A happy
respite!
William Wordsworth
" said the Squire, "I pray you, hold!
1820.
The woods, autumnal foliage thinning--1827. ]
[Variant 23:
1845.
. . . its ponderous knell,
Its far-renowned alarum! 1819.
. . . his ponderous knell,
A far-renowned alarum! 1836.
. . . that ponderous knell--
His far-renowned alarum! 1840. ]
[Variant 24:
1820.
With Peter Bell, I need not tell
That this had never been the case;--1819. ]
[Variant 25:
1819.
. . . placid . . . 1820.
The text of 1827 returns to that of 1819. ]
[Variant 26:
1836.
. . . cheerfully . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 27:
1827.
Till he is brought to an old quarry, 1819. ]
[Variant 28: In the two editions of 1819 only.
"What! would'st thou daunt me grisly den?
Back must I, having come so far?
Stretch as thou wilt thy gloomy jaws,
I'll on, nor would I give two straws
For lantern or for star! "]
[Variant 29:
1820.
And so, where on the huge rough stones
The black and massy shadows lay,
And through the dark, . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 30:
1827.
. . . made . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 31: In the two editions of 1819 only.
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the second was withdrawn in 1820.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:
And, while he halts, was clearly shown
(What he before in part had seen)
How gaunt the Creature was, and lean, 1827.
In the final text of 1836 the two stanzas of 1819 are compressed into
one (ll. 446-50). ]
[Variant 47:
1836.
But, while upon the ground he lay, 1819.
That instant, while outstretched he lay, 1827. ]
[Variant 48:
1836.
A loud and piteous bray! 1819. ]
[Variant 49:
1820.
Joy on . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 50:
1836.
. . . an endless shout,
The long dry see-saw . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 51:
1836.
And Peter now uplifts his eyes;
Steady the moon doth look and clear,
And like themselves the rocks appear,
And tranquil are the skies, 1819.
And quiet are the skies. 1820. ]
[Variant 52:
1836.
Whereat, in resolute mood, once more
He stoops the Ass's neck to seize--
Foul purpose, quickly put to flight!
For in the pool a startling sight
Meets him, beneath the shadowy trees. 1819. ]
[Variant 53:
1819.
. . . the gallows . . . 1832.
The text of 1836 returns to that of 1819. ]
[Variant 54:
1836.
Or a gay ring of shining fairies,
Such as pursue their brisk vagaries 1819. ]
[Variant 55: In the two editions of 1819 only.
Is it a party in a parlour?
Cramm'd just as they on earth were cramm'd--
Some sipping punch, some sipping tea,
But, as you by their faces see,
All silent and all damn'd! [a]]
[Variant 56:
1827.
A throbbing pulse the Gazer hath--
Puzzled he was, and now is daunted; 1819. ]
[Variant 57:
1836.
Like one intent upon a book--1819. ]
[Variant 58:
1836.
And drops, a senseless weight, . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 59:
1827.
A happy respite! --but he wakes;--
And feels the glimmering of the moon--
And to stretch forth his hands is trying;--
Sure, when he knows where he is lying,
He'll sink into a second swoon. 1819. ]
[Variant 60:
1827.
. . . placid . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 61:
1827.
So, faltering not in _this_ intent,
He makes his staff an instrument
The river's depth to sound--1819.
So toward the stream his head he bent,
And downward thrust his staff, intent
To reach the Man who there lay drowned. --1820. ]
[Variant 62:
1836.
The meagre Shadow all this while--
What aim is his? . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 63:
1836.
That Peter on his back should mount
He shows a wish, well as he can,
"I'll go, I'll go, whate'er betide--
He to his home my way will guide,
The cottage of the drowned man. " 1819. ]
But no--his purpose and his wish
The Suppliant shews, well as he can;
Thought Peter whatsoe'er betide
I'll go, and he my way will guide
To the cottage of the drowned man. 1820. ]
[Variant 64:
1836.
This utter'd, Peter mounts forthwith 1819.
This hoping, 1820.
Encouraged by this hope, he mounts 1827.
This hoping, Peter boldly mounts 1832. ]
[Variant 65:
1827.
The 1819. ]
[Variant 66:
1836.
And takes his way . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 67:
1840.
Holding . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 68:
1840 and c.
What seeks the boy? --the silent dead! 1819.
Seeking for whom? --. . . 1836. ]
[Variant 69:
1836.
Whom he hath sought . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 70:
1820.
. . . doth rightly spell; 1819. ]
[Variant 71:
1836.
. . . noise . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 72:
1820.
. . . to gain his end 1819. ]
[Variant 73:
1845.
