ABard'sEpitaph

abard'sepitaph

isthereawhim-inspiredfool,

owrefastforthought,owrehotforrule,

owreblatetoseek,owreproudtosnool,

lethimdrawnear;

andowrethisgrassyheapsingdool,

anddrapatear.

isthereabardofrusticsong,

who,noteless,stealsthecrowdsamong,

thatweeklythisareathrong,

o,passnotby!

but,withafrater-feelingstrong,

here,heaveasigh.

isthereaman,whosejudgmentclear

canothersteachthecoursetosteer,

yetruns,himself,life'smadcareer,

wildasthewave,

herepause—and,thro'thestartingtear,

surveythisgrave.

thepoorinhabitantbelow

wasquicktolearnthewisetoknow,

andkeenlyfeltthefriendlyglow,

andsofterflame;

butthoughtlessfollieslaidhimlow,

andstain'dhisname!

reader,attend!whetherthysoul

soarsfancy'sflightsbeyondthepole,

ordarklinggrubsthisearthlyhole,

inlowpursuit:

know,prudent,cautious,self-control

iswisdom'sroot.

epitaphforrobertaiken,esq.

knowthou,ostrangertothefame

ofthismuchlov'd,muchhonouredname!

(fornonethatknewhimneedbetold)

awarmerheartdeathne'ermadecold.

epitaphforgavinhamilton,esq.

thepoormanweeps—heregavinsleeps,

whomcantingwretchesblam'd;

butwithsuchashe,where'erhebe,

mayibesav'dordamn'd!