Muses

But within the noble round of the mythic circle of art, where these separate self-existent natures stand and rest, there are smaller circles which in which the figures are conceived and wrought out with reference to other figures.

For example, the nine Muses with their leader Apollo are each one conceived and executed separately, but they become far more interesting in their complete and diversified choir.

When art attempts scenes of exalted expression, it can treat them also in the same manner.

It may either present to us a circle of figures holding a passionate relation to each other, like the Niobe and her children pursued by Apollo and Diana, or exhibit in the same piece the action and the motive.

He does Future of the Left, and then kinda starting in COVID that he decides to kinda bring the band fully out of, uh, hibernation.

The original, uh, bassist, uh, Jonathan Chapel has moved far, far away and is no longer in Muses, but he's able to get a replacement bassist.

And kind of the Falkous music goes from going from McCluskey to Future of the Left to Christian Fitness to now to back to McCluskey, and they put out a new album last year, The World Is Still Here And So Are We, which i- i- if you are a fan of the, the, the vein of noise rock that McCluskey is, it is at least, like, some of the better, uh, work that's been put out in the genre in the last, like, decade or so.

It's a whole lot of fun and has even more absurd, uh, song titles such as The Bottle-- The Battle of Los Angeles Sees, The Way of the Exploding Dickhead, and also Auto Focus on the Prime Directive.

The arts of medicine and archery and divination were discovered by Apollo under the guidance of Love and desire; so that he too is a disciple of Love.

Also the melody of the Muses, the metallurgy of Hephaestus, the weaving of Athene, the empire of Zeus over gods and men, are all due to Love, who was the inventor of them.

And so Love set in order the empire of the gods—the love of beauty, as is evident; for with deformity Love has no concern.

In the days of old, as I began by saying, dreadful deeds were done among the gods, for they were ruled by necessity.

You to your beauteous blessings add a curse, being fond on praise, which makes your praises worse.

Eighty-five.

My tongue-tied Muse in manners holds her still, while comments of your praise richly compiled reserve their character with golden quill, and precious phrase by all the Muses filed.

I think good thoughts whilst others write good words, and like unlettered clerk still cry "Amen" to every hymn that able spirit affords, in polished form of well-refined pen.

Close to Poseidon, and leaning lovingly against his broad shoulder, Tantalus saw a bright-haired youth at whose feet lay a bow and quiver and a golden lyre.

It was the archer Apollo, who was the sweet singer of Heaven, and near him sat nine fair sisters crowned with violets who are called the Muses.

As the feast went on, another youth, whose smiling eyes sparkled with mischief, slipped from his place and stood beside Apollo and stealthily picked up the golden lyre.

But Apollo turned and took it from him laughing and said, "Ah, thieving Hermes, did you not give me this to make amends for the kine you stole from me in the Arcadian pastures when you were yet a little roguish boy? And now would you steal it too? Nay, let me keep it, my brother, and you shall hear me sing with the nine in honor of our kind host." Then Tantalus looked eagerly at the merry face of Hermes, for there were many greater gods but none more beloved than he, the god of homely shepherds and of wayfarers.

He wore the cap and sandals of a traveler, but his cap was the cap of darkness that made the wearer invisible when he pleased, and his sandals were the shoes of swiftness that carried him dry-shod over the surface of the sea.

The king knew that all unlooked-for good luck and all treasure trove is the gift of Hermes, and he it is who charms asleep the eyes of whom he will with the waving of the wand he carries.

And now Apollo sang to the golden lyre, and the nine Muses sang with him.

They sang in praise of Tantalus the generous, the hospitable, the bounteous friend of the needy and the stranger, and how his name was glorious in many lands.

The Holy Spirit understandeth all languages.

But why do you say, I will smear thy letters with fresh oil of cedar to protect them from the destructive enemies of the Muses? What Muses, I pray you? Those who invented letters and wrote the sheets which are the prey of moths? Tell me, I pray then, brother, did the Muses invent letters? Are not all things through the Lord and all from God? Besides those hundred and twenty tongues, was there yet another of the Muses? That idea was falsely devised by Hesiod on Helicon, but only to please the Athenians who, the Apostle says, had no leisure but to talk.

We, the Apostle is our witness, retain the measures of all words and all kinds of language as inspired by God.

Yet I pardon you, brother, if you rely somewhat upon your own author and if you join together the philosophy of Novatian, whereby he made shipwreck of religion with the authority of Hesiod.

Heads would be free from tingling in the ears To baffle the whole storehouse of abuses.

[lip smacking] Then thus farewell, Apollo and the Muses.

End of chapter two.

Recording by Martin Geeson in Haslemere, Surrey.

guest?Thetis and Peleus had already gone off to their bridal chamber, escorted by Amphitrate and Poseidon.

But Eris, meanwhile unobserved by any—and she could easily be so, while some were drinking, others making a clatter, or giving all their attention to Apollo playing on the cithara, or to the Muses as they sang—threw into the midst of the banqueting hall a certain very beautiful apple, all of gold, Galene; and it was inscribed, Let the beautiful one have me.

And rolling along as though intentionally, it came where Hera and Aphrodite and Athena were reclining; and when Hermes, taking it up, read out the inscription, we Nereids held our tongues, for what were we to do in the presence of those goddesses? Then they began to put forward each one her pretensions, and each claimed the apple to be her own; and had not Zeus separated them, the affair would have ended even in blows.

But, says he, I will not myself judge in the matter—although they earnestly called upon him to do so—but go away with you to Ida to the presence of the youth Paris, who, as he is a connoisseur in female charms, knows how to distinguish the superior beauty; and he would not give a wrong judgment.