THE THIRD OLYMPIC ODE.

This ode is likewise inscribed to Theron king of Agrigentum, upon the occasion of another victory obtained by him in the chariot-race at Olympia; the date of which is unknown.

ARGUMENT.

The scholiast acquaints us, that as Theron was celebrating the Theoxenia (a festival instituted by Castor and Pollux in honour of all the gods) he received the news of a victory obtained by his chariot in the Olympic games: from this circumstance the poet takes occasion to address this ode to those two deities and their sister Helena, in whose temple, the same scholiast informs us, some people with greatest probability conjectured, it was sung, at a solemn sacrifice there offered by Theron to those deities, and to Hercules, also, as may be inferred from a passage in the third strophe of the translation. But there is another, and a more poetical propriety in Pindar's invoking these divinities, that is suggested in the ode itself: for, after mentioning the occasion of his composing it, namely, the Olympie victory of Theron, and saying that a triumphal song was a tribute due to that person upon whom the hellenodic, or judge of the games, bestowed the sacred olive, according to the institution of their first founder Hercules, he proceeds to relate the fabulous, but legendary story, of that hero's having brought that plant originally from Scythia, the country of the Hyperboreans, to Olympia; having planted it there near the temple of Jupiter, and ordered that the victors in those games should, for the future, be crowned with the branches of this sacred tree. To this he adds, that Hercules, upon his being removed to Heaven, appointed the twin-brothers, Castor and Pollux, to celebrate the Olympic games, and execute the office of bestowing the olive-crown upon those who obtained the victory; and now, continues Pindar, he comes a propitious guest, to this sacrifice of Theron, in company with the two sons of Leda, who, to reward the piety and zeal of Theron and his family, have given them success and glory; to the utmost limits of which he insinuates that Theron is arrived, and so concludes with affirming, that it would be in vain for any man, wise or unwise, to attempt to surpass him.

He gave th' illustrious games to hold,

And crown the swift, the strong, and bold, Then, Muse, to Theron and his house proclaim The joyous tidings of success and fame, By Leda's twins bestow'd to grace, Emmenides, thy pious race,

Who, mindful of Heaven's high behests, With strictest zeal observe their holy feasts,

EPODE III.

As water's vital streams all things surpass,

As gold's all-worship'd ore

Holds amid Fortune's stores the highest class; So to that distant shore,

To where the pillars of Alcides rise,

Fame's utmost boundaries, Theron, pursuing his successful way,

Hath deck'd with glory's brightest ray His lineal virtues.-Further to attain, Wise, and unwise, with me despair: th' attempt were vain.

THE FIFTH OLYMPIC ODE.

This ode is inscribed to Psaumis of Camarina (a town in Sicily), who, in the eighty-second Olympiad, obtained three victories; one in the race of chariots drawn by four horses; a second in the race of the apené, or chariot drawn by mules, and a third in the race of single horses. Some people (it seems) have doubted, whether this ode be Pindar's, for certain reasons, which, together with the arguments on the other side, the learned reader may find in the Oxford edition and others of this author; where it is clearly proved to be genuine. But, besides the reasons there given for doubting if this ode be Pindar's, there is another (though not mentioned, as I know of, by any one) which may have helped to bias people in their judgment upon this question. I shall therefore beg leave to consider it a little, because what I shall say upon that head will tend to illustrate both the meaning and the method of Pindar in this ode. In the Greek editions of this author there are two odes (of which this is the second) inscribed to the same Psaumis, and dated both in the same Olympiad. But they differ from each other in several particulars, as well in the matter as the manner. In the second ode, notice is taken of three victories obtained by Psaumis; in the first, of only one, viz. that obtained by him in the race of chariots drawn by four horses: in the second, not only the city of Camarina, but the lake of the same name, many rivers adjoining to it, and some circumstances relating to the present state, and the rebuilding of that city (which had been destroyed by the Syracusians some years before) are mentioned; whereas in the first, Camarina is barely named, as the country of the conqueror, and as it were out of form: from all which I conclude, that these two odes were composed to be sung at different times, and in different places; the first at Olympia, immediately upon Psaumis's being proclaimed conqueror in the chariot-race, and before he obtained his other two victories. This may with great probability be inferred, as well from no mention being there made of those two victories,

as from the prayer which the poet subjoins immediately to his account of the first, viz. that Heaven would in like manner be favourable to the rest of the victor's wishes; which prayer, though it be in general words, and one frequently used by Pindar in other of his odes, yet has a peculiar beauty and propriety, if taken to relate to the other two exercises, in which Psaumis was still to contend; and in which he afterwards came off victorious. That it was the custom for a conqueror, at the time of his being proclaimed, to be attended by a chorus, who sung a song of triumph in honour of his victory, I have observed in the dissertation prefixed to these odes'. In the second, there are so many marks of its having been made to be sung at the triumphal entry of Psaumis into his own country, and those so evident, that, after this hint given, the reader cannot help observing them as he goes through the ode. I shall therefore say nothing more of them in this place; but that they tend, by showing for what occasion this ode was calculated, to confirm what I said relating to the other; and jointly with that to prove, that there no reason to conclude from there being two odes inscribed to the same person, and dated in the same Olympiad, that the latter is not Pindar's, especially as it appears, both in the style and spirit, altogether worthy of him.

ARGUMENT.

