1814年6月,时年26岁的拜伦在一次聚会中邂逅 Mrs. Anne Beatrix Wilmot,其为之倾倒,继而创作了这首讴歌女性之美的抒情诗。
女性之美富于阴柔,故诗中营造的诸多意象:夜空、繁星、秀发、脸颊、仪态、思绪,由表及里,动态地抒发了诗人的情愫。
透过文字,伊人倩影,明艳不可方物,心灵亦淑洁如玉。
She Walks in Beauty
George Gordon, Lord Byron
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!