There on the deadly circle laid, 70
Whose fourfold chain himself had made, [1]
His limbs in dreadful torment wound
Th' inevitable wheel around,
The wretch with tardy wisdom fraught,
To all mankind this lesson taught. 75
Submitting to his strong embrace,
Her proud ungracious son she bore,
Unhonour'd by the heavenly race,
Nor known to mortal birth before.
Centaurus (such the nursling's name) 80
Mingled in Pelion's shady grove
With the Magnesian mares in love,
And hence a wondrous army came.
Each parent's nature form'd to show—
Bent to the mother's shape below, 85
While rose the stately sire above. 88
The god whose speed prevents the eagle's wing,
And moves more swiftly than the dolphins sweep,
Sporting on rapid fin, the watery deep,
Can mortal hopes to prosperous issue bring; 90
Subdues the pride of one aspiring mind,
And deathless fame to others has assign'd.
But let me not with slanderous tale
Like beast of hostile tooth assail;
For as I saw, though far away, 95
Archilochus, whose bitter vein [2]
His rancorous spleen could ne'er restrain,
O'erwhelmed in want and misery lay.
Imperial wealth by wisdom graced
In the first lot of bliss is placed; 100
- ↑ I. e., the wheel with four radii or spokes to which Ixion was bound.
- ↑ The story of this poet, who, by the bitterness of his poetical slander, caused the death of his father-in-law Lycambes, presents a remarkable instance of retributive justice. By far away is meant distant in point of time, as Archilochus flourished nearly one hundred and fifty years prior to Pindar.
