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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 | Odes of Pindar |  |
A DISSERTATION ON THE Olympick Games.
------ Pulverem Olympicum
Collegisse juvat.
Hor.
Collegisse juvat.
Hor.
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On Arias of Tarsus, Victor in the Stadium.
The Speed of Arias, Victor in the Race,Brings to thy Founder, Tarsus, no Disgrace:
For able in the Course with Him to vie,
Like Him he seems on feather'd Feet to fly.
The Barrier when he quits, the dazzled Sight
In vain essays to catch him in his Flight.
Lost is the Racer thro' the whole Career,
'Till Victor at the Gaol he re-appear.
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On Milo the Wrestler.
When none adventur'd, in th'Olympick SandThe Might of boist'rous Milo to withstand;
Th'unrivall'd Chief advanc'd to seize the Crown,
But 'mid his Triumph slip'd unwary down.
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The Wreath on him, who fell without a Foe.
But rising, in the midst he stood, and cry'd,
Do not Three Falls the Victory decide?
Fortune indeed hath giv'n me One, but who
Will undertake to throw me th'other Two?
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On a Conqueror in the Cæstus.
This Victor, glorious in his Olive-Wreath,Had once Eyes, Eye-brows, Nose, and Ears, and Teeth;
But turning Cæstus-Champion, to his Cost,
These, and, still worse! his Heritage he lost.
For by his Brother su'd, disown'd, at last
Confronted with his Picture he was cast.
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[But fond Amphitryon, with a Father's Zeal]
But fond Amphitryon, with a Father's Zeal,Skilful himself to guide the rapid Wheel,
In his own Art instructs his God-like Heir,
And teaches how to rule the whirling Carr;
How at the Turn with nicest Heed to roll,
Nor break the grazing Axle on the Goal.
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A Description of a Chariot-Race.
When, on the second Day, in Order next
Came on the Contest of the rapid Carr,
As o'er the Phocian Plain the orient Sun
Shot his impurpled Beams, the Pythick Course
Orestes enter'd, circled with a Troop
Of Charioteers, his bold Antagonists.
One from Achaia came, from Sparta one,
Two from the Libyan Shores, well practised each
To rule the whirling Carr; with these, the fifth,
Orestes vaunting his Thessalian Mares.
Ætolia sent a sixth, with youthfull Steeds
In native Gold array'd. The next in Rank
From fair Magnesia sprung; of Thrace the eighth
His Snow-white Coursers from Thesprotia drove:
From Heav'n-built Athens the ninth Hero came,
A huge Bœotian the tenth Chariot fill'd.
These, when the Judges of the Games by Lot
Had fix'd their Order, and arranged the Carrs,
All, at the Trumpet's Signal, all at once
Burst from the Barrier, all together chear'd
Their fiery Steeds, and shook the floating Reins.
Soon with the Din of rattling Carrs was fill'd
The sounding Hippodrome, and Clouds of Dust
Ascending, tainted the fresh Breath of Morn.
Now mix'd, and press'd together on they drove,
Nor spar'd the smarting Lash, impatient each
To clear his Chariot, and outstrip the Throng
Of clashing Axles, and short-blowing Steeds,
That panted on each other's Necks, and threw
On each contiguous Yoke the milky Foam.
Came on the Contest of the rapid Carr,
As o'er the Phocian Plain the orient Sun
Shot his impurpled Beams, the Pythick Course
Orestes enter'd, circled with a Troop
Of Charioteers, his bold Antagonists.
One from Achaia came, from Sparta one,
Two from the Libyan Shores, well practised each
To rule the whirling Carr; with these, the fifth,
Orestes vaunting his Thessalian Mares.
Ætolia sent a sixth, with youthfull Steeds
In native Gold array'd. The next in Rank
From fair Magnesia sprung; of Thrace the eighth
His Snow-white Coursers from Thesprotia drove:
From Heav'n-built Athens the ninth Hero came,
A huge Bœotian the tenth Chariot fill'd.
These, when the Judges of the Games by Lot
Had fix'd their Order, and arranged the Carrs,
All, at the Trumpet's Signal, all at once
Burst from the Barrier, all together chear'd
Their fiery Steeds, and shook the floating Reins.
Soon with the Din of rattling Carrs was fill'd
The sounding Hippodrome, and Clouds of Dust
Ascending, tainted the fresh Breath of Morn.
Now mix'd, and press'd together on they drove,
Nor spar'd the smarting Lash, impatient each
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Of clashing Axles, and short-blowing Steeds,
That panted on each other's Necks, and threw
On each contiguous Yoke the milky Foam.
But to the Pillar as he nearer drew,
Orestes, reining in the near-most Steed,
While in a larger Scope, with loosen'd Reins,
And lash'd up to their Speed, the others flew,
Turn'd swift around the Goal his grazing Wheel.
