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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| 1. | THE FIRST OLYMPICK ODE.
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 | Odes of Pindar |  |
THE FIRST OLYMPICK ODE.
ARGUMENT.
The Subject of this Ode being a Victory obtained by Hiero in
the Olympick Games, Pindar sets out with shewing the
Superiority and Pre-eminence of those Games over all others;
among which, he says, they hold the same Rank, as Water
(which, according to the Opinion of Thales and other Philosophers,
was the Original of all Things) among the Elements,
and Gold among the Gifts of Fortune. Wherefore,
continues he, O my Heart, if thou art inclined to sing of
Games, it would be as absurd to think of any other but the
Olympick Games, as to look for Stars in the Sky, when
the Sun is shining in his meridian Glory; especially as all the
Guests at Hiero's Table (among which Number it is not
improbable that Pindar was one at this Time) are singing
Odes upon that Subject. From the mention of Hiero, he
falls into a short Panegyrick upon his Virtues, and then passes
to what gave Occasion to this Ode, viz. his Olympick
STROPHE I.
Chief of Nature's Works divine,Water claims the highest Praise:
Richest Offspring of the Mine,
Gold, like Fire, whose flashing Rays
Through the Night's involving Cloud,
First in Lustre and Esteem,
Decks the Treasures of the Proud:
So among the Lists of Fame
Pisa's honour'd Games excell;
Then to Pisa's glorious Name
Tune, O Muse, thy sounding Shell.
ANTISTROPHE I.
Who along the desert AirSeeks the faded starry Train,
When the Sun's meridian Carr
Round illumes th'Ætherial Plain?
Who a nobler Theme can chuse
Than Olympia's sacred Games?
What more apt to fire the Muse,
When her various Songs she frames?
Songs in Strains of Wisdom drest
Great Saturnius to record,
And by each rejoicing Guest
Sung at Hiero's feastful Board.
EPODE I.
In pastoral Sicilia's fruitful SoilThe righteous Sceptre of Imperial Pow'r
Great Hiero wielding, with illustrious Toil
Plucks ev'ry blooming Virtue's fairest Flow'r,
Nor doth his skilful Hand refuse
Acquaintance with the tunefull Muse,
When round the mirthfull Board the Harp is borne.
STROPHE II.
Down then from the glitt'ring NailTake, O Muse, thy Dorian Lyre;
If the Love of Pisa's Vale
Pleasing Transports can inspire;
Or the rapid-footed Steed
Could with Joy thy Bosom move,
When, unwhip'd, with native Speed
O'er the dusty Course he drove;
Alpheus, thy immortal Flood,
On his Lord's triumphant Brows
The Olympick Wreath bestow'd:
ANTISTROPHE II.
Hiero's Royal Brows, whose CareTends the Courser's noble Breed;
Pleas'd to nurse the pregnant Mare,
Pleas'd to train the youthful Steed.
Now on that Heroick Land
His far beaming Glories beat,
Where with all his Lydian Band
Pelops fix'd his honour'd Seat:
Pelops, by the God belov'd,
Whose strong Arms the Globe embrace;
When by Jove's high Orders mov'd
Clotho bless'd the healing Vase.
EPODE II.
Forth from the Cauldron to new Life restor'd,Pleas'd with the Lustre of his Iv'ry Arm
Young Pelops rose; so ancient Tales record,
And oft these Tales unheeding Mortals charm;
While gaudy Fiction deck'd with Art,
And dress'd in ev'ry winning Grace,
To Truth's unornamented Face
Preferr'd, seduces oft the human Heart.
STROPHE III.
Add to these sweet Poesy,Smooth Inchantress of Mankind,
Clad in whose false Majesty
Fables easy Credit find.
But e'er long the rolling Year
The deceitful Tale explodes:
Then, O Man, with holy Fear
Touch the Characters of Gods.
Of their Heav'nly Natures say
Nought unseemly, nought profane,
So shalt thou due Honour pay,
So be free from guilty Stain.
ANTISTROPHE III.
Diff'ring then from ancient FameI thy Story will record:
How the Gods invited came
To thy Father's genial Board;
In his Turn the holy Feast
When on Sipylus he spread;
To the Tables of the Blest
In his Turn with Honour led.
Neptune then thy lovely Face,
Son of Tantalus, survey'd,
And with amorous Embrace
Far away the Prize convey'd.
EPODE III.
To the high Palace of all-honour'd JoveWith Pelops swift the golden Chariot rolls.
There, like more ancient Ganymede, above
For Neptune he prepares the nectar'd Bowls.
But for her vanish'd Son in vain
When long his tender Mother sought,
And Tidings of his Fate were brought
By none of all her much-inquiring Train;
STROPHE IV.
O'er the envious Realm with SpeedA malicious Rumour flew,
That, his heav'nly Guests to feed,
Thee thy impious Father slew:
In a Cauldron's seething Flood
That thy mangled Limbs were cast,
Thence by each voracious God
On the Board in Messes plac'd.
