The Whistle-A Ballad by Robert Burns

Name: The Whistle-A Ballad
Author: Robert Burns

The ballad celebrates a famous Whistle, a northern prize originally sent as a challenge by the god of the bottle: whoever could outdrink Scotland’s champions would possess it. Old tales recount how Loda’s son defeated all contenders until Robert, lord of the Cairn and the Scaur, surpassed even the god in drinking and won the Whistle, which remained in his house for ages. Three descendants renew the contest: Craigdarroch, renowned for wit, worth, and law; Glenriddel, skilled in old coins; and Sir Robert, learned in old wines. Craigdarroch demands that Downrightly surrender the prize or face another trial in claret. Downrightly refuses, invoking the ghost of Rorie More and promising to drink twenty horns with him. Sir Robert offers no elaborate speech, declaring that he would rather die knee-deep in claret than yield the Whistle. They gather at Glenriddel’s hospitable table, celebrated not only for wine and welcome but for the sense, wit, and taste of a lovely dame. A bard is chosen to record the struggle. After dinner, the friends drink claret joyfully, their friendship and kinship strengthening as the wine flows. Six bottles apiece carry them through the night. Sir Robert finishes a whole bottle in one bumper, claiming it follows their ancestor’s manner. Glenriddel, cautious and religious, withdraws from what he sees as ungodly warfare, leaving the contest to less divine men. Sir Robert continues bravely but is defeated by Fate and great measures of wine: as Phoebus rises, the knight falls. The bard then prophesies that Craigdarroch will endure beyond creation and urges him to take one more bottle and achieve the sublime. Praising Craigdarroch’s line for its struggle for freedom with Bruce, the bard awards him the laurel of victory while claiming the poet’s bay for himself.

By Robert Burns · First published 1791 · Genre: Narrative Poetry, Ballad, Comic Poetry · 930 words

First lines

I sing of a Whistle, a Whistle of worth, / I sing of a Whistle, the pride of the North. / Was brought to the court of our good Scottish King, / And long with this Whistle all Scotland shall ring.

Old Loda, still rueing the arm of Fingal, / The god of the bottle sends down from his hall- / "The Whistle's your challenge, to Scotland get o'er, / And drink them to hell, Sir! or ne'er see me more!"

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Genres

Narrative Poetry — The work recounts a sequence of events involving a ceremonial drinking contest, using verse to develop characters, action, conflict, and outcome.
Ballad — Explicitly styled as a ballad, it uses a lively, story-driven poetic form associated with oral tradition, legendary exploits, and memorable communal events.
Comic Poetry — Its elevated language and mock-heroic treatment of excessive drinking create humor, particularly in the grand portrayal of an increasingly absurd contest.
Mock-Heroic Poetry — The poem parodies epic conventions by invoking gods, ancient champions, prophecy, martial language, and heroic destiny for a contest of drinking claret.

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The Whistle-A Ballad is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated 1791 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Robert Burns
Date: 1791 CE
Language: English
Genres: Narrative Poetry, Ballad, Comic Poetry, Mock-Heroic Poetry, Satirical Poetry
Length: 930 words
Structure: 1 section, 18 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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