To Marcus

YOU have been far, and I

Been farther yet,

Since last, in foul¹ or fair

An impecunious² pair,

Below this northern sky

Of ours, we met.

Now winter night shall see

Again us two,

While howls the tempest higher,

Sit warmly by the fire

And dream and plan, as we

Were wont³ to do.

And, hand in hand, at large

Our thoughts shall walk

While storm and gusty⁴ rain,

Again and yet again,

Shall drive their noisy charge

Across the talk.

The pleasant future still

Shall smile to me,

And hope with wooing hands

Wave on to fairy lands

All over dale and hill

And earth and sea.

And you who doubt the sky

And fear the sun —

You — Christian⁵ with the pack —

You shall not wander back

For I am Hopeful — I

Will cheer you on.

Come — where the great have trod,

The great shall lead —

Come, elbow through the press,

Pluck Fortune by the dress —

By God, we must — by God,

We shall succeed.

1 foul   

adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规

参考例句：

• Take off those foul clothes and let me wash them.脱下那些脏衣服让我洗一洗。
• What a foul day it is!多么恶劣的天气！

2 impecunious   

adj.不名一文的，贫穷的

参考例句：

• He is impecunious,does not know anyone who can lend mony.他身无分文，也不认识任何可以借钱的人。
• They are independent,impecunious and able to tolerate all degrees of discomfort.他们独立自主，囊中羞涩，并且能够忍受各种不便。

3 wont   

adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯

参考例句：

• He was wont to say that children are lazy.他常常说小孩子们懒惰。
• It is his wont to get up early.早起是他的习惯。

4 gusty   

adj.起大风的

参考例句：

• Weather forecasts predict more hot weather,gusty winds and lightning strikes.天气预报预测高温、大风和雷电天气将继续。
• Why was Candlestick Park so windy and gusty? 埃德尔斯蒂克公园里为什么会有那么多的强劲阵风？

5 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。