Social Commentaries

Of too high commendation in a meane person

by Sir John Harington 1560–1612

From The Most Elegant and Witty Epigrams (1618), Book 4

Social Commentaries

A Scholler once, to win his Mistresse loue,
Compar'd her to three Goddesses aboue,
And said she had (to giue her due desarts)
Iuno's, Minerua's, and faire Venus parts.
Iuno so proud, and curst was of her tongue,
All men misliked her both old and yong.
Pallas so soule, and grim was out of measure,
That neither gods nor men in her tooke pleasure.
Venus vnchaste, that she strong Mars entices,
With yong Adonis, and with old Anchises.
How thinke you, are these praises few or meane,
Compared to a shrow, a slut, or queane?

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Book 4, Epigram 79

MLA

Harington, John. “Of too high commendation in a meane person.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/245/.

Chicago

Harington, John. “Of too high commendation in a meane person.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/245/.

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