在苏格兰，树木稀少，甚至灌木也不多;无论景色多么凄凉，总能发现美好的事物;因为在那里，丈夫和妻子可以夸耀他们的结合是纯洁的，而虚伪的夫妻就像野外的树篱一样稀少;在荒无人烟的苏格兰王国，最近的历史发生了变化——这是一对婚姻的历史，苍头燕雀和他的伴侣。春天临近了，每个人都感到心中充满了亲切的本能;它们成双成对，想搭个窝，却找不到筑巢的地方。裸露的荒原和荒野，除了雪和雨夹雪，被海水侵蚀的岩石和光秃秃的海岸，不能使他们退路。他们寻找了很长时间的生儿育女的地方，直到他们都感到烦恼和疲惫;终于，一艘船带来了渴望已久的好东西。一艘船吗? -- could such a restless thing Afford them place of rest? Or was the merchant charged to bring The homeless birds a nest? Hush! -- silent hearers profit most,-- This racer of the sea Proved kinder to them than the coast, It served them with a tree. But such a tree! 'twas shaven deal, The tree they call a mast, And had a hollow with a wheel Through which the tackle passed. Within that cavity aloft Their roofless home they fixed, Formed with materials neat and soft, Bents, wool, and feathers mixed. Four ivory eggs soon pave its floor, With russet specks bedight; The vessel weighs, forsakes the shore, And lessens to the sight. The mother-bird is gone to sea, As she had changed her kind; But goes the male? Far wiser he Is doubtless left behind. No;-- soon as from ashore he saw The winged mansion move, He flew to reach it, by a law Of never-failing love. Then perching at his consort's side, Was briskly borne along, The billows and the blast defied, And cheered her with a song. The seaman with sincere delight His feathered shipmates eyes, Scarce less exulting in the sight Than when he tows a prize. For seamen much believe in signs, And from a chance so new Each some approaching good divines, And may his hope be true! Hail, honoured land! a desert where Not even birds can hide, Yet parent of this loving pair Whom nothing could divide. And ye who, rather than resign Your matrimonial plan, Were not afraid to plough the brine In company with man; For whose lean country much disdain We English often show, Yet from a richer nothing gain But wantonness and woe; Be it your fortune, year by year, The same resource to prove, And may ye, sometimes landing here, Instruct us how to love!