87
And when she saw each lovely maid
She clapped her silver hands;
"Such wondrous charms are rare" she said
"In all sublunar lands.
She clapped her silver hands;
"Such wondrous charms are rare" she said
"In all sublunar lands.
"But which is fairest?" long and loud
She shouted to the stars,
Which glittered in a golden crowd,
Like newly lit cigars.
She shouted to the stars,
Which glittered in a golden crowd,
Like newly lit cigars.
Then from the zenith Vega slid,
And red Aldebaran
Rushed up the sky, as he was bid,
To meet the stately Swan;
And red Aldebaran
Rushed up the sky, as he was bid,
To meet the stately Swan;
And many dozen more appeared,
Till all the sky was bare,
And round the Satellite careered,
And vowed the scene was fair.
Till all the sky was bare,
And round the Satellite careered,
And vowed the scene was fair.
Then spake the Moon: "I'm sore distressed:
"Two beauteous forms I see:
"I can't say which I like the best:
"Decide the point for me.
"Two beauteous forms I see:
"I can't say which I like the best:
"Decide the point for me.
"Such foolish puzzles, I declare,
"I hold in much abhorrence:
"Say if the lovelier of the pair
"Be A——— or F———"
"I hold in much abhorrence:
"Say if the lovelier of the pair
"Be A——— or F———"
Then peeping o'er each other's head,
The striking scene to scan,
The Stars unanimously said:—
"We much prefer the Man."
The striking scene to scan,
The Stars unanimously said:—
"We much prefer the Man."