To lofty Cronium's sun-crown'd hill they came;
Where great Apollo bade his son receive
A twofold portion of prophetic fame; 125
To hear the voice that knows not to deceive—
But when the glory of Amphitryo's line
Alcides prosperous in each bold design
Appear'd to crown his sire's immortal feast,
From every clime to call the frequent guest, 130
And fix the laws of each heroic game,
He placed the augur's seat near Jove's exalted shrine. 119
New glories hence through Hellas grace
Th' Iamidæ's illustrious race—
And wealth attends to crown their state— 135
For those who seek with high emprise
The steep where virtue's guerdon lies,
The brightest walks of life await.
In his own path each seeks renown,
But carping Envy most his course attends, 140
Who first to win Olympia's crown
Twelve times around the goal his chariot bends—
On him sweet Grace distils a lustre all her own. 128
Agesias! if thy brave maternal line,
Who dwelt beneath Cyllene's hallow'd shade, 145
Duly their suppliant vows and rites divine
To Mercury, the god's swift herald, paid;
Whose favouring power the contest's law maintains,
And guards Arcadia's richly peopled plains;
By him and by his thundering sire decreed, 150
Oh son of Sostratus! expect the victor's meed.
Another motive prompts my tongue—
Which as the stone that whets the blade [1]
Upon its sharpening surface laid,
Impels me down the flowing tide of song. 143 155
- ↑ Pindar uses the same metaphor—([[../../Pythian Odes/1|Pyth. i.]] 172.) Hence
