Francis William Bourdillon (1852–1921) was a British poet, translator, and bibliophile known for his lyrical poetry and medieval literature scholarship. His poem The Night Has a Thousand Eyes remains one of his most celebrated verses.
Born in Runcorn, Cheshire, he studied at Haileybury College and Worcester College-Oxford, earning a B.A. (1877) and M.A. (1882.) He tutored Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein’s sons (1876–79) before settling in Eastbourne and later Midhurst, Sussex. A member of the Alpine Club, he advocated for Swiss Alps preservation.
Bourdillon published numerous poetry collections, including Among the Flowers, and Other Poems (1878,) Minuscula: Lyrics of Nature, Art and Love (1897,) and Gerard and Isabel: A Romance in Form of Cantefable (1921.) His scholarly works include The Early Editions of the Roman de la Rose (1906,) a study of medieval French literature, and his translation of Aucassin et Nicolette (1887,) which gained popularity.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Francis William Bourdillon
The night has a thousand eyes, And the day but one; Yet the light of the bright world dies With the dying sun. The mind has a thousand eyes, And the heart but one: Yet the light of a whole life dies When love is done.
—Francis William Bourdillon
Topics: Eyes, Night
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