---
title: "The Epitaph"
author: "Robert Burns"
form: "Poem"
year: "1790"
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/the-epitaph-2/"
---

# The Epitaph

## Poem
Stop, passenger! my story’s brief,  
And truth I shall relate, man;  
I tell nae common tale o’ grief,  
For Matthew was a great man.

If thou uncommon merit hast,  
Yet spurn’d at Fortune’s door, man;  
A look of pity hither cast,  
For Matthew was a poor man.

If thou a noble sodger art,  
That passest by this grave, man;  
There moulders here a gallant heart,  
For Matthew was a brave man.

If thou on men, their works and ways,  
Canst throw uncommon light, man;  
Here lies wha weel had won thy praise,  
For Matthew was a bright man.

If thou, at Friendship’s sacred ca’,  
Wad life itself resign, man:  
Thy sympathetic tear maun fa’,  
For Matthew was a kind man.

If thou art staunch, without a stain,  
Like the unchanging blue, man;  
This was a kinsman o’ thy ain,  
For Matthew was a true man.

If thou hast wit, and fun, and fire,  
And ne’er guid wine did fear, man;  
This was thy billie, dam, and sire,  
For Matthew was a queer man.

If ony whiggish, whingin’ sot,  
To blame poor Matthew dare, man;  
May dool and sorrow be his lot,  
For Matthew was a rare man.

But now, his radiant course is run,  
For Matthew’s was a bright one!  
His soul was like the glorious sun,  
A matchless, Heavenly light, man.

---

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/the-epitaph-2/