The Poetical Works of Ebenezer Elliott Edited by his Son Edwin Elliott ... A New and Revised Edition: Two Volumes |
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 | The Poetical Works of Ebenezer Elliott |  |
III.
In the mark'd hut, whose flamed-up smoke declaresThat morn approaches, heavily snores one
Who loves the moon, and seldom sees the sun:
Upon his chested picklocks, gun, and snares,
He sits, and nods. Starting, he wakes, and stares
Red as the fire, after his boys, who run
Through the quick-closing door, into the dun
Cold road, for warmth; while his gloom'd wife prepares
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His right to live by honest labour? Why,
Ev'n as the desert's tiger, is he free?
Gamekeeper once, now poacher, (When to be
Burglar and cutthroat?) the world's worst he dares;
Because he stole one of our Master's hares!
| The Poetical Works of Ebenezer Elliott | |