Louisa. Who were the Muses, pray, papa?
Mr. B. They were supposed to be goddesses, presiding over poetry, music, dancing, and all the liberal arts, and were said to be daughters of Jupiter.
Emily. Those stores of the heathen gods and goddesses are all fabulous, I suppose, papa!
Mr. B. Yes, my dear, completely so. Do you understand the second line now, Ferdinand?
Ferdinand. Yes. Pierian spring is another term for learning or knowledge. That makes the sense of all the lines perfectly clear, I think.
Mr. B Louisa may then give us an account of Servius Tullius, who, you will recollect, was the sixth king of Rome.
Louisa. He was the son of Ocrisia, a very beautiful and virtuous lady, who was taken prisoner by the Romans when they sacked Corniculum.
Mr. B. Can you tell us, Edward, where Corniculum is situated?
Edward. Yes, papa, it is a town of Latium, a country of Italy, near the river Tiber. This territory has now changed its name, and is called Campagna di Roma.
Ferdinand. May we look in the map for it, papa?