For this the pow'rs who deathless reign
To earth sent down his son again
To dwell with men, a short-liv'd race,
When sudden fate comes on a pace.
His flow'ry age in all its pride,

When o'er his chin a black'ning shade
Of down was cast, a vow he made

Deep in his soul to win the proffer'd bride,

ANTISTROPHE 111. Measures 18.

Hippodamia, boasted name,

From her great sire, the Pisan proud.
Alone by night the lover came

Beside the hoary sea, and call'd aloud
On him who sways the triple spear,
And fills with din the deafen'd ear,
When at his feet the god arose:

Then Pelops, eager to disclose

His mighty care, "O Neptune! if thy mind. "In love did ever pleasure find,

"Let not Oenomaus prevail,

"And let his brazen jav'lin fail:

"Ch! bear me hence on wheels of speed

"To Elis, to the glorious meed:

"To victory, oh! whirl me strait;

"Since after ten and other three

"Bold suitors slain yet still we see,

120

130

EPODE 111. Measures 16.

"Of his daughter. No perilous toil can excite
"The dastard in heart who despairs of his might.
"Since we all are born to die,

"Who overcast would in oblivion lie,

"In unreputed age decay,

"And meanly squander life away,

"Cut off from evry praise? Then let me dare "This conflict in the dusty lists to share,

"And prosper thou my glowing wheels."
This Pelops spoke; nor was his fervent pray'r
Pour'd forth in fruitless words to waft in air;
The deity his whole ambition grants,

Nor shining car, nor coursers now he wants;
In the golden bright chariot new vigour he feels,
Exulting in the horses' feet,

Unwearied ever, ever fleet,

STROPHE IV. Measures 18.

Oenomaus! he triumphs o'er

Thy prowess, and to share his bed
Claims the bright maid, who to him bore

Six princely sons, to manly virtues bred,
Now solemniz'd with steaming blood
And pious rites, near Alpheus' flood
Intomb'd he sleeps, where th' altar stands,
That draws the vows of distant lands,
And round his tomb the circling racers strive,
And round the wheeling chariots drive.

In thy fam'd courses, Pelops! rise
Th' Olympian glories to the skies,
And shine afar: there we behold
The stretch of manhood, strenuous, bold,
In sore fatigues, and there the strife
Of winged feet. Thrice happy he
Who overcomes! for he shall see

Unclouded days, and taste the sweets of life,
ANTISTROPHE IV. Measures 18.

Thy boon, O Victory! thy prize.
The good that in a day obtain'd,
From day to day fresh joy supplies,
Is the supreme of bliss to man ordain'd.
But let me now the rider raise,

And crown him with Æolian lays,
The victor's due: and I confide,
Tho' ev'ry welcome guest be try'd,

Not one in all the concourse would be found
For fairest knowledge more renown'd,'
Nor yet a master more to twine
In lasting hymns each wreathing line.
The guardian god who watchful guides
Thy fortunes, Hiero! presides
O'er all thy cares with anxious pow'r;
And soon, if he does not deny

His needful aid, my hopes run high

170

180

190

EPODE IV. Measures 16.

On thy chariot triumphant when thou shalt appear, And fly o'er the course with a rapid career,

Tracing paths of language fair,

As I to Cronion's sunny mount repair.
Ev'n now the Muse prepares to raise

Her growth, the strongest dart of praise,

For me to wield. Approv'd in other things,
Do others rise conspicuous: only kings
High mounting on the summit fix:

There bound thy view wide-spread, nor vainly try
Farther to stretch the prospect of thine eye:
Be then thy glorious lot to tread sublime,
With steady steps the measur'd track of time;
Be mine with the prize-bearing worthies to mix
In Greece, throughout the learned throng,
Proclaim'd unrivall'd in my song.

200

203

THE SECOND

OLYMPIONIQUE OF PINDAR.

TO THERON OF AGRIGENTUM,
Victorious in the Chariot-race.

The Argument.

He praises Theron, King of Agrigentum, on account of the victory ob. tained in the Olympic Garnes, with a chariot and four horses; ikew se for his justice, his hospitality, his fortit de, nd the illustrious css of his ancestors, whose adventures are ccasionally mentioned, then he inter weaves dipressions to Seme e, Inn, Peleus, Actes, and others, and describes th future state of the righteous and f the wick d. concludes with exroiling his own skill in panegyric, and the benevolence and liberality of 1 heron.

STROPHE 1. Measures 16.

Lasty, he

Sov'REIGN Hymns! whose numbers sway
The sounding harp, what god, what hero, say,
What man shall we resound?

Is not Pisa Jove's delight?

And did not Hercules, with conquest crown'd,
To him ordain

Th' Clympiad for an army slain,
Thank-off'ring of the war?

And must we not in Theron's right
Exert our voice and swell our song?
Theron! whose victorious car
Four coursers whirl fleeting along,
To stranger guests indulgent host,

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