She hadna sailed a league, a league, A league but barely three, When dismal grew his countenance And drumlie grew his e'e. They hadna sailed a league, a league, A league but barely three, Until she espied his cloven foot, And she wept right bitterlie.

-Ballads
'The Demon Lover'.

The L bless thee, and keep thee: The L makehisfaceshineuponthee, and be gracious unto thee: The L lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

-Bible (Old Testament)
ORDORDORDNumbers 6:24^6.

Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the L seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the L looketh on the heart.

-Bible (Old Testament)
ORDORD1 Samuel16:7.

Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the L said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

-Bible (Old Testament)
ORD1 Samuel16:12.

Why art thou cast down,O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

-Bible (Old Testament)
Psalms 42:5.

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.

-Bible (Old Testament)
Proverbs15:13.

And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell as his feet as dead.

-Bible (NewTestament)
Revelation1:13^17.

And did the Countenance Divine Shine forth upon our clouded hills? And was Jerusalem builded here Among these dark Satanic mills?

-Blake,William
  Milton, preface. Stanza 2.

When you meet Mr. Smith first you think he looks like an over-dressed pirate. Then you begin to think him a character.You wonder at his enormous bulk. Then the utter hopelessness of knowing what Smith is thinking by merely looking at his features gets on your mind and makes the Mona Lisa seem an open book and the ordinary human countenance as superficial as a puddle in the sunlight.

-Leacock, Stephen Butler
  Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town,'The Hostelry of Mr. Smith'.

Even so for me a vision sanctified The sway of death; long ere my eyes had seen Thy countenanceöthe still rapture of thy mienö When thou, dear Sister! wert become death's bride: No trace of pain or languor could abide That changeöage on thy brow was smoothedöthy cold Wan cheek at once was privileged to unfold A loveliness to living youth denied. Oh! if within me hope should e'er decline, The lamp of faith, lost Friend! too faintly burn; The may that heaven-revealing smile of thine, The bright assurance, visibly return: And let my spirit in that power divine Rejoice, as, through that power, it ceased to mourn.

-Wordsworth,William
  'November1836', complete poem (published1837).