Orestes, reining in the near-most Steed,
While in a larger Scope, with loosen'd Reins,
And lash'd up to their Speed, the others flew,
Turn'd swift around the Goal his grazing Wheel.
As yet erect upon their whirling Orbs
Roll'd every Chariot, till the hard-mouth'd Steeds,
That drew the Thracian Carr, unmaster'd broke
With Violence away, and turning short,
(When o'er the Hippodrome with winged Speed
They had completed now the sev'nth Career)
Dash'd their wild Foreheads 'gainst the Libyan Carr.
From this one luckless Chance a Train of Ills
Succeeding, rudely on each other fell
Horses and Charioteers, and soon was fill'd
With Wrecks of shatter'd Carrs the Phocian Plain.
Roll'd every Chariot, till the hard-mouth'd Steeds,
That drew the Thracian Carr, unmaster'd broke
With Violence away, and turning short,
(When o'er the Hippodrome with winged Speed
They had completed now the sev'nth Career)
Dash'd their wild Foreheads 'gainst the Libyan Carr.
From this one luckless Chance a Train of Ills
Succeeding, rudely on each other fell
Horses and Charioteers, and soon was fill'd
With Wrecks of shatter'd Carrs the Phocian Plain.
This seen, th'Athenian with consummate Art
His Course obliquely veer'd, and steering wide
With steddy Rein, the wild Commotion pass'd
Of tumbling Chariots, and tumultuous Steeds.
Next, and, tho' last, yet full of Confidence,
And Hopes of Victory, Orestes came.
But when he saw, of his Antagonists
Him only now remaining, to his Mares
Anxious he rais'd his stimulating Voice.
And now with equal Fronts a-breast they drove,
Now with alternate momentary Pride
Beyond each other push'd their stretching Steeds.
His Course obliquely veer'd, and steering wide
With steddy Rein, the wild Commotion pass'd
Of tumbling Chariots, and tumultuous Steeds.
Next, and, tho' last, yet full of Confidence,
And Hopes of Victory, Orestes came.
But when he saw, of his Antagonists
Him only now remaining, to his Mares
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And now with equal Fronts a-breast they drove,
Now with alternate momentary Pride
Beyond each other push'd their stretching Steeds.
Erect Orestes, and erect his Carr
Thro' all the number'd Courses now had stood;
But luckless in the last, as round the Goal
The wheeling Courser turn'd, the hither Rein
Imprudent he relax'd, and on the Stone
The shatter'd Axle dashing, from the Wheels
Fell headlong, hamper'd in the tangling Reins.
The frighted Mares flew divers o'er the Course.
Thro' all the number'd Courses now had stood;
But luckless in the last, as round the Goal
The wheeling Courser turn'd, the hither Rein
Imprudent he relax'd, and on the Stone
The shatter'd Axle dashing, from the Wheels
Fell headlong, hamper'd in the tangling Reins.
The frighted Mares flew divers o'er the Course.
The throng'd Assembly, when they saw the Chief
Hurl'd from his Chariot, with Compassion mov'd,
His Youth deplor'd, deplor'd him glorious late
For mighty Deeds, now doom'd to mighty Woes,
Now dragg'd along the Dust, his Feet in Air:
'Till hasting to his Aid, and scarce at length
The frantick Mares restraining, from the Reins
The Charioteers releas'd him, and convey'd
With Wounds and Gore disfigur'd to his Friends.
“The just Amphictyons on th'Athenian Steeds
“The Delphick Laurel solemnly conferr'd.
Hurl'd from his Chariot, with Compassion mov'd,
His Youth deplor'd, deplor'd him glorious late
For mighty Deeds, now doom'd to mighty Woes,
Now dragg'd along the Dust, his Feet in Air:
'Till hasting to his Aid, and scarce at length
The frantick Mares restraining, from the Reins
The Charioteers releas'd him, and convey'd
With Wounds and Gore disfigur'd to his Friends.
“The just Amphictyons on th'Athenian Steeds
“The Delphick Laurel solemnly conferr'd.
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[So when a Horseman from the watry Mead]
So when a Horseman from the watry Mead(Skill'd in the Manage of the bounding Steed)
Drives four fair Coursers, practis'd to obey,
To some great City thro' the publick Way:
Safe in his Art, as Side by Side they run,
He shifts his Seat, and vaults from one to one:
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Admiring Numbers follow with their Eyes.
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[To the swift Victor be no more assign'd]
To the swift Victor be no more assign'dThe bleating Offspring of the fleecy kind.
But from the Olive, which spontaneous grows
In Pisa's Vale, a verdant Crown compose;
That Olive, round whose venerable Head
Her subtle Textures hath Arachne spread.
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[A Youth, who hopes th'Olympick Prize to gain]
A Youth, who hopes th'Olympick Prize to gain,All Arts must try, and ev'ry Toil sustain;
Th'Extreams of Heat and Cold must often prove,
And shun the weak'ning Joys of Wine and Love.
Francis.
| Odes of Pindar | |