THE THIRTEENTH OLYMPIC ODE.
TO XENOPHON, THE CORINTHIAN, ON HIS VICTORY IN THE STADIC COURSE AND THE PANTATHLON, GAINED IN THE SEVENTY-NINTH OLYMPIAD.
ARGUMENT.
The poet begins this ode with celebrating the praises of Xenophon, conjointly with those of his native town.—He then proceeds to enumerate the different conquests of the victor and his father Ptæodorus.—Then returns to Corinth, and digresses to the story of Bellerophon, thrown to earth by Pegasus, who was afterward received into the celestial stalls.—Then follow encomiums of the Oligæthidæ of the tribe Xenophon, who had been victorious at Thebes, Argos, and various other cities where games, inferior to the four great contests, were celebrated.—Concludes with a prayer to Jupiter that he may bless them with continued prosperity.
While to the house of Xenophon I raise
The grateful tribute of poetic praise,
Who, thrice victorious in Olympia's field,
With equal care the friend and stranger shield,
Well-peopled Corinth, Isthmian Neptune's gate, 5
In this triumphant strain I celebrate.
Ennomia with her sisters fair,
The state's firm guard, inhabit there—
Concord and Justice, who dispense
To man unbounded affluence. 10
They, prudent Themis' golden train,
Impetuous arrogance control;
And foul-mouth'd insolence restrain,
Which breeds satiety of soul. [1] 12
