Epigram on Captain Francis Grose, the Celebrated Antiquary
written in 1790
Epigram on Captain Francis Grose, the Celebrated Antiquary - meaning Summary
Wry Mockery of Mortality
This brief epigram presents a comic, satirical scene in which Satan arrives to claim Captain Francis Grose’s soul but recoils at the sight of groaning bed-posts around the dying man. The poem turns the supernatural into a punchline: Grose’s life is implied to have left such a messy, bawdy aftermath that even the devil refuses the burden. Burns compresses social mockery and dark humor into a few lines, exposing reputation, bodily excess, and mortality through a single, grotesque image.
Read Complete AnalysesThe devil got notice that Grose was a-dying, So whip! at the summons, old Satan came flying; But when he approach'd where poor Francis lay moaning, And saw each bed-post with its burden a-groaning, Astonished! Confounded! cry'd Satan, by God, I'll want 'im, ere I take such a damnable load.
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