THE OLD CUMBERLAND BEGGAR
MS. Variants, not inserted in Vol. I.
(l. 3) On a small pile of humble masonry
Placed at the foot of …
(l. 24) He travels on, a solitary man.
His age has no companion. He is weak,
So helpless in appearance that, for him
The sauntering horseman-traveller does not throw
With careless hand his pence upon the ground
But stops that he may lodge the coin
Safe in the old man’s hat: nor quits him so,
But as he goes towards him turns a look
Sidelong and half-reverted.…