Record

Document Reference	Pw V 304
Title	MS poem, entitled 'Epitaph', by William Mason and Thomas Gray; n.d.
Date	(1767 c.)
Extent	1 f
Level	Item/file
Content Description	Text consists of 16 lines. Final four lines are said to be by Mason's close friend, the poet Thomas Gray. Epitaph written in memory of Mason's wife Mary (d 1767 of consumption), and set up in Bristol Cathedral.
Title Of Work	Epitaph
First Line of Poem	Take, holy Earth, all that my Soul holds dear!
Last Line of Poem	And bids the pure in Heart behold their God
Language	English
Physical Description	Small quarto
Condition	Fragile
Descriptive Features	Watermark: Strasbourg lily, within crowned shield, unclear (fragment), approx. 50 x 65 mm
Watermark	Strasbourg lily
Related Material	Crum, Index, T 22
	University of Nottingham Library: Pw V 1010/2
	University of Nottingham Library:
	Another version, entitled 'Epitaph on Mrs. Mason in Bristol Cathedral'
Publication Note	Gentleman's Magazine, lxiv, 7 January 1794 & W. Mason, Works (London, 1811) vol i, p 137 & I.A. Williams, Shorter Poems of the 18th Century (London, 1923) p 359

Persons

Code	PersonName	Dates of existence
NA72840	Mason; Mary (-1767); Mrs; wife of William Mason	-1767
NA72839	Mason; William (1724-1797); Mr; poet	1724-1797
NA530	Gray; Thomas (1716-1771); poet	1716-1771