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 that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
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.
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!
Bio
Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron, 1788-1824) was one of the leading figures of British Romanticism and a poet whose life was almost as dramatic as his works.
Born with a clubfoot and into a tumultuous family, Byron inherited his title at age 10. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where his eccentric lifestyle and rebellious nature began to emerge. His first collection of poems, “Hours of Idleness” (1807), received harsh criticism, to which he responded with the satirical poem “English Bards and Scotch Reviewers.”
Byron became famous overnight with the publication of “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage” in 1812. He famously remarked that he “awoke one morning and found myself famous.” His popularity was enhanced by his striking good looks, charismatic personality, and scandalous personal life.
His romantic affairs were legendary and numerous. He had relationships with both men and women, including a scandalous affair with his half-sister Augusta Leigh. His brief marriage to Annabella Milbanke ended in separation amid rumors of incest and other improprieties, forcing him to leave England in 1816 under a cloud of scandal.
In exile, Byron traveled through Europe, spending time in Switzerland with Percy and Mary Shelley. He eventually settled in Italy, where he wrote some of his greatest works, including “Don Juan.” He died at age 36 in Missolonghi, Greece, where he had gone to support the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire.
Byron’s poetry is characterized by its passionate intensity, satirical wit, and exploration of themes like love, freedom, and rebellion. His life and work embodied the Romantic ideal of the brooding, rebellious hero – so much so that the term “Byronic hero” was coined to describe this character type. His influence extended far beyond English literature, inspiring artists and revolutionaries throughout Europe and making him one of the first modern celebrities.
Known as “mad, bad, and dangerous to know” (in the words of Lady Caroline Lamb), Byron remains one of the most colorful and influential figures in English literature, whose life and work continue to fascinate readers today.
