Robert Burns (1759–1796). Poems and Songs.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
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| 52. Epitaph on John Rankine |
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| AE day, as Death, that gruesome carl, | |
| Was driving to the tither warl’ | |
| A mixtie-maxtie motley squad, | |
| And mony a guilt-bespotted lad— | |
| Black gowns of each denomination, | 5 |
| And thieves of every rank and station, | |
| From him that wears the star and garter, | |
| To him that wintles in a halter: | |
| Ashamed himself to see the wretches, | |
| He mutters, glowrin at the bitches, | 10 |
| “By G—d I’ll not be seen behint them, | |
| Nor ’mang the sp’ritual core present them, | |
| Without, at least, ae honest man, | |
| To grace this d—d infernal clan!” | |
| By Adamhill a glance he threw, | 15 |
| “L—d G—d!” quoth he, “I have it now; | |
| There’s just the man I want, i’ faith!” | |
| And quickly stoppit Rankine’s breath. | |
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