Is she not passing fair?
# 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
