Athene, Michael—tell them how we stood,
Just here, and heard the boy refuse his function.”
But it was known among them even then,
And so no witness needed. Aphrodite,
Secure in beauty’s pride, tilted her head
To hear, intending mockery of the tale.
But the wise one withheld it, and majestic
Michael only folded his broad wings
As Gabriel did, as Raphael.
Yet that last one,