Social Commentaries

Lesbias rule of praise

by Sir John Harington 1560–1612

From The Most Elegant and Witty Epigrams (1618), Book 2

Social Commentaries

LEsbia, whom some thought a louely creature,
Doth sometimes praise some other womans feature:
Yet this I do obserue, that none she praises,
Whom worthy fame, by beauties merits praises
But onely of their seemely parts she tels,
Whom she doth sure beleeue, her selfe excels.
So, Linus praises Churchyard in his censure,
Not Sydney, Daniel, Constable, nor Spencer.

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Book 2, Epigram 100

MLA

Harington, John. “Lesbias rule of praise.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/144/.

Chicago

Harington, John. “Lesbias rule of praise.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/144/.

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