Poems, [ca. 1725]-1771

• "The Bard. A Pindaric Ode"

  • Archive Work ID: poems.bapo
  • Uniform Title: "The Bard. A Pindaric Ode" [e-text]
  • First Line: 'Ruin seize thee, ruthless king!
  • Language: English
  • First Published: 1757
  • References: Starr/Hendrickson (eds.), Complete Poems (1966), 18-24; Lonsdale (ed.), Poems (1969), 177-200
  • Summary: Begun late in 1754 and initially abandoned by August 1755, then taken up again, completed and revised, between May and August 1757. Gray sent the earlier parts of the poem in letters to Thomas Wharton, dated 6 August 1755 (ll. 1-56), and to Richard Stonhewer, dated 21 August 1755 (ll. 63-100), the latter part (ll. 111-144) to William Mason, dated [24 or 31] May 1757. First published, as "Ode II." in Odes by Mr. Gray (1757), 12-21.

  1 Manuscript:

  • • Archive MS ID: mss.0017 (Source: EAD/XML)
    • Title: [untitled]
    • Date: [24 or 31] May 1757
    • Physical Description: [1?] page; autograph fair copy, partial [ll. 111-144]
    • Language: English
    • Location: Henry W. And Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature, New York Public Library, New York, NY, USA <https://www.nypl.org/about/divisions/berg-collection-english-and-american-literature>
    • References: Smith (ed.), Index (1989), item GrT 13, 80; Toynbee/Whibley (eds.), Correspondence (1971), letter no. 238, vol. ii, 501-503 (subscription required); Starr, "Gray's Craftsmanship" (1946), particularly pp. 424-429
    • Contents: Autograph fair copy, of ll. 111-144, untitled but headed "Antist: 3^a." and beginning "Haughty Knights, & Barons bold", in a letter to William Mason, [24 or 31] May 1757.
    
    
  
  

• "[Epitaph on Sir William Williams]"

  • Archive Work ID: poems.epww
  • Uniform Title: "[Epitaph on Sir William Williams]" [e-text]
  • First Line: Here, foremost in the dangerous paths of fame,
  • Language: English
  • First Published: 1775
  • References: Starr/Hendrickson (eds.), Complete Poems (1966), 104-105; Lonsdale (ed.), Poems (1969), 238-240
  • Summary: Written between May and August 1761 at the request of one of the executors of Sir William Williams, a politician and soldier Gray briefly met early in October 1760, who died 27 April 1761 on an expedition against Belle Ile. First published, as "Epitaph II. On Sir William Williams", in Mason's Poems (1775), 62.

  1 Manuscript:

  • • Archive MS ID: mss.0059 (Source: EAD/XML)
    • Title: [untitled]
    • Date: August 1761
    • Physical Description: [1?] page; autograph
    • Language: English
    • Location: Henry W. And Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature, New York Public Library, New York, NY, USA <https://www.nypl.org/about/divisions/berg-collection-english-and-american-literature>
    • References: Smith (ed.), Index (1989), item GrT 45, 83; Toynbee/Whibley (eds.), Correspondence (1971), letter no. 339, vol. ii, 745-746 (subscription required)
    • Contents: Autograph, here untitled, in a letter to William Mason, August 1761.
    
    
  
  

• "[Imitated] From Propertius. Lib: 2: Eleg: 1."

  • Archive Work ID: poems.imp2
  • Uniform Title: "[Imitated] From Propertius. Lib: 2: Eleg: 1." [e-text]
  • First Line: You ask why thus my loves I still rehearse,
  • Language: English
  • First Published: 1814
  • References: Starr/Hendrickson (eds.), Complete Poems (1966), 64-67; Lonsdale (ed.), Poems (1969), 44-47
  • Summary: Probably written in April of 1742 and sent in a letter to Richard West, [23 April 1742]. First published, except ll. 1-30, in Mathias (ed.), Works (1814), vol. II, 87-89, published in full in Gosse (ed.), Works (1884), vol. i, 153.

  1 Manuscript:

  • • Archive MS ID: mss.0077 (Source: EAD/XML)
    • Title: "Lib: 2: Eleg: 1: To Mecaenas"
    • Date: [23 April 1742]
    • Physical Description: [?] pages; autograph fair copy
    • Language: English
    • Location: Henry W. And Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature, New York Public Library, New York, NY, USA <https://www.nypl.org/about/divisions/berg-collection-english-and-american-literature>
    • References: Smith (ed.), Index (1989), item GrT 63, 85; Toynbee/Whibley (eds.), Correspondence (1971), letter no. 105, vol. i, 196-199 (subscription required); Munby (ed.), Sale Catalogues (1971), Evans sale (27-29 November 1845), lot 613, 10, Sotheby's sale (12 August 1847), lot 87(?), 26, Sotheby's sale (4 August 1854), lot 245, 74
    • Contents: Autograph fair copy, headed "Lib: 2: Eleg: 1: To Mecaenas", sent in a letter to Richard West, [23 April 1742].
    
