Lines

• 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!