Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO MISTRESS DIANA CECIL, by EDWARD HERBERT



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TO MISTRESS DIANA CECIL, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Diana cecil, that rare beauty thou dost show
Last Line: When men might hope more than they understood.
Alternate Author Name(s): Cherbury, 1st Baron Herbert Of; Herbert Of Cherbury, Edward Herbert, 1st Baron; Herbert Of Cherbury, Lord
Subject(s): Beauty


DIANA CECIL, that rare beauty thou dost show
Is not of milk or snow,
Or such as pale and whitely things do owe,
But an illustrious oriental bright,
Like to the diamond's refracted light,
Or early morning breaking from the night.

Nor is thy hair and eyes made of that ruddy beam
Or golden-sanded stream
Which we find still the vulgar poets' theme,
But reverend black, and such as you would say
Light did but serve it, and did show the way
By which at first night did precede the day.

Nor is that symmetry of parts and form divine
Made of one vulgar line,
Or such as any know how to define,
But of proportions new, so well express'd,
That the perfections in each part confess'd
Are beauties to themselves and to the rest.

Wonder of all thy sex! let none henceforth inquire
Why they so much admire,
Since they that know thee best ascend no higher;
Only, be not with common praises woo'd,
Since admiration were no longer good,
When men might hope more than they understood.





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