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

[Andrew Currie]

Sitting as I am fifty metres from the Burns museum in Mauchline, I hope
that I can help.
The gossips conversation is fuelled by the whisky as a baby is born, and
the husbands, fumbling dolts, are slighted by their darlings, the women.
I disagree with the translation woe befall the name, it should be
literally well worth the name, ironically saying that as they slight
their husbands they are still worthy of bearing their name.
Because of all this chatter and merriment, the midwives, working hard at
the birth, get no fun at all and even worse are not paid because the
gossiping women forget to pay them after drinking whisky.
Andrew

-----Original Message-----
From: MALTS-L at RZ.UNI-KARLSRUHE.DE [mailto:MALTS-L at RZ.UNI-KARLSRUHE.DE]
On Behalf Of Ralph Katzenell
Sent: 21 January 2007 15:36
To: MALTS-L at LISTS.UNI-KARLSRUHE.DE
Subject: Re: SV: Burns Night, "Scotch Drink" and a difficult verse

Thank you Åke
As a translation, its perfect.
But even with this translation, the meaning is not clear.

Are the midwifes fumbling because of drink (and so drink is a bad thing)
The midwifes don't get paid, because they were incompetent, and so they
can't afford the drink (and so lack of drink is a bad thing).
I just don't get the message.

Everything else has the message that Scotch Drink is good because . . .
. .

Whats the message here?

Ralph




----- Original Message -----
From: Åke Johansson <ake.j-son at BREDBAND.NET>
Date: Sunday, January 21, 2007 3:50 pm
Subject: SV: Burns Night, "Scotch Drink" and a difficult verse

> Hi Ralph,
> 
> Would this be of any help:
> http://www.cobbler.plus.com/wbc/poems/translations/422.htm
> 
> Åke
> 
> -----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
> Från: MALTS-L at RZ.UNI-KARLSRUHE.DE [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 
> overcomesdifficuties 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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