Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
The Story of the Pierides
5:461 The Muse yet spoke; when they began to hear
5:462 A noise of wings that flutter'd
in the air;
5:463 And strait a voice, from some
high-spreading bough,
5:464 Seem'd to salute the company
below.
5:465 The Goddess wonder'd, and inquir'd
from whence
5:466 That tongue was heard, that spoke
so plainly sense
5:467 (It seem'd to her a human voice
to be,
5:468 But prov'd a bird's; for in a
shady tree
5:469 Nine magpies perch'd lament their
alter'd state,
5:470 And, what they hear, are skilful
to repeat).
5:471 The sister to the wondring Goddess said,
5:472 These, foil'd by us, by us were
thus repaid.
5:473 These did Evippe of Paeonia bring
5:474 With nine hard labour-pangs to
Pella's king.
5:475 The foolish virgins of their
number proud,
5:476 And puff'd with praises of the
senseless crowd,
5:477 Thro' all Achaia, and th' Aemonian
plains
5:478 Defy'd us thus, to match their
artless strains;
5:479 No more, ye Thespian girls, your
notes repeat,
5:480 Nor with false harmony the vulgar
cheat;
5:481 In voice or skill, if you with
us will vye,
5:482 As many we, in voice or skill
will try.
5:483 Surrender you to us, if we excell,
5:484 Fam'd Aganippe, and Medusa's
well.
5:485 The conquest yours, your prize
from us shall be
5:486 The Aemathian plains to snowy
Paeone;
5:487 The nymphs our judges. To dispute
the field,
5:488 We thought a shame; but greater
shame to yield.
5:489 On seats of living stone the
sisters sit,
5:490 And by the rivers swear to judge
aright.
Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
The Story of the Pierides
5:461 The Muse yet spoke; when they began to hear
5:462 A noise of wings that flutter'd
in the air;
5:463 And strait a voice, from some
high-spreading bough,
5:464 Seem'd to salute the company
below.
5:465 The Goddess wonder'd, and inquir'd
from whence
5:466 That tongue was heard, that spoke
so plainly sense
5:467 (It seem'd to her a human voice
to be,
5:468 But prov'd a bird's; for in a
shady tree
5:469 Nine magpies perch'd lament their
alter'd state,
5:470 And, what they hear, are skilful
to repeat).
5:471 The sister to the wondring Goddess said,
5:472 These, foil'd by us, by us were
thus repaid.
5:473 These did Evippe of Paeonia bring
5:474 With nine hard labour-pangs to
Pella's king.
5:475 The foolish virgins of their
number proud,
5:476 And puff'd with praises of the
senseless crowd,
5:477 Thro' all Achaia, and th' Aemonian
plains
5:478 Defy'd us thus, to match their
artless strains;
5:479 No more, ye Thespian girls, your
notes repeat,
5:480 Nor with false harmony the vulgar
cheat;
5:481 In voice or skill, if you with
us will vye,
5:482 As many we, in voice or skill
will try.
5:483 Surrender you to us, if we excell,
5:484 Fam'd Aganippe, and Medusa's
well.
5:485 The conquest yours, your prize
from us shall be
5:486 The Aemathian plains to snowy
Paeone;
5:487 The nymphs our judges. To dispute
the field,
5:488 We thought a shame; but greater
shame to yield.
5:489 On seats of living stone the
sisters sit,
5:490 And by the rivers swear to judge
aright.