[38]
Then Peter gave a sudden jerk,
A jerk 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!
405
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 surveyed.
410
All, all is silent—rocks and
woods,
All still and silent—far and
near!
Only the Ass, with motion dull,
Upon the pivot of his skull
Turns round his long left ear.
415
Thought Peter, What can mean all this?
Some ugly witchcraft must be here!
—Once more the Ass, with motion dull,
Upon the pivot of his skull
Turned round his long left ear.
420
Suspicion ripened into dread;
Yet with deliberate action slow,
His staff high-raising, in the pride
Of skill, upon the sounding hide, [39]
He dealt a sturdy blow.
425
The poor Ass staggered with the shock;
And then, as if to take his ease, [40]
In quiet uncomplaining mood,
Upon the spot where he had stood,
Dropped gently down upon his knees;
430
As gently on [41] his side he fell;
And by the river’s brink did lie;
And, while [42] he lay like one that mourned,
The patient Beast on Peter turned
His shining hazel eye. [43]
435
’Twas but one mild, reproachful
look,
A look more tender than severe;
And straight in sorrow, not in dread,
He turned the eye-ball in his head
Towards the smooth river [44] deep and
clear. 440
Upon the Beast the sapling rings;
His lank sides heaved, [45] his limbs
they stirred;
He gave a groan, and then another,
Of that which went before the brother,
And then he gave a third.
445
All by the moonlight river side
He gave three miserable groans;
And not till now hath Peter seen
How gaunt the Creature is,—how
lean
And sharp his staring bones! [46]
450
With legs stretched out and stiff he lay:—
No word of kind commiseration
Fell at the sight from Peter’s tongue;
With hard contempt his heart was wrung,
With hatred and vexation.
455
The meagre beast lay still as death;
And Peter’s lips with fury quiver;
Quoth he, “You little mulish dog,
I’ll fling your carcass like a log
Head-foremost down the river!”
460
An impious oath confirmed the threat—
Whereat from the earth on which he lay
[47]
To all the echoes, south and north,
And east and west, the Ass sent forth
A long and clamorous bray! [48]
465