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| IS there for honest poverty | |
| Wha hangs his head, and a’ that? | |
| The coward slave, we pass him by; | |
| We dare be poor for a’ that. | |
| For a’ that, and a’ that, | 5 |
| Our toils obscure, and a’ that; | |
| The rank is but the guinea’s stamp,— | |
| The man ’s the gowd for a’ that. | |
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| What though on hamely fare we dine, | |
| Wear hoddin gray, and a’ that? | 10 |
| Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine,— | |
| A man ’s a man for a’ that. | |
| For a’ that, and a’ that, | |
| Their tinsel show, and a’ that; | |
| The honest man, though e’er sae poor, | 15 |
| Is king o’ men for a’ that. | |
| |
| Ye see yon birkie ca’d a lord, | |
| Wha struts, and stares, and a’ that,— | |
| Though hundreds worship at his word, | |
| He ’s but a coof for a’ that; | 20 |
| For a’ that, and a’ that, | |
| His riband, star, and a’ that; | |
| The man of independent mind, | |
| He looks and laughs at a’ that. | |
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| A king can mak a belted knight, | 25 |
| A marquis, duke, and a’ that; | |
| But an honest man ’s aboon his might,— | |
| Guid faith, he maunna fa’ that! | |
| For a’ that, and a’ that; | |
| Their dignities, and a’ that, | 30 |
| The pith o’ sense, and pride o’ worth, | |
| Are higher ranks than a’ that. | |
| |
| Then let us pray that come it may,— | |
| As come it will for a’ that,— | |
| That sense and worth, o’er a’ the earth, | 35 |
| May bear the gree, and a’ that. | |
| For a’ that, and a’ that, | |
| It ’s coming yet, for a’ that,— | |
| When man to man, the warld o’er, | |
| Shall brothers be for a’ that! | 40 |
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