"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 entitled Song.—Ed.

The Poem

text variant footnote line number

She dwelt among the untrodden ways
Beside the springs of Dove,
A Maid whom there were none to praise
And very few to love:

A violet by a mossy stone
Half hidden from the eye!
—Fair as a star, when only one
Is shining in the sky.

She lived unknown, and few could know
When Lucy ceased to be;
But she is in her grave, and, oh,
The difference to me!

Contents

5

10

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.

1799 Contents
Main Contents