Names of the Muses, by an anonymous 4th C. poet (Loeb Ausonius II, p.280)
Translated by Max Latham B.A. (Hons) Classical Studies
Let Clio carry songs singing, she repeats settled times.
Sweet voiced Euterpe breathes, presses her lips to the pan-pipes.
The comic Thalia rejoices in her playful style.
Maudlin Melpomene, tragic, calls out with loud crying.
Terpsichore picked upon lutes, she stirs, commands, extols.
Erato bearing lyres dances, feet facing in song.
Urania investigates the moving poles and stars.
Calliope with her books, heroic epics, commands.
Polymnia's hand notes all, she'd speak with actor's posture.
Their force moves Apollo's mind these Muses, altogether:
Sitting down in the middle Phoebus embraces them all.
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Classical Poetry
PoetryA collection of poems touching on the themes of Roman, ancient Greek and Classical civilisations.
