as wise and deft as be thy wrists and thine hands, and their very
fellows. Now as to thy face: under that smooth forehead is thy
nose, which is of measure, neither small nor great, straight, and
lovely carven at the nostrils: thine eyen are as grey as a hawk's,
but kind and serious, and nothing fierce nor shifting. Nay, now thou
lettest thine eyelids fall, it is as fair with thy face as if they
were open, so smooth and simple are they and with their long full
lashes. But well are thine eyen set in thine head, wide apart, well
opened, and so as none shall say thou mayst not look in the face of
them. Thy cheeks shall one day be a snare for the unwary, yet are
they not fully rounded, as some would have them; but not I, for most
pitiful kind are they forsooth. Delicate and clear-made is the
little trench that goeth from thy nose to thy lips, and sweet it is,
and there is more might in it than in sweet words spoken. Thy lips,
they are of the finest fashion, yet rather thin than full; and some
would not have it so; but I would, whereas I see therein a sign of
thy valiancy and friendliness. Surely he who did thy carven chin had
a mind to a master-work and did no less. Great was the deftness of
thine imaginer, and he would have all folk that see thee wonder at
thy deep thinking and thy carefulness and thy kindness. Ah maiden!
is it so that thy thoughts are ever deep and solemn? Yet at least I
know it of thee that they be hale and true and sweet.

My friend, when thou hast a mirror, some of all this shalt thou see,
but not all; and when thou hast a lover some deal wilt thou hear, but
not all. But now thy she-friend may tell it thee all, if she have
eyes to see it, as have I; whereas no man could say so much of thee
before the mere love should overtake him, and turn his speech into
the folly of love and the madness of desire. So now I have played
the play, and told thee of thee; tell me now of me, and play thy