Few months of life has he in store
  As he to you will tell,
  For still, the more he works, the more
  Do his weak ankles swell. [14] 60
  My gentle Reader, I perceive
  How patiently you’ve waited,
  And now I fear [15] that you expect
  Some tale will be related.

  O Reader! had you in your mind 65
  Such stores as silent thought can bring,[B]
  O gentle Reader! you would find
  A tale in every thing. 
  What more I have to say is short,
  And you must [16] kindly take it:  70
  It is no tale; but, should you think, [17]
  Perhaps a tale you’ll make it.

  One summer-day I chanced to see
  This old Man doing all he could
  To unearth the root [18] of an old tree, 75
  A stump of rotten wood. 
  The mattock tottered in his hand;
  So vain was his endeavour,
  That at the root of the old tree
  He might have worked for ever. 80

  “You’re overtasked, good Simon Lee,
  Give me your tool,” to him I said;
  And at the word right gladly he
  Received my proffered aid. 
  I struck, and with a single blow 85
  The tangled root I severed,
  At which the poor old Man so long
  And vainly had endeavoured.

  The tears into his eyes were brought,
  And thanks and praises seemed to run 90
  So fast out of his heart, I thought
  They never would have done. 
 —­I’ve heard of hearts unkind, kind deeds
  With coldness still returning;
  Alas! the gratitude of men 95
  Hath oftener [19] left me mourning.[C]

* * * * *

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1: 

1827.

    I’ve heard ... 1798.]

[Variant 2:  In editions 1798 to 1815 the following is inserted: 

    Of years he has upon his back,
    No doubt, a burthen weighty;
    He says he is three score and ten,
    But others say he’s eighty.

    A long blue livery-coat has he,
    That’s fair behind, and fair before;
    Yet, meet him where you will, you see
    At once that he is poor.]

[Variant 3: 

1827.

    ... five and twenty ... 1798.]

[Variant 4: 

1845.

    And, though he has but one eye left,
    His cheek is like a cherry. 1798.

    And still the centre of his cheek
    Is blooming as a cherry. 1820.]

[Variant 5: 

1827.

    No man like him the horn could sound,
    And no man was so full of glee;
    To say the least, four counties round
    Had heard of Simon Lee;
    His master’s dead, and no one now
    Dwells in the hall of Ivor;
    Men, dogs, and horses, all are dead;
    He is the sole survivor. 1798.