The Butcher's Horse and the Bees: a Village Tragedy (1807)
THE BUTCHER’S HORSE AND THE BEES.
A VILLAGE TRAGEDY (1807) [*]
to the editor of the monthly magazine
Sir,
The following simple story contains nothing of fiction. The butcher, whose name was Catton, lived nearly opposite the present residence of our mutual friend, C. Lofft, Esq. at Troston; and the accident happened at the farm now in the occupation of Mr. Mothersole, at Sapiston, Suffolk.
Yours, &c.
ROB. BLOOMFIELD
Notes
*Published in The Monthly Mirror, NS 1 (January 1807), 59, The Sporting Magazine, 29 (1807), 308, and in The History of Little Davy’s New Hat. BACK
[1] towering high] burning hot The History of Little Davy’s New Hat BACK
[2] A butcher’s steed, with drowsy eye] Old Dobbin’s bridle, hapless lot! Little Davy’s New Hat BACK
[3] Stood waiting] Was fastened Little Davy’s New Hat BACK
[4] Fast went his master’s tongue … and drink, and stand] omitted in Little Davy’s New Hat BACK
[5] A beehive near, that instant] By accident a bee-hive Little Davy’s New Hat BACK
[6] Quick vengeance sounded … punish or to die] omitted in Little Davy’s New Hat BACK
[7] At once they roar’d round Dobbin’s] Enraged, they fastened round his Little Davy’s New Hat BACK
[8] his] the Little Davy’s New Hat BACK
[9] They, just] But just Little Davy’s New Hat BACK
[10] Unstrapt, the jolting baskets … out-lasted sight] omitted in Little Davy’s New Hat BACK
[11] For sore they pierc’d … more deadly stung] stanza five in Little Davy’s New Hat and reworded:
BACKBut still they pierced his swelling eyes,And clustered round his lips and tongue.Sharp are the stings of swarming flies,But angry bees more deadly stung.
[12] In mid-day darkness … the race renew’d] omitted in Little Davy’s New Hat BACK
[13] Help came from cottage … hundreds on the ground] stanza four in Little Davy’s New Hat and reworded:
BACKHis master came, the farmer, too,And all who could at home be found;They lashed the bees with many a bough,And trampled hundreds on the ground;
[14] Not one the less … stood dismay’d] omitted in Little Davy’s New Hat BACK
[15] O’er his poor beast … from childhood’s early years]
BACKThe butcher felt his loss full sore,He looked, and wept, and looked again;For few poor beasts were valued more,And few had died in greater pain.] Little Davy’s New Hat