Halloween is the time for Robert Burns' frightening tale of Tam O'Shanter. Let me set the scene for you. Tam has gone off boozing, far from "our hame [home],

Where sits our sulky sullen dame.
Gathering her brows like gathering storm,
Nursing her wrath to keep it warm."

It is a wild, eerie and frightening night

The wind blew as 'twad blawn its last;
The rattling showers rose on the blast;
The speedy gleams the darkness swallow'd
Loud, deep, and lang, the thunder bellow'd:
That night, a child might understand,
The Deil had business on his hand. [Devil]

But Tam, fortified by liquid courage, had no fear.

Inspiring bold John Barleycorn!
What dangers thou canst make us scorn!
Wi' tippeny, we fear nae evil; [tippeny=two-penny ale]
Wi' usquabae, we'll face the devil!-- [usquabae = whisky]
The swats sae ream'd in Tammie's noddle, [drinks so swam]
Fair play, he car'd na deils a boddle. [cared not devils a boodle]

Read if you dare!

Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate.
Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.

I have no need to abandon Hope. One look and she abandoned me!

I do so love Robert Burns, though he is a bear to read. Shu is much better at it than I am.