Ed.]
"SHE DWELT AMONG THE UNTRODDEN WAYS"
Composed 1799.--Published 1800
One of the "Poems founded on the Affections." In the edition of 1800 it is ent.i.tled "Song".--Ed.
She dwelt among the untrodden ways Beside the springs of Dove, A Maid whom there were none to praise And very few to love: [1]
A violet by a mossy stone 5 Half hidden from the eye!
--Fair as a star, when only one Is shining in the sky.
She lived [2] unknown, and few could know When Lucy ceased to be; 10 But she is in her grave, and, oh, The difference to me!
VARIANTS ON THE TEXT
[Variant 1:
1800.
A very few ... 1802.
The text of the edition of 1805 returns to that of 1800.]
[Variant 2: The word "lived" was italicised in the edition of 1800 only.]
"I TRAVELLED AMONG UNKNOWN MEN"
Composed 1799.-Published 1807
One of the "Poems founded on the Affections."--Ed.
I travelled among unknown men, In lands beyond the sea; Nor, England! did I know till then What love I bore to thee.
"Tis past, that melancholy dream! 5 Nor will I quit thy sh.o.r.e A second time; for still I seem To love thee more and more.
Among thy mountains did I feel The joy of my desire; [1] 10 And she I cherished turned her wheel Beside an English fire.
Thy mornings showed, thy nights concealed The bowers where Lucy played; And thine too is the last green field 15 That Lucy"s eyes surveyed. [2] [A]
VARIANTS ON THE TEXT
[Variant 1:
The gladness of desire; MS.]
[Variant 2:
1836.
And thine is, too, the last green field Which ... 1807.
That ... 1815.]