The song of the nightingale seemed to the ancients so plaintive that, wishing to account for its sadness, they invented the story of Philomela. King Tereus, having wearied of his wife Procne, tore out her tongue by the roots and then married her sister Philomela, pretending that his wife was dead. Procne informed her sister of the horrible truth by means of a web into which she wove her story. To revenge themselves upon the king, the sisters killed the boy Itylus (son of Tereus and Procne) and served him up as food to his father. To punish them for this wickedness the gods changed Procne into a swallow, and Philomela into a nightingale, which forever bemoans the murdered Itylus. The king, Tereus, they transformed into a hawk. Poems:-- The Power of Music WILLIAM WORDSWORTH Eurydice and Orpheus ROBERT BROWNING Orpheus and Eurydice LEWIS MORRIS Eurydice JAMES R. LOWELL Eurydice EDWARD DOWDEN Waking of Eurydice EDMUND GOSSE XXVIII The Muses were the daughters of Jupiter and Mnemosyne, goddess of memory. Although they sometimes united in one grand song, they had separate duties and powers. Apollo as leader of the choir of Muses was called Musagetes. Clio, the Muse of history, recorded the great deeds of heroes, and was usually represented with a laurel wreath, and a book and stylus. Euterpe, the Muse of lyric poetry, was represented with a flute and garlands of flowers. Thalia, the Muse of comedy, was also the patroness of pastoral poetry, and so was often represented with a shepherd's crook as well as a mask. Melpomene, the Muse of tragedy, wore a crown of gold, and wielded a dagger and a scepter. Terpsichore, the Muse of choral dance and song, was usually portrayed in the act of dancing. Erato, the Muse of love poetry, held a lyre. Polyhymnia, the Muse of sacred poetry, also presided over rhetoric. Calliope, the Muse of epic and heroic poetry, wore a laurel crown. Urania, the Muse of astronomy, held mathematical instruments. XXIX Mars's attendants, or some say his children, were Eris (Discord), Phobos (Alarm), Metus (Fear), Demios (Dread), and Pallor (Terror). As founder of Rome, Romulus was its first king, and ruled over the people so tyrannically that the senators determined to get rid of him. So one day when an eclipse plunged the city into sudden darkness, the senators killed Romulus, cut his body into pieces, and hid them under their wide togas. When daylight returned, and the people looked about for their king,--for all the citizens had assembled on the Forum,--the senators informed them that Romulus had been carried off by the immortal gods and would never return. After this Romulus was worshiped as a god under the name of Quirinus, and a temple was built on one of the seven hills of Rome, which has since been known as Mount Quirinal. Yearly festivals in honor of Romulus were held in Rome under the name of Quirinalia. XXX