VIRTUE is like a rich stone, best plain set; and surely virtue is best, in a body that is comely, though not of delicate features; and that hath rather dignity of presence, than beauty of aspect. Neither is it almost seen, that very beautiful persons are otherwise of great virtue; as if nature were rather busy, not to err, than in labor to produce excellency. And therefore they prove accomplished, but not of great spirit; and study rather behavior, than virtue. But this holds not always: for Augustus Caesar, Titus Vespasianus, Philip le Belle of France, Edward the Fourth of England, Alcibiades of Athens, Ismael the Sophy of Persia, were all high and great spirits; and yet the most beautiful men of their times. In beauty, that of favor, is more than that of color; and that of decent and gracious motion, more than that of favor. That is the best part of beauty, which a picture cannot express; no, nor the first sight of the life. There is no excellent beauty, that hath not some strangeness in the proportion. A man cannot tell whether Apelles, or Albert Durer, were the more trifler; whereof the one, would make a personage by geometrical proportions; the other, by taking the best parts out of divers faces, to make one excellent. Such personages, I think, would please nobody, but the painter that made them. Not but I think a painter may make a better face than ever was; but he must do it by a kind of felicity (as a musician that maketh an excellent air in music), and not by rule. A man shall see faces, that if you examine them part by part, you shall find never a good; and yet altogether do well. If it be true that the principal part of beauty is in decent motion, certainly it is no marvel, though persons in years seem many times more amiable; pulchrorum autumnus pulcher; for no youth can be comely but by pardon, and considering the youth, as to make up the comeliness. Beauty is as summer fruits, which are easy to corrupt, and cannot last; and for the most part it makes a dissolute youth, and an age a little out of countenance; but yet certainly again, if it light well, it maketh virtue shine, and vices blush.
VIRTUE is like a precious stone, best in a plain setting. It looks best in a pleasing body, though not one with delicate features. Dignity of presence suits it better than beauty of face. Very beautiful people are rarely also greatly virtuous. It is as though nature focused on avoiding flaws rather than creating excellence. Such people tend to be polished, but not great in spirit. They pay more attention to manners than to virtue. But this is not always true. Augustus Caesar, Titus Vespasian, Philip the Fair of France, and Edward IV of England were all great and noble spirits. So were Alcibiades of Athens and Ismael, the Shah of Persia. Yet all were among the most beautiful men of their times. In beauty, facial features matter more than complexion, and graceful, fitting movement matters more than facial features. The best part of beauty cannot be captured in a picture, or even in a first glimpse of someone. No exceptional beauty is without something unusual in its proportions. It is hard to say whether Apelles or Albrecht Dürer was more foolish in this matter. One tried to construct a figure using geometric proportions. The other combined the finest features of several faces to create one perfect face. Such figures, I think, would please nobody but the painter who made them. Still, I think a painter can create a face more beautiful than any that has ever existed. But this requires inspired skill, like a musician composing an excellent melody, rather than rules. Some faces have no good feature when examined part by part, yet look pleasing as a whole. If graceful movement is beauty's chief ingredient, it is no wonder older people often seem more attractive. The autumn of the beautiful is beautiful. Young people can seem graceful only if we make allowances for their youth and let youth supply what is missing. Beauty is like summer fruit, which spoils easily and cannot last. For the most part, it leads to a reckless youth and an old age somewhat embarrassed by lost looks. Yet certainly, when beauty belongs to a worthy person, it makes virtue shine and vices blush.