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Digital Library

The Archive's digital library holds digital versions of important primary literature, currently comprising mainly printed works and audio-visual media, but will ultimately include Gray's manuscripts.

Manuscripts

Gray's Commonplace Book (bound in three volumes), which he began in c. 1736 and kept until about 1761, is the most important record of his autograph writing in verse and prose. It is held at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and has been made available online in its entirety by Cambridge Digital Library.

Thomas Gray, ‘Commonplace Book’, ed. Ruth Abbott, in Thomas Gray Manuscripts, ed. Ruth Abbott, assoc. ed. Ephraim Levinson, https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/thomasgray

Published works

Quick Links to Key Editions

  • 1751: An Elegy wrote in a Country Church Yard. London: R. Dodsley, 1751.
        [11 b/w page images; see Northup 492.]
  • 1753: Designs by Mr. R. Bentley, for six poems by Mr. T. Gray. London: R. Dodsley, 1753.
  • 1757: Odes by Mr. Gray. London: R. and J. Dodsley, 1757.
        [19 b/w page images; see Northup 180.]
  • 1768: Poems by Mr. Gray. London: J. Dodsley, 1768.
  • 1769: Ode performed in the Senate-house at Cambridge... Cambridge: J. Archdeacon, 1769.
        [8 b/w page images; see Northup 1401.]
  • 1775: The Poems of Mr. Gray. To which are prefixed Memoirs of his Life and Writings by W. Mason. York[; London]: J. Todd; J. Dodsley, 1775.

