Not subject ail to equal law,
The vital energy we draw. 10
But thou, as different fates prevail,
Urgest our ever-varying scale.
With thee his valiant arm to bless,
Young Sogenes, Theario's son,
Shines in renown and high success 15
Mid those who the pentatlilic wreath have won. 12
He in th' Æacidæ's fair city dwells,
Who shake the spear, and rouse with kindred flame
The sons to emulate their fathers' fame,
Where the song oft the pomp of triumph swells. 20
On him, whom fortune's smiles befriend,
The muses' honey'd streams descend;
While o'er the deeds that want their tale
Darkness extends her dusky veil.
We in what polish'd mirror know 25
Illustrious deeds reflected glow,
If with resplendent fillet bound
Mnemosyne permit to share
That sweet reward of toil and care,
The epic lay's illustrious sound. 30
Three days ere yet the tempest rise [1]
The skilful mariner descries.
- ↑ Pliny in his Natural History (lib. iii.) relates that the inhabitants of the island of Lipara can foretel from the course of the smoke which ascends from it what will be the direction of
ancient commentators. It has been suggested by some, with a great appearance of probability, that Thearion, the father of Sogenes, was in the habit of sacrificing to Eilithyia, to whom a temple was erected near his residence. Callimachus (hymn, ad Del. 257) speaks of a lay peculiar to this divinity:—
ειπαν Ελειθυιης ἱερον μελος.
