Sonnet XI. Of all the women which of yore have been

William Percy (1575–1648)

To POLYXENA.

OF all the women which of yore have been,

ALCEST for virtue may be glorified;

For courage, TEUCE; for features, Sparta’s Queen;

For all in one, POLYXEN deified.

If true it be, by old philosophy,

These souls to have, since destin, entered

To other bodies of like sympathy;

Thou art the last of these metampsychosed!

Thy courage wondrous! thy virtues peerless!

Thy features have the fairest ladies blamed!

Then (if thou scorn’st not such a Monarchess)

Henceforth, by reason good, thou shalt be named,

Nor TEUCE, nor ALCEST, nor fair HELENA;

Thou shalt be named my dear POLYXENA!