The muse yet spoke, when they began to hear + 

A noise of wings that flutter’d in the air; + 

And straight a voice, from some high-spreading bough, + 

Seem’d to salute the company below. + 

The goddess wonder’d, and inquired from whence + 

That tongue was heard, that spoke so plainly sense. + 

(It seem’d to her a human voice to be, + 

But proved a bird’s; for in a shady tree + 

Nine magpies perch’d, lament their alter’d state, + 

And what they hear are skilful to repeat.) + 

The sister to the wondering goddess said, + 

“These, foil’d by us, by us were thus repaid: + 

These did Evippe of Paeonia bring, + 

With nine hard labour-pangs, to Pella’s king. + 

The foolish virgins, of their number proud, + 

And puff’d with praises of the senseless crowd, + 

Through all Achaia and the Aemonian plains, + 

Defied us thus, to match their artless strains: + 

‘No more, ye Thespian girls, your notes repeat, + 

Nor with false harmony the vulgar cheat; + 

In voice or skill if you with us will vie, + 

As many we in voice or skill will try: + 

Surrender you to us, if we excel, + 

Famed Aganippe, and Medusa’s well: + 

The conquest yours, your prize from us shall be + 

The Aemathian plains to snowy Paeone: + 

The nymphs our judges.’ To dispute the field + 

We thought a shame; but greater shame to yield. + 

On seats of living stone the sisters sit, + 

And by the rivers swear to judge aright.” + 