Variants On The Text

[Variant 1:

1827.

I've heard ... 1798.]

[Variant 2: In editions 1798 to 1815 the following is inserted:

Of years he has upon his back, No doubt, a burthen weighty; He says he is three score and ten, But others say he's eighty.

A long blue livery-coat has he, That's fair behind, and fair before; Yet, meet him where you will, you see At once that he is poor.]

[Variant 3:

1827.

... five and twenty ... 1798.]

[Variant 4:

1845.

And, though he has but one eye left, His cheek is like a cherry. 1798.

And still the centre of his cheek Is blooming as a cherry. 1820.]

[Variant 5:

1827.

No man like him the horn could sound, And no man was so full of glee; To say the least, four counties round Had heard of Simon Lee; His master's dead, and no one now Dwells in the hall of Ivor; Men, dogs, and horses, all are dead; He is the sole survivor. 1798.

Worn out by hunting feats--bereft By time of friends and kindred, see! Old Simon to the world is left In liveried poverty. His Master's dead, ... 1827.

The fourth stanza of the final edition being second in 1827, and the second stanza being third in 1827.]

[Variant 6:

1827.

... race ... 1798.]

[Variant 7:

Of strength, of friends, and kindred, see.

In MS. letter to Allan Cunningham, Nov. 1828.]

[Variant 8:

1832.

His hunting feats have him bereft Of his right eye, as you may see: And then, what limbs those feats have left To poor old Simon Lee! He has no son, he has no child, His wife, an aged woman, Lives with him, near the waterfall, Upon the village common. 1798.

His hunting feats have him bereft Of his right eye, as you may see, And Simon to the world is left, In liveried poverty. When he was young he little knew Of husbandry or tillage; And now is forced to work, though weak, --The weakest in the village. 1820.]

[Variant 9:

1798.

But ... 1820.

The text of 1832 reverts to that of 1798.]

[Variant 10:

1827.

His little body's half awry, His ancles they are swoln and thick; His legs are thin and dry. When he was young he little knew Of husbandry or tillage; And now he's forced to work, though weak, --The weakest in the village. 1798.

His dwindled body's half awry, 1800.

His ancles, too, are swoln and thick; 1815.

And now is forced to work, 1815.

His dwindled body half awry, Rests upon ancles swoln and thick; His legs are thin and dry. He has no son, he has no child, His Wife, an aged woman, Lives with him, near the waterfall, Upon the village Common. 1820.]

[Variant 11:

1845.

But what avails the land to them, Which they can till no longer? 1798.

"But what," saith he, "avails the land, Which I can till no longer?" 1827.

But what avails it now, the land Which he can till no longer? 1832.

'Tis his, but what avails the land Which he can till no longer? 1837.

The time, alas! is come when he Can till the land no longer. 1840.

The time is also come when he Can till the land no longer. C.]

[Variant 12:

1827.

Old Ruth works out of doors with him, And does what Simon cannot do; For she, not over stout of limb, 1798.]

[Variant 13:

1840.

Alas! 'tis very little, all Which they can ... 1798.

That they can ... 1837.]

[Variant 14:

1815.

His poor old ancles swell. 1798.]

[Variant 15:

1820.

And I'm afraid ... 1798.]

[Variant 16:

1820.

I hope you'll ... 1798.]

[Variant 17:

1798.

... think,

In the editions 1832 to 1843.]

[Variant 18:

1815.

About the root ... 1798.]

[Variant 19:

1820.

Has oftner ... 1798.

Has oftener ... 1805.]

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