Page:Life of Robert Burns, the Ayrshire Bard.pdf/20

20 myself at the brink of the poet's grave. The earth was heaped up, the green sod laid over him, and the multitude stood gazing on the grave for some minutes' space, and then melted silently away."

A costly mausoleum has since been erected to the memory of the poet, on the highest point of ground in the church yard, and thither his remains were solemnly transferred on 5th June, 1815.

It can hardly be questioned, that many men have been more distinguished for propriety of conduct and purity of life, than the subject of the foregoing history; but in magnitude of intellect or benevolence of heart, few have surpassed him, and there is perhaps no writer, either of the past or present age, whose writings have been more frequently perused than those of the Ayrshire Bard. The most prominent feature in Burns' character, was his love of independence. Although he was a poor ploughboy, he had the courage to battle for the nobility of his nature, and when in the company of the worldly great, he felt himself their equal, if not their superior in many respects; and bore himself with a dignity of deportment that was astonishing. He perhaps paid too little deference to the opinions of the world,―he said