THE LIFE OF HESIOD. 7

sions of Ovid * they show that with a faith quite in keeping with his simple, serious, superstitious character, he took this night-vision for no idle dream-fabric, but a definite call to devote himself to the poetry of truth, and the errand of making song subserve the propaga- tion of religion and moral instruction. The " fictions seeming true " in other words, the heroic poetry so popular in the land of his father's birth Hesiod con- siders himself enjoined to forsake for a graver strain "the things of truth" which the Muses declare have been hitherto regarded by mortals as not included in their gift of inspiration. He takes their com- mission to be prophet and poet of this phase of min- strelsy, embracing, it appears, the past and future, and including his theogonic and ethical poetry. And while the language of the Muses thus defines the poet's aim, when awakened from a rude shepherd-life to the devout service of inspired song, it implies, rather than asserts, a censure of the kinds of poetry Avhich admit of an easier and freer range of fancy. For himself, this supernatural interview formed the starting-point of a path clear to be tracked ; and that he accepted his commission as Heaven-appointed is seen in the gratitude which, as we learn from his ' Works and Days/ he evinced by dedicating to the maids of Helicon, " Where first their tuneful inspiration flowed," an eared tripod, won in a contest of song at funeral games in Euboea. In the same passage (E. 915-922)

• Fasti, vi. 13 ; Art of Love, i. 27.