[Variant 20:]

1820
All by the moonlight river side
It gave three miserable groans;
"'Tis come then to a pretty pass,"
Said Peter to the groaning Ass,
"But I will bang your bones!"



1819

All by the moonlight river side
It gave three miserable groans;
"'Tis come then to a pretty pass,"
Said Peter to the groaning Ass,
"But I will bang your bones!"

[return]

[Variant 21:]

In the two editions of 1819 only.
"Good Sir!"—the Vicar's voice exclaim'd,
"You rush at once into the middle;"
And little Bess, with accent sweeter,
Cried, "O dear Sir! but who is Peter?"
Said Stephen,—"'Tis a downright riddle!"

"Good Sir!"—the Vicar's voice exclaim'd,
"You rush at once into the middle;"
And little Bess, with accent sweeter,
Cried, "O dear Sir! but who is Peter?"
Said Stephen,—"'Tis a downright riddle!"

[return]

[Variant 22:]

1836

The Squire said, "Sure as paradise
Was lost to man by Adam's sinning,
This leap is for us all too bold;


1819

Like winds that lash the waves, or smite
The woods, the autumnal foliage thinning—
"Hold!" said the Squire, "I pray you, hold!



1820

The woods, autumnal foliage thinning—

1827