for the 1768Glasgow edition, originally sent in a letter, 1 February 1768.
Separated Material: The letter in which these instructions were originally sent is now at Historic Collections, King's College, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
