VI “I sold a sheep, as they had said,
            And bought my little children bread,
            And they were healthy with their food;
            For me—­it never did me good. 
            A woeful time it was for me, 55
            To see the end of all my gains,
            The pretty flock which I had reared
            With all my care and pains,
            To see it melt like snow away—­
            For me it was a woeful day. 60

VII “Another still! and still another! 
            A little lamb, and then its mother! 
            It was a vein that never stopped—­
            Like blood-drops from my heart they dropped. 
            ’Till thirty were not left alive 65
            They dwindled, dwindled, one by one;
            And I may say, that many a time
            I wished they all were gone—­
            Reckless of what might come at last
            Were but the bitter struggle past. [8] 70

VIII “To wicked deeds I was inclined,
            And wicked fancies crossed my mind;
            And every man I chanced to see,
            I thought he knew some ill of me: 
            No peace, no comfort could I find, 75
            No ease, within doors or without;
            And, crazily and wearily
            I went my work about;
            And oft was moved to flee from home,
            And hide my head where wild beasts roam.[9] 80

IX “Sir! ’twas a precious flock to me,
            As dear as my own children be;
            For daily with my growing store
            I loved my children more and more. 
            Alas! it was an evil time; 85
            God cursed me in my sore distress;
            I prayed, yet every day I thought
            I loved my children less;
            And every week, and every day,
            My flock it seemed to melt away. 90

X “They dwindled, Sir, sad sight to see! 
            From ten to five, from five to three,
            A lamb, a wether, and a ewe;-. 
            And then at last from three to two;
            And, of my fifty, yesterday 95
            I had but only one: 
            And here it lies upon my arm,
            Alas! and I have none;—­
            To-day I fetched it from the rock;
            It is the last of all my flock.” 100

* * * * *

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1: 

1815.

    ...  I have been, 1798.]

[Variant 2: 

1836.

    Then with his coat he made essay 1798.]