She Walks In Beauty

She Walks in Beauty is a poem written in 1814 by Lord Byron. It was the first of several poems to be set to Jewish tunes from the synagogue by Isaac Nathan, which were published as Hebrew Melodies in 1815.

Byron is said to have written the poem after meeting his cousin Lady Anne Wilmot Horton in black mourning clothes, which, when combined with her pale skin and "raven tresses" (black hair), reminded him of stars and the night. The poem claims this lovely outer appearance as a sign of her inner beauty and purity. This was a popular theme of Renaissance and Medieval poetry. This poem is not necessarily a love poem, but more of a celebration of the subject's beauty.

Information quoted from: Wikipedia.org

by Lord Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824)

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
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;
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,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

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