Pastorals Epistles Odes (1748)/The Second Olympionique of Pindar

by Pindar

For works with similar titles, see Translations from Pindar.

Layout 2

 

THE

SECOND OLYMPIONIQUE.

 

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To Theron of Agrigentum, victorious
in the Chariot-race.

The ARGUMENT.

He praises Theron king of Agrigentum, on account of the victory obtained in the Olympic Games, with a chariot and four horses, likewise for his justice, his hospitality, his fortitude, and the illustriousness of his ancestors; whose adventures are occasionally mentioned: then he interweaves digressions to Semele, Ino, Peleus, Achilles, and others, and describes the future state of the righteous and of the wicked. Lastly, he concludes with extolling his own skill in panegyrick, and the benevolence and liberality of Theron.

 

STROPHE I.Measures 16.

OVEREIGN hymns, whose numbers swayThe sounding harp, what god, what hero, say,What man, shall we resound?Is not Pisa Jove's delight?And did not Hercules, with conquest crown'd, 5 To him ordainThe Olympiad for an army slain,Thank-offering of the war?And must we not, in Theron's right,Exert our voice, and swell our song? 10Theron, whose victorious carFour coursers whirl, fleeting along,To stranger-guests indulgent host,Of Agrigentum the support and boast,Cities born to rule and grace, 15Fair blossom of his antient race,

ANTISTROPHE I.Measures 16.

Worthies sore perplex'd in thought,Till wandering far they found, what long they sought,A sacred seat, fast byWhere the stream does rapid run, 20And reign'd, of Sicily the guardian eye,When happy days,And wealth, and favour, flow'd, and praise,That in-born worth inflames.Saturnian Jove, O! Rhea's Son, 25Who o'er Olympus dost preside,And the pitch of lofty games, And Alpheus, of rivers the pride,Rejoicing in my songs, do thouIncline thine ear, propitious to my vow, 30Blessing, with a bounteous hand,The rich hereditary land

EPODE I.Measures 10.

Through their late lineage down. No power can actions pass'd,Whether deeds of right or wrong,As things not done recall, 35Not even time, the father, who produces all;Yet can Oblivion, waiting long,Gathering strengthThrough the lengthOf prosperous times, forbid those deeds to last: 40Such force has sweetly-healing joyThe festering smart of evils to destroy,

STROPHE II.Measures 16.

When felicity is sentDown by the will supreme with full content:Thy Daughters, Cadmus, they 45Greatly wretched here below,Bless'd ever more, this mighty truth display. No weight of grief,But, whelm'd in pleasures, finds relief,Sunk in the sweet abyss. 50Thou, Semele, with hair a-flow,Thou by thunder doom'd to dy,Mingling with the gods in bliss,Art happy, for ever, on high:Thee Pallas does for ever love, 55Thee chiefly Jupiter, who rules above;Thee thy son holds ever dear,Thy son with the ivy-wreathed spear.

ANTISTROPHE II.Measures 16.

Beauteous Ino, we are told,With the sea-daughters dwells of Nereus old, 60And has, by lot, obtain'dLasting life, beneath the deep,A life within no bounds of time restrain'd.The hour of death,The day when we resign our breath, 65That offspring of the sun,Which bids us from our labours sleep,In vain do mortals seek to know,Or who destin'd is to run A life unintangled with woe; 70For none are able to discloseThe seasons of the uncertain ebbs and flowsNow of pleasures, now of pains,Which hidden fate to men ordains:

EPODE II.Measures 10.

Thus providence, that to thy ancestry, long-famed, 75Portions out a pleasing shareOf heaven-sprung happiness,Does, ceasing in another turn of time to bless,Distribute some reverse of care,As from years 80Pass'd appears,Since the predestin'd son, at Pytho named,Did Laius, blindly meeting, kill,And the oracle, of old pronounc'd, fulfil:

STROPHE III.Measures 16.

