Page:Peter Bell (Wordsworth).djvu/47

Part I. "What's this!" cried Peter, brandishing

A new-peel'd sapling white as cream;

The Ass knew well what Peter said,

But, as before, hung down his head

Over the silent stream.

Then Peter gave a sudden jirk,

A jirk that from a dungeon floor

Would have pulled up an iron ring;

But still the heavy-headed thing

Stood just as he had stood before!

Quoth Peter, leaping from his seat,

"There is some plot against me laid;"

Once more the little meadow ground

And all the hoary cliffs around

He cautiously survey'd.