"Let us have only sounds of omen good," Said Stratonicus; "let us pour libations And pray devoutly to the mighty gods." There was a harper, and his name was Cleon, But he was nicknamed Ox; he sang most vilely Without th' accompaniment of the lyre. When Stratonicus heard him, then he said, "I've often heard of asses at the lyre, But now I see an ox in the same case." The harper Stratonicus once had sail'd To Pontus, to see king Berisades. And when he'd staid in Pontus long enough, He thought he would return again to Greece. But when the king refused to let him go, They say that Stratonicus said to him— "Why, do you mean to stay here long yourself?" The harper Stratonicus once was staying Some time at Corinth; when an aged woman One day stood looking at him a long time, And would not take her eyes off: then said he, "Tell me, I pray you, in God's name, good mother, What is't you wish, and why you look thus on me?" "I marvell'd," said she, "how 'twas your mother Held you nine months, without her belly bursting, While this town can't endure you one whole day." Fair Biothea, Nicotheon's wife, Once at a party with a handmaid fair Made some strange noise; and after that, by chance, She trod upon a Sicyonian almond. Then Stratonicus said, "The noise is different." But when night came, for this heedless word, He wash'd out his free-speaking in the sea. [Sidenote: STRATONICUS.] Once, when at Ephesus, as rumour goes, A stupid harper was exhibiting One of his pupils to a band of friends; Stratonicus, who by chance was present, said, "He cannot make himself a harp-player, And yet he tries to teach the art to others."