EPIGRAMS, ETC.

323

TO THE SAME,

ON THE AUTHOR'S BEING THREATENED WITH HIS
RESENTMENT.

SPARE me thy vengeance, Galloway,
In quiet let me live :

I ask no kindness at thy hand,
For thou hast none to give.

VERSES WRITTEN ON A WINDOW OF THE
INN AT CARRON.

WE cam na here to view your warks
In hopes to be mair wise,

But only lest we gang to hell,

It may be nae surprise :

But when we tirlèd at your door,

Your porter dought na hear us;

Sae may, should we to hell's yetts come,
Your billy Satan sair us!

ON THE DEATH OF A LAP-DOG NAMED ECHO.

IN wood and wild, ye warbling throng
Your heavy loss deplore;

Now half extinct your powers of song,
Sweet Echo is no more.

Ye jarring, screeching things around,
Scream your discordant joys;
Now half your din of tuneless sound
With Echo silent lies.

324

EPIGRAMS, ETC.

EPITAPH ON THE AUTHOR'S FATHER.
O YE, whose cheek the tear of pity stains,
Draw near with pious reverence, and attend!
Here lie the loving husband's dear remains,

The tender father, and the generous 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 even his failings lean'd to virtue's side."

ON THE POET'S DAUGHTER.
HERE lies a rose, a budding rose,
Blasted before its bloom;
Whose innocence did sweets disclose
Beyond that flower's perfume.

To those who for her loss are grieved,
This consolation's given-

She's from a world of woe relieved,
And blooms a rose in Heaven.

ON WAT.

SIC a reptile was Wat,

Sic a miscreant slave,

That the very worms damn'd him
When laid in his grave.

ON A PERSON NICKNAMED THE MARQUIS. HERE lies a mock Marquis, whose titles were shamm'd; If ever he rise-it will be to be damn'd.

EPIGRAMS, ETC.

325

A BARD'S EPITAPH.

Is there a whim-inspirèd 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?

Oh, 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, through the starting tear,
Survey this grave.

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-control
Is wisdom's root.

326

EPIGRAMS, ETC.

ON A FRIEND.

AN honest man here lies at rest,
As ere God with His image blest!
The friend of man, the friend of truth;
The friend of age, and guide of youth:
Few hearts like his, with virtue warm'd,
Few heads with knowledge so inform'd:
If there's another world, he lives in bliss;
If there is none, he made the best of this.

ON MISS JEAN SCOTT OF ECCLEFECHAN.
had each Scot of ancient times
Been, Jeannie Scott, as thou art,
The bravest heart on English ground
Had yielded like a coward!

ON WEE JOHNNY.

HIC JACET WEE JOHNNY,

WHOE'ER thou art, O reader, know
That Death has murder'd Johnny!
And here his body lies fu' low-
For saul he ne'er had ony.

ON A NOTED COXCOMB.

LIGHT lay the earth on Billy's breast,
His chicken heart so tender;
But build a castle on his head,

His skull will prop it under.

EPIGRAMS, ETC.

ON A HENPECKED COUNTRY SQUIRE.

As Father Adam first was fool'd,

A case that's still too common,
Here lies a man a woman ruled-
The devil ruled the woman.

ON THE SAME.

O DEATH, hadst thou but spared his life,
Whom we this day lament!
We freely wad exchanged the wife,
And a' been weel content!

E'en as he is, cauld in his graff,
The swap we yet will do't;
Tak thou the carlin's carcase aff,
Thou'se get the saul to boot.

ON A SCHOOLMASTER.

HERE lie Willie Michie's banes;
O Satan, when ye tak him,
Gie him the schoolin' o' your weans,
For clever deils he'll mak 'em!

THE EPITAPH.

HERE lies, now a prey to insulting neglect,
What once was a butterfly, gay in life's beam:

Want only of wisdom denied her respect,

Want only of goodness denied her esteem.

327