To reckon a’ your wild harangues Frae platforms, trains, to gapin’ thrangs, About the countra’s woes and wrangs, A gruesome tale O’ Tory rule, the memory dangs An’ time wad fail. In short, ye kicked up sic a splore, Pourin’ out speeches by the score, An’ vendin’ rousin’ whids galore Through a’ the land, The countra’ bid ye tak the oar An’ try your hand. How stands the case? Ye’ve had your fling, Upset or bungled everything, Mair waste and shame contrived to bring Down on the land Than tongue can tell, or muse can sing Or understand. Despite your boasts about finance, An’ a’ your grand cheap wines frae France, The whisky duties, sad mischance, Hae laid ye low, An’ stopped ye in your reckless dance At ae fell blow. I’m wae to think upon your state, Headlang ye’ve rushed upon your fate, An’ tho’ advice I ken ye hate, Tak thought and mend, Consider, while it’s no owre late Your hinner end. “MIDLOTHIAN” in _Moonshine_, July 1885. ――――:o:―――― FOR A’ THAT AND A’ THAT. _A new Version, respectfully recommended to sundry whom it concerns._ More luck to honest poverty, It claims respect, and a’ that; But honest wealth’s a better thing, We dare be rich for a’ that. For a’ that, and a’ that, And spooney cant and a’ that, A man may have a ten-pun note, And be a brick for a’ that. What though on soup and fish we dine, Wear evening togs and a’ that, A man may like good meat and wine, Nor be a knave for a’ that. For a’ that, and a’ that, Their fustian talk and a’ that, A gentleman, however clean, May have a heart for a’ that. You see yon prater called a Beales, Who bawls and brays and a’ that, Tho’ hundreds cheer his blatant bosh, He’s but a goose for a’ that. For a’ that and a’ that, His Bubblyjocks, and a’ that, A man with twenty grains of sense, He look and laughs at a’ that. A prince can make a belted knight, A marquis, duke, and a’ that, And if the title’s earned, all right, Old England’s fond of a’ that. For a’ that, and a’ that, Beales’ balderdash, and a’ that, A name that tells of service done Is worth the wear, for a’ that.