Poems

  • Editions of Gray's poems
    • 1747: An Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College. London: R. Dodsley, 1747.
          [8 page e-text; see Northup 1326.]
    • 1751: An Elegy wrote in a Country Church Yard. London: R. Dodsley, 1751.
          [11 b/w page images; see Northup 492.]
    • 1753: Designs by Mr. R. Bentley, for six poems by Mr. T. Gray. London: R. Dodsley, 1753.
    • 1757: Odes by Mr. Gray. London: R. and J. Dodsley, 1757.
          [19 b/w page images; see Northup 180.]
    • 1762: An ELEGY written in a Country Church Yard. With an HYMN to Adversity. By Mr. Gray. London: J. James, 1762.
          [8 b/w page images; see Northup 183.]
    • 1765: A Collection of Poems in six volumes. By several hands. London: J. Dodsley, 1765 [1st ed. 1758].
          [47 b/w page images; see Northup 186.]
    • 1768: Poems by Mr. Gray. London: J. Dodsley, 1768.
    • 1768: Poems by Mr. Gray. Glasgow: R. and A. Foulis, 1768.
          [68 b/w page images; see Northup 56.]
    • 1768: Poems by Mr. Gray. Dublin: William Sleater, 1768.
    • 1768: Poems by Mr. T. Gray. Cork: William Flyn, M.DCC.LXVIII.
          [90 b/w page images/PDF; see Northup 55.]
    • 1769: Ode performed in the Senate-house at Cambridge... Cambridge: J. Archdeacon, 1769.
          [8 b/w page images; see Northup 1401.]
    • 1770: Poems by Mr. Gray. A new edition. London: Printed for J. Dodsley, ... 1770.
          [136 colour page images; see Northup 57, ESTC T55124.]
    • 1771: Poems by Mr. Gray. A new edition. London: B. Long and T. Pridden, 1771.
          [106 b/w page images/PDF; not in Northup or Starr.]
    • 1771: Poems by Thomas Gray. Dublin: Thomas Ewing, M.DCC.LXXI.
          [74 b/w page images/PDF; see Northup 58.]
    • 1773: Poems by Mr. Gray. Glasgow: Printed by Robert and Andrew Foulis Printers to the University M.DCC.LXXIII.
          [61 b/w page images/PDF; see Northup 60.]
    • 1773: Poems by Mr. Gray. Edinburgh: Printed for J. Balfour and W. Creech. M,DCC,LXXIII.
          [65 b/w page images/PDF; see Northup 59.]
    • 1774?: The Candidate: By Mr. Gray. [Strawberry Hill: Strawberry Hill Press, 1774.]
          [2 b/w page images.]
    • 1775: Designs by Mr. R. Bentley, for six Poems by Mr. T. Gray. London: Printed for J. Dodsley, in Pall-Mall, MDCCLXXV.
          [112 colour page images; see Northup 191. Includes Gray's Odes (1757)]
    • 1775: An Elegy written in a Country Church Yard. A new edition. London: Printed for J. Dodsley, in Pall-Mall MDCCLXXV.
          [16 colour page images; see Northup 521.]
    • 1775: The Poems of Mr. Gray. To which are prefixed Memoirs of his Life and Writings by W. Mason. York[; London]: J. Todd; J. Dodsley, 1775.
    • 1775: The Poems of Mr. Gray. To which are prefixed Memoirs of his Life and Writings by W. Mason. Dublin: D. Chamberlaine, J. Potts..., 1775.
          [52 colour page images; see Northup 15.]
    • 1775: Poems by Mr. Gray. A new edition. Edinburgh: A. Donaldson, 1775.
      • 1st edition [156 b/w page images/PDF; not in Northup or Starr.]
      • 1st edition [170 colour page images; not in Northup or Starr.]
    • 1775: Poems by Mr. Gray. Dublin: W. Sleater, 1775 [1st ed. 1768].
          [248 b/w page images/PDF; see Northup 62.]
    • 1776: Poems by Mr. Gray. A new edition. London: J. Murray, 1776.
          [150 b/w page images/PDF; see Northup 63. See also John Murray's Letter to W. Mason, A.M. (1777).]
    • 1777: A Collection of the English Poets, ... , in twenty volumes. Volume XVI. Poems by Mr. Gray. Aberdeen: J. Boyle, 1777.
          [67 colour images.]
    • 1778: POEMS by Mr. GRAY. A new edition. London: J. Murray, 1778.
          [158 colour page images; see Northup 65]
    • 1779: POEMS by Mr. GRAY. Edinburgh: G. Alston, 1779.
          [121 colour images.]
    • 1779: The Works of the English Poets. With Prefaces, biographical and critical, by Samuel Johnson. Vol 56 [Lyttelton, West, Gray]. London: printed by J. Rivington ; ... M DCC LXXIX.
          [392 colour page images; see Northup 194, ESTC T92171.]
    • 1779: Poems by Mr. Gray. With a Biographical and Critical Account of the Author. London: Sold by R. Tomlins, ... MDCCLXXIX.
