_Justicia._ Welcome, fair sisters, to our regal court; Your tuneful measures breathe of good report; Twin guardian spirits of the fruitful earth, To glad mankind creation gave you birth. To you, Primeva, Nature bends in awe; From you, fair Genia, Art receives its law. Your free acclaim, upon this regal seat, Justicia placed, all arguments to meet With ear impartial; bade her voice decide, That blissful harmony might here abide. Your graceful homage, to our royal ear Is but the foretaste of more welcome cheer. You need our aid: unto our grateful heart Your mission's import quickly now impart. _Primeva._ Fair genius— _Genia._ Sweet Justicia— _Justicia._ Our decree, By courtly rule, admits no double plea. Be gracious, sisters. _Genia._ I was wanting grace, And humbly bend to give Primeva place. _Primeva._ Justicia, yonder proud and haughty sprite Usurps a name Primeva claims by right. I would have justice! _Justicia._ Art thou just to her? Genia usurper! 'tis a cruel slur. Brave, truthful speech bears no envenomed sting, But, like good metal, has an honest ring. _Primeva._ It was an honest truth, I dare repeat; I may be rough in speech, but scorn deceit. _Genia._ 'Tis true, Justicia, in a friendly way, I chanced to cross Primeva's path to-day, And held some converse with my sister sprite, Whose bold, free speech is often my delight. Our theme was conquest; and, in pleasant strife, Each boasted of her power o'er human life; And, half in jest, this boast I gayly hurled,— "I, Genia, am the empress of the world." _Primeva._ 'Tis false. It was no jest. _Justicia._ Primeva, cease! Your angry humor doth disturb our peace. _Genia._ Primeva met my jest with frowning brow, And angry words, so bitter in their flow, My jesting humor fled. We argued long To whom, by right, that title should belong; Leaving all else but this great truth behind,— She is the greatest who best serves mankind. _Justicia._ Who won the battle? _Genia._ That you must decide. By your impartial fiat we abide.