37. We are told by Mnaseas that the Muses are the daughters of Tellus and Cœlus; others declare that they are Jove’s by his wife Memory, or Mens; some relate that they were virgins, others that they were matrons. For now we wish to touch briefly on the points where you are shown, from the difference of your opinions, to make different statements about the same thing. Ephorus, then, says that they are three794    Three was the most ancient number; and the names preserved by Pausanias, are Μελέτη, ᾽Αοιδή, Μνήμη. in number; Mnaseas, whom we mentioned, that they are four;795    Cicero (de Nat. Deor., iii. 21, a passage where there is some doubt as to the reading) enumerates as the four Muses, Thelxiope, Aœde, Arche, Melete. Myrtilus796    The ms. reads Murtylus. Seven are said to have been mentioned by Epicharmis,—Neilous, Tritone, Asopous, Heptapolis, Acheloïs, Tipoplous, and Rhodia. brings forward seven; Crates asserts that there are eight; finally Hesiod, enriching heaven and the stars with gods, comes forward with nine names.797    The nine are Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polymnia, Ourania, and Calliope (Theog., 77–79).

If we are not mistaken, such want of agreement marks those who are wholly ignorant of the truth, and does not spring from the real state of the case. For if their number were clearly known, the voice of all would be the same, and the agreement of all would tend to and find issue in the same conclusion.798    Lit., “into the end of the same opinion.”

XXXVII. Musas Mnaseas est auctor filias esse Telluris et Coeli: Jovis caeteri praedicant ex Memoria 0989A uxore, vel mente: has quidam virgines, alii matres fuisse conscribunt. Libet enim jam paucis etiam illas partes attingere, quibus alius aliud eadem de re dicere opinionum diversitate monstramini. Ephorus has igitur numero esse tres effert: Mnaseas, quem diximus, quatuor: Myrtilus inducit septem: octo asseverat Crates: ad extremum Hesiodus novem, cum nominibus prodit, diis coelum et sidera locupletans. Nisi fallimur, ista dissensio nihil scientium verum est, non ab rei veritate descendens. Nam si liquido sciretur, quid sit, unanimis esset vox omnium et in ejusdem sententiae finem cunctorum 0989B pergeret et conveniret assensio.