          [177 colour page images; see Northup 67, ESTC N11840.]
    • 1782: The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray [and Richard West]. Edinburg: Apollo Press, 1782.
          [110 b/w page images/PDF; see Northup 69a.]
    • 1782: POEMS by Mr. GRAY. Glasgow: Andrew Foulis, 1782.
          [60 colour images.]
    • 1786: POEMS. By Mr. Gray. A new edition. London: J. Murray, 1786.
          [178 colour page images; see Northup 70]
    • 1787?: The Grave, by Robert Blair; to which is added Gray's Elegy. London: Scatcherd & Whitaker, [1787].
          [54 b/w page images; see Northup 533.]
    • 1787: The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray. Glasgow: Andrew Foulis, 1787.
          [172 colour images.]
    • 1794: A Complete Edition of the Poets of Great Britain. Volume the Tenth. Containing Young, Gray,... The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray. Edinburgh: Printed by Mundell and Son, Royal Bank Close. 1794.
          [51 colour page images; see Northup 79, ESTC T2891.]
    • 1796: Poems, moral, elegant and pathetic: viz. Essay on man, by Pope; The monk of La Trappe, by Jerningham; The grave by Blair; An elegy in a country churchyard, by Gray; The hermit of Warkworth, by Percy; and original sonnets, by Helen Maria Williams. [Gray's Elegy only.] London: Printed for E. Newbery, ... and Vernor and Hood, 1796.
          [18 colour page images; see Northup 552.]
    • 1796: Poems by Thomas Gray; ... To which is prefixed A Sketch of the Author's Life. Manchester, Printed at the Office of G. Nicholson, No. 9, Spring-gardens. ... 1796.
          [24 colour page images; see Northup 206, ESTC T173278.]
    • 1798: The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray. London: Ann Lemoine, 1798.
          [70 b/w page images/PDF; not in Northup, Starr, or ESTC.]
    • 1799: The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray. London: C. Cooke, [1799].
          [79 b/w page images/PDF; see Northup 92?]
    • 1799: The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray, LL.B. London: [C. Whittingham] For J. Scatcherd, 1799.
          [247 b/w page images/PDF; see Northup 84.]
    • 1799: Poems by Thomas Gray, LL.B. ... With the Life of the Author. [Ludlow]: Printed and sold by George Nicholson, College, Ludlow... 1799.
          [64 colour page images; see Northup 83, ESTC N11878.]
    • 1800: The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray, LL.B. Second edition. London: C. Whittingham, 1800 [1st ed. 1799].
          [287 b/w page images/PDF; see Northup 85.]
    • 1800: The Poems of Gray. A new edition. Adorned with plates. London: F. J. Du Roveray, 1800.
    • 1805: The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray. London: W. Suttaby & C. Corral, 1805.
          [101 b/w page images/PDF; see Northup 92?]
    • 1807: The Works of Thomas Gray... To which are added, Memoirs of His Life and Writings, by W. Mason, M.A., vol. I. The third edition, carefully corrected. London: Vernor, Hood, and Sharpe; J. Walker; Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme; J. Murray; and J. Booker, 1807.
    • 1814: The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray. London: J. Walker et al., 1814.
          [65 b/w page images/PDF; not in Northup or Starr.]
    • 1814: The Works of Thomas Gray ... to which are subjoined Extracts philological poetical and critical from the author's original manuscripts. Vol. I. Selected and arranged by Thomas James Mathias. London: William Bulmer, 1814.
    • 1816: The Works of Thomas Gray. Vol. I. containing The Poems, with critical notes; A Life of the Author; and an Essay on his Poetry; By the Rev. John Mitford. London: J. Mawman, 1816.
    • 1821: The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray. London: John Sharpe, 1821.
          [192 colour page images; see Northup 105.]
    • 1826: The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray. London: John Sharpe, 1826.
    • 1835-43: The Works of Thomas Gray. Volume I. Ed. by the Rev. John Mitford. London: William Pickering, 1836.
    • 1863: Poems and Letters by Thomas Gray. London: Chiswick Press, 1863.
          [451 colour page images; see Northup 37c.]
