Two nymphs, both nearly of an age, <br />Of numerous charms possessed, <br />A warm dispute once chanced to wage, <br />Whose temper was the best. <br /> <br />The worth of each had been complete, <br />Had both alike been mild; <br />But one, although her smile was sweet, <br />Frowned oftener than she smiled. <br /> <br />And in her humour, when she frowned, <br />Would raise her voice and roar, <br />And shake with fury to the ground <br />The garland that she wore. <br /> <br />The other was of gentler cast, <br />From all such frenzy clear, <br />Her frowns were seldom known to last, <br />And never proved severe. <br /> <br />To poets of renown in song <br />The nymphs referred the cause, <br />Who, strange to tell, all judged it wrong, <br />And gave misplaced applause. <br /> <br />They gentle called, and kind and soft, <br />The flippant and the scold, <br />And though she changed her mood so oft, <br />That failing left untold. <br /> <br />No judges, sure, were e'er so mad, <br />Or so resolved to err,-- <br />In short, the charms her sister had <br />They lavished all on her. <br /> <br />Then thus the God whom fondly they <br />Their great Inspirer call, <br />Was heard, one genial summer's day, <br />To reprimand them all. <br /> <br />'Since thus ye have combined,' he said, <br />'My favourite nymph to slight, <br />Adorning May, that peevish maid, <br />With June's undoubted right, <br /> <br />'The minx shall, for your folly's sake, <br />Still prove herself a shrew, <br />Shall make your scribbling fingers ache, <br />And pinch your noses blue.'<br /><br />William Cowper<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-judgement-of-the-poets/
