He was a care-defying blade,
As ever Bacchus listed!

Tho' fortune sair upon him laid,
His heart she ever miss'd it:
He had no wish but-to be glad,
Nor want but-when he thristed;
He hated nought but-to be sad,
An' thus the Muse suggested

His sang that night.

AIR.

Tune-FOR A' THAT, AN' A' THAT.

I.

I am a bard of no regard

Wi' gentle-folks, an' a' that;
But Homer-like, the glowran byke,
Frae town to town I draw that.

CHORUS.

For a' that an' a' that,

An' twice as muckle's a' that,
I've lost but ane, I've twa behin',
I've wife eneugh for a' that.

II.

I never drank the Muses' stank,
Castalia's burn an' a' that;

But there it streams, an' richly reams,

My Helicon I ca' that.

III.

For a' that, &c.

Great love I bear to all the Fair,
Their humble slave, an' a' that;

But lordly Will, I hold it still

A mortal sin to thraw that.

IV.

For a' that, &c.

In raptures sweet, this hour we meet,
Wi' mutual love an' a' that t;

But for how lang the flie may stang,

Let inclination law that.

For a' that, &c.

V.

Their tricks an' craft hae put me daft,

They've ta'en me in, an' a' that;

But clear your decks, an' here's the Sex! I like the jads for a' that.

For a' that an' a' that,

An' twice as muckle's a' that,
My dearest bluid, to do them guid,
They're welcome till't for a' that.

RECITATIVO.

So sung the Bard-and Nansie's waws
Shook with a thunder of applause
Re-echo'd from each mouth!

They toom'd their pocks, they pawn'd their duds, They scarcely left to coor their fuds,

To quench their lowan drouth.

Then owre again, the jovial thrang,
The poet did request,

To lowse his pack an' wale a sang,

A ballad o' the best:

He, rising, rejoicing,

Between his twa Deborahs,
Looks round him, an' found them*
Impatient for the chorus.

* Var.

Look'd round them, and found them.

AIR.

Tune-JOLLY MORTALS FILL YOUR GLASSES.

I.

See! the smoking bowl before us, Mark our jovial, ragged ring! Round and round take up the chorus, And in raptures let us sing

CHORUS.

A fig for those by law protected!
Liberty's a glorious feast!
Courts for cowards were erected,
Churches built to please the priest.

II.

What is title, what is treasure,
What is reputation's care?
If we lead a life of pleasure,
"Tis no matter how or where.

III.

A fig, &c.

With the ready trick and fable,

Round we wander all the day;

And at night, in barn or stable,
Hug our doxies on the hay.

IV.

A fig, &c.

Does the train-attended carriage
Thro' the country lighter rove?
Does the sober bed of marriage
Witness brighter scenes of love?

V.

Life is all a variorum,

We regard not how it goes; Let them cant about decorum

Who have character to lose,

VI.

A fig, &c.

A fig, &c.

Here's to budgets, bags, and wallets!
Here's to all the wandering train!
Here's our ragged brats and callets!
One and all cry out, Amen!

A fig for those by law protected,
Liberty's a glorious feast!
Courts for cowards were erected,
Churches built to please the priest!