MŪSAE ET CICĀDAE (1)
Inter montēs
Graecōs vallis iacēbat variīs flōribus laeta et omnium rērum fēcundissima. Dē
montibus aquae frīgidae dēsiliēbant, et per campōs viridēs fluēbant. Multī
gregēs, multa equōrum boumque armenta in agrīs clīvīsque errābant. Vallis
montibus viridibus undique cingēbātur; nūllī viātōrēs eō intrābant, nec hieme,
ubi montēs nive candidā teguntur, nec vēre, ubi hirundō argūta nīdum sub
trabibus aedificat. Itaque incolae dē rēbus externīs nihil sciēbant, sed bene
beātēque vīvēbant, nec cūrīs sollicitīs vexābantur.
Ad incolās in
vallem ōlim dē caelō dēscendērunt Mūsae. Novem sunt Mūsae, poētārum carminumque
deae. Ā Mūsīs omnēs hominum gentēs, sed in prīmīs poētae, cōnservantur et
docentur.
[i]
hirundō, -inis
[3/f]: swallow
mōns, montis
[3/m]: mountain
nīdus, -ī [2/m]:
nest
nix, nivis [3/f]:
snow
vēr, vēris [3/n]:
spring
[ii]
argūtus, -a, -um:
shrill, clear
externus, -a, -um:
outside, external
fēcundus, -a, -um:
fruitful
frigidus, -a, -um:
cold
varius, -a, -um:
various, manifold
viridis, -e: green
[iii]
fluō, fluere [3]:
flow
sciō, -īre [4]:
know
vīvō, vīvere [3]:
live
[iv]
beātē: happily
nihil: nothing
____________________
Among the Greek
mountains lay a valley, rich in various flowers and most fertile in every kind
of thing. Cold waters leapt down from the mountains and flowed through the
green plains. Many flocks and many herds of horses and cattle wandered through
the fields and hillsides.
The valley was
surrounded on all sides by green mountains. No travellers entered it, neither
in winter, when the mountains are covered with white snow, nor in spring, when
the clear-voiced swallow builds its nest beneath the beams. Therefore the
inhabitants knew nothing about foreign affairs, but lived well and happily, and
were not troubled by anxious cares.
Once, the Muses
descended from heaven to the inhabitants in the valley. There are nine Muses,
the goddesses of poets and of songs. By the Muses all the races of mankind, but
especially poets, are protected and instructed.
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