[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: