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. I Gaed a Waefu' Gate Yestreen
2. Blythe Was She
3. Gala Water
4. Stay My Charmer
5. The Flowery Banks of Cree

Print

2955 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version