Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
George Gordon Byron, Lord Byron. 17881824600. She walks in Beauty
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 mellow’d to that tender light | 5 |
Which heaven to gaudy day denies. | |
One shade the more, one ray the less, | |
Had half impair’d the nameless grace | |
Which waves in every raven tress, | |
Or softly lightens o’er her face; | 10 |
Where thoughts serenely sweet express | |
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place. | |
And on that cheek, and o’er that brow, | |
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, | |
The smiles that win, the tints that glow, | 15 |
But tell of days in goodness spent, | |
A mind at peace with all below, | |
A heart whose love is innocent! |