As the Muse spoke, Minerva could hear wings beating on air,
and cries of greeting came from high in the trees.
She peered into the foliage,
attempting to discover where those sounds,
the speech of human beings to be sure,
were emanating from:why, from some birds!
Bewailing their sad face, a flock of nine magpies (which mimic anyone they wish to)
had settled in the branches overhead.
Minerva having shown astonishment,
the Muse gave her a little goddess-chat
"This lot has only recently been added to the throngs of birds. Why? They lost a contest!
Their father was Pierus, lord of Pella, their mother was Evippe of Paeonia;
nine times she called upon Lucina's aid and nine times she delivered.
Swollen up with foolish pride because they were so many, that crowd of simpleminded sister went through all Haemonia and through Achaea too, arriving here to challenging us in song: