Page:Metamorphoses.djvu/281

METAMORPHOSES BOOK V of song. Come, strive with us, ye Thespian god- desses, if you dare. Neither in voice nor in skill can we be conquered, and our numbers are the same. If you are conquered, yield us Medusa's spring and Boeotian Aganippe; or we will yield to you the Emathian plains even to snow-clad Paeonia; and let the nymphs be judges of our strife." <« It was a shame to strive with them, but it seemed greater shame to yield. So the nymphs were chosen judges and took oath by their streams, and they set them down upon benches of living rock. Then with- out drawing lots she who had proposed the contest first began. She sang of the battle of the gods and giants, ascribing undeserved honour to the giants, and belittling the deeds of the mighty gods: how Typhoeus, sprung from the lowest depths of earth, inspired the heavenly gods with fear, and how they all turned their backs and fled, until, weary, they found refuge in the land of Egypt and the seven- mouthed Nile. How even there Typhoeus, son of earth, pursued them, and the gods hid themselves in lying shapes: 'Jove thus became a ram,' said she, the lord of flocks, whenceLibyan Ammon even to this day is represented with curving horns; Apollo hid in a crow's shape, Bacchus in a goat; the sister of Phoebus in a cat, Juno in a snow-white cow Venns in a fish, Mercurv in an ibis bird. " So far had she sung, tuning voice to harp; we, the Aonian sisters, were challenged to reply-but perhaps you have not leisure, and care not to listen to our song ?" “ Nay, have no doubt," Pallas exclaimed, "but sing now your song in due order." And she took her seat in the pleasant shade of the forest. The muse replied : "We gave the conduct of our strife to one, Calliope; who rose and, with her flowing tresses 261