 | Poetical Meditations |  |
11
Proverbs XXXI. 10.
Who can find a Vertuous Woman, for her Price is far above Rubies.
Vertue's a Babe, first born in Paradice,And hath by birth priority of Vice.
Vertue is all that's good we brought from thence
The dear remains of our first Innocence.
Vertue still makes the Vertuous to shine,
Like those that Liv'd in the first week of time.
Vertue hath force the vile to cleanse again,
So being like clear shining after Rain.
A Kind and Constant, Chearful Vertuous Life,
Becomes each Man, and most Adorns a Wife.
But such a Vertue, ah, where shall we find,
That's Bright, especially in Woman kind?
If such an one had been on Earth, no doubt
Searching King Solomon had found her out.
But stay my Muse, nor may we thence Conclude,
There is not One in all their Multitude:
For tho' it be too True, that Solomon
Amongst a Thousand found not such an one;
It follows not at all but such an one
Amongst an Hundred Thousand may be shown;
Which if she may, her Price beyond Compare,
Excels the Price of Rubies very fair.
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