Nor lightly tripp'd, nor by the Goddess ran,
As once she us'd, the foremost of the Train.
Her Looks were flush'd and sullen was her Mien,
That sure the Virgin Goddess (had she been
Aught but a Virgin) must the Guilt have seen.
'Tis said the Nymphs saw all, and guess'd aright:
And now the Moon had nine times lost her Light,
When Dian, fainting in the mid-day Beams,
Found a cool Covert, and refreshing Streams
That in soft Murmurs through the Forest flow'd,
And a smooth Bed of shining Gravel show'd.
A Covert so obscure, and Streams so clear,
The Goddess prais'd: "And now no Spies are near
"Let's strip, my gentle Maids, and wash, she cries.
Pleas'd with the Motion, ev'ry Maid complies;
Only the blushing Huntress stood confus'd,
And form'd Delays, and her Delays excus'd;
In vain excus'd: her Fellows round her press'd,
And the Reluctant Nymph by Force undress'd.
The Naked Huntress all her Shame reveal'd,
In vain her Hands the pregnant Womb conceal'd;
"Begone! the Goddess cries with stern Disdain,
"Begone! nor dare the hallow'd Stream to stain:
She fled, for ever Banish'd from the Train.
This Juno heard who long had watch'd her Time
To punish the detested Rivals Crime;
The Time was come: for to enrage her more,
A lovely Boy the teeming Rival bore.
The Goddess cast a furious Look and cry'd,
"It is enough! I'm fully satisfy'd!
"This Boy shall stand a living Mark, to prove
"My Husband's Baseness and the Strumpet's Love:
"But Vengeance shall awake: those guilty Charms
"That drew the Thunderer from Juno's Arms,
"No longer shall their wonted Force retain,
"Nor please the God, nor make the Mortal vain.
This