The Complete Works - Robert Burns

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Mary’s Isle can shaw that;

      Wi’ dukes and lords let Selkirk mix,

      And weel does Selkirk fa’ that.

      For a’ that, and a’ that,

      Here’s Heron yet for a’ that!

      The independent commoner

      Shall be the man for a’ that.

      IV.

      But why should we to nobles jouk,

      And it’s against the law that;

      For why, a lord may be a gouk,

      Wi’ ribbon, star, an’ a’ that.

      For a’ that, an’ a’ that,

      Here’s Heron yet for a’ that!

      A lord may be a lousy loun,

      Wi’ ribbon, star, an’ a’ that.

      V.

      A beardless boy comes o’er the hills,

      Wi’ uncle’s purse an’ a’ that;

      But we’ll hae ane frae ‘mang oursels,

      A man we ken, an’ a’ that.

      For a’ that, an’ a’ that,

      Here’s Heron yet for a’ that!

      For we’re not to be bought an’ sold

      Like naigs, an’ nowt, an’ a’ that.

      VI.

      Then let us drink the Stewartry,

      Kerroughtree’s laird, an’ a’ that,

      Our representative to be,

      For weel he’s worthy a’ that.

      For a’ that, an’ a’ that,

      Here’s Heron yet for a’ that,

      A House of Commons such as he,

      They would be blest that saw that.

      CXLIX. THE HERON BALLADS

      [BALLAD SECOND]

      [In this ballad the poet gathers together, after the manner of “Fy! let us a’ to the bridal,” all the leading electors of the Stewartry, who befriended Heron, or opposed him; and draws their portraits in the colours of light or darkness, according to the complexion of their politics. He is too severe in most instances, and in some he is venomous. On the Earl of Galloway’s family, and on the Murrays of Broughton and Caillie, as well as on Bushby of Tinwaldowns, he pours his hottest satire. But words which are unjust, or undeserved, fall off their victims like rain-drops from a wild-duck’s wing. The Murrays of Broughton and Caillie have long borne, from the vulgar, the stigma of treachery to the cause of Prince Charles Stewart: from such infamy the family is wholly free: the traitor, Murray, was of a race now extinct; and while he was betraying the cause in which so much noble and gallant blood was shed, Murray of Broughton and Caillie was performing the duties of an honourable and loyal man: he was, like his great-grandson now, representing his native district in parliament.]

      THE ELECTION

      I.

      Fy, let us a’ to Kirkcudbright,

      For there will be bickerin’ there;

      For Murray’s[114] light horse are to muster,

      And O, how the heroes will swear!

      An’ there will be Murray commander,

      And Gordon[115] the battle to win;

      Like brothers they’ll stand by each other,

      Sae knit in alliance an’ kin.

      II.

      An’ there will be black-lippit Johnnie,[116]

      The tongue o’ the trump to them a’;

      And he get na hell for his haddin’

      The deil gets na justice ava’;

      And there will Kempleton’s birkie,

      A boy no sae black at the bane,

      But, as for his fine nabob fortune,

      We’ll e’en let the subject alane.

      III.

      An’ there will be Wigton’s new sheriff,

      Dame Justice fu’ brawlie has sped,

      She’s gotten the heart of a Bushby,

      But, Lord, what’s become o’ the head?

      An’ there will be Cardoness,[117] Esquire,

      Sae mighty in Cardoness’ eyes;

      A wight that will weather damnation,

      For the devil the prey will despise.

      IV.

      An’ there will be Douglasses[118] doughty,

      New christ’ning towns far and near;

      Abjuring their democrat doings,

      By kissing the – o’ a peer;

      An’ there will be Kenmure[119] sae gen’rous,

      Whose honour is proof to the storm,

      To save them from stark reprobation,

      He lent them his name to the firm.

      V.

      But we winna mention Redcastle,[120]

      The body, e’en let him escape!

      He’d venture the gallows for siller,

      An’ ’twere na the cost o’ the rape.

      An’ where is our king’s lord lieutenant,

      Sae fam’d for his gratefu’ return?

      The billie is gettin’ his questions,

      To say in St. Stephen’s the morn.

      VI.

      An’ there will be lads o’ the gospel,

      Muirhead,[121] wha’s as gude as he’s true;

      An’ there will be Buittle’s[122] apostle,

      Wha’s more o’ the black than the blue;

      An’ there will be folk from St. Mary’s,[123]

      A house o’ great merit and note,

      The deil ane but honours them highly,—

      The deil ane will gie them his vote!

      VII.

      An’ there will be wealthy young Richard,[124]

      Dame Fortune should hing by the neck;

      For prodigal, thriftless, bestowing,

      His merit had won him respect:

      An’ there will be rich brother nabobs,

      Tho’ nabobs, yet men of the first,

      An’ there will be Collieston’s[125] whiskers,

      An’ Quintin, o’ lads not the worst.

      VIII.

      An’ there will be stamp-office Johnnie,[126]

      Tak’ tent how ye purchase a dram;

      An’

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<p>114</p>

Murray, of Broughton and Caillie.

<p>115</p>

Gordon of Balmaghie.

<p>116</p>

Bushby, of Tinwald-Downs.

<p>117</p>

Maxwell, of Cardoness.

<p>118</p>

The Douglasses, of Orchardtown and Castle-Douglas.

<p>119</p>

Gordon, afterwards Viscount Kenmore.

<p>120</p>

Laurie, of Redcastle.

<p>121</p>

Morehead, Minister of Urr.

<p>122</p>

The Minister of Buittle.

<p>123</p>

Earl of Selkirk’s family.

<p>124</p>

Oswald, of Auchuncruive.

<p>125</p>

Copland, of Collieston and Blackwood.

<p>126</p>

John Syme, of the Stamp-office.