She shakes her helm, she knits her brows,
And fir'd with indignation, vows,
To morrow, ere the setting sun,
She'd all undo that she had done.255
But in the poets we may find
A wholesome law, time out of mind,
Had been confirm'd by Fate's decree,
That gods, of whatsoe'er degree,
Resume not what themselves have given,260
Or any brother god in Heaven;
Which keeps the peace among the gods,
Or they must always be at odds:
And Pallas, if she broke the laws,
Must yield her foe the stronger cause;265
A shame to one so much ador'd
For wisdom at Jove's council board.
Besides, she fear'd the Queen of Love
Would meet with better friends above.
And though she must with grief reflect,270
To see a mortal virgin deck'd
With graces hitherto unknown
To female breasts, except her own:
Yet she would act as best became
A goddess of unspotted fame.275
She knew, by augury divine,
Venus would fail in her design:
She study'd well the point, and found
Her foe's conclusions were not sound,
From premisses erroneous brought,280
And therefore the deduction's naught,
And must have contrary effects,
To what her treacherous foe expects.
In proper season Pallas meets
The Queen of Love, whom thus she greets,285
(For
