George Gordon Lord Byron (1788-1824)
She Walks in Beauty
1She walks in beauty, like the night
2 Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
3And all that's best of dark and bright
4 Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
5Thus mellow'd to that tender light
6 Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
7One shade the more, one ray the less,
8 Had half impair'd the nameless grace
9Which waves in every raven tress,
10 Or softly lightens o'er her face;
11Where thoughts serenely sweet express
12 How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
13And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
14 So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
15The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
16 But tell of days in goodness spent,
17A mind at peace with all below,
18 A heart whose love is innocent!
Notes
1] "She" is Byron's cousin, Mrs. Wilmot, whom he met at a party in a mourning dress of spangled black.
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: Byron, Works, 17 vols. (London: John Murray, 1832-33). PR 4351 M6 1832 ROBA. George Gordon, lord Byron, Hebrew Melodies (London: J. Murray, 1815). B-10 3742 Fisher Rare Book Library (Toronto).
First publication date:
1815
RPO poem editor: M. T. Wilson
RP edition: 3RP 2.488.
Recent editing: 2:2002/3/21
Composition date:
June
1814
Rhyme: ababab
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