TheEpitaph

theepitaph

stop,passenger!mystory'sbrief,

andtruthishallrelate,man;

itellnaecommontaleo'grief,

formatthewwasagreatman.

ifthouuncommonmerithast,

yetspurn'datfortune'sdoor,man;

alookofpityhithercast,

formatthewwasapoorman.

ifthouanoblesodgerart,

thatpassestbythisgrave,man;

theremouldershereagallantheart,

formatthewwasabraveman.

ifthouonmen,theirworksandways,

canstthrowuncommonlight,man;

herelieswhaweelhadwonthypraise,

formatthewwasabrightman.

ifthou,atfriendship'ssacredca',

wadlifeitselfresign,man:

thysympathetictearmaunfa',

formatthewwasakindman.

ifthouartstaunch,withoutastain,

liketheunchangingblue,man;

thiswasakinsmano'thyain,

formatthewwasatrueman.

ifthouhastwit,andfun,andfire,

andne'erguidwinedidfear,man;

thiswasthybillie,dam,andsire,

formatthewwasaqueerman.

ifonyish,whingin'sot,

toblamepoormatthewdare,man;

maydoolandsorrowbehislot,

formatthewwasarareman.

butnow,hisradiantcourseisrun,

formatthew'swasabrightone!

hissoulwasliketheglorioussun,

amatchless,heavenlylight,man.