38
PINDAR.
The god who joys to bless thee now,
Propitious hear each future vow! 22
Him shall my constant praise await, 20
Who skill'd to train the generous steed,
To every guest unfolds his gate,
And tranquil aids his native state
Nurtured to each pacific deed.
No falsehood e'er shall stain my lay, 25
Experience proves the mail, and will his worth display. 30
From taunts by Lemnian women made,
This Clymenus' brave offspring freed. [1]
The course, in brazen arms array'd,
He left to take the victor's meed, 30
And thus Hypsipyle address'd:—
"'Tis I who gain the palm of speed,
Mine the firm hand, th' undaunted breast—
Howe'er upon my youthful brow
Are shed untimely hues of snow." 42 35
- ↑ Erginus, one of the Argonauts, who, on their departure for the golden fleece, contended at Lemnos in the funeral games instituted by Hypsipyle in memory of her father Thaos, king of the island. He is mentioned by Statius (Theb. ix. 305.) among the heroes killed by Hippomedon, who, in imitation of Achilles, rushes into the Ismenus, and dies its waves with slaughter. Erginus's complaint of his premature gray hairs may be parodied by Boethius (de Consol. Philos. i. 11.) Intempestivi funduntur vertice cani. Hesiod (Op. et Dies, 181.) mentions as a mark of the iron race that they are gray headed from their birth.
