Him there receive the festal choir
With sound of the melodious reed,
And in firm strength of limb aspire, 80
The native test of every deed;
While thou, Euthymenes, at rest
On the fair goddess Victory's breast,
Raisest the varied hymn to crown
Thine own Ægina with renown. 85
Now Pytheas' rapid footsteps trace
His uncle's fame in glory's race; 80
Illustrating his kindred line.
Such fame the strife of Nemea's field
And the month's circling periods yield, [1] 90
Which Phœbus views with love divine.
At home and on green Nisus' height,
His equals, rushing to the fight,
He conquer'd—I exult to view
The city these fair deeds pursue. 86 95
To brave Menander's presence, know,
Thy toils their sweet requital owe.
Who fits the athletes for the ring
Should like himself from Athens spring. [2]
No longer let chill fear control 100
The generous purpose of thy soul,
Themistius if thou come to sing.
But raise thy voice—and to the end
Of the tall mast thy sails extend—
- ↑ I. e, the month Delphinius, in which a contest was celebrated by the Æginetans, sacred to Apollo, called the Hydrophoria.
- ↑ This and the following line are thus paraphrased by Sudorius:—
"Cecropidam decet
Fortem exercitiis præesse virilibus."It appears from this passage that the Athenians were as preeminent for their skill in athletic exercises as in arts and arms.
