Hymn LXXVI: To the Muses

Daughters of Jove, loud-sounding, and divine,
Renown'd, Pierian, sweetly speaking Nine ;
To those whose breasts your sacred furies fire,
Much form'd, the objects of supreme desire.
Sources of blameless virtue to mankind,
Who form to excellence the youthful mind :
Who nurse the soul, and give her to descry
The paths of right with reason's steady eye.
Commanding queens, who lead to sacred light
The intellect refin'd from error's night ;
And to mankind each holy rite disclose,
For mystic knowledge from your nature flows.
Clio, and Erato who charms the sight,
With thee, Euterpe, minist'ring delight :
Thalia flourishing, Polymnia fam'd,
Melpomene from skill in music nam'd :
Terpsichore, Urania heav'nly bright,
With thee who gav'st me to behold the light.
Come, venerable, various pow'rs divine,
With fav'ring aspect on your mystics shine ;
Bring glorious, ardent, lovely, fam'd desire,
And warm my bosom with your sacred fire.