Trust me the meed of praise, dealt thriftily <br />From the nice scale of judgement, honours more <br />Than does the lavish and o'erbearing tide <br />Of profuse courtesy. Not all the gems <br />Of India's richest soil at random spread <br />O'er the gay vesture of some glittering dame, <br />Give such alluring vantage to the person, <br />As the scant lustre of a few, with choice <br />And comely guise of ornament disposed.<br /><br />William Cowper<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/in-a-letter-to-c-p-esq-in-imitation-of-shakspeare/
