| |
| 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, | 5 |
| 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; | 10 |
| 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, | 15 |
| 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. | 20 |
| |
| 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, | 25 |
| 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; | 30 |
| 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, | 35 |
| A matchless, Heavenly light, man. | |
| |
