Imatges de pàgina
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THE NINTH

OLYMPIC

O D E.

TO EPHARMOSTUS of OPUS, on his OLYMPIC and PYTHIAN Victories.

ARGUMENT.

PINDAR begins the Ode with mentioning the Hymn compofed by ARCHILOCHUS, and indifcriminately fung before fuch of the OLYMPIC Victors as were not fortunate enough to have a Poet to celebrate their particular exploits. He then invokes the MUSES, to affift him in praifing EPHARMOSTUS for his fuccefs at OLYMPIA and PYTHIA, and tells them it requires no common fhare of genius. He then, Speaking of his country, commends him for raifing it's honor by his fkill and fuccefs in Athletic Exercifes, and implores the affiftance of the GRACES; afferting, that no glory can be expected without the aid of the Superior Powers, by whofe help, he fays, HERCULES was able to oppofe NEPTUNE, APOLLO, and PLUTO. Here he checks himself, reflecting, that it is wrong to fing of any thing that may

caft

caft difhonor on the Gods; and, defcribing DEUCALION's Flood, addresses EPHARMOSTUS and the Citizens of Orus, as being defcendants from him and PYRRHA, by means of their daughter PROTOGENIA, who was carried away by JUPITER, and had a fon by him named Orus, who founded the city of that name. Him he celebrates for his hofpitality, and, enumerating his friends, particu larly mentions MENCETIUS.

From thence he di

greffes to the ftory of his fon PATROCLUS and ACHILLES attacking TELEPHUS. The Poet now, invoking again the MUSES, defires to commemorate the Vidories gained by EPHARMOSTUS and his kinfman LAMPROMACHUS, and gives an account of their various triumphs; and, afferting the fuperiority of native over acquired merit, and giving mental accomplishments the preference to all others, he concludes with a compliment to his Hero.

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But from her bow let each AONIAN maid

The glittering fhafts of harmony prepare,
The heights of facred ELIS to invade,

Her fhady forefts, and her paftures fair;

Seats facred still to thunder-bearing Jove,

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To princely Opus now the filver lyre

Awake, and chant her fons athletic worth. 15 OPUS, where THEMIS, with her daughter, reigns,

Divine EUNOMIA.-Mindful of his birth,

He decks the capital of LOCRIS' plains

With

With every flower on ALPHEUS' brink that grows,

And every blooming wreath CASTALIA's cirque

beftows.

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E PODE I.

My votive voice, in foothing lays,

Shall fing the much-lov'd city's praise;

And, fwifter than the courfer fcours the plain,

Or the wing'd galley cleaves the yielding main,

Will fend the Messenger of Fame

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Through all the admiring world, her honors to

proclaim.

If haply my affiduous hand

Shall cull the flowers that deck the Graces' Land.

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STROPHE II.

Favor'd by them, ALCIDES' nervous arm

Repell'd the Monarch of the briny flood;

Nor did the filver bow his heart alarm,

PHOEBUS'

But, firmly, angry РHŒвUS' rage he ftood;

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Nor could ftern PLUTO's rod his breast dismay, Which drives the dying to his drear abodes:Rafh MUSE, defift! nor urge the impious lay; Hateful's the wisdom that blafphemes the Gods.- 40 'Tis madness, ftrength abfurdly thus to boaft, And mortal might compare with Heaven's triumphant Hoft.

ANTISTROPHE II.

Let War and Diford, with the ills they bring, Be banish'd diftant from the Ethereal Train:

Fair PROTOGENIA's new-rais'd city fing,

Where, from PARNASSUS to the level plain,

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DEUCALION

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