Maydens, be they never so foolyshe, yet beeing fayre they are…

Quote byJohn Lyly · 1554–1606

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Euphues and His England, P. 279.

English (original)

Maydens, be they never so foolyshe, yet beeing fayre they are commonly fortunate.

— John Lyly

None is happy but a glutton.

What bird so sings, yet so does wail? Oh, 'tis the ravished nightingale. "Jug, jug, jug, jug, tereu," she cries, And still her woes at midnight rise.

: Were women never to fair, men would be false. : Were women never so false, men would be fond.

O! for a bowl of fat Canary, Rich Palermo, sparkling Sherry.

For wenches, wine, and lusty cheer, Jove would leap down to surfeit here.

Be valyaunt, but not too venturous. Let thy attyre bee comely, but not costly.