[Epitaph on Sir William Williams]
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[Epitaph on Sir William Williams]
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[Epitaph on Sir William Williams] Skip to next line
Metrical foot type: iambic (-+)
Metrical foot number: pentameter (5 feet)
Rhyme scheme: abab
Rhyme (stanza position): cross (abab)
Syllable pattern: 10.10.10.10
Stanza: quatrain (4 lines)
Genre(s): epitaph
Theme(s): death
Notation symbols: | (foot boundary), || (caesura), / (metrical line boundary), + (metrically prominent), - (metrically non-prominent)
Metre: -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/ | Syllables: 10
Metre: -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/ | Syllables: 10
Metre: -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/ | Syllables: 10
Metre: -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/ | Syllables: 10
Metre: -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/ | Syllables: 10
Metre: -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/ | Syllables: 10
Metre: -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/ | Syllables: 10
Metre: -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/ | Syllables: 10
Metre: -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/ | Syllables: 10
Metre: -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/ | Syllables: 10
Metre: -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/ | Syllables: 10
Metre: -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/ | Syllables: 10
Expanding the poem lines () shows notes and queries taken from various critical editions of Gray's works, as well as those contributed by users of the Archive. There are 4 textual and 5 explanatory notes/queries.
[Epitaph on Sir William Williams] 1 Explanatory, 1 Textual Skip to next line
Title/Paratext] "Sir William Peere Williams, Bart., J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"Sir William Peere Williams, Bart., was killed at the siege of Belleisle,
1761. "In the recklessness of a desponding mind, he approached too near
to the enemy's sentinels, and was shot through the body." Walpole
describes Williams as "a gallant and ambitious young man, who had devoted
himself to war and politics." He was a Captain in Burgoyne's Dragoons,
raised in 1759, now the 16th Lancers; see the "Graphic," 4th April,
1891.
A letter of Gray's to Mason, in August, 1761, gives the date of the composition of
this epitaph, and contains the following remarks of Gray on
it:—"Mr. Montagu (as I guess at your instigation) has earnestly
desired me to write some lines to be put on a monument which he means to erect
at Belleisle. It is a task I do not love, knowing Sir William Williams so
slightly as I did; but he is so friendly a person, and his affliction seemed
to me so real, that I could not refuse him. I have sent him the following
verses, which I neither like myself nor will he, I doubt; however, I have
showed him that I wished to oblige him. Tell me your real opinion."
Writing to Brown on the 23rd October, 1760, Gray
says:—"In my way to town I met with the first news of the expedition from Sir William Williams, who makes a part of it, and
perhaps may lay his fine Vandyke head in the dust."
In the "Gentleman's Magazine" for 1761, under date 7th
May, it is stated, "An express from Belleisle brought advice that Sir
W. P. Williams, Bart., a captain of Burgoyne's Dragoons, and M.P. for
Shoreham, had been killed reconnoitering." The date of his death is not
given, but it was probably in the last week of April. See also the
"Annual Register," 1761, p. 17, and the "Scots' Magazine,"
1761, p. 437. The citadel of Belleisle capitulated on the 7th June [footnote: 'Mitford, "Correspondence of Gray and Mason," by mistake gives the 13th June as the date of the capitulation. Mr. Gosse makes a further mistake in stating that Williams was "killed at the storming of Belleisle, June 13."']
("Gentleman's Magazine," 1761, p. 282, under date 13 June).
In a letter to Brown, dated 26th May, 1761, Gray
writes:—"Montagu had thoughts of going thither [Cambridge] with me,
but I know not what his present intentions may be. He is in real affliction
for the loss of Sir W. Williams, who [has left him one of his executors, and
(as I doubt his affairs were a good deal embarrassed) he possibly may be
detained in town on that account.""
Title/Paratext] "The version in the text [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"The version in the text is that given by Mason, and it has been
generally followed by subsequent editors. The copy in the Mitford MSS. and in
the "Correspondence of Gray and Mason," p. 268, differs from that
published by Mason in three places; and it seems probable that Mason, acting
on Gray's request for his "real opinion," took the liberty, as he
did in several other instances, of altering the wording when he printed it
among Gray's "Poems" in 1775.
There is also a copy, but not in Gray's handwriting, in the
Pembroke MSS. with the following "Rejected
stanza":—
"Warrior, that midst the melancholy lineThe Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 259-260.
* * * * *
Oh be his genius, be his spirit thine,
And share his virtues with a happier fate.""
5.1-8 At ... drew,] "In the Mitford MSS. and [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"In the Mitford MSS. and "Correspondence" it is
"At Aix uncalled his maiden sword he drew.""The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 260.
5.2 Aix] ""In the expedition to Aix [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
""In the expedition to Aix he was on board the Magnanime with Lord Howe, and was deputed to receive the capitulation."—Mason."
The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 260.5.3-8 uncalled ... drew,] "Sir W. Scott probably took [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"Sir W. Scott probably took from this the similar expression:—
"Since, riding side by side, our handThe Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 260.
First drew the voluntary brand."
—Marmion, C. iv. Introduction, 10."
6.7 glory] "honour, glory. Mitford MSS. and [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"honour, glory. Mitford MSS. and "Correspondence.""
The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 260.9.7 intrepid] "undaunted, intrepid. Mitford MSS. and [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"undaunted, intrepid. Mitford MSS. and "Correspondence.""
The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 260.10.1 Victor] "Belleisle had not surrendered at [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"Belleisle had not surrendered at the time that Williams was killed, but he calls him "victor" as belonging to the side that was ultimately victorious, and also for poetical effect and as more calculated to call forth sympathy that he should have met his death instead of returning home with the victorious troops."
The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 260.10.5-6 Belle Isle's] "Belleisle is a fortified island [...]" J. Bradshaw, 1891.
"Belleisle is a fortified island off the coast of France, in the north of the Bay of Biscay."
The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891, 260.Works cited
- The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray: English and Latin. Edited with an introduction, life, notes and a bibliography by John Bradshaw. The Aldine edition of the British poets series. London: George Bell and sons, 1891.
Spelling has been modernized throughout, except in case of conscious archaisms. Contractions, italics and initial capitalization have been largely eliminated, except where of real import. Obvious errors have been silently corrected, punctuation has been supplied. The editor would like to express his gratitude to the library staff of the Göttingen State and University Library (SUB Göttingen) for their invaluable assistance.