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The Book of Poetry, tr. by James Legge, [1876], at sacred-texts.com


p. 76

II. Scoticè

The Chün Tzŭ Yü Yi; narrative. The feelings of a wife on the prolonged absence of her husband on service, and her longing for his return.

1The gudeman’s awa, for to fecht wi’ the stranger,
  An’ when he’ll be back, oh! my hert canna tell.
The hens gae to reist, an’ the beests to their manger,
  As hameward they wend frae their park on the hill.
    But hoo can I, thus left alane,
    Help thinking o’ my man that’s game?

2The gudeman’s awa, for to fecht wi’ the stranger,
  An’ lang will it be ere he see his fireside.
  The hens gae to reist, an’ the beests to their manger,
As the slantin’ sunbeams throu the forest trees glide,
    Heaven kens the lanesome things I think.
    Heaven sen’ my man his meat an’ drink!


Next: II. Chün Tzŭ Yang Yang