Fresh tears

Stood on her cheeks, as doth the honey-dew

Upon a gather'd lily almost wither'd.

Patience and sorrow strove

Who should express her goodliest. You have seen

Sunshine and rain at once; her smiles and tears

Were like a better day: those happy smilets,

That play'd on her ripe lip, seem'd not to know

What guests were in her eyes; which parted thence,

As pearls from diamonds dropp'd.

She is mine own;

And I as rich in having such a jewel

As twenty seas, if all their sand were pearl,

The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold.

A woman impudent and mannish grown

Is not more loath'd than an effeminate man

In time of action.

A woman's face, with Nature's own hand painted,

Hast thou ...

A woman's gentle heart, but not acquainted

With shifting change, as is false woman's fashion:

An eye more bright than theirs, less false in rolling

Gilding the object whereupon it gazeth.

No other but a woman's reason;

I think him so, because I think him so.

If ladies be but young and fair,

They have the gift to know it.

If she do frown, 'tis not in hate of you,

But rather to beget more love in you:

If she do chide, 'tis not to have you gone;

Take no repulse, whatever she doth say;

For "Get you gone," she doth not mean "Away!"

She never told her love,

But let concealment, like a worm i' the bud,

Feed on her damask cheek: she pin'd in thought,

And, with a green and yellow melancholy,

She saw, like Patience on a monument,

Smiling at grief.

She shall be

A pattern to all ... living with her....

Holy and heavenly thoughts shall still counsel her;

She shall be lov'd and fear'd. Her own shall bless her....

... Those about her

From her shall read the perfect ways of honour....

... Yet a virgin,

A most unspotted lily shall she pass

To the ground, and all shall mourn her.

Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye,

In every gesture dignity and love.

When I approach

Her loveliness, so absolute she seems

And in herself complete, so well to know

Her own, that what she wills to do or say

Seems wisest, virtuest, discreetest, best.

Nothing lovelier can be found

In woman than to study household good,

And good works in her husband to promote.

For contemplation he and valour form'd;

For softness she and sweet attractive grace;

He for God only, she for God in him.

Among daughters of men …

Many are in each region passing fair

As the noon sky; more like to goddesses

Than mortal creatures; graceful and discreet;

… Persuasive …

Such objects have the power to soften and tame

Severest temper.

Ladies, whose bright eyes

Rain influence.

Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shined.

O fairest of Creation, last and best

Of all God's works, creature in whom excell'd

Whatever can to sight or thought be form'd,

Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet!

Curiosity, inquisitive, importune

Of secrets, then with like infirmity

To publish them, both common female faults.

In argument with men, a woman ever

Goes by the worse, whatever be her cause.

Thus it will befall

Him who to worth in woman overturning

Lets her will rule; restraint she will not brook,

And left to herself, if evil thence ensue,

She first his weak indulgence will accuse.

Daughter of God …

I, from the influence of thy looks, receive

Access in every virtue: and in thy sight

More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were

Of outward strength; while shame, thou looking on.

Shame to be overcome or overreach'd.

Would utmost vigour raise, and raised unite.

Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel

When I am present, and thy trial choose

With me, best witness of thy virtue tried?

By his countenance he seem'd

Entering on studious thoughts