Arts & Sciences
Book IX, 504: On the Muses
Translated by W. R. Paton (1916–18) · From The Greek Anthology (Loeb, vol. III, 1917)
Calliope discovered the art of heroic verse; Clio the sweet music of the lyre which accompanies the dance; Euterpe the sonorous voice of the tragic chorus; Melpomene found for mortals the honeytoned barbitos, and charming Terpsichore gave us the artful flute; Erato invented cheering hymns to the gods; learned Polymnia the joys of the dance; Urania discovered the pole and the dance of the stars of heaven, and Thalia the plots and good moral teaching of comedy.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous (Greek Anthology). “Book IX, 504: On the Muses.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-greek-anthology/524/.
Chicago
Anonymous (Greek Anthology). “Book IX, 504: On the Muses.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-greek-anthology/524/.
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