Modest, and fair, for fair and good are near
Neighbours, howe'er.
No noble virtue ever was alone,
But two in one.
Then, when I praise sweet modesty, I praise
Bright beauty's rays:
And having praised both beauty and modesty,
I have praised thee.
Silence in woman, is like speech in man,
Deny it who can.
Nor, is it a tale,
That female vice should be a virtue male,
Or masculine vice, a female virtue be:
You shall it see
Proved with increase,
I know to speak, and she to hold her peace.
(from Epicoene)