Tempora Mutantur + 

“The world is dull,” I cried in my despair: + 

“Its myths and fables are no longer fair. + 

“Roll back thy centuries, O Father Time: + 

To Greece transport me in her golden prime. + 

“Give back the beautiful old gods again⁠— + 

The sportive Nymphs, the Dryad’s jocund train, + 

“Pan piping on his reeds, the Naiades, + 

The Sirens singing by the sleepy seas. + 

“Nay, show me but a Gorgon and I’ll dare + 

To lift mine eyes to her peculiar hair + 

“(The fatal horrors of her snaky pate, + 

That stiffen men into a stony state) + 

“And die⁠—becoming, as my spirit flies, + 

A noble statue of myself, life size.” + 

Straight as I spoke I heard the voice of Fate: + 

“Look up, my lad, the Gorgon sisters wait.” + 

Lifting my eyes, I saw Medusa stand, + 

Stheno, Euryale, on either hand. + 

I gazed unpetrified and unappalled⁠— + 

The girls had aged and were entirely bald! + 