Pindar and Anacreon/Anacreon/Ode 1
ODES OF ANACREON.
ODE I.—ON HIS LYRE.[1]
While I sweep the sounding string,
While th' Atridæ's praise I sing,[2]
Victors on the Trojan plain,
Or to Cadmus raise the strain,
Hark! in soft and whisper'd sighs,
Love's sweet notes the shell replies.
Late I strung my harp anew,[3]
Changed the strings—the subject too:
Loud I sung Alcides' toils,
Still the lyre my labour foils;
Still with Love's sweet silver sounds
Every martial theme confounds.[4]
Farewell! heroes, chiefs, and kings,
Naught but love will suit my strings.
- ↑ As love is the prevailing subject of the poet's muse, this beautiful little ode is with great propriety placed at the commencement of most editions.
- ↑ Agamemnon and Menelaus, the sons of Atreus, who were the chief commanders at the siege of Troy. By the Atridæ is meant the Trojan, and by Cadmus, the Theban war.
- ↑ It was common among the ancient poets to say that "they had new strung their lyre," when about to celebrate any important subject, or extraordinary event.
- ↑ In order to understand this passage clearly, we must imagine Anacreon singing and playing on his lyre, which, instead of returning sounds suitable to the lofty subject of his song, perversely warbles "Love's sweet silver sounds." The original is here beautifully expressive, signifying not merely to send forth a wrong note, but one directly contrary to that intended to be produced. The lyre is said to have been made of the shell of the tortoise, and its invention is by some ascribed to Anacreon.