The Sirens were monsters of the deep, which with their tuneful voices detained the ships, even though in full career. On hearing them, the son of Sisyphus [1056] almost released his body from the mast; for the wax [1057] was melted in the ears of his companions. The voice is an insinuating quality; let the fair learn how to sing. In place of beauty, her voice has proved the recommendation of many a woman. And sometimes let them repeat what they have heard in the marble theatres; and sometimes the songs attuned to the measures of the Nile. [1058] Neither, in my way of thinking, ought a clever woman to be ignorant how to hold the plectrum [1059] in her right hand, the lyre in her left. Orpheus of Rhodope with his lyre moved rocks, and wild beasts, and the lakes of Tartarus, and Cerberus the triple dog. At thy singing, most righteous avenger of thy mother, [1060] the attentive stones built up the walls. The fish, (the well-known story of the lyre of Arion, [1061] although he was dumb, is supposed to have been moved by his voice. Learn, too, to sweep the chords of the festive psaltery [1062] with your two hands; 'tis an instrument suited to amorous lays. Let the songs of Callimachus [1063] be known to you, let those of the poet of Cos, [1064] let the Teian Muse too, of the drunken old bard. Let Sappho, too, be well known; for what is there more exciting than she? Or than him, through whom [1065] the father is deceived by the tricks of the crafty Geta? You may, too, have read the poems of the tender Propertius, [1066] or something of Gallus, or thy works, Tibullus. [1067] The fleece, too, so bewailed, O Phryxus, of thy sister, shining with its yellow hair, celebrated by Varro. [1068] The exiled Æneas, as well, the first origin of lofty Rome, [1069] than which no work exists in Latium of greater fame. Perhaps, too, my name will be mingled among these, and my writings will not be consigned to the waters of Lethe. And people will one day say, "Read the elegant lines of our master, in which he instructs the two sides. [1070] Or of his three books, which the title designates as, 'The Amours,' choose a portion to read with skilful lips, in a languishing way. Or let his Epistles be repeated by you with well-modulated voice; this kind of composition, [1071] unknown to others, did he invent." O Phoebus, mayst thou so will it; so too, ye benignant Divinities of the Poets, Bacchus, graceful with thy horns, and you, ye nine Goddesses!