Original | Standard English Translation |
SUCH A PARCEL OF ROGUES IN A NATION | SUCH A PARCEL OF ROGUES IN A NATION |
| |
Fareweel to a' our Scottish fame, | Farewell to all our Scottish fame, |
Fareweel our ancient glory! | Farewell our ancient glory! |
Fareweel ev'n to the Scottish name. | Farewell even to the Scottish name. |
Sae famed in martial story! | So famed in martial story! |
Now Sark rins over Salway sands, | Now Sark runs over Salway sands, |
An' Tweed rins to the ocean, | And Tweed runs to the ocean, |
To mark where England's province stands | To mark where England's province stands |
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation! | Such a parcel of rogues in a nation! |
| |
What force or guile could not subdue | What force or guile could not subdue |
Thro' many warlike ages | Through many warlike ages |
Is wrought now by a coward few | Is wrought now by a coward few |
For hireling traitor's wages. | For hireling traitor's wages. |
The English steel we could disdain, | The English steel we could disdain, |
Secure in valour's station; | Secure in valour's station; |
But English gold has been our bane | But English gold has been our bane |
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation! | Such a parcel of rogues in a nation! |
| |
O, would, or I had seen the day | O, would, or I had seen the day |
That Treason thus could sell us, | That Treason thus could sell us, |
My auld grey head had lien in clay | My old grey head had lain in clay (be buried) |
Wi' Bruce and loyal Wallace! | With Bruce and loyal Wallace! |
But pith and power, till my last hour | But pith and power, till my last hour |
I'll mak this declaration: | I will make this declaration: |
“We're bought and sold for English gold | “We are bought and sold for English gold |
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!” | Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!” |
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