Robert Burns - The Complete Works

I.
Fy, let us a’ to Kirkcudbright,
For there will be bickerin’ there;
For Murray’s [114] Murray, of Broughton and Caillie. light horse are to muster,
And O, how the heroes will swear!
An’ there will be Murray commander,
And Gordon [115] Gordon of Balmaghie. the battle to win;
Like brothers they’ll stand by each other,
Sae knit in alliance an’ kin.
II.
An’ there will be black-lippit Johnnie, [116] Bushby, of Tinwald-Downs.
The tongue o’ the trump to them a’;
And he get na hell for his haddin’
The deil gets na justice ava’;
And there will Kempleton’s birkie,
A boy no sae black at the bane,
But, as for his fine nabob fortune,
We’ll e’en let the subject alane.
III.
An’ there will be Wigton’s new sheriff,
Dame Justice fu’ brawlie has sped,
She’s gotten the heart of a Bushby,
But, Lord, what’s become o’ the head?
An’ there will be Cardoness, [117] Maxwell, of Cardoness. Esquire,
Sae mighty in Cardoness’ eyes;
A wight that will weather damnation,
For the devil the prey will despise.
IV.
An’ there will be Douglasses [118] The Douglasses, of Orchardtown and Castle-Douglas. doughty,
New christ’ning towns far and near;
Abjuring their democrat doings,
By kissing the – o’ a peer;
An’ there will be Kenmure [119] Gordon, afterwards Viscount Kenmore. sae gen’rous,
Whose honour is proof to the storm,
To save them from stark reprobation,
He lent them his name to the firm.
V.
But we winna mention Redcastle, [120] Laurie, of Redcastle.
The body, e’en let him escape!
He’d venture the gallows for siller,
An’ ’twere na the cost o’ the rape.
An’ where is our king’s lord lieutenant,
Sae fam’d for his gratefu’ return?
The billie is gettin’ his questions,
To say in St. Stephen’s the morn.
VI.
An’ there will be lads o’ the gospel,
Muirhead, [121] Morehead, Minister of Urr. wha’s as gude as he’s true;
An’ there will be Buittle’s [122] The Minister of Buittle. apostle,
Wha’s more o’ the black than the blue;
An’ there will be folk from St. Mary’s, [123] Earl of Selkirk’s family.
A house o’ great merit and note,
The deil ane but honours them highly,—
The deil ane will gie them his vote!
VII.
An’ there will be wealthy young Richard, [124] Oswald, of Auchuncruive.
Dame Fortune should hing by the neck;
For prodigal, thriftless, bestowing,
His merit had won him respect:
An’ there will be rich brother nabobs,
Tho’ nabobs, yet men of the first,
An’ there will be Collieston’s [125] Copland, of Collieston and Blackwood. whiskers,
An’ Quintin, o’ lads not the worst.
VIII.
An’ there will be stamp-office Johnnie, [126] John Syme, of the Stamp-office.
Tak’ tent how ye purchase a dram;
An’ there will be gay Cassencarrie,
An’ there will be gleg Colonel Tam;
An’ there will be trusty Kerroughtree, [127] Heron, of Kerroughtree.
Whose honour was ever his law,
If the virtues were pack’d in a parcel,
His worth might be sample for a’.
IX.
An’ can we forget the auld major,
Wha’ll ne’er be forgot in the Greys,
Our flatt’ry we’ll keep for some other,
Him only ’tis justice to praise.
An’ there will be maiden Kilkerran,
And also Barskimming’s gude knight,
An’ there will be roarin’ Birtwhistle,
Wha luckily roars in the right.
X.
An’ there, frae the Niddisdale borders,
Will mingle the Maxwells in droves;
Teugh Johnnie, staunch Geordie, an’ Walie,
That griens for the fishes an’ loaves;
An’ there will be Logan Mac Douall, [128] Colonel Macdouall, of Logan.
Sculdudd’ry an’ he will be there,
An’ also the wild Scot of Galloway,
Sodgerin’, gunpowder Blair.
XI.
Then hey the chaste interest o’ Broughton,
An’ hey for the blessings ’twill bring?
It may send Balmaghie to the Commons,
In Sodom ’twould make him a king;
An’ hey for the sanctified M–y,
Our land who wi’ chapels has stor’d;
He founder’d his horse among harlots,
But gied the auld naig to the Lord.

Tune.—“Buy broom besoms.”
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 [129] The Earl of Galloway.
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 [130] Murray, of Broughton and Caillie.
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— [131] Bushby, of Tinwald-downs.
So was never worn.
Buy braw troggin, &c.
Here’s its stuff and lining,
Cardoness’ [132] Maxwell, of Cardoness. head;
Fine for a sodger
A’ the wale o’ lead.
Buy braw troggin, &c.
Here’s a little wadset
Buittle’s [133] The Minister of Buittle. 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; [134] Morehead, of Urr.
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, [135] Laurie, of Redcastle.
Sprawlin’ as a taed.
Buy braw troggin, &c.
Here’s the worth and wisdom
Collieston [136] Copland, of Collieston and Blackwood. 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 [137] John Bushby, of Tinwald-downs.
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.