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. |
|
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 5. |
| 7. |
| 11. |
| 12. |
| 14. |
|
| 1. |
|
| 1. |
| 11. |
|
| 2. |
|
| I. |
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
|
|
The Hymn of Cleanthes. |
| II. |
|
 | Odes of Pindar |  |
282
The Hymn of Cleanthes.
O under various sacred Names ador'd!Divinity supreme! all-potent Lord!
Author of Nature! whose unbounded Sway
And Legislative Pow'r all Things obey!
Majestick Jove! all hail! To Thee belong
The suppliant Pray'r, and tributary Song:
To Thee from all thy mortal Offspring due;
From Thee we came, from Thee our Being drew;
Whatever lives and moves, great Sire! is thine,
Embodied Portions of the Soul divine.
Therefore to Thee will I attune my String,
And of thy wondrous Pow'r for ever sing.
283
That round this earthly Sphere incessant move,
Through all this boundless World admit thy Sway,
And roll spontaneous where thou point'st the Way.
Such is the Awe imprest on Nature round
When through the Void thy dreadful Thunders sound,
Those flaming Agents of thy matchless Pow'r:
Astonish'd Worlds hear, tremble, and adore.
Thus paramount to All, by All obey'd,
Ruling that Reason which thro' All convey'd
Informs this gen'ral Mass, Thou reign'st ador'd,
Supreme, unbounded, universal Lord.
For nor in Earth, nor earth-encircling Floods,
Nor yon æthereal Pole, the Seat of Gods,
Is ought perform'd without thy Aid divine;
Strength, Wisdom, Virtue, mighty Jove, are thine!
Vice is the Act of Man, by Passion tost,
And in the shoreless Sea of Folly lost.
But Thou, what Vice disorders, canst compose;
And profit by the Malice of thy Foes;
So blending Good with Evil, Fair with Foul,
As thence to model one harmonious Whole:
One universal Law of Truth and Right;
But wretched Mortals shun the heav'nly Light;
And, tho' to Bliss directing still their Choice,
Hear not, or heed not Reason's sacred Voice,
That common Guide ordain'd to point the Road
That leads obedient Man to solid Good.
284
As various Objects various Passions move.
Some thro' opposing Crowds and threatning War
Seek Pow'r's bright Throne, and Fame's triumphal Carr.
Some, bent on Wealth, pursue with endless Pain
Oppressive, sordid, and dishonest Gain:
While others, to soft Indolence resign'd,
Drown in corporeal Sweets th'immortal Mind.
But, O great Father, Thunder-ruling God!
Who in thick Darkness mak'st thy dread Abode!
Thou, from whose Bounty all good Gifts descend,
Do Thou from Ignorance Mankind defend!
The Clouds of Vice and Folly, O controul;
And shed the Beams of Wisdom on the Soul!
Those radiant Beams, by whose all-piercing Flame
Thy Justice rules this universal Frame.
That honour'd with a Portion of thy Light
We may essay thy Goodness to requite
With honorary Songs, and grateful Lays,
And hymn thy glorious Works with ceaseless Praise,
The proper Task of Man: and sure to sing
Of Nature's Laws, and Nature's mighty King
Is Bliss supreme. Let Gods with Mortals join!
The Subject may transport a Breast divine.
| Odes of Pindar | |