| 1. |
| Is there for honest poverty |
| That hings his
head, an’ a’ that ? |
| The coward slave, we pass him by— |
| We dare be poor
for a’ that! |
| For a’ that, an’ a’ that, |
| Our toils obscure,
an’ a’ that, |
| The rank is but the guinea’s stamp, |
The man’s the gowd
for a’ that.
|
| 2. |
| What though on hamely fare we dine, |
| Wear hoddin grey,
an’ a’ that ? |
| Gie fools their silks, and knaves their
wine— |
| A man’s a man for
a’ that. |
| For a’ that, an’ a’ that, |
| Their tinsel show,
an’ a’ that, |
| The honest man, tho’ e’er sae poor, |
Is king o’ men for
a’ that.
|
| 3. |
| Ye see yon birkie ca’d ‘a lord,’ |
| Wha struts, an’
states, an’ a’ that ? |
| Tho’ hundreds worship at this word, |
| He’s but a cuif
for a’ that. |
| For a’ that, an’ a’ that, |
| His ribband, star,
an’ a’ that, |
| The man o’ independent mind, |
He looks an’
laughs at a’ that
|
| 4. |
| A prince can mak a belted knight, |
| A marquis, duke,
an’ a’ that! |
| But an honest man’s aboon his might— |
| Guid faith, he
mauna fa’ that! |
| For a’ that, an’ a’ that, |
| Their dignities,
an’ a’ that, |
| The pith o’ sense an’ pride o’ worth |
Are higher rank
than a’ that.
|
| 5. |
| Then let us pray that come it may |
| (As come it will
for a’ that) |
| That Sense and Worth o’er ‘ a’ the earth |
| Shall bear the
gree an’ a’ that! |
| For a’ that, an’ a’ that, |
| It’s comin yet for
a’ that, |
| That man to man the world o’er |
Shall brithers be
for a’ that.
|
| Robert Burns
| Classic Poems |
| |
|
[ A Red, Red Rose ] [ To a Mountain Daisy ] [ Address to a Haggis ] [ Address to Edinburgh ] [ Auld Lang Syne ] [ Is there for Honest Poverty ] [ Address to the Unco Guid ] [ The Cotter's Saturday Night ] [ To a Louse ] [ My Heart's in the Highlands ] [ Holy Willie's Prayer ] [ Tam O'Shanter ] [ To a Mouse ] |
