University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

Scene: Olympus: Juno's boudoir.
Juno, Iris.
Juno.
I'm much annoyed, good Iris, with the airs
Of vaunting Venus,—as if all affairs
In heaven and earth were under her control!
I hear she boasts that scarce a human soul
Is free from her authority; that all
The people in the world are fain to fall
Upon their knees at her command, and own
No equal goddess on the Olympian throne.

Iris.
Is 't possible?

Juno.
Yes, Iris, worse than that,
She and her boy, (a mischief-breeding brat!)
Who aids his mother by his wicked art,
Declare (O shame!) there 's not a female heart
In all the universe—below, above—
Which has not felt the subtle force of love!
An arrant falsehood, spoken just to vex
The Queen of Heaven, and scandalize the sex.
Among the earthly maidens, therefore, go,
And bring me back some evidence to show
That Cytherea says—what is n't so!

Iris.
I fly! and never for a moment doubt
I'll bring you proofs to wipe the slander out.

[Exit Iris.