Chapter 19

There are countless paths of divine song for one who has received gifts from the Pierian Muses, and upon whose songs the violet-eyed maidens, the garland-bearing Graces, cast honor. Now, much-praised Cean ingenuity, weave something new, in lovely, prosperous Athens. It is fitting for you to travel the greatest road, since you have received an outstanding honor from Calliope.

when the golden heifer, the rose-fingered daughter of Inachus, left Argos, land of horses, by the counsels of widely powerful, greatest Zeus?

When Argus, who could see all around with untiring eyes, was bidden by golden-robed Hera, the greatest queen, to guard the lovely-horned heifer, unresting and unsleeping;

and the son of Maia could not evade him, neither by shining day nor by sacred night. Did it then happen that the swift-footed messenger [of Zeus] then killed [the son of Earth] with mighty offspring Argus? Or was it that unutterable cares?

Or did the Pierian Muses bring about rest from troubles?

For me, the most secure [path?] is the one which when she arrived at the flowery banks of the Nile, [gadfly-driven] Io, bearing the child Epaphus. There [she bore him?] ruler over linen-robed teeming with majestic and greatest mortal from this race Cadmus, son of Agenor, begat Semele in seven-gated Thebes, and she bore the rouser of Bacchants,

Dionysus, the and [lord of] garland-[bearing] choruses.