To Mesdames Zassetsky and Garschine

THE wind may blaw the lee-gang way

And aye the lift be mirk an’ gray,

An deep the moss¹ and steigh the brae

Where a’ maun gang —

There’s still an hoor in ilka day

For luve and sang.

And canty hearts are strangely steeled.

By some dikeside they’ll find a bield,

Some couthy neuk by muir or field

They’re sure to hit,

Where, frae the blatherin’ wind concealed²,

They’ll rest a bit.

An’ weel for them if kindly³ fate

Send ower the hills to them a mate;

They’ll crack a while o’ kirk an’ State,

O’ yowes an’ rain:

An’ when it’s time to take the gate,

Tak’ ilk his ain.

— Sic neuk beside the southern sea

I soucht — sic place o’ quiet lee

Frae a’ the winds o’ life. To me,

Fate, rarely fair,

Had set a freendly company

To meet me there.

Kindly by them they gart me sit,

An’ blythe was I to bide⁴ a bit.

Licht as o’ some hame fireside lit

My life for me.

— Ower early maun I rise an’ quit

This happy lee.

1 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

2 concealed   

a.隐藏的，隐蔽的

参考例句：

• The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
• I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。

3 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

4 bide   

v.忍耐；等候；住

参考例句：

• We'll have to bide our time until the rain stops.我们必须等到雨停。
• Bide here for a while. 请在这儿等一会儿。