Love
The Mair That Ye Work, Aye the Mair Will Ye Win
From The Modern Scottish Minstrel, vol. 5 (1855–57)
Be eident, be eident, fleet time rushes on,
Be eident, be eident, bricht day will be gone;
To stand idle by is a profitless sin:
The mair that ye work, aye the mair will ye win.
The earth gathers fragrance while nursing the flower,
The wave waxes stronger while feeding the shower,
The stream gains in speed as it sweeps o'er the linn:
The mair that ye work, aye the mair will ye win.
There 's nought got by idling, there 's nought got for nought,
Health, wealth, and contentment, by labour are bought;
In raising yoursel', ye may help up your kin:
The mair that ye work, aye the mair will ye win.
Let every man aim in his heart to excel,
Let every man ettle to fend for himsel';
Aye nourish ye stern independence within:
The mair that ye work, aye the mair will ye win.
Cite this poem
MLA
Ballantine, James. “The Mair That Ye Work, Aye the Mair Will Ye Win.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/ballantine/10/.
Chicago
Ballantine, James. “The Mair That Ye Work, Aye the Mair Will Ye Win.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/ballantine/10/.
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