As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout Which would not adorn the swine, but only be disparaged itself; so is a fair woman without discretion Who disgraceth the beauty of her body by a foolish and filthy mind. There seems to be an allusion in these words to a custom prevalent in the East, of wearing jewels upon their noses: see on Job 42:11. The meaning evidently is, “As a jewel of gold would be ill placed in the snout of a swine, which is always raking in the mire; so is beauty ill bestowed on a woman, whose mind, having lost all relish of virtue, carries her from her husband to wallow in filthy lusts and adulterous pleasures.” See Bishop Patrick.
“Of beauty vain, of virtue void,
What art thou in the sight of God?
A slave to every base desire,
A creature wallowing in the mire.
Go, gaudy pageant of a day,
Thy folly with thy face display:
Set all thy charms and graces out,
And show the jewel in thy snout.” C. WESLEY.