In praise of Ladie P.

P. Séemes of Venus stock to bée
for beauties comely grace,
A Grysell for hir grauitie,
a Helen for hir face:
A second Pallas for hir Wit,
a Goddesse rare in sight:
A Dian for hir daintinesse,
shée is so chaste a Wight.
Doe vew hir Corse with curious eie,
eche lim from top to toe,
And you shall say I tell but truth
that doe extoll hir so.
The Head as chiefe that stands aloft
and ouer looketh all,
With wisedome is so fully fraught
as Pallas there did all.
Two Eares th ust no trifling tales
nor credit brute:
Yet such againe as readie are
to heare the humbles sute.
Hir Eies are such as will not gaze
on things not worthy sight,
And where she ought to cast a looke
she will not winke in spight.
The golden graines that gréedie guestes
from forraine Countries bring,
Ne shining Phoebus glittring beames
that on his Godhead spring:
No auncient Amber had in price
of Roman Matrons olde,
May be comparde with splendant hatres
that passe the Venys Golde.
Hir Nose adorns hir countnance so
in middle iustly plaste,
As it at no time will permit
hir beautie be defaste.
Hir Mouth so small hir Téeth so white
as any Whale his bone,
Hir lips without so liuely red
that passe the Corall stone.
What neede I to describe hir Chéekes?
hir Chin? or else hir Pap?
For they are all as though the ose
lodge in the Lillies lap
What should I stand vpon the rest
or other parts depaint:
As little Hand with Fingers long?
my wits are all to faint.
Yet this I say in hir behalfe
if Helen were hir léeke,
Sir Paris néede not to disdaine
hir through the Seas to séeke:
Nor Menelaus was vnwise
or Troupe of Troians mad,
When he with them, and they with him,
for hir such combat had.
Leanders labour was not lost
that swam the surging Seas,
If Hero were of such a hue
whome so he sought to please.
And if Admetus Darling déere
were of so fresh a face,
Though Phoebus kept Admetus flock
it may not him disgrace.
Nor mightie Mauors waye the floutes
and laughing of the rest,
If such a one were shée with whome
he lay in Vulcans Nest.
If Bryseis beautie were so braue,
Achylles néedes no blame
Who left the Campe and fled the field
for loosing such a Dame.
If shée in Ida had bene séene
with Pallas and the rest,
I doubt where Paris would haue chose
Dame Venus for the best,
Or if Pygmalion had but tane
a glimse of such a face,
He would not then his Idoll dumme
so feruently imbrace.
But what shall néede so many wordes
in things that are so plaine?
I say but that I doubt where Kinde
can make the like againe.