Odes of Pindar With several other Pieces in Prose and Verse, Translated from the Greek. To which is added a dissertation on the Olympick games. By Gilbert West |
I. |
I. |
II. |
III. |
IV. |
V. |
II. |
Odes of Pindar | ||
THE SEVENTH OLYMPICK ODE.
ARGUMENT.
The Poet begins this noble Song of Triumph with a Simile, by
which he endeavours to shew his great Esteem for those who
obtain the Victory in the Olympick and other Games; as
also the Value of the Present, that he makes them upon that
Occasion; a Present always acceptable, because Fame and
Praise is that which delights all Mortals; wherefore the
Muse, says he, is perpetually looking about for proper Objects
to bestow it upon; and seeing the great Actions of Diagoras,
takes up a Resolution of celebrating Him, the Isle of Rhodes
his Country, and his Father Damagetus (according to the
Form observed by the Herald in proclaiming the Conquerors;
which I mentioned in the Notes upon the last Ode) Damagetus,
and consequently Diagoras, being descended from
Tlepolemus, who led over a Colony of Grecians from
I
As when a Father in the golden Vase,The Pride and Glory of his wealthy Stores,
Bent his lov'd Daughter's nuptial Torch to grace,
The Vineyard's purple Dews profusely pours;
II
Then to his Lips the foaming Chalice rears,With Blessings hallow'd and auspicious Vows,
And mingling with the Draught transporting Tears,
On the young Bridegroom the rich Gift bestows;
III
The precious Earnest of Esteem sincere,Of friendly Union and connubial Love:
The bridal Train the sacred Pledge revere,
And round the Youth in sprightly Measures move.
IV
He to his Home the valu'd Present bears,The Grace and Ornament of future Feasts;
Where, as his Father's Bounty he declares,
Wonder shall seize the gratulating Guests.
V
Thus on the Valiant, on the Swift, and Strong,Castalia's genuine Nectar I bestow;
And pouring forth the Muse-descended Song,
Bid to their Praises the rich Numbers flow.
VI
Grateful to them resounds th'harmonick Ode,The Gift of Friendship and the Pledge of Fame.
Happy the Mortal, whom th'Aonian God
Chears with the Musick of a glorious Name!
VII
The Muse her piercing Glances throws around,And quick discovers ev'ry worthy Deed:
And now she wakes the Lyre's inchanting Sound,
Now fills with various Strains the vocal Reed:
VIII
But here each Instrument of Song divine,The vocal Reed and Lyre's enchanting String
She tunes, and bids their Harmony combine
Thee, and thy Rhodes, Diagoras, to sing;
IX
Thee and thy Country native of the Flood,Which from bright Rhodos draws her honour'd Name,
Fair Nymph, whose Charms subdu'd the Delphick God,
Fair blooming Daughter of the Cyprian Dame:
X
To sing thy Triumphs in th'Olympick Sand,Where Alpheus saw thy Giant-Temples crown'd;
Fam'd Pythia too proclaim'd thy conqu'ring Hand,
Where sweet Castalia's mystick Currents sound.
XI
Nor Damagetus will I pass unsung,Thy Sire, the Friend of Justice and of Truth;
From noble Ancestors whose Lineage sprung,
The Chiefs who led to Rhodes the Argive Youth.
XII
There near to Asia's wide-extended Strand,Where jutting Embolus the Waves divides,
In three Divisions they possess'd the Land,
Enthron'd amid the hoarse-resounding Tides.
XIII
To their Descendants will I tune my Lyre,The Offspring of Alcides bold and strong,
And from Tlepolemus, their common Sire,
Deduce the national historick Song.
XIV
Tlepolemus of great Alcides came,The Fruits of fair Astydameîa's Love,
Jove-born Amyntor got the Argive Dame:
So either Lineage is deriv'd from Jove.
XV
But wrapt in Error is the human Mind,And human Bliss is ever insecure:
Know we what Fortune yet remains behind?
Know we how long the present shall endure?
XVI
For lo! the Founder of the Rhodian State,Who from Saturnian Jove his Being drew,
While his fell Bosom swell'd with vengeful Hate,
The Bastard-brother of Alcmena slew.
XVII
With his rude Mace, in fair Tiryntha's Walls,Tlepolemus inflicts the horrid Wound:
Ev'n at his Mother's Door Licymnius falls,
Yet warm from her Embrace, and bites the Ground.
XVIII
Passion may oft the wisest Heart surprize:Conscious and trembling for the murd'rous Deed,
To Delphi's Oracle the Hero flies,
Sollicitous to learn what Heav'n decreed.
XIX
Him bright-hair'd Phœbus, from his od'rous Fane,Bade set his flying Sails from Lerna's Shore,
And, in the Bosom of the Eastern Main,
That Sea-girt Region hasten to explore;
XX
That blissful Island, where a wond'rous CloudOnce rain'd, at Jove's Command, a Golden Show'r;
What Time, assisted by the Lemnian God,
The King of Heav'n brought forth the Virgin Pow'r.
XXI
By Vulcan's Art the Father's teeming HeadWas open'd wide, and forth impetuous sprung,
And shouted fierce and loud, the Warrior Maid:
Old Mother Earth and Heav'n affrighted rung.
XXII
Then Hyperion's Son, pure Fount of Day,Did to his Children the strange Tale reveal:
He warn'd them strait the Sacrifice to slay,
And worship the young Pow'r with earliest Zeal.
