Beginners
Experts
Burns Supper
Top Features
Discussion Forum
Newsletter
Poems & Songs
The Letters
Federation
E- Membership
Schools
Contributions
Links
Search the Site
Scottish History
The Burns Shop

Translation
Index

Ballad Fourth: The Trogger.
TUNE: Buy broom besoms (impudent woman)

 

 

Burns Original

Standard English Translation

Ballad Fourth: The Trogger.

Chorus
Buy braw troggin
Frae the banks o' Dee!
Wha wants troggin
Let him come to me!
1.
Wha will buy my troggin,
Fine election ware,
Broken trade o' Broughton,
A' in high repair?
2.
There's a noble Earl's
Fame and high renown,
For an auld sang - it's thought
The guids were stown.
3.
Here's the worth o' Broughton
In a needle's e'e.
Here's a reputation
Tint by Balmaghie.
4.
Here's its stuff and lining,
Cardoness's head -
Fine for a soger,
A' the wale o' lead.
5.
Here's a little wadset -
Buittle's scrap o' truth,
Pawn'd in a gin-shop,
Quenching holy drouth.
6.
Here's an honest conscience
Might a prince adorn,
Frae the downs o' Tinwald -
So was never worn!
7.
Here's armorial bearings
Frae the manse o' Urr:
The crest, a sour crab-apple
Rotten at the core.
8.
Here is Satan's picture,
Like a bizzard gled
Pouncing poor Redcastle,
Sprawlin like a taed.
9.
Here's the font where Douglas
Stane and mortar names,
Lately used at Caily
Christening Murry's crimes.
10.
Here's the worth and wisdom
Collieston can boast:
By a thievish midge
They had been nearly lost.
11.
Here is Murry's fragments
O' the Ten Commands,
Gifted by Black Jock
To get them aff his hands.
12.
Saw ye e'er sic troggin? -
If to buy ye're slack,
Hornie's turnin chapman:
He'll buy a' the pack!

Ballad Fourth: The Packman.

Chorus
Buy fine wares
From the banks of (the river) Dee!
Who wants fine ware
Let him come to me!

Who will buy my wares,
Fine election ware,
Broken trade of Broughton,
All in high repair?

There is a noble Earl's
Fame and high renown,
For an old song - it is thought
The goods were stolen.

Here is the worth of Broughton
In a needle's eye.
Here is a reputation
Lost by Balmaghie.

Here is its stuff and lining,
Cardoness's head -
Fine for a soldier,
All the pick of lead.

Here is a little pledge -
Buittle's scrap of truth,
Pawned in a gin-shop,
Quenching holy thirst.

Here is an honest conscience
Might a prince adorn,
From the downs of Tinwald (Bushby's residence) -
So was never worn!

Here is armorial bearings
From the manse of Urr:
The crest, a sour crab-apple
Rotten at the core.

Here is Satan's picture,
Like a buzzard hawk
Pouncing poor Redcastle,
Sprawling like a toad.

Here is the font where Douglas
Stone and mortar names,
Lately used at Caily
Christening Murry's crimes.

Here is the worth and wisdom
Collieston can boast:
By a thievish midge
They had been nearly lost.

Here is Murry's fragments
Of the Ten Commandments,
Gifted by Black Jock (Bushby)
To get them off his hands.

Saw you ever such fine wares? -
If to buy you are slack,
TheDevil is turning pedlar:
He will buy all the pack!

 

© 2004 WBC. Under no circumstances can any  of the contents of this site be copied, reproduced,  or represented without prior written consent.