---
title: "Epigram on Francis Grose the Antiquary"
author: "Robert Burns"
form: "Poem"
year: "1789"
location: "Ellisland"
source: "Project Gutenberg #1279 — Poems and Songs of Robert Burns"
source_url: "https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1279/pg1279.txt"
canonical_url: "https://robert-burns.com/poems/epigram-on-francis-grose-the-antiquary/"
---

# Epigram on Francis Grose the Antiquary

## Poem
The Devil got notice that Grose was a-dying  
So whip! at the summons, old Satan came flying;  
But when he approached where poor Francis lay moaning,  
And saw each bed-post with its burthen a-groaning,  
Astonish’d, confounded, cries Satan—“By God,  
I’ll want him, ere I take such a damnable load!”

---

Source: [Project Gutenberg #1279 — Poems and Songs of Robert Burns](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1279/pg1279.txt)  
Canonical HTML: https://robert-burns.com/poems/epigram-on-francis-grose-the-antiquary/