Antiquity, however, as mentioned above, relates that Thaletas, a famous lyric poet, contemporary with Solon, was gifted with this power; but it is impossible to render the fact credible, without qualifying it by several circumstances omitted in the relation.

" A famous spring lyric beginning: "Lenten ys come with love to toune, With blosmen ant with briddes roune.

Their greatest work was done in the years which the lyric-makers did not reach....