New Boss at Birchfields (27 page)

HARLEQUIN PLUS

A GREAT ROMANTIC POET

Briony
’
s favorite poet is Lord Byron, one of the great Romantic poets of the nineteenth century. It is not difficult to fall under the spell of Byron
’
s eloquently beautiful verse, as his stirring
“
She Walks in Beauty,
”
reprinted below, will show.

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,

That tell of days in goodness spent,

A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent!