The Heron Ballads (Poem by Robert Burns)

The Heron Ballads

Ballad Third

By Robert Burns

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 [1]

    Fame and high renown

For an auld sang — 

    It’s thought the gudes were stown.

            Buy braw troggin, &c.

Here’s the worth o’ Broughton [2]

    In a needle’s ee;

Here’s a reputation

    Tint by Balmaghie.

            Buy braw troggin, &c.

Here’s an honest conscience

    Might a prince adorn;

Frae the downs o’ Tinwald — [3]

    So was never worn.

            Buy braw troggin, &c.

Here’s its stuff and lining,

    Cardoness’ [4] head;

Fine for a sodger

    A’ the wale o’ lead.

            Buy braw troggin, &c.

Here’s a little wadset

    Buittle’s [5] scrap o’ truth,

Pawn’d in a gin-shop

    Quenching holy drouth.

            Buy braw troggin, &c.

Here’s armorial bearings

    Frae the manse o’ Urr; [6]

The crest, an auld crab-apple

    Rotten at the core.

            Buy braw troggin, &c.

Here is Satan’s picture,

    Like a bizzard gled,

Pouncing poor Redcastle, [7]

    Sprawlin’ as a taed.

            Buy braw troggin, &c.

Here’s the worth and wisdom

    Collieston [8] can boast;

By a thievish midge

    They had been nearly lost.

            Buy braw troggin, &c.

Here is Murray’s fragments

    O’ the ten commands;

Gifted by black Jock [9]

    To get them aff his hands.

            Buy braw troggin, &c.

Saw ye e’er sic troggin?

    If to buy ye’re slack,

Hornie’s turnin’ chapman,

    He’ll buy a’ the pack.

            Buy braw troggin,

                Frae the banks o’ Dee;

            Wha wants troggin

                Let him come to me.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] The Earl of Galloway.

[2] Murray, of Broughton and Caillie.

[3] Bushby, of Tinwald-downs.

[4] Maxwell, of Cardoness.

[5] The Minister of Buittle.

[6] Morehead, of Urr.

[7] Laurie, of Redcastle.

[8] Copland, of Collieston and Blackwood.

[9] John Bushby, of Tinwald-downs.