She Walks in Beauty by George Gordon, Lord Byron
She Walks in Beauty
by George Gordon, Lord Byron
George Gordon Byron,
6th Baron Byron
by Henry Meyer, after James Holmes
stipple engraving printed in colours, 1818 (NPG D9055)
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Creative Commons License
I
She walks in beauty—like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies,
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes;
Thus mellowed to the tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
II
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress
Or softly lightens o’er her face—
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling place.
III
And on that cheek and o’er that brow
So soft, so calm yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow
But tell of days in goodness spent
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent.
***
