And that grew song which was mere music erst.

"Be my Parnassos, thou Pangaian mount!

And turn thee, river, nameless hitherto!

Famed shalt thou vie with famed Pieria's fount!

Here I await the end of this ado:

Which wins—Earth's poet or the Heavenly Muse." ...

But song broke up in laughter. "Tell the rest,

Who may! I have not spurned the common life,

Nor vaunted mine a lyre to match the Muse

Who sings for gods, not men! Accordingly,