What Great Men Have Said About Women | Page 2

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.
Sonnet XX.
No other but a woman's reason;?I think him so, because I think him so.
Two Gentlemen of Verona, A. 1, S. 2.
The hand that hath made you fair hath made?you good: the goodness that is cheap in beauty?makes beauty brief in goodness; but grace?being the soul of your complexion, should keep?the body of it ever fair.
Measure for Measure, A. 3, S. 1.
If ladies be but young and fair,?They have the gift to know it.
As You Like It, A. 2, S. 7.
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!"
Two Gentlemen of Verona, A. 3, S. 1.
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.
Twelfth Night, A. 2, S. 4.
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.
Henry VIII., A. 5, S. 4.
JOHN MILTON.
Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye,?In every gesture dignity and love.
Paradise Lost, Book 8.
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.
Paradise Lost, Book 8.
Nothing lovelier can be found?In woman than to study household good,?And good works in her husband to promote.
Paradise Lost, Book 9.
For contemplation he and valour form'd;?For softness she and sweet attractive grace;?He for God only, she for God in him.
Paradise Lost, Book 4.
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.
Paradise Regained, Book 2.
Ladies, whose bright eyes?Rain influence.
L'Allegro.
Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shined.
Sonnet.
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!
Paradise Lost, Book 9.
Curiosity, inquisitive, importune?Of secrets, then with like infirmity?To publish them, both common female faults.
Samson Agonistes.
In argument with men, a woman ever?Goes by the worse, whatever be her cause.
Samson Agonistes.
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.
Paradise Lost, Book 9.
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?
Paradise Lost, Book 9.
By his countenance he seem'd?Entering on studious thoughts abstruse; which Eve?Perceiving, where she sat retired in sight,?With lowliness majestic from her seat,?And grace that won who saw to wish her stay,?Rose, and went forth among her fruits and flowers,?To visit how they prosper'd, bud and bloom,?Her nursery; they at her coming sprung,?And, touch'd by her fair tendance gladlier grew.
Paradise Lost, Book 8.
So dear to Heaven is saintly chastity,?That, when a soul is found sincerely so?A thousand liveried angels lackey her,?Driving far off each thing of sin and guilt,?And in clear dream and solemn vision?Tell her of things that no gross ear can hear;?Till oft converse with heavenly habitants?Begin to cast a beam on the outward shape.
Comus.
A smile that glow'd?Celestial rosy red, love's proper hue.
Paradise Lost, Book 8.
She has a hidden strength ...?... The strength of Heaven,?It may be termed her own.?'Tis chastity ... chastity....?She that has that, is clad in complete steel;?And, like a quiver'd Nymph with arrows keen,?May trace huge forests, and unharbour'd heaths,?... and sandy perilous wilds ...?She may pass on with unblench'd majesty?Be it not done in pride, or in presumption.
Comus.
O Woman, in thy native innocence, rely?On what thou hast of virtue: summon all,?For God toward thee hath done His part, do thine.
Paradise Lost, Book 9.
What higher in her society thou find'st?Attractive, human, rational, love still;?In loving thou dost well, in passion not?Wherein true love consists not.
Paradise Lost, Book 8.
The wife, where danger or dishonour lurks,?Safest and seemliest by her husband stays,?Who guards her, or with her the worst endures.
Paradise Lost,