Forth to [120] the gentle Ass he springs,
  And up about his neck he climbs;
  In loving words he talks to him,
  He kisses, kisses face and limb,—­
  He kisses him a thousand times! 1115

  This Peter sees, while in the shade
  He stood beside the cottage-door;
  And Peter Bell, the ruffian wild,
  Sobs loud, he sobs even like a child,
  “Oh!  God, I can endure no more!” 1120

—­Here ends my Tale:  for in a trice
  Arrived a neighbour with his horse;
  Peter went forth with him straightway;
  And, with due care, ere break of day,
  Together they brought back the Corse. 1125

  And many years did this poor Ass,
  Whom once it was my luck to see
  Cropping the shrubs of Leming-Lane,
  Help by his labour to maintain
  The Widow and her family. 1130

  And Peter Bell, who, till that night,
  Had been the wildest of his clan,
  Forsook his crimes, renounced [121] his folly,
  And, after ten months’ melancholy,
  Became a good and honest man. [K] 1135

* * * * *

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1:  1827.

  And something 1819.]

[Variant 2: 

1849.

  Whose shape is like 1819.

  For shape just like 1845.]

[Variant 3: 

1845.

The noise of danger fills 1819.]

[Variant 4: 

1827.

Meanwhile I from the helm admire 1819.

...  I soberly admire C.]

[Variant 5: 

1827.

Or deep into the heavens     1819. 
Or into massy clouds         1820.]

[Variant 6: 

1820.

  ... between ... 1819.]

[Variant 7: 

1827.

  ... are ill-built,
  But proud let him be who has seen them; 1819.]

[Variant 8: 

1827.

  ... between ... 1819.]

[Variant 9: 

1827.

  That darling speck ... 1819.]

[Variant 10: 

1836.

  And there it is, ... 1819.]

[Variant 11: 

1827

  ... heartless ... 1819.]

[Variant 12: 

In the editions of 1819 and 1820 only.

  Out—­out—­and, like a brooding hen,
  Beside your sooty hearth-stone cower;
  Go, creep along the dirt, and pick
  Your way with your good walking-stick,
  Just three good miles an hour!]

[Variant 13: 

1827.

  ... the land ... 1819.]

[Variant 14: 

1845.

  My radiant Pinnace, you forget 1819.]

[Variant 15: