Eric Portman - She walks in Beauty - Lord Byron

Eric Portman reads Lord Byron's famous poem, She Walks In Beauty. Recorded in 1959 and released on the EP Palgraves Golden Treasury.

http://ezinearticles.com/?She-Walks-In-Beauty,-A-Discussion-of-the-Poem-by-Lo...

"In June, 1814, several months before he met and married his first wife, Anna Milbanke, Lord Byron attended a party at Lady Sitwells. While at the party, Lord Byron was inspired by the sight of his cousin, the beautiful Mrs. Wilmot, who was wearing a black spangled mourning dress. Lord Byron was struck by his cousins dark hair and fair face, the mingling of various lights and shades. This became the essence of his poem about her.

According to his friend, James W. Webster, "I did take him to Lady Sitwells party in Seymour Road. He there for the first time saw his cousin, the beautiful Mrs. Wilmot. When we returned to his rooms in Albany, he said little, but desired Fletcher to give him a tumbler of brandy, which he drank at one to Mrs. Wilmots health, then retired to rest, and was, I heard afterwards, in a sad state all night. The next day he wrote those charming lines upon her—She walks in Beauty like the Night"



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!

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Eric
• Portman
• Lord
• Byron
• She
• walks
• in
• Beauty
• poem
• mourning
• regency

[NostalgicNorthland]

They don't seem to produce voices like this any more. A wonderful actor whose beautiful voice does real justice to a beautiul poem. Thank you.

[MorseThe838021]

You can get the audio-mp3 of this vid at grabyourmp3 doht cohm.

[AradiaMagick]

This is one of my favorite George Gordon (Lord Byron) poems....."A tale of days..goodness spent" Beautiful!

[ilovecollecting]

I loved Eric Portman. Great actor - made some great movies, and obviously reads Poetry with such eloquence. Thanks for Posting.

[greyfenris]

nice reading .. I hadnt heard before .. big fan of canterbury tale

[bloomindoomin]

hauntingly beautiful...

[daughterrevolution]

Beautiful!