.

. . And she will have leisure enough beside to run over the English poetry, which is a more important part of a woman’s education than it is generally supposed. Many a young damsel has been ruined by a fine copy of verses, which she would have laughed at if she had known it had been stolen from Mr. Waller. –Lady Mary Montagu, Advice to Her Daughter on Educating her Grandaughter

So girls should study poetry so that they won’t be fooled by some cad who claims another poet’s words for his own. Well, it’s a reason.
Note to my daughters and to any other young maidens who are reading: If some guy pledges his undying love for you in these words, the words themselves are not his:

SHE walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that ‘s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow’d to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair’d the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o’er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

On the other hand, if he’s smart enough to borrow the words of Byron, he may be worth considering. Just don’t be “ruined by a fine copy of verses.”