    • 1879: Poems and Letters by Thomas Gray. London: Chiswick Press, 1879.
          [437 b/w page images/PDF; see Northup 37c.]
    • 1891: The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an Introduction, Life, Notes, and a Bibliography by John Bradshaw. London: George Bell & Sons, 1891.
          [388 page e-text; see Northup 170.]
  • Translations of Gray's poems (see also the Gray's "Elegy" in translation-project page)
    • English
      • 1775: The Latin Odes of Mr. Gray, in English verse, with An Ode on the Death of a favorite Spaniel [by E. B. G.]. London: J. Ridley, 1775.
    • French
      • 1788: Élégie composée dans un cimetière de campagne, traduite en françois, vers pour vers, de l'anglois de Gray, par P. G. D. B. ... On y a joint une traduction de la même piéce, en vers latins, par un membre de l'Université de Cambridge. Croydon: imprimié aux dépens du traducteur françois et se vend chez T. Hookham; P. Elmsly; C. Dilly; J. de Boffe; J. Hall; R. Hawes, Croydon; et chez le traducteur ou meme lieu, 1788.
            [25 b/w page images; see Northup 742.]
      • 1798: Poésies de Gray. A Paris, chez LEMIERRE, ..., An VI. [1798]
            [188 colour page images; see Northup 81.]
      • 1830: Poésies anglaises. Beattie, Rogers, Campbell, Southey, Goldsmith, Gray, Montgomery, Wordsworth, Kirke White, Moss, Carter. Traduction nouvelle, avec notices. Par MM. J.B.A. Soulié et E. Henrion. [Gray only.] Paris. Bureau de la Bibliotheque Choisie, ... 1830.
            [18 colour page images; see Northup 763.]
    • Greek
      • 1785: Aristotelis de poetica liber, textu Gulstoniano; cum praelectione, versione, et notis editoris, Gulielmi Cooke, A. M. Accedit Elegia Grayiana graece. [Elegy only.] Cantabrigiae, Typis Academicis excudebat J. Archdeacon. ... MDCCLXXXV.
            [12 colour page images; see Northup 784.]
      • 1793: Elegeia Thomæ Gray, græcè reddita. [trans. John Norbury.] Etonæ: excudit T. Pote... 1793.
            [14 b/w page images/PDF; see Northup 785.]
      • 1794: Elegeia Thomæ Gray græce reddita. Curavit B. E. Sparke, A.M. Londini: excudebat J. Nichols. 1794.
            [24 b/w page images/PDF; see Northup 548.]
      • 1794: Της ελεγειας, ην Θωμας Γραιος ... εν κοιμητηριω αγροικω εζεχυσε μεταφρασις ελληνικη [trans. Charles Coote]. Londini: typis Josephi Cooper impressus est hic libellus; ... 1794.
            [24 b/w page images/PDF; see Northup 547.]
      • 1795: Elegia Grayiana Græce, accedit etiam Epitaphium in Ecclesia Episcopali Bristoliensi et Græce redditum, interprete Edvardo Tew, A. M. Coll. Etonens. Londini: e typographeo J. Nichols; veneunt apud R. Faulder. 1795.
            [34 b/w page images; see Northup 551.]
    • Italian
      • 1772: Elegia Inglese, del signor Tommaso Gray, sopra un cimitero di campagna, trasportata in verso italiano dall' [Abate Melchior Cesarotti]. Padua: Giuseppe Comino, 1772.
            [23 b/w page images; see Northup 796.]
      • 1775: Elegia scritta in Cimiterio di Campagna. [By Abbate Crocchi of Sienna.] Poems by Mr. Gray. Dublin: W. Sleater, 1775, 153-166.
            [See Northup 62.]
      • 1775: Elegia inglese del signor Tommaso Gray, sopra un cimitero di campagna trasportata in versi latini, e volgari. [By G. Costa and G. Gennari, respectively, 1772.] Poems by Mr. Gray. Dublin: W. Sleater, 1775, 189-211.
            [See Northup 62.]
      • 1776: Elegia di Tommaso Gray, poeta inglese, per esso scritta in un cimitero campestre, tradotta in versi italiani [da Giuseppe Torelli]. Verona: Gli Eredi di Agostino Carattoni, 1776.
            [22 b/w page images; see Northup 799.]
      • 1782: Elegia di Tommaso Gray poeta inglese per esso scritta in un cimitero campestre tradotta in versi italiani e ristampata da Agostino Isola mastero di lingua italiana nell' Universita di Cambridge. Sold by the Editor, and J. Deighton, Bookseller, in Cambridge. MDCCLXXXII.
            [20 colour page images; see Northup 799.]
      • 1782: Elegy written in a country church-yard. By Mr. Gray. And translated into Italian verse By J. Giannini, L.L. D. London: Printed for, and sold by, the Translator, ... M DCC LXXXII.
