Poem by Robert Burns

An Excellent New Song. Fourth Ballad (May 1796)

Wha will buy my troggin,
  	Fine election ware;
Broken trade o’ Broughton,
  	A’ in high repair?

    		Buy braw troggin,
      			Frae the banks o’ Dee;
    		Wha wants troggin
      			Let him come to me.

There’s a noble Earl’s
  	Fame and high renown
For an auld sang –
  	It’s thought the gudes were stown.

Here’s the worth o’ Broughton
 	In a needle’s ee;
Here’s a reputation
  	Tint by Balmaghie.

Here’s an honest conscience
  	Might a price adorn;
Frae the downs o’ Tinwald,
  	So was never worn.

Here’s its stuff and lining,
  	Cardoness’s head;
Fine for a sodger
  	A’ the wale o’ lead.

Here’s a little wadset,
  	Buittle’s scrap o’ truth,
Pawn’d in a gin-shop
  	Quenching holy drouth.

Here’s armorial bearings
  	Frae the manse o’ Urr;
The crest, a sour crab-apple
  	Rotten at the core.

Here is Satan’s picture,
  	Like a bizzard gled,
Pouncing poor Redcastle
  	Sprawlin’ like a taed.

Here’s the worth and wisdom
  	Collieston can boast;
By a thievish midge
  	They had been nearly lost.

Here is Murray’s fragments
  	O’ the ten commands;
Gifted by black Jock
  	To get them aff his hands.

Saw ye e’er sic troggin?
  	If to buy ye’re slack,
Hornie’s turnin’ chapman, –
  	He’ll buy a’ the pack.

1. Here’s His Health in Water!
2. Theniel Menzies’ Bonnie Mary
3. To the Same
4. Lines Written under the Picture of Miss Burns
5. My Chloris

Print

4206 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version