his own bare skull the share he deserves."

Oh, Muse! drive the war far from our city and come to preside over

our dances, if you love me; come and celebrate the nuptials of the

gods, the banquets of us mortals and the festivals of the fortunate;

these are the themes that inspire thy most poetic songs. And should

Carcinus come to beg thee for admission with his sons to thy chorus,

refuse all traffic with them; remember they are but gelded birds,

stork-necked dancers, mannikins about as tall as a goat's turd, in