stition, which represent the nine Muses as daughters of Jupiter
54 ON CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE. [BOOK II.
by ignorance of music. One man, for example, has not unskilfully explained some metaphors from the difference between the psaltery and the harp.^ And it is a question which it is not out of place for learned men to discuss, whether there is any musical law that compels the psaltery of ten chords to have just so many strings ; or whether, if there be no such law, the number itself is not on that very account the more to be considered as of sacred significance, either with reference to the ten commandments of the law (and if again any question is raised about that number, we can only refer it to the Creator and the creature), or with reference to the number ten itself as interpreted above. And the number of years the temple was in building, which is mentioned in the gospel"—viz. fortysix—has a certain undefinable musical sound, and when referred to the structure of our Lord's body, in relation to which the temple was mentioned, compels many heretics to confess that our Lord put on, not a false, but a true and human body. And in several places in the Holy Scriptures we lind both numbers and music mentioned with honour.
CiiAr. XVII. Orirjin of the legend oftlie nine ITiises.
27. For we must not listen to the falsities of heathen superstition, which represent the nine Muses as daughters of Jupiter and Mercury. Varro refutes these, and I doubt whether any one can be found among them more curious or more learned in such matters. He says that a certain state (I don't recollect the name) ordered from each of tliree artists a set of statues of the !Muses, to be placed as an offering in the temple of Apollo, intending that whichever of the artists produced the most beautiful statues, they should select and purchase from him.
It so happened that these artists executed their works with equal beauty, that all nine pleased the state, and that all were bought to be dedicated in the temple of Apollo ; and he says that afterwards Hesiod the poet gave names to them all. It was not Jui)iter, therefore, that begat the nine Pluses, but three artists created tln-ee each. And the state had originally given the order for tliree, not because it had seen them in visions, nor because they had presented themselves in that number to
1 Ps. xxxiii. 2. •John il 20.