Page:Peter Bell (Wordsworth).djvu/37

Part I. With Peter Bell, I need not tell

That this had never been the case;—

He was a Carl as wild and rude

As ever hue-and-cry pursued,

As ever ran a felon's race.

Of all that lead a lawless life,

Of all that love their lawless lives,

In city or in village small,

He was the wildest far of all;—

He had a dozen wedded wives.

Nay start not!—wedded wives—and twelve!

But how one wife could e'er come near him,

In simple truth I cannot tell;

For be it said of Peter Bell

To see him was to fear him.