Fell Erinnys, quick to view 85The deed, his warlike sons in battle slew,Each by the other's rage:But to Polynices slainSurvived Thersander, glory of his age, For feats of war, 90And youthful contests, honour'd far,The Scion, kept aliveTo raise the Adrastian house again:From whence Ænesidamus' heirDoes his spreading root derive, 95To branch out a progeny fair;Who, springing foremost in the chaceOf fame, demands we should his triumph grace,Tuning lyres to vocal lays,Sweet union of melodious praise; 100

ANTISTROPHE III.Measures 16.

For not only has he borneThe Olympian prize, but, with his brother, wornThe garland of renown,At Pytho and at Isthmus; where,Victorious both, they shar'd the allotted crown, 105Joint-honour, wonIn twelve impetuous courses, runWith four unwearied steeds.To vanquish in the strife severeDoes all anxiety destroy: 110And to this, if wealth succeedsWith virtues enamell'd, the joy Luxuriant grows; such affluenceDoes glorious opportunities dispense,Giving depth of thought to find 115Pursuits which please a noble mind,

EPODE III.Measures 10.

Refulgent star! to man the purest beam of light!The possessor of this store.Far-future things discerning, knowsObdurate wretches, once deceas'd, to immediate WoesConsign'd, too late their pains deplore; 121For below'E're they go,Sits one in judgment, who pronounces rightOn crimes in this wide realm of Jove; 125Whose dire decree no power can e'er remove:

STROPHE IV.Measures 16.

But the good, alike by night,Alike by day, the sun's unclouded lightBeholding, ever bless'd,Live an unlaborious life, 130Nor anxious interrupt their hallow'd rest With spade and plow,The earth to vex, or with the prowThe briny sea, to eatThe bread of care in endless strife. 135The dread divinities amongThe few unaccustom'd to wrong,Who never broke the vow they swore,A tearless age enjoy for ever-more:While the wicked hence depart 140To torments which appall the heart:

ANTISTROPHE IV.Measures 16.

But the souls who greatly dare,Thrice try'd in either state, to persevereFrom all injustice pure,Journeying onward in the way 145Of Jupiter, in virtue still secure,Along his roadArrive at Saturn's rais'd abode;Where soft sea-breezes breatheRound the island of the bless'd; where gay 150The trees with golden blossoms glow;Where, their brows and arms to wreathe,Bright garlands on every side blow; For, springing thick in every field,The earth does golden flowers spontaneous yield; 155And, in every limpid stream,The budding gold is seen to gleam:

EPODE IV.Measures 10.

Fair heritage! by righteous Rhadamanth's award;Who, coequal, takes his seatWith Saturn sire divine, 160Thy consort, Rhea, who above the rest dost shine,High-thron'd, thou matron-goddess great:These among(Blissful throng!)Does Peleus and does Cadmus find regard; 165And, through his mother's winning prayerTo Jove, Achilles dwells immortal there:

STROPHE V.Measures 16.

He who Hector did destroy,The pillar firm, the whole support, of Troy,And Cycnus gave to dy, 170And Aurora's Æthiop son.My arm beneath yet many darts have I, All swift of flight,Within my quiver, sounding rightTo every skillful ear: 175But, of the multitude, not oneDiscerns the mystery unexplain'd.He transcendent does appearIn knowledge, from nature who gain'dHis store: but the dull-letter'd croud, 180In censure vehement, in nonsense loud,Clamour idly, wanting skill,Like crows, in vain, provoking still

ANTISTROPHE V.Measures 16.

The celestial bird of Jove:But, to the mark address thy bow, nor rove, 185My soul: and whom do ISingle out with fond desire,At him to let illustrious arrows fly?My fix'd intent,My aim, on Agrigentum bent, 190A solemn oath I plight,Sincere as honest minds require,That through an hundred circling years,With recorded worthies bright,No rivalling city apppears 195 To boast a man more frank to impartKind offices to friends with open Heart,Or, with hand amidst his store,Delighting to distribute more

EPODE V.Measures 10.

Than Theron: yet foul calumny, injurious blame, 200Did the men of rancour raiseAgainst his fair renown,Defamers who by evil Actions strove to drownHis good, and to conceal his praise.Can the sand, 205On the strand,Be numbered o'er? Then, true to Theron's fame,His favours showering down delightOn thousands who is able to recite?