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NINTH OLYMPIC ode .
When in the Marathonian field ,
55 130
135
140
145
Departing from the beardless train Hemade the veteran warriors yield ,
The cup of silver to obtain .
0 ! with what matchless swiftness there
He ran the circus' destined round , While shouting myriads rend the air
With admiration 's joyful sound .
His lonely form and deeds of might Bursting upon the raptured sight.
in the Parrhasian plain Before contending hosts he strove ,
When all the congregated train Hallowed thy feast, Lycæan Jove .
And when Pallene's robe he bears, Warm refuge from the chilling airs .
Full oft has Iolaus' shrine Upon Eleusis ' sea - girt strand
Witness ' d the splendid acts which To crown the efforts of his hand . In his own path each labors well ,
As Nature grants him to excel .
Wondrous
,
While many with laborious aim Toil up the rugged steep of fame,
shine
150
155
If the kind god forbear to bless Their vain endeavor with success , Let silence hide th ' unfinish ' d tale
Within oblivion 's dusky veil .
Far different are the ways which tend To glory as their common end. 158
Not all mankind are prone to feel 160
In the same care an equal zeal.
But arduous paths must they explore Who to the heights of wisdom soar .
145
56
PINDAR .
While I this lay triumphant bring ,
With voice sonorous letme sing 165 The hero 's praise whose spirit bold
Join ’d to a frame of hardy mould , Urged upon Oilean plain
The palm glory
Then round the Æantean shrine
obtain
festal pomp the wreath entwine
170 168
their return from the indigenous
171 was the custom for the victors Olympia institute sacred rites honor
hero Ajax son Oileus and crown his shrine with chap let The Æantean games were particularly celebrated Opus
THE TENTH OLYMPIC
ODE
AGESIDAMUS SON ARCHESTRATUS
THE EPIZEPHYRIAN WESTERN LOCRIAN HIS VICTORY WITH THE CÆSTUS
GAINED THE SEVENTY THIRD OLYMPIAD ARGUMENT
This ode opens with
whom wished remind him his long forgotten pro mise celebrate the son Archestratus and the city
the Locrians well his alipta Ilas who encouraged
him the example Hercules and Patroclus perse vere the contest notwithstanding its unfavorable com
address the Muse and
Truth
mencement Then follows digression concerning
stitution
the Olympic games
his conquests over the Molionidæ and Augeas Elis the victors these games are likewise re corded The poet then sings the praises Jupiter and
meration king
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Tenth OLYMPIC ODE .
57
concludes with complimenting Agesidamus on bis prowess
and personal beauty , comparing him in this respect to Ganymedes .
INSCRIBED upon the poet 's mind
Archestratus ' illustrious son ,
Who late th ' olympic wreath has won ,
Thou knowest , celestial muse , to find : For dull oblivion swept away
All record of the promised lay .
And thou , O Truth ! fair child of Jove ,
With thine unerring hand efface
The tale that speaks foul disgrace Who slights claim and wrongs the stranger
For when Time rapid course had felt the glowing tinge shame
think how large the debt became
But ample interest now The sharp reproach
And all the guilty past atone
Now whelm beneath the flowing tide Where the pebble seen glide
And confound the slanderous tongue How shall the friendly strain sung
For Truth her Locrians favor land Refresh Zephyr breath defends
The metaphor the original similar that
have rolled away reproach Egypt understand
the words Pindar interrogatively with the Oxford editors although against the opinion Heyne
One the scholiasts
spaxela Todis the poet was alluding the rocky situa
shall close envious foes
instead ATPekela
here reads
tion the town but the common reading appears far pre ferable
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PINDAR .
Calliope her guardian hand
’er them with brazen Mars extends .
O
Even Hercules ' superior might Fainted in the Cycnean fight.
And as Patroclus, safe from harm ,
Bowed grateful to Achilles ' So should Agesidamus pay
His thanks Who gave him
chaplet obtain For by the favoring god inspired
To glorious deeds the breast fired Where emulation points the way
But few eminence can rise
And without labor seize the prize
The wrestler
Ilas the fray Olympia plain
The light and joy fleeting Daughters heaven eternal king Urged your high command sing
40
Neptune proud sons slew who scorn his might divine
Within Cleonæ thickest wood Alcides dark ambush lay
Ye Themites the glorious strife Which Hercules Pelops ancient shrine
unwilling Augeas
That the promised guerdon might demand
Ordain when from
hand
This passage rather obscure and the construction not very clear From the words they stand have endea
vored elicit the most obvious and natural meaning By the Themites daughters Jupiter the poet probably means
nothing more than the righteous eye the heavenly king surveying with especial interest his own Olympic contests
The younger scholiast says EMITES nyour vouobertat του Διοs κατα νομους συνηθειαι
life
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TENTH OLYMPIC
When blameless Cteatus pursued
With Eurytus his deadly way .
Thus was avenged his brave Tirynthian host,
By Molion 's haughty race in pass of Elis lost. 42 Ere long the fraudulent Epean king
Saw potent fire and the devouring
Destruction to his rich dominions bring, Deep in the lowest gulf of misery laid .
hard a mightier foe 's assault to quell . Augeas, seized at last .
' Tis
Thus the devoted
By vengeful fate , bereft of counsel , fell ,
the occasion
61 An early instance
the spoils taken battle
the service the gods
given
Xenophon
Atolovi μερος
EKQOTOS planting
mentioned 729
large grove around the temple Thus Ovid addressing Bacchus says
Jupiter Fast
the
justly reprehended by Pope
Kal TNU dekatnu
QuaTTELV TOLS DEULS• the end the chapter
Anab
εξειλον και Εφεσια Αρτεμιδι διελαβον στρατηγοι
memorant Gange totoque Oriente subacto Primitias magno seposuisse Jovi
And Callimachus addressing Apollo
Del 278
Αλλα τοι αμφιετεις δεκατηφοροι αιεν απαρχαι Πεμπονται
which passage see the learned dissertation Spanheim who mentions the same custom have prevailed among the Jews who were wont convey their holy metropolis the first fruits and tenths the produce the soil for the main
tenance the temple and service Spencer de Legg Heb 1161 shows great length that many the rites
ODE .
blade
And death atoned
treachery past
His whole array the warlike son Jove Pisa plain assembling with the spoil
This story related great length Patroclus old
Nestor 670 whose unseasonable
garrulity the consecration tenth part
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PINDAR .
Raised to his mighty father Altis' grove ,
And
fenced from tread profane the hallow ' d soil .
Sbrines to th ' immortal twelve he placed , Who the celestialbanquet graced ,
Ranking with these Alpheus' wave , To Saturn 's hill the name he gave .
( For erst , while old
sceptre
Enomaus ' hand
,
Possess ’
d the
of the land
Upon the nameless mountain ' head
s
Their snows upnumbered ages shed . )
On the first rites with aspect mild
The Destinies assistant smiled ; And hoary Time , whose steady ray
Oft brings undoubted truth to day. 67
He in his onward
What time Alcides' conquering might
victory ' chaplet wear . s sons the
Muse , in that illustrious day
first the glorious prize obtain ' ; d
bore the wrestler's palm away ; the high meed of swiftness gain '
course reveal '
d
Olympia to found '
Bestow '
The earliest offerings of the fight.
field , And on each fifth returning year
Bade
Tell , Who
Who Who
d: 85
d
,
s
Or urged his chariot to the goal,
Curbing by deeds the pride of boastful rivals ' soul . 75
First in the stadium 's level course Eonus , brave Licymnius ' son ,
Who brought from Midea's walls his force, 90
The chaplet' glorious
s honors won :
observed in bringing the first- fruits to Jerusalem were bor rowed from heathen nations .
TENTH : OLYMPIC Ode . And Echemus his Tegea 's name
ring Doryclus bade the manly cæstus crown
61
Is view '
d
with hatred
Raised in the wrestler '
s
to fame.
His loved Tirynthian city with renown . 82 95
And Semus ' steeds unwearied in the race ,
Mantinea with the hymn of triumph grace . Phrastor with certain aim the javelin threw ;
While from Eniceus ' hand the discus flew ,
And as the circling orb ascended high 100
Above the rest, what clamors rent the sky ! The full -orb ’d moon , with her nocturnal ray
Shed o'er the scene a lovely flood of day. 91
And all the grove with festal chorus rang ,
Oft as the crowd the victor's praises sang . 105
Now shall the Muse prepare her loftiest verse , Obedient to the rites of ancient days,
The lurid bolts and shafts of light rehearse ,
And sing the mighty Thunderer 's deathless praise .
Symphonious with the song shall wake the reed , 110 By Dirce's sacred fount- a tardy note indeed ! 101
Grateful as comes th ' expected heir To bless his age - enfeebled sire ,
The source of sweetly -anxious care,
And object of his fond desire . 115
Since wealth , if foreign hands must seize the board ,
by its dying lord .
Even thus, arrived at Pluto 's dark domain ,
The hero , nameless in the poet's lay,
By glorious acts and aspirations vain
Will not have soothed life 's brief and anxious day . 112
The dulcet flute and lyre's accordant string Thy happier deeds, Agesidamus , sing ,
120
62 PINDAR .
While the Pierian maids, Jove's tuneful race, On thy fair deeds bestow illustrious grace !
And the Muses faithful friend With ardent zeal my efforts bend
To hymn the mighty Locrians name
Shedding their well peopled town
The honied dews fair renown
Archestratus loved stripling proclaim
Victorious near Olympic shrine With strength arm saw him shine
bloom youth and beauty flower Incipient manhood golden hour
Which with the Cyprian Queen love Disgraceful fate from Ganymedes drove
THE ELEVENTH OLYMPIC ODE
125
130
135
TO THE SAME AGESIDAMUS SUPPLEMENTARY ODE KNOWN THE GREEK TITLE Tokos OR INTEREST
ARGUMENT
The poet addresses this short ode Agesidamus kind amends for his delay sending him the preceding
contains the praises the Locri and Agesidamus the latter account his victory with the cæstus the other for wisdom hospitality and fortitude
As men ocean paths who sail Implore from Heaven favoring gale
The Greek title this ode was Tokos Interest as
was sent Agesidamus with the preceding order com pensate for the poet tardiness sending him the preceding
125
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ELEVENTH OLYMPIC ode .
And others joy when , at their call ,
Showers , the clouds' humid daughters , fall ; Thus too when some laborious deed
63
's well - earn ' Sure pledge that aftertimes shall celebrate
Is crown'
victory ,
yield The conquests Olympia field
Praises like these unenvied
And such my tongue aspired But human wishes all are vain
Unless the god his aid bestow
gain
d meed ,
name
From whom success and genius flow
Son Archestratus raise thy triumphant cæstus praise
The hymnwhose melody around
The golden olive wreath shall sound
While the melodious numbers grace The western Locrians honor race
Thither Muses lead the festal train
that land your hallow footsteps stray
Ye find no rude inhospitable swain
Who drives the stranger from his door away But one wisdom ample treasures blest Whose veins with all his father valor glow For timebut steels the rugged lion breast
Nor can the tawny wiles forego
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THE TWELFTH OLYMPIC ODE .
TO ERGOTELES OF HIMERA, ON HIS VICTORY IN THE FOOT RACE , CALLED Alexodpouos , * OR THE LONG COURSE , GAINED IN THE SEVENTY - SEVENTH OLYMPIAD .
ARGUMENT .
This ode , almost as short as the preceding , begins with an invocation to Fortune , the supreme arbitress of events , the issue of which is always uncertain , to be propitious to the Himeræans . The victor would have remained in igno ble obscurity , passing his life in domestic broils , had he not removed from Crete , his native land , to Himera : in
which town , being favorably received , he cultivated those faculties of strength and swiftness which enabled him to
obtain the Olympic , Pythian , and Isthmian crowns .
ing
accord the
O Fortune , saviour of the state ,
Daughter of Eleutherian Jove ,
For Himera thy constant love
And guardian care I supplicate .
Toss' rough and stormy sea, d on the
The rapid ships swayed thee And marshall long array
Uncertain war allows thy sway
Since council field All thy sovereign fiat yield
This course according some consisted
others twenty four stadia was longer than the
diaulos which was course from the starting post goal and back again without intermission
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TWELFTH OLYMPIC Ode .
65
15
While flattering hope's delusive dream Cheats men with visions false and vain ; Now glads the heart with transport's beam ,
Now whirls them in despair again . 9
But not to any son of earth
Has ever yet a sign been given
By the immortal pow ’rs of heaven
To know th ' event before it come to birth . Full oft the wishes of mankind
An unexpected issue find ,
Whén joy ' s bright promise ends in
Oft too the beams of bliss arise
To him whose shatter 'd vessel lies
woe .
Whelm '
d in the
stormy gulf
below . 18
Son of Philanor ! - like the bird Whose shouts within are only heard ,
Ne'er had thy speed , unknown to Exalted an inglorious name. Driven by sedition ' s broils to roam
Far from thy native Cretan home, Olympia ' s verdant chaplet now
Encircles thine illustrious brow .
fame ,
For thee their twofold chaplets twine The Delphic palm and Isthmian pine ,
25 I. e . the cock , sacred to Mars. By this simile Pindar intimates that had not Ergoteles been expelled by domestic sedition from his native land , he would still have remained
inglorious at home, like a cock inclosed within a coop Heyne
.
remarks that this image is the more obvious , as the coins of Himera were usually distinguished by the image of that bird .
The Himeræans experienced in a remarkable manner the in stability of human fortune, as their city was destroyed by
the Carthaginians in little more than two hundred years from its foundation .
PIND .
PINDAR .
Ergoteles with your own high renown
And bid their springs unwonted honor gain
This allusion the celebrated warm springs Himera understood by some commentators allegorical sense
THE THIRTEENTH OLYMPIC ODE
XENOPHON THE CORINTHIAN ON HIS VICTORY THE STADIC COURSE AND THE PENTATHLON GAINED IN THE
65
Now Himera
The tepid fountains the nymphs you crown
While the house The grateful tribute
Xenophon raise
poetic praise Olympia field
Who thrice victorious
With equal care the friend and stranger shield
adopted plain
SEVENTY NINTH
OLYMPIAD
ARGUMENT
The poet begins this ode with celebrating the praises
Xenophon conjointly with those bis native town He then proceeds enumerate the different conquests the
victor and his father Ptæodorus Then returns Corinth and digresses the story Bellerophon thrown earth
by Pegasus who was afterwards received into the celestial stalls Then follow encomiums the Oligæthidæ the tribe Xenophon who had been victorious Thebes Argos and various other cities where games inferior the four great
contests were celebrated Concludes with prayer Ju piter that may bless them with continued prosperity
Well peopled Corinth Isthmian Neptune gate
this triumphant strain celebrate Ennomia with her sisters fair
guard
goal Concord and Justice who dispense
The state firm
man unbounded affluence
inhabit there
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THIRTEENTH OLYMPIC ode .
They , prudent Themis' golden train , Impetuous arrogance control ;
d, And foul-mouth ' insolence restrain
Which breeds satiety of soul .
But truth and upright confidence prevail
'er my bold tongue to speak pleasing tale
15
O
Sons Aletes vainly would you hide
The native valor stamp upon the mind To you full often triumphantpride
Victory high palm the blooming hours assign And oft they bade your skilful art explore
The secretmysteries ancient lore
But all the glorious action fame
Illustrates the inventor
king
The oracle Bacis mentioned Herodotus Uran
lxxvii ascribes the same birth
satiety Kpatepov Kopov YBplos viov
The Corinthians are called
King Aletes who came into the Peloponnesus with the He
raclidæ and obtained the empire Corinth
There some obscurity this passage doubted
by the commentators whether the double eagle were sculp
tured the pediment aëtoma placed inside the tem ple Green the latter opinion but supports by
rather singular argument viz that the word the original
EVONK whereas evident that the corresponding line the second epode requires cOnk the first which the common and doubtless the true reading
Pausanias his description the temple Minerva Evyavn the Artificer the citadel Lacedæmon has these
12
Or
Who taught save Corinth The Dithyrambic hymn
festal pride the bull
Or curb with reins the generous steed
the temples with expanded wing Placed the twin semblance the feathered
name
noble race grace
lead
being descended from
16 12
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68 PINDAR .
Them the sweet breathing Muse inspires , While Mars in his sublime career ,
Their youth with thirst of glory fires, And gives to hurl the deadly spear. 33
Supreme, wide -ruling Jove , whose sway Olympia glories to obey ,
Through every age with guardian arm Shielding this happy race from harm ,
Conducted by thy prosperous gale ,
May Xenophon ' light pinnace
s sail .
Receive th ' encomiastic strain , His tribute , who on Pisa' s plain The pentathletic garland won :
Urged by insuperable
While he the stadium 's lengthen 'd course
With rapid foot was first to run .
Of all in that
Such wreaths no former mortal crown'd . 44
force
great ,
strife renown '
d
Twice has the Isthmian parsley graced — . 50 As oft conspicuous in the Nemean field ,
To him the crown his vanquish '
His brow , in pride of triumph placed ,
yield And by Alpheus' shore his father's name,
Swift -footed Thessalus , is given to fame. Him the same sun beheld on Pytho ' s plain ,
The stadic and diaulic prize obtain :
And rocky Athens wove her chaplet fair
Thrice in one moon , to deck the victor 's hair . 55
Seven times th ' Hellotian palm he gain ' ;
d
But when on Isthmian Neptune's strand 60
words : Ý de mpos duoruas exel TWV Śwwv aerovS Te TOUS νιθας και ισας αυτοις νικας
The Hellotia was festival Minerva celebrated
d
rivals
59
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at
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son
THIRTEENTH OLYMPIC ode .
The efforts of his victor hand
69
65
great Ptæodorus'might, His sire and partner in the fight,
The glorious prize obtained ;
More lengthen ' pomps songs proclaim d and
Terpsias ' and Eritimus ' fame.
What palms to from Delphic contests rise What honors Nemea grassy field supplies
glorious deeds my song would tell
Join'
d to
The shore unnumber stones might recount well
Wisdom still follows the mean On every occasion seen
when true friendship wakes the string
Prudence warlike fame
Not even for Corinth sires will raise Strains of exaggerated praise
Thence Sisyphus the craftiest son earth
His hands endued with more than mortal skill And this race Medea owes her birth
Whose wedded choice opposed her father will Her ready aid by love inspired could save
Argo and all her crew from the remorseless grave
What time the troops long array Appear before the Dardan wall Anxious end the doubtful fray Begun
the Atridæ call
Corinth which was game called Aantadodpouia from youths running with lamps their hands The scholiast
forms that when the Dorians with the Heraclidæ invaded Corinth and burned the city the greater part the virgins
fled but Hellotia with her sister Eurytione perished the flames the temple Minerva
The former was the son Ptæodorus the latter the Terpsias
sing
66 of
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PINDAR .
When , aided by their friendly host, Greece -strove her Helen to regain ,
While Danaus ' sons with fear survey '
Glaucus , from Lycia' array
Troy beyond her threaten 'd coast
And
To drive th ' invaders to the main .
s field
The plain , he said with conscious pride,
Where flows Pirene '
That was my sire 's dominion fair ,
Whose palace tower'
,
splendor
d in there.
88
Pegasus , the snaky Gorgon 's son ,
s sacred tide
Bold
He strove to curb with many an effort vain , Where that sweet fountain 's bubbling waters run ,
Till virgin Pallas brought the golden rein . 100
In vision to couch rest she came
And cried Can still Eolian monarch sleep
The courser with this wished for bridle tame And the god who rules the stormy deep
'd
d
As the white bullock his altar bleeds
105 Display strong rein checks his fiery steeds
Twas thus
The godlike maid who joys
Polyidus
That when by night retired
plung sleep lay
wield The terrors her azure shield
Seem the shadowy gloom
On eager foot the monarch
say
rose
And seized the wonder glittering near
Then straight the whole bright vision shows
native seer
rest Obedient the high behest
Within her consecrated fane
The virgin progeny
Who darts his lightning spear above
Gave his hand the golden rein 111 120
Jove
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THIRTEENTH OLYMPIC ODE .
The prophet bade swift obey This passage the will divine sturdy bull Neptune slay
equestrian Pallas rear the shrine Full oft the gods with power supreme
Have brought the wish Beyond the utmost hope
event birth dream
Of the short sighted sons earth
Even thus Bellerophon the bold
With gentle rein thrown his head 130
The winged courser pride controll And his potent bidding led 122
panoply array
faithful steed sought the field
Then brazen
quickly mounting sportive play
Borne
Where blows the desart air with chilling breath
Made the brave Amazonian squadrons yield And closed their female warrior ranks death
Chimæra breathing fire his arms erthrew
And the proud race Solymi he slew 140
His death sing not while from thraldom freed
The ancient stalls Jove receive steed 132
But tis not mine beyond the mark throw The whirling arrows from my potentbow
aspiring
The high throned Muses willing slave raise 145 With the just tribute poetic praise
142 The scholiast says that these were stars anciently called ovot well patvar Perhaps therefore was the Presepe
Asellorum near the constellation Cancer which being summer sign answers the description given by Theo
critus xxii ovwv ava MECCOV apavpn Patvn onualvolo προς τλούν ευδια παντα
τα
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72
PINDAR .
The Oligæthida 's Corinthian train , Victors at Isthmus and on Nemea 's plain .
While in brief tale their glories I rehearse , True is the oath that sanctifies my verse .
. .
150 In either contest won , sings to the world around . 143
Since thirty wreaths the herald ' sweet - toned sound
Their triumphs Olympia plain Ere now my song has given fame
And future crowns the lay shall move true my ardent wishes prove
But should the natal Dæmon bless Since God alone confers success
s
Jove and War stern lord The embryo glories achieve
we leave
For them what verdant garlands grow
On the Parnassian mountain brow What chaplets Thebes and Argos yield
And green Arcadia sacred grove Where stands witness the field
The altar Lycæan Jove 154
Pellene Sicyon have beheld their might Æacidæ well guarded grove
Eleusis Megara where oft fight
As oft splendid Marathon they strove 170 Euboea and the wealthy cities spread
Beneath aspiring Ætna head
Through Græcia realm more wreaths them
belong
Than could number the poet song
Still mighty Jove preserve their tranquil state
175 may increasing joys the virtuous race await 165
Gav
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THE FOURTEENTH OLYMPIC ODE.
TO ASOPICHUS OF ORCHOMENOS , ON HIS VICTORY IN THE STADIC COURSE , GAINED IN THE SEVENTIETH OLYMPIAD .
ARGUMENT .
This ode begins with a highly poetical invocation to the
Graces , guardians of Orchomenos , that they may bless the
victor with their propitious influence - The poet concludes
with an address to Echo, enjoining her to carry the news of his conquest to the city of Proserpine , in order to gra
tify his father Cleodamus with the pleasing intelligence .
NYMPHs of Cephisian streams ! who reign Where generous coursers graze the plain ,
And rule Orchomenos the fair ;
Ye Graces ! who with power divine
Protect the ancient Minya '
O listen to my humble prayer .
To you the grateful bard should raise
His tribute of poetic praise ;
Since wisdom , beauty , splendor flow
From your bright sphere to man below . Nor without you the bless'd above
Or join in banquet or in chorus move .
But throned on high , your lovely train
Placed near the Pythian god of day ,
Whose golden shafts the beams of light display ,
All high deeds Heaven ordain
And praise Olympic sire with hymns endless
love
s line
,
15
.
th '
18
of
of
the
,
74
PINDAR .
Aglaia , offspring of his might divine, Thalia and Euphrosyne , whose ear
The songs of heaven delights to hear,
Ye tuneful sisters , hearken now to mine .
As moving on , with agile state , The festal pomp we celebrate . To hymn , Asopichus , thy fame,
With Lydian melodies I came;
Since Minyas' prosperous town to thee Owes her Olympic victory . 27
Now to Persephonea ' s hall , Encircled by its sable wall ,
Haste , Echo , bear thy grateful tale To Cleodamus ' ear ;
Which in illustrious Pisa's vale Announced his bright career :
How in life's early bloom his son
The glorious wreath of triumph won '; Encircling with that guerdon fair ,
In winged grace his flowing hair.
35 It was usual for the victors at the Olympic games to entwine with garlands the names of their horses aswell as their own hair . To this custom Pindar frequently alludes .
35
THE PYTHIAN ODES .
OF THE PYTHIAN GAMES .
The Pythian Games were instituted in honor of Apollo .
Conjectures vary with respect to the origin of the word ,
which some imagine to have been named from the serpent Python slain by that god . So Ovid (Met. i. 445 ) describing
the generation and death of this monster :
Neve operis famam possit delere vetustas, Instituit sacros celebri certamine ludos ; ,
Pythia de domito serpentis nomine dictos .
Others derive the term απο του πυθεσθαι, because the serpent lay and putrefied there ; others again ato TOV TUVOaveo dai, from inquiry , because men in doubt went to consult the Pythian
Apollo . But the most probable conjecture is that which de
rives them from Pytho , the ancient name of the town Del
,
phi, situated in a valley of Mount Parnassus the scene of
their celebration , as the other Grecian games , the Olympian ,
Nemean , and Isthmian , were denominated from the spot on which they were held . The Pythian contests , which the Greeks regarded with the highest reverence , were instituted many years after the Olympic, and before the Isthmian .
Some authors maintain that they were established by Adrastus king of Argos , B . C . 1263 . At first they were held
and that Castor won the prize in the stadic course , Pollux in boxing , Hercules in the pancratium , Calais in the foot race , Zetes in fighting with armor , Telamon in wrestling , and
Peleus in throwing the quoit ; and that the victor's reward
was a laurel crown bestowed by Apollo , afterwards changed
for a garland of palm - leaves . Ovid (loc . says that the wreath was arbitrary
every , ninth
but afterwards every fifth year. It is said that in the first Pythiad the gods themselves were combatants ;
His juvenum quicumque manu pedibusve Vicerat esculeæ capiebat frondis honorem Nondum laurus erat longoque decentia crine
rotave Tempora cingebat qualibet arbore Phæbus
: de ;
.
,
. ,
,
cit . )
PINDAR .
Thine is the potent art to tame The lightning ' s everlasting flame .
Jove's slumbering eagle on his sceptre laid , Rests with swift plume on either side display '
Thy melting sounds his eyelids close In the dark shadows of repose .
While his curved head and quivering back declare
That even in sleep thy darts have enter ' Mars, as he listens to thy lay , Gives his impetuous spear to rest
Thy numbers charm his rage away ,
d
there .
15
Apollo
Conducts the Muses sacred band
Whene
Butwretches whom immortal Jove Deigns not honor with his love
Hear confusion the Pierian strain On earth the mighty main
Casimir appears have imitated this splendid passage
tibi præpes alti Civis Olympi
Hinc hinc pressis reverenter alis Attulit pacem
Homer xxiv 361 calls the eagle Jove winged messenger and the strong sovereign the plumed race Pope Apuleius
Metam 119 gives almost verbal translation the words Pindar Nam supremi Jovis regalis ales illa
the Naiads
With emulation all the sounding choir And bright Apollo leader the song
Their voices through the liquid air exalt
Lyric Ep
pente propansis utrimque pennis affuit rapax aquila The English reader will probably call mind
poetical the celebrated invocation with which this beau
paraphrase
tiful ode begins by Akenside his hymn
d
. 12
And lull to peace his stormy breast. Nor less are the inmates the sky
Sooth the shafts
harmony skilful hand
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FIRST PYTHIAN ODE .
As Typhon , he who dared all heaven to brave ,
And ' gainst the gods with hundred heads to rise , Nurtured of old in famed Cilicia 's cave ,
Now whelm 'd in black Tartarean darkness lies. 30
Cumæ ' s sea
And where
- girdled shores below , Sicilia ' s waters flow ,
imprest
Crush 'd by the island 's weight,
Upon the rebel' s shaggy breast , Ætna his giant form restrains ,
Whose towering height the cloud sustains , Nurse of the sharp perennial snow . 39
Forth from her inmost caverns urge their way Fountains of pure and unapproached fire , Rivers of smoke that blot the face of day ,
And from their source of lurid flame aspire.
But flashes of bright hue illume The horrors of nocturnal gloom ;
And hurl the rocks with thundering sound , Whelm 'd in the watery gulf profound .
The restless monster from his burning seat Sends up to heaven the springs of direst heat ;
27 With this description of the hundred -headed Typhon or
Typhæus , who is also mentioned in the beginning of the fourth Olympic and the eighth Pythian , compare Callimachus
( in Del. 141 ) , who , like Pindar , appears anxious to clothe so vast an image with appropriate magnificence of language :
37 See Theocritus (Id . xi. 47 ), where the Cyclops , de scribing the delights of his Ætnæan residence , says ,
There , from deep - shaded Ætna 's melting snows The cooling spring 's ambrosial beverage flows .
' όποτ'
Ως δ
Σειoνται μυχα παντα , κατουδαιοιο γιγαντος .
| Compare also Euripides (Phæn . 815 ). PIND .
Αιτναιου ορεος πυρι τυφομενοιο
PoLwHELE .
82 . PINDAR .
And strikes with mute surprise their eye and ear
Who see the wondrous fire, and sounds prodigious hear . 50
So close his pinion 'd form is bound
50
Ætna 's leafy head ; the rugged ground ,
Beneath dark Supported on
that bed may power protecting Jove
While his back
My humble prayer and deeds approve
This mountain
erlooks the fruitful land below
torn reclining
guard whose lofty brow
And the neighb ring city gives name
Rear the builder immortal fame While the loud herald shout declared afar
First the Pythian course Ætnæan Hiero car
men who the ocean sail gale Tis sweet launch before the
And ere they leave the port discern The omen blest return
encomiastic lay
might
Recording these triumphant deeds
Foretell many future day
Of garlands won by conquering steeds
Which shall illustrious city raise festal melodies of praise
Lycian Phobus Delian king
For the ruling powers All virtues are mortals
Hiero whom the first Olympic ode addressed
pure Parnassian spring May these warm hopes acceptance find
Who lovest Castalia
With Ætna valiant sons thine approving mind
heaven given
59
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FIRST PYTHIAN ODE .
Wisdom is theirs— from them are sprung The active hand , the fluent tongue .
And when , the victor ' s might to sing , Eager I wake the lyric string ,
I fear not from an erring bow
The brazen -headed shaft to throw , But scattering far the darts of song ,
Hope to confound the rival throng .
O ! thus may Hiero '
happy state
Succeeding And grant ,
Oblivion
Her solace Recording
s
ages give to last ,
to crown prosperous fate the sorrows past
Remembrance yields what numerous fields
90
95
His hand the noble chaplet gain
While by the favoring powers
him were brighter honors given
Than Grecian victor
He still though with enfeebled might Like Philoctetes wag the fight Howe oppress the brave contend
soothe him with the name
friend
100
100
105
Tis said that erst the godlike band Urged with inquiring haste their way
Lemnos solitary strand
Where Pæan tortured offspring lay
Without whose bow the fated wall OfPriam city ne could fall
allusion heremade Hiero recovery from very dangerous illness under which had been laboring The transition the story Philoctetes and comparison that
hero with the Sicilian monarch The scholiast informs us that
Anaxilaus king Rhegium Theron king Agrigentum
highly poetical and just covert allusion here made
others understand
obtain
heaven
to to
,
to ,
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An To To To
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PINDAR .
Thus from the deity may Hiero gain All future joy and respite from his pain
84
Though
powers opposed
sickness
Yet the Grecian labors closed
Then aid me Muse the lay Sung Deinomenes glad ear
raise
110
115
115
The pious youth father praise
From conquering steeds will joy hear
Come let find friendly hymn sing The majesty Ætna future king
To whom that city Hiero rear
Subjected
Which Doric states from Hyllus draw
the bonds law
Since heavenly freedom reigns where laws are fear
The heroes who their noble race 120
From Pamphilus and great Alcides trace Who dwelt distant times below
Taygetus aspiring brow
By true allegiance bound would still
Ægimius high behests fulfil 125 From Pindus rushing the main
Twas theirs Amyclæ walls gain glory station near
The heavenly Twins from Leda sprung 129 Whose milk white steeds and conquering spear
Throughout applauding world are sung 129
preside And may the tongue truth proclaim
Still their fortune Jove
By Amena Sicilian tide
Their citizens and monarch fame 135
The colony Ætna well the Megarensians and Syracusans were Doric origin the latter whom received
118
their laws from Hyllus son Hercules
,
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.
And
our naval contest end peace
From the swift ships their youth
Deep plunged beneath the watery world Setting the land Hellas free
From the rude bonds of slavery
By Syracusa
FIRST PYTHIAN ODE .
Still may the
Direct his harmony
And firm ties Saturnian king
Soon will the shouts
Phænicia baffled sons from Cumæ sail
venerable king
obedient mind subjects bring
concord bind
aught my prayers avail 140
lord erthrown What sad reverses have they known
145
hostile Tuscans cease
141
hurla
praise Athenian name my Muse 150 From Salamis her lay would choose
While Sparta glories the fight Waged near Cithæron towering height
142 This naval victory achieved by the brothers Hiero
and Gelo over the Etruscans off the coast Cumæ mentioned the ninth Nemean ode 69
the same invocation Saturnian Jupiter
peace and prosperity the Sicilians cians general Pindar ascribes
well the Gre the most important
consequences
merely Sicily from the heavy yoke
less than the liberation
second victory recorded 154 was that gained by the sons Deinomenes over the Carthaginians Himera the
same day with the victory by the Athenians Salamis
the patriotic poet them pecu
liar delight 152 Pindar alludes
gained by Pausanias with the united forces Lacedæmon and Athens over army Persians vastly superior num bers 479 the same day with that Mycale This great victory completed the liberation Greece and per haps the whole range descriptive poetry we shall
scarcely find series victorious actions more concisely yet more appropriately described
480 These were themes worthy enthusiasm and he appears expatiate
again with nearly grant continued
Greece and not captivity The
the battle Platæa
,
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86
PINDAR .
When her brave progeny o ’ erthrew The Median archers ' bended yew . Even thus, Deinomenes , thy fame
Sounded in hymns of loud acclaim ,
d, Near Himera 's well -water ' shore
Where thy strong arm in glory's field Made the contending foemen yield ,
Thy latest children shall explore . 156 If just, the brief and simple tale
’ er lengthen ' prevail d numbers shall
:
O
While loathes the breast and sated ear Exaggerated strains to hear ;
Strains which disgust and envy raise By superfluity of praise ;
And the dark jealous mind annoy
That hears with pain
another
'
s
joy
But unsubdued by envious hate , (For pity were a lower state,
Still be thine honest actions sung ; With steady hand direct the helm ,
Protector of the peopled realm , And on truth 's whetstone edge thy
tongue . 168
For know , a fault of lightest blame 176 Would brand a king with flagrant shame.
Since be thy bearing good or Unnumber eyes survey thee still
170 That the scholiast explains the passage you had
better praised for your virtues than pitied for your vices
bad actions Thierry 176 similar sentiment occurs Fletcher
and
Theodoret act where the prince Austracia says royal delinquents
The sins we people behold through optics
Which show them ten times more than common vices
And often multiply them
.
.
,
do
as
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,
of
A
or
-
be (
is ,
i.
.
sc ,.
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of
.
in
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,
ill ,
SECOND PYTHIAN ODE .
Then tarnish not thy generous mind , If thy delighted ear rejoice
In honest fame' s applauding voice ,
thy bounties unconfined Before the free and liberal gale
Be
Like the skill pilot spread thy sail
Nor friend let flattery Thy better judgment
When life brief span And closed the transitory
177
specious wile beguile
pass away
scene The storied page poet lay
190
195
But he whose lot both triumphant lies 200 Receives the highest crown that fortune can bestow 195
THE SECOND PYTHIAN ODE
THE SAME HIERO HIS VICTORY THE CHARIOT RACE
ARGUMENT
Pindar begins this ode with address Syracuse de claring that he brings her hymn account Hiero victory The merits the victor justly demand this tri
bute By way illustration he digresses the story
Jupiter
Declares how bright that life has been Still Crosus philanthropic virtue lives While Phalaris who made his victims flame
Within the brazen bull
ignited everlasting infamy survives
frame
Nor the hated tyrant sung
festal chorus by the youthful tongue
Success mortals chief reward below
The nextwhen hymns proclaim the glorious prizem
Ixion who repaid the benefits received from
,
To is
of
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88 PINDAR .
base ingratitude , and when placed on the wheel , uttered a memorable saying , in order to deter men from such con duct : this leads to the fabulous birth and history of Cen taurus — The poet then adds various moral sentiments , with a view of confirming the moral truth deduced from this narration , and repels the odious charge of having slandered his patron and benefactor , from which the example of Ar
chilochus would be sufficient to deter him — Then follow the praises of Hiero, especially on account of his wisdom , and the glory of his martial exploits, in the assistance
which he rendered to his brother Gelon , whom Hiero suc
ceeded on the throne of Syracuse , in his contest with the Carthaginians - In conclusion he subjoins various precepts
and admonitions, especially warning him not to lend an ear to the voice of adulation .
O SYRACUSE ! in whom combine
Four towns their might to furnish thine, Mars ' loved abode - of generous steeds,
And men renown’d for martial deeds, The fostering nurse divine
To thee from splendid Thebes I come , And bear the grateful tidings home,
How Hiero 's victor coursers' might
Sped his earth - shaking chariot 's flight.
By frequent crowns that shine afar Resplendent in the Pythian war ,
Ennobling high Ortygia's seat,
Where Dian 's river shrine Alpheus ' waters greet .
Without whose aid his agile grasp in vain
Had check 'd his coursers with the varied rein . 15
For prompt with each assisting hand ,
2 These towns are thus enumerated by the scholiast , Acra dina , Neapolis , Tyche , Epipolæ : justly therefore might the poet address Syracuse by the epithet μεγαλοπολιες .
13 I. e . the island Ortygia , at the south of Sicily . The scholiast interprets potaplas by ons Anpelwoas .
SECOND PYTHIAN ode .
The huntress maid who joys to slay With certain aim her sylvan prey ,
And Mercury whose godhead claims
Dominion o'er the sacred games ,
Placed round his polish 'd car the shining band .
Taming by bit and curb applied
The docile steeds ' impetuous pride ;
And calling to the arduous course
The god who wields the trident's force . Each lyric poet for a different lord
Frames the sweet hymn his valor to record .
The Cyprians thus with acclamation sing The praise of Cinyras , their glorious king ;
Loved by Apollo with his golden hair,
The priest of Venus and her cherish ' d care .
Favors of friends conferr '
Lead to a just return of gratitude .
Son of Deinomenes ! the Locrian maid
Raises the loud and joyful strain to thee , 35
Whose step secure proclaims her nation made
By thy brave arm from war '
s dire tumults free .