Fortune! if thou'll but gie me still
Hale breeks, a bannock, and a gill, [Whole breeches, oatmeal cake]
An' rowth o' rhyme to rave at will, [plenty]
Tak' a' the rest,
An' deal'd about as thy blind skill
Directs thee best.
[25] Forbes of Culloden was given in 1690 liberty to distil grain at
Ferintosh without excise. When this privilege was withdrawn in 1785,
the price of whisky rose--hence Burns's lament.
TO A HAGGIS
Fair fa' your honest sonsie face, [jolly]
Great chieftain o' the puddin'-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place, [Above]
Painch, tripe, or thairm: [Paunch, guts]
Weel are ye wordy o' a grace [worthy]
As lang's my arm.
The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill; [buttocks]
Your pin wad help to mend a mill [skewer]
In time o' need;
While thro' your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.
His knife see rustic Labour dight, [wipe]
An' cut you up wi' ready sleight, [skill]
Trenching your gushing entrails bright
Like ony ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin', rich! [-smoking]
Then, horn for horn they stretch an' strive, [spoon]
Deil tak the hindmost! on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve [well-swelled bellies soon]
Are bent like drums;
Then auld guidman, maist like to rive, [burst]
'Be-thankit!' hums.
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