How we cite our quotes: I cite by line number only in this module.
Quote #1
She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies; (lines 1-2)
The opening simile of the poem compares the unnamed woman to vast and intangible things, like "night" and "starry skies." Why can't he just compare her to a flower, or to something that we can wrap our minds around more easily?
Quote #2
And all that's best of dark and bright (line 3)
If you thought "night" and "starry skies" were abstract ideas, that's nothing. In this line, the speaker relates her beauty to "the best of dark and bright." How can you have a "best" (or worst) of darkness or brightness? We're not used to making value judgments about things as abstract as light and dark.
Quote #3
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies. (lines 5-6)
More vast and intangible things! The woman now seems to almost be casting a gentle glow ("tender light"). Her glow is much better than daylight, though – "day" is described as "gaudy," or over-bright and garish, by comparison.