Social Commentaries
IV.12 The He-Goats and She-Goats
Translated by Christopher Smart (1887 printing) · From Fables, Book IV
When the She-Goats from Jove obtain'd
A beard, th' indignant Males complain'd,
That females by this near approach
Would on their gravity encroach.
"Suffer, my sapient friends," says he,
"Their eminence in this degree,
And bear their beard's most graceful length,
As they can never have your strength."
Warn'd by this little tale, agree
With men in gen'ral form'd like thee,
While you by virtue still exceed,
And in the spirit take the lead.
Cite this poem
MLA
Phaedrus. “IV.12 The He-Goats and She-Goats.” Translated by Christopher Smart. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/phaedrus/71/.
Chicago
Phaedrus. “IV.12 The He-Goats and She-Goats.” Translated by Christopher Smart. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/phaedrus/71/.
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