 | The village curate and other poems |  |
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THE FALL OF HEBE.
When Hebe the Charming was banish'd from Heav'n,
Notwithstanding her beauty and birth,
And her office by Jove to another was given,
She came down, to be vain upon earth.
Notwithstanding her beauty and birth,
And her office by Jove to another was given,
She came down, to be vain upon earth.
She travell'd all Europe an equal to meet;
But no features with her's could compare,
Not a virgin was found who was half so complete,
She was fairest of all that are fair.
But no features with her's could compare,
Not a virgin was found who was half so complete,
She was fairest of all that are fair.
But it happen'd at length; as she heedlessly stray'd
By a brook that ran down to the sea,
She was met by a good-humour'd, innocent maid,
Who, they said, was more charming than she.
By a brook that ran down to the sea,
She was met by a good-humour'd, innocent maid,
Who, they said, was more charming than she.
She appeal'd to the Shepherds, and, favour to gain,
Brought the cup of the Gods in her hand;
She insisted on homage, but sought it in vain,
Not a Shepherd would heed her command.
Brought the cup of the Gods in her hand;
She insisted on homage, but sought it in vain,
Not a Shepherd would heed her command.
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They agreed ‘of the many fair maids they had seen,
She was fairest of all except one:
She was beauteous and lovely as Beauty's own queen;
But that Kitty was equall'd by none.’
She was fairest of all except one:
She was beauteous and lovely as Beauty's own queen;
But that Kitty was equall'd by none.’
Enrag'd that a maid not immortal should charm,
Her nectar she threw in her face;
From her cheek, it down trickled her neck and her arm,
Till her beauties were all in disgrace.
Her nectar she threw in her face;
From her cheek, it down trickled her neck and her arm,
Till her beauties were all in disgrace.
Mighty Jove saw the wrong from his chamber in Heav'n,
And sent his fleet messenger down,
To examine the cause, and make matters all even
As soon as the grievance was known.
And sent his fleet messenger down,
To examine the cause, and make matters all even
As soon as the grievance was known.
He came, and decreed, ‘that since Hebe was vain,
And had injur'd her betters below,
Envy never should flee from her forehead again;
But should live among frowns on her brow.
And had injur'd her betters below,
Envy never should flee from her forehead again;
But should live among frowns on her brow.
‘Ill-nature and anger should scowl in her eye,
Pride and insolence dwell on its lid,
More than half of her thousand attractions should die,
Not a feature should charm as it did.
Pride and insolence dwell on its lid,
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Not a feature should charm as it did.
‘But for Kitty, since she had not given offence,
But was innocent, humble, and meek,
On her forehead should flourish good humour and sense
To atone for the blot on her cheek.
But was innocent, humble, and meek,
On her forehead should flourish good humour and sense
To atone for the blot on her cheek.
‘The Muses and Graces should in her delight,
And, to pay for the charms she had lost,
Should contend with each other, from morning to night,
To see which could adorn her the most.’
And, to pay for the charms she had lost,
Should contend with each other, from morning to night,
To see which could adorn her the most.’
So was Hebe disgrac'd with a leer and a frown,
While Kitty had beauties enow—
A lovelier charmer was never sent down
To be courted by mortals below.
While Kitty had beauties enow—
A lovelier charmer was never sent down
To be courted by mortals below.
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