A covert so obscure and streams so clear The goddess praised: “And now no spies are near; Let’s strip, my gentle maids, and wash,” she cries. Pleased with the motion, every maid complies; Only the blushing huntress stood confused, And form’d delays, and her delays excused: In vain excused; 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 her pregnancy 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 rival’s crime; The time was come; for, to enrage her more, A lovely boy the teeming rival bore.