InscriptionForTheHeadstoneOfFergussonThePoet

inscriptionfortheheadstoneoffergussonthepoet注释标题thestonewaserectedatburns'expensesinfebruary—march,1789.

nosculpturedmarblehere,norpompouslay,

“nostoriedurnnoranimatedbust;”

thissimplestonedirectspalescotia'sway,

topourhersorrowso'erthepoet'sdust.

additionalstanzas

shemourns,sweettunefulyouth,thyhaplessfate;

tho'allthepowersofsongthyfancyfired,

yetluxuryandwealthlaybyinstate,

and,thankless,starv'dwhattheysomuchadmired.

thistribute,withatear,nowgives

abrotherbard—hecannomorebestow:

butdeartofamethysongimmortallives,

anoblermonumentthanartcanshew.

inscribedunderfergusson'sportrait

curseonungratefulman,thatcanbepleased,

andyetcanstarvetheauthorofthepleasure.

othou,myelderbrotherinmisfortune,

byfarmyelderbrotherinthemuses,

withtearsipitythyunhappyfate!

whyisthebardunpitiedbytheworld,

yethassokeenarelishofitspleasures?