The Humourous Poetry of the English Language

566
O death, how horrid is thy taste,
To lie with such a b----!
ON A WAG IN MAUCHLINE.
Lament him, Mauchline husbands a',
He aften did assist ye;
For had ye stayed whole years awa,
Your wives they ne'er had missed ye.
Ye Mauchline bairns, as on ye pass
To school in bands thegither,
O tread ye lightly on his grass--
Perhaps he was your father.
EPITAPH ON W---.
Stop, thief! dame Nature cried to Death,
As Willie drew his latest breath;
You have my choicest model ta'en;
How shall I make a fool again?
ON A SUICIDE.
Earth'd up here lies an imp o' hell,
Planted by Satan's dibble--
Poor silly wretch, he's damn'd himsel'
To save the Lord the trouble.
EPIGRAMS FROM THE GERMAN OF LESSING.
NIGER.
"He's gone at last--old Niger's dead!"
Last night 'twas said throughout the city;
Each quidnunc gravely shook his head,