I just looked up the word “byronic” in the dictionary, and it means “of, like or characteristic of Byron or his writings, romantic, passionate, cynical, ironic, etc.” I just thought it meant tall, dark, and handsome, and I also thought Lord Byron, whose birthday is today, was supposed to BE wildly good-looking. Here’s the best picture I could find; you see what you think.

Maybe you’re more impressed than I am–or maybe I’m just being Byronic (cynical). Anyway, I did always like this scrap of poetry by Byron–even though I’ve heard people quote it Byronically (cynically and ironically):

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:

It would be fun to have that written about me.