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.
-delicate [ˈdelɪkət]adj.精美的
典型例句
He had delicate hands.
他有一双纤细的手。
联想记忆
fine adj.精美的
-dignity [ˈdɪgnətɪ]n.高尚的品质，真正的价值，尊严
典型例句
Only a truly free person has human dignity.
只有真正自由的人才具有人的尊严。
最常用法
beneath one’s dignity 有失身分/尊严/体面
stand on one's dignity（因自爱）保持尊严，（因自命不凡）摆架子
联想记忆
dignify v.使尊荣，使高贵
respect v.尊敬
-accomplish [əˈkʌmplɪʃ]v.完成（某事物），做成功，实现
典型例句
He is a man who will spoil rather than accomplish things.
他这个人成事不足，败事有余。
最常用法
an accomplished fact 既成事实
联想记忆
achieve v.实现，完成
-decent [ˈdiːsnt]adj.适当的，得体的
典型例句
That dress isn’t decent.
那件连衣裙不够体面。
联想记忆
suitable adj.适合的，适宜的，恰当的
correct adj.符合公认标准的，得体的
-gracious [ˈgreɪʃəs]adj.和善的，有礼貌的，大方的
典型例句
He was most gracious to everyone, smiling and thanking them.
他对大家彬彬有礼，向他们微笑、道谢。
最常用法
gracious to sb.对某人仁慈
联想记忆
friendly adj.和蔼可亲的，朋友般的，友爱的
-geometrical [ˌdʒi：əˈmetrɪkl]adj.几何的，几何学的
典型例句
Population is increasing in that country in a geometrical progression.
那个国家的人口正以几何级数增长。
联想记忆
geometry n.几何学
-principal [ˈprɪnsəpl]adj.为首的，主要的
典型例句
The low salary is her principal reason for leaving the job.
工资太低是她辞去那份工作的最主要的原因。
联想记忆
chief adj.主要的，首要的
principlen n.原则，主义，原理
-amiable [ˈeɪmɪəbl]adj.友好的，和蔼可亲的
典型例句
The next-door neighbours are very amiable people.
隔壁的邻居很和蔼。
联想记忆
friendly adj.和蔼可亲的
kind adj.友好的
animal n.动物
-corrupt [kəˈrʌpt]v.堕落，腐化
典型例句
It is sad to see a man so corrupted by the desire for money and power.
看到一个人因为追逐金钱和权力而如此腐化真是悲哀。
联想记忆
corruption n.腐败，贪污，堕落
bribe v.贿赂
美德好比宝石，它在朴素背景的衬托下反而更华丽。同样，一个打扮并不华贵却端庄严肃而有美德者是令人肃然起敬的。
外表美丽的人，未必也具有内在的美。因为造物主似乎是吝啬的，他给了此就不再予彼。所以许多容颜俊秀的人却不足为训，他们过于追求外形美丽而忽略了内心的美。但这也许不全对，因为奥古斯都·恺撒、提图斯·维斯帕西亚努斯、法国的腓力四世、英格兰的爱德华四世、雅典的阿尔西巴蒂斯、波斯的伊斯梅尔等既是大丈夫，又是美男子。就形貌而言，自然之美要胜过粉饰之美，而优雅行为之美又胜于单纯礼仪之美。
最高的美是图画无法表现的，因为它是难于直观的。没有哪种美能极致到不存在比例上的瑕疵。曾经有两位画家——阿皮雷斯和艾伯特·丢勒滑稽地认为，可以按照几何比例，或者通过摄取不同人身上最美的特点，用画合成一张最完美的人像。其实像这样画出来的美人，恐怕只表现了画家本人的某种偏爱。
画家不能通过这样画出更好看的脸，（正如为曲子营造氛围的音乐家），创造它的常常是构思，而不是公式。有许多的脸，就他们的部分看并不优美，但作为整体却非常动人。
虽然美之精华无疑在于优雅的举止，但有些老人更显得可爱，这印证了一句拉丁谚语：“暮色之色更美”。而尽管有的年轻人具有美貌，却由于缺乏完美的修养而不配得到最好的赞美。
美犹如盛夏的水果，是容易腐烂而难保持的。世上有许多美人，他们有过放荡的青春，却迎受着愧悔的晚年。因此，应该把美的形貌与美的德行结合起来。这样，美才会发出夺目的光辉。