1785 epistletodavie,abrotherpoet january whilewindsfraeaffben-lomondblaw, an'barthedoorswi'drivingsnaw, an'hingusowretheingle, isetmedowntopassthetime, an'spinaverseortwao'rhyme, inhamely,westlinjingle. whilefrostywindsblawinthedrift, bentothechimlalug, igrudgeaweethegreat-folk'sgift, thatlivesaebienan'snug: itentless,andwantless theirroomyfire-side buthanker,andcanker, toseetheircursedpride. it'shardlyinabody'spow'r tokeep,attimes,fraebeingsour, toseehowthingsareshar'd howbesto'chielsarewhilesinwant, whilecoofsoncountlessthousandsrant, andkennahowtowair't but,davie,lad,ne'erfashyourhead, tho'wehaelittlegear we'refittowinourdailybread, aslang'swe'rehaleandfier: “mairspierna,norfearna,” auldagene'ermindafeg thelasto't,thewarsto't isonlybuttobeg. tolieinkilnsandbarnsate'en, whenbanesarecraz'd,andbluidisthin, isdoubtless,greatdistress! yetthencontentcouldmakeusblest ev'nthen,sometimes,we'dsnatchataste oftruesthappiness. thehonestheartthat'sfreefraea' intendedfraudorguile, howeverfortunekicktheba', hasayesomecausetosmile an'mindstill,you'llfindstill, acomfortthisnaesma' naemairthenwe'llcarethen, naefarthercanwefa'. whattho',likecommonersofair, wewanderout,weknownotwhere, buteitherhouseorhal', yetnature'scharms,thehillsandwoods, thesweepingvales,andfoamingfloods, arefreealiketoall. indayswhendaisiesdecktheground, andblackbirdswhistleclear, withhonestjoyourheartswillbound, toseethecomingyear: onbraeswhenweplease,then, we'llsitan'sowthatune synerhymetill'twe'limetill't, an'sing'twhenwehaedone. it'snointitlesnorinrank it'snoinweahlikelon'onbank, topurchasepeaceandrest: it'snoinmakin'muckle,mair it'snoinbooks,it'snoinlear, tomakeustrulyblest: ifhappinesshaenotherseat an'centreinthebreast, wemaybewise,orrich,orgreat, butnevercanbeblest naetreasures,norpleasures couldmakeushappylang theheartaye'sthepartaye thatmakesusrightorwrang. thinkye,thatsicasyouandi, whadrudgean'drivethro'wetanddry, wi'never-ceasingtoil thinkye,arewelessblestthanthey, whascarcelytentusintheirway, ashardlyworththeirwhile? alas!howaftinhaughtymood, god'screaturestheyoppress! orelse,neglectinga'that'sguid, theyriotinexcess! baithcarelessandfearless ofeitherheavenorhell esteeminganddeeming it'sa'anidletale! thenletuscheerfu'acquiesce, normakeourscantypleasuresless, bypiningatourstate: and,evenshouldmisfortunescome, i,herewhasit,haemetwi'some— an'sthankfu'forthemyet. theygiethewitofagetoyouth theyletuskenoursel' theymakeusseethenakedtruth, therealguidandill: tho'lossesan'crosses belessonsrightsevere, there'switthere,ye'llgetthere, ye'llfindnaeotherwhere. buttentme,davie,aceo'hearts! (tosayaughtlesswadwrangthecartes, andflatt'ryidetest) thislifehasjoysforyouandi an'joysthatrichesne'ercouldbuy, an'joystheverybest. there'sa'thepleasureso'theheart, theloveran'thefrien' yehaeyourmeg,yourdearestpart, andimydarlingjean! itwarmsme,itcharmsme, tomentionbuthername: itheatsme,itbeetsme, an'setsmea'onflame! oallyepow'rswhoruleabove! othouwhoseveryselfartlove! thouknow'stmywordssincere! thelife-bloodstreamingthro'myheart, ormymoredearimmortalpart, isnotmorefondlydear! whenheart-corrodingcareandgrief deprivemysoulofrest, herdearideabringsrelief, andsolacetomybreast. thoubeing,all-seeing, ohearmyferventpray'r stilakeher,andmakeher thymostpeculiarcare! allhail!yetenderfeelingsdear! thesmileoflove,thefriendlytear, thesympatheticglow! longsince,thisworld'sthornyways hadnumber'doutmywearydays, haditnotbeenforyou! fatestillhasblestmewithafriend, inev'rycareandill andoftamoreendearingband— atiemoretenderstill. itlightens,itbrightens thetenebrificscene, tomeetwith,andgreetwith mydavie,ormyjean! o,howthatnameinspiresmystyle! thewordscomeskelpin,rankan'file, amaistbeforeiken! thereadymeasurerinsasfine, asphoebusan'thefamousnine wereglowrinowremypen. myspavietpegasuswilllimp, tillancehe'sfairlyhet andthenhe'llhilch,andsti,an'jimp, andrinanuncofit: butleastthenthebeastthen shouldruethishastyride, i'lllightnow,anddightnow hissweaty,wizen'dhide.