On the Theogony. 47 



lovvtKa yap j3a(nX»/ee ix^<pgovtq, ovvtKu Xaoig 

 'KKaTTTOiiivoiQ ayopyipi fierarpoTra spya nXtvai 

 Pijidiojg, iiaXaKoiai Trapai(pa[itvoi tTTteuatv. 

 Epxontvov S' ava aarv, Sitov wq, iXacncovrai 

 AiSoi /ittXixij/. fttra 0£ TTperft aypofitvoiaiv 



She on the sacred steps of sovereigns waits — 

 Kings by Jove cherish'd — on whom e'er have smil'd* 

 Jove's virgin daughters at his natal hour, 

 Honouring, and shedding all their sweetest gifts ; 

 Then hoaey'd eloquence, and tuneful voice 

 Stream from his lips, till all the people gaze 

 With fixed attention to his rightful meed 

 Of Judgment ; he securely hends at will 

 And calms the angry passions of the crowd. 

 For therefore is superior wisdom given 

 To monarchs, thus with soothing words to change 

 The people's madden'd purpose, when they rush 

 To self-destruction.— So he honour'd stands 

 Above th' assembled throng, or if he pass 

 Along the crowded streets bland reverence all 

 Pay to his footsteps, as a present god. 



The poet proceeds to shew, that the influence of the muses is as great a 

 blessing in soothing the private distresses, as allaying the political disturb- 

 ances of mankind. 



6 o' oXjSioc ovTiva Movcrai 

 tbiXevvrai' yXvicepy] o'l aivb trrofiaTOQ peei aiiSi]. 

 Et yap riQ cat nev^OQ e'xw*' veoKrjdei ^vjmo 

 AiirjTai (cpaCtrjv u.Ka-)(i']neroQ, avrap aotcog 

 Movauwv ^eprxTTiov icXela irpOTipwy av^pwirioy 

 Yfivriffrj, fiaKapag re deovg, o'l "OXv/j.7rov 'e-)(pv(nv. 

 AI;//' 6'ye Sva<j)povi<t)v extXrjS'trai, oi/oe ri KtjSiojy 

 Mifii'TjTai, raj^EWC ^e TraptTpaTre Swpa S'edojy. 



Bles.s'd be the poet whom the muses love 



From whose lips flow smooth streams of melody. 



For mark — should some sad wretch beneath the stroke 



Of fresh calamity yield all his soul 



To woe.— If then the servant of the nine 



Or hymn the blessed gods that rule above. 



Or sing the glorious deeds of former men ; 



Oblivion quickly steels o'er all his gi'iefs. 



And memory holds the pangs it felt no more. 



So soon the muses' charm can change our mood. 



(To be continued.) 



* We are here reminded of Horace's address to Melpomene : — 



Ouini iH Mclponiinc miiuI 

 Na'CLiiliiii plaii'lo liiniini vidiir. 