    
  
  

• "[Invitation to Mason]"

  • Archive Work ID: poems.inma
  • Uniform Title: "[Invitation to Mason]" [e-text]
  • First Line: Prim Hurd attends your call and Palgrave proud,
  • Language: English
  • First Published: 1853
  • References: Starr/Hendrickson (eds.), Complete Poems (1966), 82; Lonsdale (ed.), Poems (1969), 257-258
  • Summary: Written at Cambridge not later than 8 January 1768, when Gray sent it in a letter to William Mason. First published, untitled and beginning "Weddell attends your call...", in Mitford (ed.), Correspondence of Gray and Mason (1853), 412.

  1 Manuscript:

  • • Archive MS ID: mss.0090 (Source: EAD/XML)
    • Title: [untitled]
    • Date: 8 January 1768
    • Physical Description: [1?] page; autograph
    • Language: English
    • Location: Henry W. And Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature, New York Public Library, New York, NY, USA <https://www.nypl.org/about/divisions/berg-collection-english-and-american-literature>
    • References: Smith (ed.), Index (1989), item GrT 75, 86; Toynbee/Whibley (eds.), Correspondence (1971), letter no. 461, vol. iii, 992-995 (subscription required)
    • Contents: Autograph, here untitled, in a letter to William Mason, 8 January 1768.
    
    
  
  

• "[Translation from Statius, Thebaid VI 646-88, 704-24]"

  • Archive Work ID: poems.tra6
  • Uniform Title: "[Translation from Statius, Thebaid VI 646-88, 704-24]" [e-text]
  • First Line: Then thus the king: 'Whoe'er the quoit can wield,
  • Language: English
  • First Published: 1853
  • References: Starr/Hendrickson (eds.), Complete Poems (1966), 54-55; Lonsdale (ed.), Poems (1969), 17-19
  • Summary: Written before the end of May 1736 when Gray was learning Italian, and sent in two letters, dated [8 May 1736] (ll. 646-88) and [before 24 May 1736] (ll. 704-24), to Richard West. Gray's translation of ll. 689-703 has not survived. Translation of ll. 646-88 (59 lines) first published, untitled, in Mitford (ed.), Correspondence of Gray and Mason (1853), letter I, 2-4, and of ll. 704-24 (27 lines) first published in Mason's Memoirs (1775), section I, 9-10.

  1 Manuscript:

  • • Archive MS ID: mss.0174 (Source: EAD/XML)
    • Title: "E lib: 6to Thebaidos"
    • Date: 8 May [1736]
    • Physical Description: [?] pages; autograph fair copy
    • Language: English
    • Location: Henry W. And Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature, New York Public Library, New York, NY, USA <https://www.nypl.org/about/divisions/berg-collection-english-and-american-literature>
    • References: Smith (ed.), Index (1989), item GrT 145, 93; Toynbee/Whibley (eds.), Correspondence (1971), letter no. 22, vol. i, 38-41 (subscription required); Munby (ed.), Sale Catalogues (1971), Evans sale (27-29 November 1845), lot 614(?), 10, Sotheby's sale (4 August 1854), lot 244, 74
    • Contents: Autograph fair copy of a translation of Thebaid, VI, 646-88, headed "E lib: 6to Thebaidos", in a letter to Richard West, 8 May [1736].
    
    
  
  

• "William Shakespeare to Mrs Anne, Regular Servant to the Revd Mr Precentor of York"

  • Archive Work ID: poems.wsma
  • Uniform Title: "William Shakespeare to Mrs Anne, Regular Servant to the Revd Mr Precentor of York" [e-text]
  • First Line: A moment's patience, gentle Mistress Anne!
  • Language: English
  • First Published: 1853
  • References: Starr/Hendrickson (eds.), Complete Poems (1966), 80-81; Lonsdale (ed.), Poems (1969), 252-255
  • Summary: Written early in July 1765 while on a visit to Thomas Wharton at Old Park, Durham, and sent in a letter to William Mason, [c. 8 July 1765]. First published in Mitford (ed.), Correspondence of Gray and Mason (1853), letter XC, 339-340.

  1 Manuscript:

  • • Archive MS ID: mss.0195 (Source: EAD/XML)
    • Title: "William Shakespeare To M^rs Anne, Regular Servant to the Rev^d M^r Precentor of York"
    • Date: [8 July 1765?]
    • Physical Description: 1 page; autograph
    • Language: English
    • Location: Henry W. And Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature, New York Public Library, New York, NY, USA <https://www.nypl.org/about/divisions/berg-collection-english-and-american-literature>
    • References: Smith (ed.), Index (1989), item GrT 166, 96; Toynbee/Whibley (eds.), Correspondence (1971), letter no. 407, vol. ii, 879-881 (subscription required)
    • Contents: Autograph in a letter to William Mason, [c. 8 July 1765].