THE HAGGIS
69
The guests await, the Grace is said,
Then the proud host outdraws his blade:
"A British bayonet's jag is
The best for Hun or Haggis!
Wi' that he straightway falls on it
And gi'es the Haggis sic a slit;
The whereupon, entrancing sight,
The hidden glories come to light—
"Advance, attack, each valiant wight,
And make good play wi' fork and spoon,
The Devil take the hindmost done—
The first to fail or flag is
No' worthy o' a Haggis!"
Then the proud host outdraws his blade:
"A British bayonet's jag is
The best for Hun or Haggis!
Wi' that he straightway falls on it
And gi'es the Haggis sic a slit;
The whereupon, entrancing sight,
The hidden glories come to light—
"Advance, attack, each valiant wight,
And make good play wi' fork and spoon,
The Devil take the hindmost done—
The first to fail or flag is
No' worthy o' a Haggis!"
No need to force a Scotsman go
To find a friend or fight a foe,
And swiftly at that given word
They fall on it wi' one accord,
Wi' spoon and gully-knife and fork
They make the shortest o' short work—
There's ne'er been sic a stabbin'
Since our boys took the Schwaben!
They hack and hew that Haggis
Till a' that's left a rag is!
To find a friend or fight a foe,
And swiftly at that given word
They fall on it wi' one accord,
Wi' spoon and gully-knife and fork
They make the shortest o' short work—
There's ne'er been sic a stabbin'
Since our boys took the Schwaben!
They hack and hew that Haggis
Till a' that's left a rag is!
