E PODE

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 funny mount repair.
Even now the Mufe prepares to raise,

Her growth, the strongest dart of praise,
For me to wield. Approv'd in other things,
Do others rife, confpicuous, only kings,
High mounting on the fummit fix:

195

200

There bound thy view, wide-fpread, 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 tract of time;
Be mine, with the prize-bearing worthies to mix,
In Greece, throughout the learned throng,
Proclaim'd unrival'd in my song.

205

Vol. LVII.

H

THE

THE SECOND OLYMPIONIQUE. TO THERON of AGRIGEN T U м, victorious in the CHARIOT-RACE.

A RGUMEN T.

He praises Theron king of Agrigentum, on account of the victory obtained in the Olympic Games, with a chariot and four horfes; likewife for his juftice, his hofpitality, his fortitude, and the illuftriousness of his ancestors; whofe adventures are occafionally mentioned: then he interweaves digreffions to Semele, Ino, Peleus, Achilles, and others, and describes the future state of the righteous and of the wicked. Lastly, he concludes with extolling his own skill in panegyrick, and the benevolence and liberality of Theron.

S

STROPHE

I. Measures 16.

OVEREIGN hymns, whose numbers sway

The founding harp, what god, what hero, say, What man, fhall we refound?

Is not Pifa Jove's delight?

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

Th' Olympiad for an army slain,

Thank-offering of the war?

And must we not, in Theron's right,
Exert our voice, and fwell our fong?
Theron, whofe victorious car

Four courfers whirl, fleeting along,

5

10

To ftranger-guests indulgent host,

Of Agrigentum the fupport and boaft,
Cities born to rule and grace,

15

Fair bloffom of his ancient race,

ANTIS TROPHE I. Measures 16.

Worthies fore perplex'd in thought,

Till, wandering far, they found, what long they fought,

A facred feat, fast by

Where the stream does rapid run,

And reign'd, of Sicily the guardian eye,
When happy days,

And wealth, and favour, flow'd, and praise,
That in-born worth inflames.

Saturnian Jove, O! Rhea's fon,
Who o'er Olympus doft prefide,
And the pitch of lofty games,
And Alpheus, of rivers the pride,
Rejoicing in my fongs, do thou
Incline thine ear, propitious to my vow,

Bleffing, with a bounteous hand,

The rich hereditary land.

E PODE I. Meafures 10.

20

25

30

Through their late lineage down. No power can actions

past,

Whether deeds of right or wrong,

As things not done recall,

Not even Time, the father, who produces all;

Yet can Oblivion, waiting long,

35

Gathering ftrength

Through the length

Of profperous times, forbid thofe deeds to laft:
Such force has fweet-healing joy

The feftering smart of evils to destroy,

STROPHE

When felicity is fent

II.

Measures 16.

Down by the will fupreme with full content:
Thy daughters, Cadmus, they

Greatly wretched here below,

Bless'd evermore, this mighty truth display.

No weight of grief,

But, whelm'd in pleasures, find relief,

Sunk in the fweet abyfs.

Thou, Semele, with hair a-flow,
Thou by thunder doom'd to die,
Mingling with the gods in bliss,
Art happy, for ever on high:
Thee Pallas does for ever love,

40

45

50

55

Thee chiefly Jupiter, who rules above;

Thee thy fon holds ever dear,

Thy son with the ivy-wreath'd spear.

ANTIS TROPHE II. Measures 16.

Beauteous Ino, we are told,

With the fea-daughters dwells of Nereus old,

60

And has, by lot, obtain'd

Lafting life, beneath the deep,

A life within no bounds of time restrain'd.

The hour of death,

The day when we refign our breath,

65

That

That offspring of the fun,

Which bids us from our labours fleep, vain do mortals seek to know,

Or who deftin'd is to run

A life unintangled with woe;

For none are able to difclofe

The feafons of th' uncertain ebbs and flows
Now of pleasures, now of pains,

Which hidden fate to men ordains:

E PODE II. Meafures 10.

70

Thus Providence, that to thy ancestry, long-fam'd, 75. Portions out a pleasing share

Of heaven-fprung happiness,

Does, ceafing in another turn of time to bless,

Diftribute fome reverse of care,

As from years

Paft appears,

Since the predeftin'd fon, at Pytho nam'd,
Did Laius, blindly meeting kill,

And the oracle, of old pronounc'd, fulfil:

80

STROPHE III. Measures 16.

85

Fell Erinnys, quick to view

The deed, his warlike fons in battle flew,

Each by the other's rage:

But to Polynices flain

Surviv'd Therfander, glory of his age,

For feats of war,

And youthful contefts, honour'd far,

The scion, kept alive

To raise th' Adrastian house again:

да

~From

H 3