Classic Poem

A learned woman and an humble too
May for a miracle amongst us go.
She's mistriss of all arts, and of one more,
To shew so little of so great a store;
That woman which hath more then common worth
Seldom wants tongue enough to set it forth;
But she that knowes much with sobrietie,
Is somewhat like unto the Deitie.
Veild o're with humane flesh, which seems to be
God manifested, yet a mysterie.
Much more she is indeed then she'l appear;
Her inside's velvet when her outside's hair.
Like to a vessel full of precious wine,
Or like unto a rich concealed mine;
The vessel makes no noise, but pierce it, then
It liquor yields that cheers the heart of men;
The mine conceal'd, though rich, no profit brings,
But once discovered is a prize for kings.
A miracle, a mistris of all arts,
A mysterie made up of all choice parts,
A vessel fil'd with nectar, a rich mine,
All these you are, though you all these decline.
And make yourself more then yourself to be
By letting us not half your merits see.
Thus Jacob's vision is made good to you:
When e're you sleep, you may the ladder view
Reaching from earth to heaven, made without hands;
At foot whereof Humility there stands,
Knowledge above upon the highest round,
All other graces like the angels found
Ascending and descending up and down,
To court you here a-while, and there you crown.
This makes us somewhat jealous, and to fear
Lest by this ladder they attempt to bear
You soon to heaven, and leave us in the night
Of ignorance when we have lost our light.
Stand still in our horizon then, we pray,
Like Joshua's sun, and double make our day;
For you impart a greater influence here
Then when you shal be fixt i' th'highest sphere.