Epitaph on Robert Muir
written in 1784
death
faith
somber
What man could esteem, or what woman could love, Was he who lies under this sod: If such Thou refuses admission above, Then whom wilt Thou favour, Good God?
Epitaph on Robert Muir - fact Summary
Epitaph for Robert Muir
This four-line epitaph, written by Robert Burns in 1784 for his friend Robert Muir, functions as a brisk, ironic memorial. Addressed to God, it praises the deceased in a tongue-in-cheek way—suggesting that if this man is denied heaven, very few would be admitted. The poem compresses character sketch and theological challenge into a tight, conversational tone appropriate to tombstone verse, using the epitaph form to mix personal affection with sharp, rhetorical wit.
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