"In hope to win that gallant flower of Greece,
Fair Helena, that brave and peerless piece."
War of Troy.
We also have,
"I had a wife, a passing princely piece" (Mirr. of Mag.);
"Well, she was a delicate piece" (Hon. Whore),
of a princess;
"All princely graces
That mould up such a piece as this is" (H. VIII. v. 5),
of Elizabeth, whom Wilson (Life of James I. p. 1) terms "a glorious and most happy piece of sovereignty." We also meet with "piece of virtue" (Temp. i. 2, Ant. and Cleop. iii. 2), "piece of beauty, of enchantment" (W. T. iv. 3). It was also used of men: