THE MYTH OF TIRESIAS

While down on earth as destiny ordained
These things took place, and Bacchus, babe twice born,
Was cradled safe and sound, it chanced that Jove,
Well warmed with nectar, laid his weighty cares
Aside and, Juno too in idle mood,
The pair were gaily joking, and Jove said
"You women get more pleasure out of love
Than we men do, I'm sure." She disagreed.
So they resolved to get the views of wise
Tiresias. He knew both sides of love.
For once in a green copse when two huge snakes
Were mating, he attacked them with his stick
And he was transformed (a miracle!) from man
To woman; and spent seven autumns so;
Till in the eighth he saw the snakes once more
And said, "If striking you has magic power
To change the striker to the other sex,
I'll strike you now again." He struck the snakes
And so regained the shape he had at birth.
Asked then, to give his judgement on the joke,
He found for Jove; and Juno (so it's said)
Took umbrage beyond all reason, out of all
Proportion, and condemned her judge to live
In the black night of blindness evermore.
But the almighty father (since no god
Has the right to do what any god has done)
For his lost sight gave him the gift to see
What things should come, the power of prophecy,
An honour to relieve that penalty.
Ovid Metamorphoses 3.314-42