. . . footstep . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 74:
1836.
. . . along a . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 75: In the editions of 1819 and 1820 the following stanza
occurs:
The verdant pathway, in and out,
Winds upwards like a straggling chain;
And, when two toilsome miles are past,
Up through the rocks it leads at last
Into a high and open plain. ]
[Variant 76:
1827.
The . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 77:
1836.
How blank! --but whence this rustling sound
Which, all too long, the pair hath chased!
--A dancing leaf is close behind, 1819.
But whence that faintly-rustling sound 1820.
But whence this faintly rustling sound
By which the pair have long been chased? c. ]
[Variant 78:
1836.
When Peter spies the withered leaf,
It yields no cure to his distress--1819. ]
[Variant 79:
1836.
Ha! why this comfortless despair? 1819. ]
[Variant 80:
1819.
. . . the Creature's head; 1827.
The text of 1845 returns to that of 1819. ]
[Variant 81:
1836.
. . . those darting pains,
As meteors shoot through heaven's wide plains,
Pass through his bosom--and repass! 1819. ]
[Variant 82:
1827.
Reading, as you or I might read
At night in any pious book, 1819. ]
[Variant 83:
1836.
. . . the good man's taper, 1819. ]
[Variant 84:
1836.
The ghostly word, which thus was fram'd, 1819.
. . . full plainly seen, 1827. ]
[Variant 85:
1836.
. . . to torment the good 1819. ]
[Variant 86:
1836.
I know you, potent Spirits! well,
How with the feeling and the sense
Playing, ye govern foes or friends.
Yok'd to your will, for fearful ends--1819. ]
[Variant 87:
1836.
. . . I have often . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 88:
1836.
And well I know . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 89:
1836.
. . . and danc'd . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 90:
1836.
. . . clearly . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 91:
1836.
. . . hath . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 92:
1836.
. . . to confound . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 93:
1836.
But now the pair have reach'd a spot
Where, shelter'd by a rocky cove, 1819.
Meanwhile the pair 1820. ]
[Variant 94:
1836.
The building seems, wall, roof, and tower, 1819. ]
[Variant 95:
1836.
Deep sighing as he pass'd along,
Quoth Peter, "In the shire of Fife,
'Mid such a ruin, following still
From land to land a lawless will, 1819. ]
[Variant 96:
1827.
Making, . . . 1819.
The woods, autumnal foliage thinning--1827. ]
[Variant 23:
1845.
. . . its ponderous knell,
Its far-renowned alarum! 1819.
. . . his ponderous knell,
A far-renowned alarum! 1836.
. . . that ponderous knell--
His far-renowned alarum! 1840. ]
[Variant 24:
1820.
With Peter Bell, I need not tell
That this had never been the case;--1819. ]
[Variant 25:
1819.
. . . placid . . . 1820.
The text of 1827 returns to that of 1819. ]
[Variant 26:
1836.
. . . cheerfully . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 27:
1827.
Till he is brought to an old quarry, 1819. ]
[Variant 28: In the two editions of 1819 only.
"What! would'st thou daunt me grisly den?
Back must I, having come so far?
Stretch as thou wilt thy gloomy jaws,
I'll on, nor would I give two straws
For lantern or for star! "]
[Variant 29:
1820.
And so, where on the huge rough stones
The black and massy shadows lay,
And through the dark, . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 30:
1827.
. . . made . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 31: In the two editions of 1819 only.
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:
And, while he halts, was clearly shown
(What he before in part had seen)
How gaunt the Creature was, and lean, 1827.
In the final text of 1836 the two stanzas of 1819 are compressed into
one (ll. 446-50). ]
[Variant 47:
1836.
But, while upon the ground he lay, 1819.
That instant, while outstretched he lay, 1827. ]
[Variant 48:
1836.
A loud and piteous bray! 1819. ]
[Variant 49:
1820.
Joy on . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 50:
1836.
. . . an endless shout,
The long dry see-saw . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 51:
1836.
And Peter now uplifts his eyes;
Steady the moon doth look and clear,
And like themselves the rocks appear,
And tranquil are the skies, 1819.
And quiet are the skies. 1820. ]
[Variant 52:
1836.
Whereat, in resolute mood, once more
He stoops the Ass's neck to seize--
Foul purpose, quickly put to flight!
For in the pool a startling sight
Meets him, beneath the shadowy trees. 1819. ]
[Variant 53:
1819.
. . . the gallows . . . 1832.
The text of 1836 returns to that of 1819. ]
[Variant 54:
1836.