            [24 colour page images; see Northup 800.]
      • 1784: Poesie Liriche di Gray, trasportate dall'inglese nel verso italiano dal Dr. M. Lastri. Firenze: Nella Stamperia di Francesco Moücke MDCCLXXXIV [1784].
            [112 colour page images; see Northup 352.]
    • Latin
      • 1762: ELEGIA scripta in COEMETERIO RUSTICO Latinè Reddita. [By Christopher Anstey, and William Hayward Roberts.] Cantabrigiæ: Typis Academicis excudebat J. Bentham. ... M.DCC.LXII. [1762.]
            [20 colour page images; see Northup 820.]
      • 1775: Carmen Elegiacum. In coemeterio rustico compositum. [By Robert Lloyd, 1762.] Poems by Mr. Gray. Dublin: W. Sleater, 1775, 115-125.
            [See Northup 62.]
      • 1775: Elegia, scripta in Coemeterio Rustico. Latine reddita. [By Christopher Anstey and William Hayward Roberts, 1762.] Poems by Mr. Gray. Dublin: W. Sleater, 1775, 126-151.
            [See Northup 62.]
      • 1775: Elegia inglese del signor Tommaso Gray, sopra un cimitero di campagna trasportata in versi latini, e volgari. [By G. Costa and G. Gennari, respectively, 1772.] Poems by Mr. Gray. Dublin: W. Sleater, 1775, 189-211.
            [See Northup 62.]
      • 1775: THE BARD. A Pindaric Poem, by MR. GRAY. Translated into Latin verse. [By R. Williams, rector of Machynlleth.] Chester: Printed by Poole, Barker, and Co. in Foregate-street. M.DCC.LXXV. [1775.]
            [28 colour page images; see Northup 409.]
      • 1775: ODE PINDARICA, pro Cambriæ vatibus, Latino carmine reddita. [By Edward Burnaby Greene.] Cantabrigiae, MDCCLXXV. Prostat venalis apud Richardum Matthews, Bibliopolam. [1775.]
            [14 colour page images; see Northup 434.]
      • 1776: ELEGIA in Cæmeterio Rustico scripta, Numeris Elegiacis Latinè Reddita. [By Gilbert Wakefield.] London: Printed for J. Nicholson, in Cambridge; ... MDCCLXXVI. ... [1776.]
            [26 colour page images; see Northup 825.]
      • 1778: ELEGIA scripta in COEMETERIO RUSTICO A. Thoma Gray Latinè Reddita. [By Christopher Anstey and William Hayward Roberts.] Londini: Prostant vanales apud J. Dodsley, Pall-Mall. M.DCC.LXXVIII. [1778.]
            [20 colour page images; see Northup 820.]
      • 1786: Elegia Scripta in Sepulchreto Rustico, Latine Reddita. &c. [By J. Wright.] London: Veneunt apud T. Lewis, in vico dicto, Russell-Street, et B. White, Fleet-Street. M,DCC,LXXXVI. [1786.]
            [24 colour page images; see Northup 826.]
      • 1788: Élégie composée dans un cimetière de campagne, traduite en françois, vers pour vers, de l'anglois de Gray, par P. G. D. B. ... On y a joint une traduction de la même piéce, en vers latins, par un membre de l'Université de Cambridge. Croydon: imprimié aux dépens du traducteur françois et se vend chez T. Hookham; P. Elmsly; C. Dilly; J. de Boffe; J. Hall; R. Hawes, Croydon; et chez le traducteur ou meme lieu, 1788.
            [25 b/w page images; see Northup 742.]
      • 1791: Poesie Inglesi di Alessandro Pope di Jacopo Thompson di Tommaso Gray con la traduzione in varie lingue. [Italian by Ab. Cesarotti, Latin by Joanne Costa.] [Venice]: [s.n.], MDCCXCI. [1791.]
            [27 colour page images; see Northup 544.]
  • Imitations/Parodies/Complimentary verses
    • 1775: Ode on Ranelagh. Addressed to the Ladies. Being a Parody on Mr. Gray's celebrated Ode on a distant Prospect of Eton College. [By Henry James Pye, 1763.] Poems by Mr. Gray. Dublin: W. Sleater, 1775, 177-186.
          [See Northup 62.]
    • 1775: The Bard: a Burlesque Ode. Written by R. Lloyd and G. Colman. [1760.] Poems by Mr. Gray. Dublin: W. Sleater, 1775, 199-211.
          [See Northup 62.]
    • 1775: An Evening Contemplation in A College. Being A Parody on the Elegy in a Country Church-Yard. [By John Duncombe, 1753.] Poems by Mr. Gray. Dublin: W. Sleater, 1775, 187-197.
          [See Northup 62.]
    • 1776: A Parody on Gray's Elegy. By An Oxonian. [An Evening Contemplation in a College. By John Duncombe.] London: J. Wheble, 1776.
          [11 b/w page images; see Northup 898.]
    • 1797?: To Mr. GRAY, on his ODES. By David Garrick. [Twickenham: printed at the Strawberry Hill Press by Thomas Kirgate, 1797? (1st ed. 1757).]
          [2 page e-text.]

