| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
| |
| Alexander Pope. 1688–1744 |
| |
| 440. On a certain Lady at Court |
| |
| I KNOW a thing that 's most uncommon; | |
| (Envy, be silent and attend!) | |
| I know a reasonable woman, | |
| Handsome and witty, yet a friend. | |
| |
| Not warp'd by passion, awed by rumour; | 5 |
| Not grave through pride, nor gay through folly; | |
| An equal mixture of good-humour | |
| And sensible soft melancholy. | |
| |
| 'Has she no faults then (Envy says), Sir?' | |
| Yes, she has one, I must aver: | 10 |
| When all the world conspires to praise her, | |
| The woman's deaf, and does not hear. | |
|
|