Or a gay ring of shining fairies,
Such as pursue their brisk vagaries 1819. ]
[Variant 55: In the two editions of 1819 only.
Is it a party in a parlour?
Cramm'd just as they on earth were cramm'd--
Some sipping punch, some sipping tea,
But, as you by their faces see,
All silent and all damn'd! [a]]
[Variant 56:
1827.
A throbbing pulse the Gazer hath--
Puzzled he was, and now is daunted; 1819. ]
[Variant 57:
1836.
Like one intent upon a book--1819. ]
[Variant 58:
1836.
And drops, a senseless weight, . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 59:
1827.
A happy respite! --but he wakes;--
And feels the glimmering of the moon--
And to stretch forth his hands is trying;--
Sure, when he knows where he is lying,
He'll sink into a second swoon. 1819. ]
[Variant 60:
1827.
. . . placid . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 61:
1827.
So, faltering not in _this_ intent,
He makes his staff an instrument
The river's depth to sound--1819.
So toward the stream his head he bent,
And downward thrust his staff, intent
To reach the Man who there lay drowned. --1820. ]
[Variant 62:
1836.
The meagre Shadow all this while--
What aim is his? . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 63:
1836.
That Peter on his back should mount
He shows a wish, well as he can,
"I'll go, I'll go, whate'er betide--
He to his home my way will guide,
The cottage of the drowned man. " 1819. ]
But no--his purpose and his wish
The Suppliant shews, well as he can;
Thought Peter whatsoe'er betide
I'll go, and he my way will guide
To the cottage of the drowned man. 1820. ]
[Variant 64:
1836.
This utter'd, Peter mounts forthwith 1819.
This hoping, 1820.
Encouraged by this hope, he mounts 1827.
This hoping, Peter boldly mounts 1832. ]
[Variant 65:
1827.
The 1819. ]
[Variant 66:
1836.
And takes his way . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 67:
1840.
Holding . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 68:
1840 and c.
What seeks the boy? --the silent dead! 1819.
Seeking for whom? --. . . 1836. ]
[Variant 69:
1836.
Whom he hath sought . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 70:
1820.
. . . doth rightly spell; 1819. ]
[Variant 71:
1836.
. . . noise . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 72:
1820.
. . . to gain his end 1819. ]
[Variant 73:
1845.
. . . footstep . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 74:
1836.
. . . along a . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 75: In the editions of 1819 and 1820 the following stanza
occurs:
The verdant pathway, in and out,
Winds upwards like a straggling chain;
And, when two toilsome miles are past,
Up through the rocks it leads at last
Into a high and open plain. ]
[Variant 76:
1827.
The . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 77:
1836.
How blank! --but whence this rustling sound
Which, all too long, the pair hath chased!
--A dancing leaf is close behind, 1819.
But whence that faintly-rustling sound 1820.
But whence this faintly rustling sound
By which the pair have long been chased? c. ]
[Variant 78:
1836.
When Peter spies the withered leaf,
It yields no cure to his distress--1819. ]
[Variant 79:
1836.
Ha! why this comfortless despair? 1819. ]
[Variant 80:
1819.
. . . the Creature's head; 1827.
The text of 1845 returns to that of 1819. ]
[Variant 81:
1836.
. . . those darting pains,
As meteors shoot through heaven's wide plains,
Pass through his bosom--and repass! 1819. ]
[Variant 82:
1827.
Reading, as you or I might read
At night in any pious book, 1819. ]
[Variant 83:
1836.
. . . the good man's taper, 1819. ]
[Variant 84:
1836.
The ghostly word, which thus was fram'd, 1819.
. . . full plainly seen, 1827. ]
[Variant 85:
1836.
. . . to torment the good 1819. ]
[Variant 86:
1836.
I know you, potent Spirits! well,
How with the feeling and the sense
Playing, ye govern foes or friends.
Yok'd to your will, for fearful ends--1819. ]
[Variant 87:
1836.
. . . I have often . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 88:
1836.
And well I know . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 89:
1836.
. . . and danc'd . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 90:
1836.
. . . clearly . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 91:
1836.
. . . hath . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 92:
1836.
. . . to confound . . . 1819. ]
[Variant 93:
1836.
But now the pair have reach'd a spot
Where, shelter'd by a rocky cove, 1819.
Meanwhile the pair 1820. ]
[Variant 94:
1836.
The building seems, wall, roof, and tower, 1819. ]
[Variant 95:
1836.
Deep sighing as he pass'd along,
Quoth Peter, "In the shire of Fife,
'Mid such a ruin, following still
From land to land a lawless will, 1819. ]
[Variant 96:
1827.
Making, . . . 1819.
