The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. / With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham, Volume 2 Papyras Classics

← The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. / With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham, Volume 2

Chapter 23

XXV. On Elphinston’s Translations. Of Martial’s Epigrams

[Burns thus relates the origin of this sally:—“Stopping at a merchant’s shop in Edinburgh, a friend of mine one day put Elphinston’s Translation of Martial into my hand, and desired my opinion of it. I asked permission to write my opinion on a blank leaf of the book; which being granted, I wrote this epigram.”]

O thou, whom poesy abhors,
Whom prose has turned out of doors,
Heard’st thou that groan? proceed no further;
’Twas laurell’d Martial roaring murther!