Is she not passing fair?

"Is she not passing fair?" is a song written by the English composer Edward Elgar.

It was completed on 28 October 1886 but not published until 1908, by Boosey & Co.

It is described as a "Lay", written by Charles, Duke of Orléans (1391-1466) and translated from the French by Louisa Stuart Costello.

Lyrics
IS SHE NOT PASSING FAIR?


 * Is she not passing fair,
 * She whom I love so well ?
 * On earth, in sea, or air,
 * Where may her equal dwell ?
 * Oh! tell me, ye who dare
 * To brave her beauty's spell,
 * Is she not passing fair,
 * She whom I love so well ?


 * Whether she speak or sing,
 * Be jocund or serene,
 * Alike in ev'rything,
 * Is she not beauty's queen ?
 * Then let the world declare,
 * Let all who see her tell,
 * That she is passing fair,
 * She whom I love so well !

Recordings

 * Songs and Piano Music by Edward Elgar has "Is she not passing fair?" performed by Mark Wilde (tenor), with David Owen Norris (piano).
 * The Songs of Edward Elgar SOMM CD 220 Neil Mackie (tenor) with Malcolm Martineau (piano), at Southlands College, London, April 1999