But shall I the Blest abuse?
With such Tales to stain her Song
Far, far be it from my Muse!
Vengeance waits th'unhallow'd Tongue.
ANTISTROPHE IV.
Sure, if e'er to Man befelHonour from the Pow'rs divine,
Who on high Olympus dwell,
Tantalus, the Lot was thine.
But alas! his mortal Sense
All too feeble to digest
The Delights of Bliss immense,
Sicken'd at the heav'nly Feast.
Whence, his Folly to chastise,
O'er his Head with Pride elate,
Jove, great Father of the Skies,
Hung a Rock's enormous Weight.
EPODE IV.
Now vainly lab'ring with incessant PainsTh'impending Rock's expected Fall to shun,
The fourth distressful Instance he remains
Of wretched Man by impious Pride undone;
Who to his mortal Guests convey'd
Th'incorruptible Food of Gods,
On which in their divine Abodes
Himself erst feasting was immortal made.
STROPHE V.
Vain is he, who hopes to cheatThe all-seeing Eyes of Heaven:
From Olympus' blissfull Seat,
For his Father's Theft, was driven,
Pelops, to reside once more
With frail Man's swift-passing Race.
Where (for now Youth's blowing Flow'r
Deck'd with op'ning Pride his Face;
And with manly Beauty sprung
On each Cheek the downy Shade)
Ever burning for the Young,
Hymen's Fires his Heart invade.
ANTISTROPHE V.
Anxious then th'Elean BrideFrom her Royal Sire to gain,
Near the Billow-beaten Side
Of the foam besilver'd Main,
Darkling and alone he stood,
Invocating oft the Name
Of the Trident-bearing God
Strait the Trident-bearer came:
“If the sweet Delights of Love,
“Which from Beauty's Queen descend,
“Can thy yielding Bosom move,
“Mighty God, my Cause befriend.
EPODE V.
“With strong Prevention let thy Hand controll“The brazen Lance of Pisas's furious King;
“And to the Honours of th'Elean Goal
“Me with unrival'd Speed in Triumph bring.
“Transfix'd by his unerring Spear,
“Already thirteen Youths have dy'd,
“Yet he persists with cruel Pride,
“Hippodamîa's Nuptials to deferr.
STROPHE VI.
“In the Paths of dang'rous Fame“Trembling Cowards never tread:
“Yet since all of mortal Frame
“Must be number'd with the Dead,
“Who in dark inglorious Shade
“Would his useless Life consume,
“And with deedless Years decay'd,
“Sink unhonour'd to the Tomb?
“I that shamefull Lot disdain;
“I this doubtfull List will prove;
“May my Vows from thee obtain
“Conquest, and the Prize of Love.”
ANTISTROPHE VI.
Thus he pray'd, and mov'd the God;Who, his bold Attempt to grace,
On the favour'd Youth bestow'd
Steeds unwearied in the Race;
Harness'd to a Golden Carr.
So was Pisa's King subdu'd;
Pelops so obtain'd the Fair;
From whose Womb a noble Brood,
Six illustrious Brothers came,
All with virtuous Minds endow'd,
Leaders all of mighty Fame.
EPODE VI.
Now in the solemn Service of the Dead,Rank'd with immortal Gods, great Pelops shares;
While to his Altar, on the wat'ry Bed
Of Alpheus rais'd, from every Clime repairs
The wond'ring Stranger, to behold
The Glories of th'Olympick Plain;
Where, the resplendent Wreath to gain,
Contend the Swift, the Active, and the Bold.
STROPHE VII.
Happy He, whose glorious BrowPisa's honour'd Chaplets crown!
Calm his Stream of Life shall flow,
Shelter'd by his high Renown.
That alone is Bliss supreme,
Which, unknowing to decay,
Still with ever-shining Beam
Gladdens each succeeding Day.
Then for happy Hiero weave
Garlands of Æolian Strains;
Him these Honours to receive
The Olympick Law ordains.
ANTISTROPHE VII.
Nor more worthy of her LayCan the Muse a Mortal find;
Greater in Imperial Sway,
Richer in a virtuous Mind;
Waits thy Wishes to fulfil.
Then e'er long will I prepare,
Plac'd on Chronium's sunny Hill,
Thee in sweeter Verse to praise,
Following thy victorious Steeds;
If to prosper all thy Ways
Still thy Guardian God proceeds.
EPODE VII.
Fate hath in various Stations rank'd Mankind:In Royal Pow'r the long Gradations end.
By that Horizon prudently confin'd,
Let not thy Hopes to farther Views extend.
Long may'st thou wear the Regal Crown,
And may thy Bard his Wish receive,
With thee, and such as thee to live,
Around his native Greece for Wisdom known.
| Odes of Pindar | |