William Cowper

26 November 1731 – 25 April 1800 / Hertfordshire

On Hermocratia (From The Greek)

Hermocratia named -- save only one --
Twice fifteen births I bore, and buried none;
For neither Phoebus pierced my thriving joys,
Nor Dian -- she my girls, or he my boys.
But Dian rather, when my daughters lay
In parturition, chased their pangs away.
And all my sons, by Phoebus' bounty, shared
A vigorous youth, by sickness unimpair'd.
O Niobe! far less prolific! see
Thy hoast against Latona shamed by me!
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