Poem: “To a Lady, Who Valu’d Herself on Speaking Her Mind in a Blunt Manner, Which She Call’d Being Sincere,” by Mary Barber

Well you Sincerity display,
A virtue wond’rous rare!
Nor value, tho’ the world should say,
You’re rude, so you’re sincere.
To be sincere, then, give me leave;
And I will frankly own,
Since you but this one virtue have,
’Twere better you had none.

 Mary Barber (1685 – 1755) was an Irish housewife and poet who was discovered by Jonathan Swift.