It is assumed that Alexander Pope wrote the following poem for a certain Catherine Howard, one of Queen Caroline's waiting-women and later the Countess of Suffolk. This is construed as his expression of the lady's numerous qualities and the way she shunned his praises and consequent advances toward her. My own understanding was rather different, and I probably like it better that way. The verses describe the image of a perfect woman, and an embodiment of an ideal human being. Not dissecting it too much. Sharing it because it struck a chord somewhere.
ON A CERTAIN LADY AT COURT
I know a thing that's most uncommon;
(Envy, be silent and attend!)
I know a reasonable woman,
Handsome and witty, yet a friend.
Not warp'd by passion, aw'd by rumour;
Not grave through pride, nor gay through folly;
An equal mixture of good-humour
And sensible soft melancholy.
'Has she no faults then (Envy says), Sir?'
Yes, she has one, I must aver:
When all the world conspires to praise her,
The woman's deaf, and does not hear.
~
Alexander Pope
