Explore "Epitaph on John Rankine" by Robert Burns on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
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, / 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,
"By God I'll not be seen behint them, / Nor 'mang the sp'ritual core present them, / Without, at least, ae honest man, / To grace this damn'd infernal clan! " / By Adamhill a glance he threw, / "Lord God! " quoth he, "I have it now; / There's just the man I want, i' faith! " / And quickly stoppit Rankine's breath.