she'll teach you, wi' a reekin whittle,

anither sang.

this while she's been in crankous mood,

her lost militia fir'd her bluid;

(deil na they never mair do guid,

play'd her that pliskie!)

an' now she's like to rin red-wud

about her whisky.

an' lord! if ance they pit her till't,

her tartan petticoat she'll kilt,

an'durk an' pistol at her belt,

she'll tak the streets,

an' rin her whittle to the hilt,

i' the first she meets!

for god sake, sirs! then speak her fair,

an' straik her cannie wi' the hair,

an' to the muckle house repair,

wi' instant speed,

an' strive, wi' a' your wit an' lear,

to get remead.

yon ill-tongu'd tinkler, charlie fox,

may taunt you wi' his jeers and mocks;

but gie him't het, my hearty cocks!

e'en cowe the cadie!

an' send him to his dicing box

an' sportin' lady.

tell you guid bluid o' auld boconnock's,

i'll be his debt twa mashlum bonnocks,

an' drink his health in auld nance tinnock's

nine times a-week,

if he some scheme, like tea an' winnocks,

was kindly seek.

could he somemutation broach,

i'll pledge my aith in guid braid scotch,

he needna fear their foul reproach

nor erudition,

yon mixtie-maxtie, queer hotch-potch,

the coalition.

auld scotland has a raucle tongue;

she's just a devil wi' a rung;

an' if she promise auld or young

to tak their part,

tho' by the neck she should be strung,

she'll no desert.

and now, ye chosen five-and-forty,

may still you mither's heart support ye;

then, tho'a minister grow dorty,

an' kick your place,

ye'll snap your gingers, poor an' hearty,

before his face.

god bless your honours, a' your days,

wi' sowps o' kail and brats o' claise,

in spite o' a' the thievish kaes,

that haunt st. jamie's!

your humble poet sings an' prays,

while rab his name is.

postscript

let half-starv'd slaves in warmer skies

see future wines, rich-clust'ring, rise;

their lot auld scotland ne're envies,

but, blythe and frisky,

she eyes her freeborn, martial boys

tak aff their whisky.

what tho' their phoebus kinder warms,

while fragrance blooms and beauty charms,

when wretches range, in famish'd swarms,

the scented groves;

or, hounded forth, dishonour arms

in hungry droves!

their gun's a burden on their shouther;

they downa bide the stink o' powther;

their bauldest thought's a hank'ring swither

to stan' or rin,

till skelp—a shot—they're aff, a'throw'ther,

to save their skin.

but bring a scotchman frae his hill,

clap in his cheek a highland gill,

say, such is royal george's will,

an' there's the foe!

he has nae thought but how to kill

twa at a blow.

nae cauld, faint-hearted doubtings tease him;

deathes, wi' fearless eye he sees him;

wi'bluidy hand a wee gies him;

an' when he fa's,

his latest draught o' breathin lea'es him

in faint huzzas.

sages their solemn een may steek,

an' raise a philosophic reek,

an' physically causes seek,

in clime an' season;

but tell me whisky's name in greek

i'll tell the reason.

scotland, my auld, respected mither!

tho' whiles ye moistify your leather,

till, whare ye sit on craps o' heather,

ye tine your dam;

freedom an' whisky gang thegither!

take aff your dram!