Pindar and Anacreon/Pindar/Olympic Odes/14
THE FOURTEENTH OLYMPIC ODE.
TO ASOPICHUS OF ORCHOMENOS, ON HIS VICTORY IN THE STADIC COURSE, GAINED IN THE SEVENTIETH OLYMPIAD.
ARGUMENT.
This ode begins with a highly poetical invocation to the Graces, guardians of Orchomenos, that they may bless the victor with their propitious influence.—The poet concludes with an address to Echo, enjoining her to carry the news of his conquest to the city of Proserpine, in order to gratify his father Cleodamus with the pleasing intelligence.
Nymphs of Cephisian streams! who reign
Where generous coursers graze the plain,
And rule Orchomenos the fair;
Ye Graces! who with power divine
Protect the ancient Minyæ's line,5
Oh listen to my humble prayer.
To you the grateful bard shall raise
His tribute of poetic praise;
Since wisdom, beauty, splendour flow
From your bright sphere to man below.10
Not without you the bless'd above
Or join in banquet or in chorus move.
But throned on high, your lovely train
Placed near the Pythian god of day,
Whose golden shafts the beams of light display,15
All the high deeds of Heaven ordain,
And praise th' Olympic sire with hymns of endless love. 18
Aglaia, offspring of his might divine,
Thalia and Euphrosyne, whose ear
The songs of heaven delights to hear,20
Ye tuneful sisters, harken now to mine.
As moving on, with agile state,
The festal pomp we celebrate.
To hymn, Asopichus, thy fame,
With Lydian melodies I came;25
Since Minyas' prosperous town to thee
Owes her Olympic victory. 27
Now to Persephonea's hall,
Encircled by its sable wall,
Haste, Echo, bear thy grateful tale30
To Cleodamus' ear;
Which in illustrious Pisa's vale
Announced his bright career:
How in life's early bloom his son
The glorious wreath of triumph won;[1]35
Encircling with that guerdon fair,
In winged grace his flowing hair. 35
- ↑ It was usual for the victors at the Olympic games to entwine with garlands the manes of their horses as well as their own hair. To this custom Pindar frequently alludes.