was the daughter of Jupiter and Juno; though by many she is said to be the
daughter of Juno only, who conceived her after eating lettuces.
Being fair, and always possessed of the bloom of beauty and youth, she was
termed the Goddess of youth, and made by her mother the cup-bearer to all
the Gods.
She was dismissed from her office by Jupiter, however, because she fell
down as she was pouring nectar to the Gods, at a grand festival, and
Ganymedes, a favourite of Jupiter, succeeded to her office.
"'Twas on a day
When the immortals at their banquet lay,
The bowl
Sparkled with starry dew,
The weeping of those myriad urns of light,
Within whose orbs, the almighty Power
At nature's dawning hour
Stored the rich fluid of ethereal soul.
* * * * * *
But oh!
Bright Hebe, what a tear,
And what a blush were thine,
When, as the breath of every Grace
Wafted thy feet along the studded sphere
With a bright cup, for Jove himself to drink,
Some star, that shone beneath thy tread,
Raising its amorous head
To kiss those matchless feet,
And all heaven's host of eyes.
Checked thy career so fleet:
Entranced, but fearful all,
Saw thee, sweet Hebe, prostrate fall.
* * * * * *
But the bright cup? the nectared draught
Which Jove himself was to have quaffed!
Alas, alas, upturned it lay
By the fallen Hebe's side;
While in slow lingering drops, th' ethereal tide,
As conscious of its own rich essence, ebbed away,"