XXIII
So would they sooth the mighty Father's Mind,Pleas'd with the Honours to his Daughter paid;
And so propitious ever would they find
Minerva, warlike, formidable Maid,
XXIV
On staid Precaution, vigilant and wise,True Virtue, and true Happiness depend;
But oft Oblivion's dark'ning Clouds arise,
And from the destin'd Scope our Purpose bend.
XXV
The Rhodians, mindful of their Sire's Behest,Strait in the Citadel an Altar rear'd;
But with imperfect Rites the Pow'r address'd,
And without Fire their Sacrifice prepar'd.
XXVI
Yet Jove approving o'er th'Assembly spreadA yellow Cloud, that drop'd with golden Dews;
While in their op'ning Hearts the blue-ey'd Maid
Deign'd her Celestial Science to infuse.
XXVII
Thence in all Arts the Sons of Rhodes excel,Tho' best their forming Hands the Chissel guide;
This in each Street the breathing Marbles tell,
The Stranger's Wonder, and the City's Pride.
XXVIII
Great Praise the Works of Rhodian Artists find,Yet to their heav'nly Mistress much they owe;
Since Art and Learning cultivate the Mind,
And make the Seeds of Genius quicker grow.
XXIX
Some say, that when by Lot th'immortal GodsWith Jove these earthly Regions did divide,
All undiscover'd lay Phœbean Rhodes,
Whelm'd deep beneath the salt Carpathian Tide;
XXX
That, absent on his Course, the God of DayBy all the heav'nly Synod was forgot,
Who, his incessant Labours to repay,
Nor Land nor Sea to Phœbus did allot;
XXXI
That Jove reminded would again renewTh'unjust Partition, but the God deny'd;
And said, Beneath yon hoary Surge I view
An Isle emerging thro' the briny Tide:
XXXII
A Region pregnant with the fertile SeedOf Plants, and Herbs, and Fruits, and foodful Grain;
Each verdant Hill unnumber'd Flocks shall feed;
Unnumber'd Men possess each flow'ry Plain.
XXXIII
Then strait to Lachesis he gave Command,Who binds in Golden Cauls her Jetty Hair;
He bade the fatal Sister stretch her Hand,
And by the Stygian Rivers bade her swear;
XXXIV
Swear to confirm the Thunderer's Decree,Which to his Rule that fruitful Island gave,
When from the ouzy Bottom of the Sea
Her Head she rear'd above the Lycian Wave.
XXXV
The fatal Sister swore, nor swore in vain;Nor did the Tongue of Delphi's Prophet err;
Up-sprung the blooming Island through the Main;
And Jove on Phœbus did the Boon confer.
XXXVI
In this fam'd Isle, the radiant Sire of Light,The God whose Reins the fiery Steeds obey,
Fair Rhodos saw, and, kindling at the Sight,
Seiz'd, and by Force enjoy'd the beauteous Prey:
XXXVII
From whose divine Embraces sprung a RaceOf Mortals, wisest of all Human-kind;
Seven Sons, endow'd with ev'ry noble Grace;
The noble Graces of a sapient Mind.
XXXVIII
Of these Ialysus and Lindus came,Who with Camirus shar'd the Rhodian Lands;
Apart they reign'd, and sacred to his Name
Apart each Brother's Royal City stands.
XXXIX
Here a secure Retreat from all his WoesAstydameia's hapless Offspring found;
Here, like a God in undisturb'd Repose,
And like a God with heav'nly Honours crown'd,
XL
His Priests and blazing Altars he surveys,And Hecatombs, that feed the od'rous Flame;
With Games, Memorial of his deathless Praise;
Where twice, Diagoras, unmatch'd in Fame,
XLI
Twice on thy Head the livid Poplar shone,Mix'd with the darksome Pine, that binds the Brows
Of Isthmian Victors, and the Nemean Crown,
And ev'ry Palm that Attica bestows.
XLII
Diagoras th'Arcadian Vase obtain'd;Argos to him adjudg'd her Brazen Shield;
His mighty Hands the Theban Tripod gain'd,
And bore the Prize from each Bœotian Field.
XLIII
Six Times in rough Ægina he prevail'd;As oft Pellene's Robe of Honour won;
And still at Megara in vain assail'd,
He with his Name hath fill'd the Victor's Stone.
XLIV
O Thou, who, high on Atabyrius thron'd,Seest from his Summits all this happy Isle,
By thy Protection be my Labours crown'd;
Vouchsase, Saturnius, on my Verse to smile!
XLV
And grant to him, whose Virtue is my Theme,Whose valiant Heart th'Olympick Wreaths proclaim,
At Home his Country's Favour and Esteem,
Abroad, eternal, universal Fame.
XLVI
For well to thee Diagoras is known;Ne'er to Injustice have his Paths declin'd;
Nor from his Sires degenerates the Son;
Whose Precepts and Examples fire his Mind.
XLVII
Then from Obscurity preserve a Race,Who to their Country Joy and Glory give;
Their Country, that in them views ev'ry Grace,
Which from their great Forefathers they receive.
XLVIII
Yet as the Gales of Fortune various blow,To-day tempestuous, and To-morrow fair,
Due Bounds, ye Rhodians, let your Transports know;
Perhaps To-morrow comes a Storm of Care.
Odes of Pindar | ||