University of Virginia Library

previous section The Poetry of Robert Burns
next section
201

BALLAD FOURTH: THE TROGGER

[_]

Tune: Buy Broom Besoms

Chorus

Buy braw troggin
Frae the banks o' Dee!
Wha wants troggin
Let him come to me!

I

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

II

There's a noble Earl's
Fame and high renown,
For an auld sang—it's thought
The guids were stown.

III

Here's the worth o' Broughton
In a needle's e'e.
Here's a reputation
Tint by Balmaghie.
202

IV

Here's its stuff and lining,
Cardoness's head—
Fine for a soger,
A' the wale o' lead.

V

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

VI

Here's an honest conscience
Might a prince adorn,
Frae the downs o' Tinwald—
So was never worn!

VII

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

VIII

Here is Satan's picture,
Like a bizzard gled
Pouncing poor Redcastle,
Sprawlin like a taed.
203

IX

Here's the font where Douglas
Stane and mortar names,
Lately used at Caily
Christening Murray's crimes.

X

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

XI

Here is Murray's fragments
O' the Ten Commands,
Gifted by Black Jock
To get them aff his hands.

XII

Saw ye e'er sic troggin?—
If to buy ye're slack,
Hornie's turnin chapman:
He'll buy a' the pack!

Chorus

Buy braw troggin
Frae the banks o' Dee!
Wha wants troggin
Let him come to me!
previous section The Poetry of Robert Burns
next section