Tho' right be aft put down by strength, <br />As mony a day we saw that, <br />The true and leilfu' cause at length <br />Shall bear the grie for a' that. <br />For a' that an a' that, <br />Guns, guillotines, and a' that, <br />The Fleur-de-lis, that lost her right, <br />Is queen again for a' that! <br /> <br />We'll twine her in a friendly knot <br />With England's rose and a' that, <br />The Shamrock shall not be forgot, <br />For Wellington made bra' that. <br />The Thistle, tho' her leaf be rude, <br />Yet faith we'll no misca' that, <br />She sheltered in her solitude <br />The Fleur-de-lis, for a' that! <br /> <br />The Austrian Vine, the Prussian pine. <br />(For Blucher's sake, hurra that,) <br />The Spanish olive too shall join, <br />And bloom in peace for a' that. <br />Stout Russia's hemp, so surely twin'd <br />Around our wreath we'll draw that, <br />And he that would the cord unbind, <br />Shall have it for his gra-vat! <br /> <br />Or if to chock sae puir a sot, <br />Your pity scorn to thraw that, <br />The Devil's Elbo' be his lot, <br />Where he may sit and claw that. <br />In spite of slight, in spite of might <br />In spite of brags and a' that, <br />The lads that battled for the right, <br />Have won the day, and a' that! <br /> <br />There's ae bit spot I had forgot, <br />They ca'd America that! <br />A coward plot her rats had got <br />Their father's flag to gnaw that; <br />Now see it fly top-gallant high, <br />Atlantic winds shall blaw that, <br />And Yankee loun, beware your croun, <br />There's kames in hand to claw that! <br /> <br />For on the land, or on the sea, <br />Where'er the breezes blaw that, <br />The British flag shall bear the grie, <br />And win the day for a' that!<br /><br />Sir Walter Scott<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/for-a-that-and-a-that-2/
