When I first read 'La Belle Dame sans Merci' it was in the excitement of the Beatles' "Michelle" sung by Paul with some lyrics in French. French Olympians were in vogue (what was that guy's name that all the girls went ga-ga over??) and everyone started to sign up for French language courses in middle school.
Into that tumultuous time, 'La Belle Dame' was printed in its later version (the one that was pushed by Leigh Hunt) with its signature "wretched wight."
Whenever I read this (and I do often, since in High School I dramatized it for my final in Theater [and my wife NEVER lets me forget it!) I find myself using BOTH texts, choosing a phrase from one and a line from the other.
Is this typical bipolar behavior of Clan Keats??
Which is your favorite version. And why. Should we reedit it for poor John?