John Clare

Patty of the Vale

Where lonesome woodlands close surrounding
  Mark the spot a solitude,
And nature’s uncheck’d scenes abounding
  Form a prospect wild and rude,
A cottage cheers the spot so glooming,
  Hid in the hollow of the dale,
Where, in youth and beauty blooming
  Lives sweet Patty of the Vale.

Gay as the lambs her cot surrounding,
  Sporting wild the shades among,
O’er the hills and bushes bounding,
  Artless, innocent, and young,
Fresh, as blush of morning roses
  Ere the mid-day suns prevail,
Fair as lily-bud uncloses,
  Blooms sweet Patty of the Vale.

Low and humble though her station,
  Dress though mean she’s doom’d to wear,
Few superiors in the nation
  With her beauty can compare.
What are riches?--not worth naming,
  Though with some they may prevail;
Their’s be choice of wealth proclaiming,
  Mine is Patty of the Vale.

Fools may fancy wealth and fortune
  Join to make a happy pair,
And for such the god importune,
  With full many a fruitless prayer:
I, their pride and wealth disdaining
  Should my humble hopes prevail,
Happy then, would cease complaining,
  Blest with Patty of the Vale.