Now you'll suppose that Peter Bell Felt small temptation here to tarry, And so it was,--but I must add, His heart was not a little glad When he was out of the old quarry.] [Variant 32: 1827. Across that ... 1819.] [Variant 33: 1836. And now he is among the trees; 1819.] [Variant 34: "No doubt I'm founder'd in these woods-- For once," quoth he, "I will be wise, With better speed I'll back again-- And, lest the journey should prove vain, Will take yon Ass, my lawful prize!" Off Peter hied,--"A comely beast! Though not so plump as he might be; My honest friend, with such a platter, You should have been a little fatter, But come, Sir, come with me!" 1819. (The first of these stanzas was omitted in 1827 and afterwards; the second was withdrawn in 1820.)] [Variant 35: 1836. But first doth Peter deem it fit To spy about him far and near; 1819. "A prize," cried Peter, stepping back To spy ... 1827.] [Variant 36: 1827. ... Ass's back, ... 1819.] [Variant 37: 1836. With ready heel the creature's side; 1819. With ready heel his shaggy side; 1827.] [Variant 38: In the editions of 1819 to 1832 only. "What's this!" cried Peter, brandishing A new-peel'd sapling white as cream; The Ass knew well what Peter said, But, as before, hung down his head Over the silent stream. 1819. A new-peeled sapling;--though, I deem, The Ass knew well what Peter said, He, as before, ... 1820. ...--though I deem, This threat was understood full well, Firm, as before, the Sentinel Stood by the silent stream. 1827.] [Variant 39: 1827. "I'll cure you of these desperate tricks"-- And, with deliberate action slow, His staff high-raising, in the pride Of skill, upon the Ass's hide C. and 1819.] [Variant 40: 1836. What followed?--yielding to the shock The Ass, as if ... 1819.] [Variant 41: 1836. And then upon ... 1819.] [Variant 42: 1840. ... as ... 1819.] [Variant 43: 1819. The Beast on his tormentor turned A shining hazel eye. 1827. His shining ... 1832. The edition of 1836 returns to the text of 1819.] [Variant 44: 1836. Towards the river ... 1819.] [Variant 45: 1832. Heav'd his lank sides, ... 1819.] [Variant 46: 1836. In the two editions of 1819 this stanza formed two stanzas, thus: All by the moonlight river side He gave three miserable groans, "'Tis come then to a pretty pass," Said Peter to the groaning ass, "But I will _bang_ your bones!" And Peter halts to gather breath, And now full clearly was it shown (What he before in part had seen) How gaunt was the poor Ass and lean, Yea wasted to a skeleton! 1819. In the editions of 1820-1832, only the second of these stanzas is retained, with the following change of text in 1827: