SV: Burns Night, "Scotch Drink" and a difficult verse

[Åke Johansson]

Hi Ralph,

Would this be of any help:
http://www.cobbler.plus.com/wbc/poems/translations/422.htm

Åke

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Från: MALTS-L at RZ.UNI-KARLSRUHE.DE [mailto:MALTS-L at RZ.UNI-KARLSRUHE.DE] För
Ralph Katzenell
Skickat: den 21 januari 2007 11:44
Till: MALTS-L at LISTS.UNI-KARLSRUHE.DE
Ämne: Burns Night, "Scotch Drink" and a difficult verse

Greetings all.
Burns night is upon us once more.
And it is my pleasant duty to give a rendition, translated into English,
understandable to those unfortunate souls born south of the Watford gap.

My choice this year is "Scotch Drink".

And oh! The shame of it!!
I have a problem understanding the context and "thrust" of one verse.
Both preceeding and following verses celebrate how Scotch Drink overcomes
difficuties in life.

However, this verse just seems to be a complaint against poor quality
midwives, and notes their dismissal without payment for their bad work.
Where's the relationship to Scotch Drink?

. . . 
When skirling weanies see the light, 
Though maks the gossips clatter bright, 
How fumblin' cuiffs their dearies slight; 
Wae worth the name! 
Nae howdie gets a social night, 
Or plack frae them. 
. . . 
Can someone provide a good, rythmic translation into modern English of just
this verse, plus a short explanation of how it fits into the context of
preceeding and following verses.


Ralph

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