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.
Two Byron Songs
Song Cycle by Jean Coulthard (1908 - 2000)
1. She walks in beauty  [sung text not yet checked]
Authorship:
- by George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788 - 1824), "She walks in beauty", appears in Hebrew Melodies, no. 1
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Alexis Paulin Pâris) , "Elle marche pareille en beauté", appears in Mélodies hébraïques, no. 1
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "In Schönheit geht sie", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Ella incede in bellezza", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
2. Maid of Athens, ere we part  [sung text checked 1 time]
Maid of Athens, ere we part, Give, oh give me back my heart! Or, since that has left my breast, Keep it now, and take the rest! Hear my vow before I go, Ζωή μου, σᾶς ἀγαπῶ. By those tresses unconfined, Woo'd by each Ægean wind; By those lids whose jetty fringe Kiss thy soft cheeks' blooming tinge; By those wild eyes like the roe, Ζωή μου, σᾶς ἀγαπῶ. Maid of Athens! I am gone: Think of me, sweet! when alone. Though I fly to Istambol, Athens holds my heart and soul: Can I cease to love thee? No! Ζωή μου, σᾶς ἀγαπῶ.
Authorship:
- by George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788 - 1824), "Song", written 1810, appears in Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, a Romaunt: and other Poems, in Poems, first published 1812
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Jaroslav Vrchlický) , "Atheňanko, než dál jdem"
- FRE French (Français) (Alexis Paulin Pâris) , "Vierge d'Athènes"
Confirmed with Lord Byron, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, a Romaunt: and other Poems, seventh Edition, London: John Murray, 1814, pages 207 - 209. Appears in Poems.
Note: Byron translated the Greek refrain as "My life, I love thee." On the Coulthard score, it is translated "My soul, I love thee."
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]