“Offspring of Jove, Calliope, once more
To the bright sun thy hymn of music pour.”
--_Shelley._
Calliope, the fairest of the Muses and their chief representative,
often appeared before the gods and many of them fell victims to the
charms of her sweet voice and graceful manner. But of them all she
loved the bright sun god best, and many were the verses she composed
and sang in his honor. He returned her love with ardor. She readily
consented to their union and became the proud mother of Orpheus, who
inherited from his parents great musical and poetic gifts.