[Page 234]
A BARD'S EPITAPH.
1 IS there a whim-inspir'd fool,
2 Owre fast for thought, owre hot for rule,
3 Owre blate to seek, owre proud to snool,
4 Let him draw near;
5 And o'er this grassy heap sing dool,
6 And drap a tear.
7 Is there a Bard of rustic song,
8 Who, noteless, steals the crouds among,
9 That weekly this area throng,
10 O, pass not by!
11 But with a frater-feeling strong,
12 Here, heave a sigh.
13 Is there a man whose judgment clear,
14 Can others teach the course to steer,
15 Yet runs, himself, life's mad career,
16 Wild as the wave,
[Page 235]17 Here pause — and thro' the starting tear,
18 Survey this grave.
19 The poor Inhabitant below
20 Was quick to learn and wise to know,
21 And keenly felt the friendly glow,
22 And softer flame;
23 But thoughtless follies laid him low,
24 And stain'd his name!
25 Reader attend — whether thy soul
26 Soars fancy's flights beyond the pole,
27 Or darkling grubs this earthly hole,
28 In low pursuit,
29 Know, prudent, cautious, self-controul
30 Is Wisdom's root.
Source edition
Burns, Robert, 1759-1796. POEMS, CHIEFLY IN THE SCOTTISH DIALECT, BY ROBERT BURNS. Kilmarnock: printed by John Wilson, M,DCC,LXXXVI., 1786, pp. 234-235. 240p.; 8⁰. (ESTC T91548) (Page images digitized by National Library of Scotland.)
Editorial principles
Typography, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation have been cautiously modernized. The source of the text is given and all significant editorial interventions have been recorded in textual notes. This ECPA text has been edited to conform to the recommendations found in Level 5 of the Best Practices for TEI in Libraries version 4.0.0.
Other works by Robert Burns
- ADDRESS TO THE DEIL. ()
- ANOTHER. ()
- THE AULD FARMER'S NEW-YEAR-MORNING SALUTATION TO HIS AULD MARE, MAGGIE, ON GIVING HER THE ACCUSTOMED RIPP OF CORN TO HANSEL IN THE NEW-YEAR. ()
- THE AUTHOR'S EARNEST CRY AND PRAYER, TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND HONORABLE, THE SCOTCH REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. ()
- THE COTTER'S SATURDAY NIGHT. INSCRIBED TO R. A****, Esq; ()
- THE DEATH AND DYING WORDS OF POOR MAILIE, THE AUTHOR'S ONLY PET YOWE, AN UNCO MOURNFU' TALE. ()
- A DEDICATION TO G**** H******* Esq; ()
- DESPONDENCY, AN ODE. ()
- A DREAM. ()
- EPIGRAM ON SAID OCCASION, ()
- EPISTLE TO A YOUNG FRIEND. ()
- EPISTLE TO DAVIE. A BROTHER POET. ()
- EPISTLE TO J. L*****K, AN OLD SCOTCH BARD. ()
- EPISTLE TO J. R******, ENCLOSING SOME POEMS. ()
- EPITAPH ON A HENPECKED COUNTRY SQUIRE. ()
- [EPITAPH] FOR G. H. Esq; ()
- [EPITAPH] FOR R. A. Esq; ()
- [EPITAPH] FOR THE AUTHOR'S FATHER. ()
- [EPITAPH] ON A CELEBRATED RULING ELDER. ()
- [EPITAPH] ON A NOISY POLEMIC. ()
- [EPITAPH] ON WEE JOHNIE. Hic jacet wee Johnie. ()
- THE FAREWELL. TO THE BRETHREN OF St. JAMES'S LODGE, TARBOLTON. ()
- HALLOWEEN. ()
- THE HOLY FAIR. ()
- THE LAMENT. OCCASIONED BY THE UNFORTUNATE ISSUE OF A FRIEND'S AMOUR. ()
- MAN WAS MADE TO MOURN, A DIRGE. ()
- ON A SCOTCH BARD GONE TO THE WEST INDIES. ()
- POOR MAILIE'S ELEGY. ()
- A PRAYER, IN THE PROSPECT OF DEATH. ()
- SCOTCH DRINK. ()
- SONG, COMPOSED IN AUGUST. ()
- SONG. ()
- SONG. ()
- TO A LOUSE, On Seeing one on a Lady's Bonnet at Church. ()
- TO A MOUNTAIN-DAISY, On turning one down, with the Plough, in April — 1786. ()
- TO A MOUSE, On turning her up in her Nest with the Plough, November, 1785. ()
- TO J. S****. ()
- TO RUIN. ()
- TO THE SAME. ()
- TO W. S*****N, OCHILTREE. ()
- THE TWA DOGS, A TALE. ()
- THE VISION. ()
- WINTER, A DIRGE. ()