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 |
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| 14. | THE FOURTEENTH OLYMPICK ODE. MONOSTROPHAICK.
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 | Odes of Pindar |  |
THE FOURTEENTH OLYMPICK ODE. MONOSTROPHAICK.
ARGUMENT.
Orchomenus, a City of Bœotia, and the Country of the
Victor Asopichus, being under the Protection of the Graces,
her Tutelary Deities, to them Pindar addresses this Ode;
which was probably sung in the very Temple of those Goddesses,
at a Sacrifice offered by Asopichus on occasion of his
Victory. The Poet begins this Invocation with styling the
Graces Queens of Orchomenus, and Guardians of the Children
of Minyas, the first King of that City; whose fertile
Territories, he says, were by Lot assigned to their Protection.
Then, after describing in general the Properties and Operations
of these Deities, both in Earth and Heaven, he proceeds to
call upon each of them by Name to assist at the singing of this
Ode; which was made, he tells them, to celebrate the Victory
of Asopichus, in the Glory of which Orchomenus had her
Share. Then addressing himself to Echo, a Nymph that
formerly resided on the Banks of Cephisus, a River of that
Country, he charges her to repair to the Mansion of Proserpine,
STROPHE I.
Ye Pow'rs, o'er all the flow'ry Meads,Where deep Cephisus rolls his lucid Tide,
Allotted to preside,
And haunt the Plains renown'd for beauteous Steeds,
Queens of Orchomenus the fair,
And sacred Guardians of the ancient Line
Of Minyas divine,
Hear, O ye Graces, and regard my Pray'r!
All that's sweet and pleasing here
Mortals from your Hands receive:
Splendor ye and Fame confer,
Genius, Wit, and Beauty give.
Nor, without your shining Train,
Ever on th'Ætherial Plain
In harmonious Measures move
The Celestial Choirs above;
When the figur'd Dance they lead,
Or the Nectar'd Banquet spread.
And by Pythian Phœbus plac'd,
Ord'ring thro' the blest Abodes
All the splendid Works of Gods,
Sit the Sisters in a Ring,
Round the golden-shafted King:
And with reverential Love
Worshipping th'Olympian Throne,
The Majestick Brow of Jove
With unfading Honours crown.
STROPHE II.
Aglaia, graceful Virgin, hear!And thou, Euphrosyna, whose Ear
Delighted listens to the warbled Strain!
Bright Daughters of Olympian Jove,
The Best, the Greatest Pow'r above;
With your illustrious Presence deign
Whose Notes to Victory's glad Sound
In wanton Measures lightly bound.
Thalia, come along!
Come, tuneful Maid! for lo! my String
With meditated Skill prepares
In softly soothing Lydian Airs
Asopichus to sing;
Asopichus, whose Speed by thee sustain'd
The Wreath for his Orchomenus obtain'd.
Go then, sportive Echo, go
To the sable Dome below,
Proserpine's black Dome, repair,
There to Cleodemus bear
Tidings of immortal Fame:
Tell, how in the rapid Game
Tell, for thou saw'st him bear away
The winged Honours of the Day;
And deck with Wreaths of Fame his youthful Head.
| Odes of Pindar | |