EPITAPH ON A CELEBRATED RULING ELDER.*

HERE Sowter Hood in Death does sleep;

To Hell, if he's gane thither,
Satan, gie him thy gear to keep,
He'll haud it weel thegither.

EPITAPH FOR ROBERT AIKEN, ESQ.t

KNOW thou, O stranger to the fame
Of this much lov'd, much honour'd name!
(For none that knew him need be told)
A warmer heart death ne'er made cold.

EPITAPH FOR GAVIN HAMILTON, ESQ.‡

THE poor man weeps-here Gavin sleeps,
Whom canting wretches blam'd:
But with such as he, where'er he be,
May I be sav'd or damn'd!

*

Printed in the Kilmarnock edition in 1786, in a copy of which the name is supplied in the Poet's handwriting. To whom the Cotter's Saturday Night is inscribed. This occurs to the Kilmarnock edition.

This Epitaph is likewise in the Kilmarnock edition.

A BARD'S EPITAPH.§

Is there a whim-inspir'd fool,

Owre fast for thought, owre hot for rule,
Owre blate to seek, owre proud to snool,
Let him draw near;

And owre this grassy heap sing dool,
And drap a tear.

Is there a Bard of rustic song,

Who, noteless, steals the crowds among,
That weekly this area throng,

O, pass not by !

But, with a frater-feeling strong,

Here, heave a sigh.

Is there a man whose judgment clear,
Can others teach the course to steer,
Yet runs, himself, life's mad career,

Wild as the wave;

Here pause-and, thro' the starting tear,
Survey this grave.

Burns alludes to the conduct shewn to Mr. Hamilton for his spiritual offences, which has been already alluded to.

§ Printed in the Kilmarnock and every other edition without any variation.

The

poor Inhabitant below

Was quick to learn and wise to know,
And keenly felt the friendly glow,
And softer flame,

But thoughtless follies laid him low,
And stain'd his name!

Reader, attend-whether thy soul
Soars fancy's flights beyond the pole,
Or darkling grubs this earthly hole,
In low pursuit ;

Know, prudent, cautious, self-controul
Is wisdom's root.

A

EPITAPH ON MY FATHER. †

O YE, whose cheek the tear of pity stains,'
Draw near with pious rev'rence and attend!
Here lie the loving husband's dear remains,
The tender father, and the gen'rous friend.

The pitying heart that felt for human woe;
The dauntless heart that fear'd no human pride;

The friend of man, to vice alone a foe;

"For ev❜n his failings lean'd to virtue's side."*

VAR.

who sympathize with Virtue's pains.

Printed in the Kilmarnock and all other editions. The variation of the title and first line is from a copy in the Poet's autograph.

* Goldsmith. R. B.

EPITAPH ON JOHN DOVE, INNKEEPER,
MAUCHLINE. ||

HERE lies Johnny Pidgeon;

What was his religion?

Wha e'er desires to ken,

To some other warl'

Maun follow the carl,

For here Johnny Pidgeon had nane !

Strong ale was ablution,—

Small beer persecution,

A dram was memento mori;

But a full flowing bowl

Was the saving his soul,

And port was celestial glory.

EPITAPH ON JOHN BUSHBY, WRITER,
IN DUMFRIES.

HERE lies John Bushby, honest man!

Cheat him, Devil, if

you can.

|| Printed in the Glasgow Collection in 1801. He kept the Whitefoord Arms, at the entrance of the Cowgate, at Mauchline.

EPITAPH ON A WAG IN MAUCHLINE.||

LAMENT him, Mauchline husbands a',
He aften did assist ye;

For had

ye staid whole weeks awa,

Your wives they ne'er had miss'd ye.

Ye Mauchline bairns, as on ye pass
To school in bands thegither,
O tread ye lightly on his grass,
Perhaps he was your father.

EPITAPH ON A PERSON NICKNAMED
"THE MARQUIS," WHO DESIRED BURNS TO
WRITE ONE ON HIM.

HERE lies a mock Marquis whose titles were shamm'd,

If ever he rise, it will be to be damn'd.

|| This epistle was printed in the Glasgow Collection in 1801. The wag was James Smith, of Mauchline.