_Mr. B._ They were supposed to be goddesses, presiding over poetry,
music, dancing, and all the liberal arts, and were said to be daughters
of Jupiter.

_Emily_. Those stores of the heathen gods and goddesses are all
fabulous, I suppose, papa!

_Mr. B._ Yes, my dear, completely so. Do you understand the second
line now, Ferdinand?

_Ferdinand_. Yes. Pierian spring is another term for learning or
knowledge. That makes the sense of all the lines perfectly clear, I
think.

_Mr. B_ Louisa may then give us an account of Servius Tullius, who, you
will recollect, was the sixth king of Rome.

_Louisa_. He was the son of Ocrisia, a very beautiful and virtuous
lady, who was taken prisoner by the Romans when they sacked Corniculum.

_Mr. B._ Can you tell us, Edward, where Corniculum is situated?

_Edward_. Yes, papa, it is a town of Latium, a country of Italy, near
the river Tiber. This territory has now changed its name, and is called
Campagna di Roma.

_Ferdinand_. May we look in the map for it, papa?

_Mr. B._ By all means, my dear. I believe no plan of learning