Epitaph on My Father
O Ye who sympathize with virtue’s pains
Draw near with pious rev’rence and attend,
Here lye the loving husband’s dear remains,
The tender Father and the gen’rous friend
The pitying heart that felt for human woe,
The dauntless heart that fear’d no human pride,
The friend of man, to vice alone a foe,
“For even his failings lean’d to Virtue’s side
__________________________
The last line from Goldsmith’s Deserted Village
O Ye who sympathize with virtue’s pains
Draw near with pious rev’rence and attend,
Here lye the loving husband’s dear remains,
The tender Father and the gen’rous friend
The pitying heart that felt for human woe,
The dauntless heart that fear’d no human pride,
The friend of man, to vice alone a foe,
“For even his failings lean’d to Virtue’s side
__________________________
The last line from Goldsmith’s Deserted Village
Key details
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/02/03
- Alt. number
- 3.6001
- Date
- February 1784
- On display
- Yes
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- Burns, Robert
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/02/03
- Alt. number
- 3.6001
- Date
- February 1784
- On display
- Yes
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- Burns, Robert
Description
Manuscript for Epitaph on My Father 2 four-line verses.
William Burnes died at Lochlea Farm, Tarbolton in 1784. Robert and his family brought his father's remains to Alloway kirkyard for burial. The headstone of his grave has this epitaph carved into it.
In the poem Burns draws attention to his father as a loving husband, tender parent and generous friend. He reflects on his humanity and virtuous habits.
The epitaph was included along with a number of other epitaphs in the Kilmarnock edition of his poems. This manuscript is probably an early draft as the first line here is not the same as the published version. Here the first line is, 'O ye who sympathise with Virtue's pains' rather than the published line 'O ye whose cheek the tear of pity stains'.
The epitaph was included along with a number of other epitaphs in the Kilmarnock edition of his poems. This manuscript is probably an early draft as the first line here is not the same as the published version. Here the first line is, 'O ye who sympathise with Virtue's pains' rather than the published line 'O ye whose cheek the tear of pity stains'.
Archive information
Themes
Hierarchy
-
Robert Burns, collection of poems and songs
(
a sub-fonds is a subdivision in the archival material)