Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
The Pierides transform'd to Magpies
5:1003 The chosen Muse here ends her sacred lays;
5:1004 The nymphs unanimous decree
the bays,
5:1005 And give the Heliconian Goddesses
the praise.
5:1006 Then, far from vain that we
shou'd thus prevail,
5:1007 But much provok'd to hear the
vanquish'd rail,
5:1008 Calliope resumes: Too long
we've born
5:1009 Your daring taunts, and your
affronting scorn;
5:1010 Your challenge justly merited
a curse,
5:1011 And this unmanner'd railing
makes it worse.
5:1012 Since you refuse us calmly
to enjoy
5:1013 Our patience, next our passions
we'll employ;
5:1014 The dictates of a mind enrag'd
pursue,
5:1015 And, what our just resentment
bids us, do.
5:1016 The railers laugh, our threats and wrath
despise,
5:1017 And clap their hands, and make
a scolding noise:
5:1018 But in the fact they're seiz'd;
beneath their nails
5:1019 Feathers they feel, and on
their faces scales;
5:1020 Their horny beaks at once each
other scare,
5:1021 Their arms are plum'd, and
on their backs they bear
5:1022 Py'd wings, and flutter in
the fleeting air.
5:1023 Chatt'ring, the scandal of
the woods they fly,
5:1024 And there continue still their
clam'rous cry:
5:1025 The same their eloquence, as
maids, or birds,
5:1026 Now only noise, and nothing
then but words.
BOOK THE SIXTH
Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
The Pierides transform'd to Magpies
5:1003 The chosen Muse here ends her sacred lays;
5:1004 The nymphs unanimous decree
the bays,
5:1005 And give the Heliconian Goddesses
the praise.
5:1006 Then, far from vain that we
shou'd thus prevail,
5:1007 But much provok'd to hear the
vanquish'd rail,
5:1008 Calliope resumes: Too long
we've born
5:1009 Your daring taunts, and your
affronting scorn;
5:1010 Your challenge justly merited
a curse,
5:1011 And this unmanner'd railing
makes it worse.
5:1012 Since you refuse us calmly
to enjoy
5:1013 Our patience, next our passions
we'll employ;
5:1014 The dictates of a mind enrag'd
pursue,
5:1015 And, what our just resentment
bids us, do.
5:1016 The railers laugh, our threats and wrath
despise,
5:1017 And clap their hands, and make
a scolding noise:
5:1018 But in the fact they're seiz'd;
beneath their nails
5:1019 Feathers they feel, and on
their faces scales;
5:1020 Their horny beaks at once each
other scare,
5:1021 Their arms are plum'd, and
on their backs they bear
5:1022 Py'd wings, and flutter in
the fleeting air.
5:1023 Chatt'ring, the scandal of
the woods they fly,
5:1024 And there continue still their
clam'rous cry:
5:1025 The same their eloquence, as
maids, or birds,
5:1026 Now only noise, and nothing
then but words.
BOOK THE SIXTH