By discretion here we must understand religion and grace, a true taste
and relish (so the word signifies) of the honours and pleasures that
attend an unspotted virtue; so that a woman without discretion is a
woman of a loose and dissolute conversation; and then observe, 1. It is
taken for granted here that beauty or comeliness of body is as a jewel
of gold, a thing very valuable, and, where there is wisdom and grace to
guard against the temptations of it, it is a great ornament, (Gratior
est pulchro veniens de corpore virtus--Virtue appears peculiarly
graceful when associated with beauty); but a foolish wanton woman, of a
light carriage, is fitly compared to a swine, though she be ever so
handsome, wallowing in the mire of filthy lusts, with which the mind
and conscience are defiled, and, though washed, returning to them. 2.
It is lamented that beauty should be so abused as it is by those that
have not modesty with it. It seems ill-bestowed upon them; it is quite
misplaced, as a jewel in a swine's snout, with which he roots in the
dunghill. If beauty be not guarded by virtue, the virtue is exposed by
the beauty. It may be applied to all other bodily endowments and
accomplishments; it is a pity that those should have them who have not
discretion to use them well.