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The Works of Lord Byron (ed. Coleridge, Prothero)/Poetry/Volume 7/Epitaph on John Adams, of Southwell

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EPITAPH ON JOHN ADAMS, OF SOUTHWELL,

A CARRIER, WHO DIED OF DRUNKENNESS.

John Adams lies here, of the parish of Southwell,
A Carrier who carried his can to his mouth well;
He carried so much and he carried so fast,
He could carry no more—so was carried at last;
For the liquor he drank being too much for one,
He could not carry off;—so he's now carri-on.

September, 1807.
[First published, Letters and Journals, 1830, i. 106.]