XII. The He-Goats and She-Goats

When the She-Goats from Jove obtain’d

A beard, th’ indignant Males complain’d,

That females by this near approach

Would on their gravity encroach.

“Suffer, my sapient friends,” says he,

“Their eminence in this degree,

And bear their beard’s most graceful length,

As they can never have your strength.”

Warn’d by this little tale, agree

With men in gen’ral form’d like thee,

While you by virtue still exceed,

And in the spirit take the lead.

Riley