Prose Works

  • 1787: A Supplement to the Tour Through Great-Britain, containing a Catalogue of the antiquities, houses, parks, plantations, scenes, and situations, in England and Wales... By The Late Mr. Gray... To which are now added, by another Hand, Several Additions... London: G. Kearsley, 1787.
        [128 b/w page images; see Northup 465.]
  • 1814: The Works of Thomas Gray ... to which are subjoined Extracts philological poetical and critical from the author's original manuscripts. Vol. II. Selected and arranged by Thomas James Mathias. London: William Bulmer, 1814.
  • 1835-43: The Works of Thomas Gray. Volume IV. "Criticisms on Architecture and Painting during a Tour in Italy". Ed. by the Rev. John Mitford. London: William Pickering, 1836.
  • 1911: Essays and Criticisms by Thomas Gray. Edited with Introduction and Notes by Clark Sutherland Northup. Boston and London: D. C. Heath & Co., 1911.
        [436 page e-text; see Northup 336.]
  • 2011: Notes on a Tour through France and Italy undertaken in the Years 1739 to 1741 by Thomas Gray. Transcribed and edited by W.G. Roberts. Penrith: Northern Academic Press, 2011 [1st ed. Carlisle: The Colophon Press, 2003].
        [185 page e-text/PDF.]

Letters

  • 1775: The Poems of Mr. Gray. To which are prefixed Memoirs of his Life and Writings by W. Mason. York[; London]: J. Todd; J. Dodsley, 1775.
  • 1775: The Poems of Mr. Gray. To which are prefixed Memoirs of his Life and Writings by W. Mason. Dublin: D. Chamberlaine, J. Potts..., 1775.
        [480 colour page images; see Northup 15.]
  • 1807: The Works of Thomas Gray... To which are added, Memoirs of His Life and Writings, by W. Mason, M.A., vols. I./II. The third edition, carefully corrected. London: Vernor, Hood, and Sharpe; J. Walker; Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme; J. Murray; and J. Booker, 1807.
  • 1814: The Works of Thomas Gray ... to which are subjoined Extracts philological poetical and critical from the author's original manuscripts. Vol. I. Selected and arranged by Thomas James Mathias. London: William Bulmer, 1814.
  • 1816: The Works of Thomas Gray. Vol. II. containing The Letters; with important additions and corrections from His Own Manuscripts. Selected and edited by the Rev. John Mitford. London: J. Mawman, 1816.
  • 1819: The Letters of Thomas Gray, chronologically arranged from the Walpole and Mason Collections. 2 vols. in one. London: J. Sharpe, 1819.
        [378 b/w page images/PDF; see Northup 1224.]
  • 1835-43: The Works of Thomas Gray. Volumes II-V. Ed. by the Rev. John Mitford. London: William Pickering, 1835-43.
  • 1853: The Correspondence of Thomas Gray and William Mason, with notes and illustrations by the Rev. John Mitford. London: Richard Bentley, 1853.
  • 1890: Gray and his Friends: Letters and Relics, in great part hitherto unpublished, edited by Duncan C. Tovey. Cambridge: University Press, 1890.
        [329 b/w page images/PDF; see Northup 45.]
  • 1900-1912: The Letters of Thomas Gray, including the correspondence of Gray and Mason, edited by Duncan C. Tovey, editor of "Gray and His Friends," etc. London: George Bell and Sons, 1900-1912.
        [1290 b/w page images/PDF; see Northup 1226.]
  • 1915: The Correspondence of Gray, Walpole, West and Ashton (1734-1771), in two volumes, chronologically arranged and edited with introduction, notes, and index by Paget Toynbee. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1915.
        [875 b/w page images/PDF; see Northup 1248.]

Audio-visual media

Audio

Audio files are available in both MP3 and Ogg Vorbis formats. Please see this help section for more information.

"Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" [e-text]

  • Unabridged version read by Michael Burrell (run time: 9 min 35 sec):
  • Abridged version read by Sir Michael Redgrave (ll. 1-20, 29-36, 41-48, 57-76, 93-104, 109-116; run time: 4 min 43 sec):

"Ode on the Death of a Favourite Cat, Drowned in a Tub of Gold Fishes" [e-text]

  • Unabridged version read by Michael Burrell (run time: 2 min 20 sec):

"Sonnet [on the Death of Mr Richard West]" [e-text]

  • Unabridged version read by Michael Burrell (run time: 1 min 24 sec):