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FAIR fa' your honest sonsie1.
face, | |
Great chieftain o' the puddin' race! | |
Aboon them a' ye tak your place, | | Painch, tripe or thairm:2.
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Weel are ye worthy of a grace, | | As langs my arm. | |
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The groaning trencher there ye fill, | |
Your hurdies like a distant hill, | |
Your pin*. would help to mend a mill, | | In time o' need, | |
While through your pores the dews distil | | Like amber bead. | |
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His knife see rustic labour dight,3.
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And cut you up wi' ready slight. | |
Trenching your gushing entrails bright | | Like ony ditch ; | |
And then, oh what a glorious sight, | | Warm-reekin',4.
rich! | |
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Then, horn for horn they stretch and strive. | |
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive, | |
Till a' their weel-swalled kytes belyve.
| | Are bent like drums ; | |
Then auld guidmen, maist like to rive,5.
| | Bethankit hums. | |
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Is there that owere his French ragoût, | |
Or olio that wad staw a sow,6.
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Or fricasse wad mak her spew7.
| | Wi' perfect scunner,8.
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Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view | |
On sic a dinner? | |
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Poor devil! see him owere his trash, | |
As feckless9.
as a wither'd rash. | |
His spindle-shank a guid whip-lash | | His nieve10.
a nit: | |
Through bloody flood or field to dash, | | Oh, how unfit! | |
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But mark the rustic, haggis-fed, | |
The trembling earth resounds his tread, | |
Clap in his walie nieve a blade, | | He'll mak it whissle; | |
And legs, and arms, and heads will sned,11.
| | Like taps o' thrissle. | |
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Ye powers wha mak mankind your care, | |
And dish them out their bill o' fare. | |
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware,12. | | That jaups13. in luggies;14. | |
But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer. | | Gie her a haggis!
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1 Jolly.^ |
2 Small intestines.^ |
3 Wipe.^ | |
4 Smoking.^ |
5 Burst.^ |
6 Pig. ^ | |
7 Vomit.^ |
8 Loathing.^ |
9 Pithless.^ | |
10 Fist.^ |
11 Cut off.^ |
12 Thin stuff.^ |
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13 Splashes.^ |
14 Wooden dishes.^ |
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* A wooden skewer with which it is lifted out and in to the vessel in which it is cooked.^ | |
Bellies.^
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