315What god, Muses, what god hammered out this art for us? 316From where did this new practice of men take its start? 317The shepherd Aristaeus, fleeing Peneian Tempe after losing his bees, so the story goes, through disease and hunger, stood sadly at the sacred source of the river's head, with many complaints, and addressed his mother with these words: 'Mother, Cyrene my mother, who dwell in the depths of this flood, why did you bear me of the glorious line of the gods (if indeed, as you claim, Thymbraean Apollo is my father) to be hated by the fates? 324or where has your love for me been driven? 325why did you bid me hope for heaven?
326Look, even this very glory of mortal life, which skilful care of crops and flocks had barely hammered out for me after trying everything, I am losing, though you are my mother. 329Come then, and with your own hand tear up my fruitful orchards, bring hostile fire to my stalls and kill my harvests, burn my crops and swing the strong axe against my vines, if such loathing for my renown has seized you.'