Parnassus.
After the Gods had been driven out of Greece, and when their domains were being divided among mortals, a certain man had Parnassus itself allotted to him. The new landlord turned out a number of Asses to graze on it. Now these Asses had learnt, somehow or other, that the Muses used to live there in former times; so they said,
"It wasn't for nothing that we were turned out on Parnassus. It is evident that the world is tired of the Muses, and it wants us to take to singing here."
Then one exclaimed,
"Look sharp there, and don't lose heart. I will lead off: mind you are not behindhand. We must not be timid, friends. Rather will we lift up our voices louder than those of the Nine Sisters, rendering our herd illustrious. And we will form our own choir, and, in order that our confraternity may not be disconcerted, we will establish among ourselves such a regulation as this—that we will not admit upon Parnassus any but those in whose voices the asinine charm is to be found."
The Asses approved of the beautiful and artistically-con structed speech of the Ass, and the novel choir set up a
