tamsamson'selegy anhonestman'sthenoblestworkofgod—pope. whenthisworthyoldsportmanwentout,lastmuirfowlseason,hesupposeditwastobe,inossian'sphrase,“thelastofhisfields,”andexpressedanardentwishtodieandbeburiedinthemuirs.onthishinttheauthorcomposedhiselegyandepitaph.—r.b.,1787. hasauldkilmarnockseenthedeil? orgreatmackinlaythrawnhisheel? orrobertsonagaingrownweel, topreachan'read? “na'waurthana'!”criesilkachiel, “tamsamson'sdead!” kilmarnocklangmaygruntan'grane, an'sigh,an'sab,an'greetherlane, an'cleedherbairns,man,wife,an'wean, inmourningweed todeathshe'sdearlypay'dthekane— tamsamson'sdead! thebrethren,o'themysticlevel mayhingtheirheadinwoefu'bevel, whilebytheirnosethetearswillrevel, likeonybead death'sgienthelodgeanuncodevel tamsamson'sdead! whenwintermufflesuphiscloak, andbindsthemirelikearock whentotheloughsthecurlersflock, wi'gleesomespeed, whawilheystationatthecock? tamsamson'sdead! whenwintermufflesuphiscloak, hewasthekingo'a'thecore, toguard,ordraw,orwickabore, oruptherinklikejehuroar, intimeo'need butnowhelagsondeath'shog-score— tamsamson'sdead! nowsafethestatelysawmontsail, andtroutsbedropp'dwi'crimsonhail, andeels,weel-ken'dforsoupletail, andgedsforgreed, since,darkindeath'sfish-creel,wewail tamsamson'sdead! rejoice,yebirringpaitricksa' yecootiemuircocks,crouselycraw yemaukins,cockyourfudfu'braw withoutendread yourmortalfaeisnowawa tamsamson'sdead! thatwoefu'mornbeevermourn'd, sawhiminshootinggraithadorn'd, whilepointersroundimpatientburn'd, fraecouplesfree'd butoch!hegaedandne'erreturn'd! tamsamson'sdead! invainauldagehisbodybatters, invainthegouthisanclesfetters, invaintheburnscamdownlikewaters, anacrebraid! nowev'ryauldwife,greetin,clatters “tamsamson'sdead!” owremonyawearyhaghelimpit, an'ayethetithershothethumpit, tillcowarddeathbehindhimjumpit, wi'deadlyfeid nowheproclaimswi'touto'trumpet, “tamsamson'sdead!” whenathishearthefethedagger, hereel'dhiswontedbottle-swagger, butyethedrewthemortarigger, wi'weel-aimedheed “lord,five!”hecry'd,an'owredidstagger— tamsamson'sdead! ilkhoaryhuntermourn'dabrither ilksportsmanyouthbemoan'dafather yonauldgraystane,amangtheheather, marksouthishead whareburnshaswrote,inrhymingblether, “tamsamson'sdead!” there,lowhelies,inlastingrest perhapsuponhismould'ringbreast somespitefu'muirfowlbigshernest tohatchan'breed: alas!naemairhe'lhemmolest! tamsamson'sdead! whenaugustwindstheheatherwave, andsportsmenwanderbyyongrave, threevolleyslethismemorycrave, o'poutheran'lead, tillechoanswerfraehercave, “tamsamson'sdead!” heav'nresthissaulwhare'erhebe! isth'wisho'monymaethanme: hehadtwafauts,ormaybethree, yetwhatremead? aesocial,honestmanwantwe: tamsamson'sdead!