The poet begins with addressing himself to Camarina, a sea nymph, from whom the city and lake were both named, to bespeak a favourable reception of his ode, a present which he tells her was made to her by Psaumis, who rendered her city illustrious at the Olympic games; where having obtained three victories, he consecrated his fame to Camarina, by ordering the herald, when he proclaimed him conqueror, to style him of that city. This he did at Olympia; but now, continues Pindar, upon his coming home, he is more particular, and inserts in his triumphal song the names of the principal places and rivers belonging to Camarina; from whence the poet takes occasion to speak of the rebuilding of that city, which was done about this time, and of the state of glory, to which, out of her low and miserable condition, she was now brought by the means of Psaumis, and by the lustre cast on her by his victories; victories (says he) not to be obtained without much labour and expense, the usual attendants of great and glorious actions; but the man who succeeded in such-like undertakings was sure to be rewarded with the love and approbation of his country. The poet then addresses himself to Jupiter in a prayer, beseeching him to adorn the city and state of Camarina with virtue and glory; and to grant to the victor Psaumis a joyful and contented old age, and the happiness of dying before his children: after which he concludes with an exhortation to Psaumis, to be contented with his condition; which he insinuates was as happy as that of a mortal could be, and it was to no purpose for him to wish to be a god.

See Mr. West's Preface, p. 142.

STROPHE.

FAIR Camarina, daughter of the main,
With gracious smiles this choral song receive,
Sweet fruit of virtuous toils; whose noble strain
Shall to th' Olympic wreath new lustre give:
This Psaumis, whom on Alpheus' shore
With unabating speed

The harness'd mules to conquest bore,
This gift to thee decreed;

Thee, Camarina, whose well-peopled towers
Thy Psaumis render'd great in fame,
When to the twelve Olympian powers
He fed with victims the triumphal flame.
When, the double altars round,
Slaughter'd bulls bestrew'd the ground;
When, on five selected days,
Jove survey'd the list of praise;
While along the dusty course
Psaumis urg'd his straining horse,
Or beneath the social yoke

Made the well-match'd coursers smoke;

Or around th' Elean goal

Taught his mule-drawn car to roll.
Then did the victor dedicate his fame

To thee, and bade the herald's voice proclaim Thy new-establish'd walls, and Acron's honour'd

name.

ANTISTROPhe.

But now return'd from where the pleasant seat
Once of Oenomaus and Pelops stood,
Thee, Civic Pallas, and thy chaste retreat,
He bids me sing, and fair Oanus' flood,
And Camarina's sleeping wave,

And those sequester'd shores,
Through which, the thirsty town to lave,
Smooth flow the watery stores
Of fishy Hipparis, profoundest stream,
Adown whose wood-envelop'd tide
The solid pile and lofty beam,
Materials for the future palace, glide.
Thus, by war's rude tempests torn,
Plung'd in misery and scorn,
Once again, with power array'd,
Camarina lifts her head,
Gayly brightening in the blaze,
Psaumis, of thy hard-earn'd praise.
Trouble, care, expense, attend
Him who labours to ascend
Where, approaching to the skies,
Virtue holds the sacred prize,

That tempts him to achieve the dangerous deed: But, if his well-concerted toils succeed, [meed. His country's just applause shall be his glorious

O Jove! protector of mankind!

O cloud-enthroned king of gods!
Who, on the Chronian mount reclin'd,
With honour crown'st the wide-stream'd
floods

Of Alpheus, and the solemn gloom
Of Ida's cave! to thee I come
Thy suppliant, to soft Lydian reeds,
Sweet breathing forth my tuneful prayer,
That, grac'd with noble, valiant deeds,
This state may prove thy guardian care;
And thou, on whose victorious brow
Olympia bound the sacred bough,
Thou whom Neptunian steeds delight,

With age, content, and quiet crown'd,

Calm may'st thou sink to endless night,

Thy children, Psaumis, weeping round. And since the gods have given thee fame and wealth,

Join'd with that prime of earthly treasures, health,
Enjoy the blessings they to man assign,
Nor fondly sigh for happiness divine.

THE SEVENTH OLYMPIC ODE.

This ode is inscribed to Diagoras, the son of Damagetus of Rhodes, who in the seventy-ninth Olympiad obtained the victory in the exercise of the cæstus.

This ode was in such esteem among the ancients, that it was deposited in a temple of Minerva, written in letters of gold.

ARGUMENT.

The poet begins this noble song of triumph with a simile, by which he endeavours to show his great esteem for those who obtain the victory in the Olympic and other gaines; as also the value of the present that he makes them upon that occasion; a present always acceptable, because fame and praise is that which delights all mortals; wherefore the Muse, says he, is perpetually looking about for proper objects to bestow it upon; and seeing the great actions of Diagoras, takes up a resolution of celebrating him, the Isle of Rhodes his country, and his father Damagetus (according to the form observed by the herald in proclaiming the conquerors); Damagetus, and consequently Diagoras, being descended from Tlepolemus, who led over a colony of Grecians from Argos to Rhodes, where he settled, and obtained the dominion of that island. From Tlepolemus, therefore, Pindar declares he will deduce his song; which he addresses to all the Rhodians in common with Diagoras, who were descended from Tlepolemus, or from those Grecians that came over with him; that is, almost all the people of Rhodes, who indeed are as much (if not more) interested in the greatest part of this ode, as Diagoras the conqueror. Pindar accordingly relates the occasion of Tlepolemus's coming to Rhodes, which he tells was in obedience to an oracle, that commanded him to seek out that island; which, instead of telling us its name, Pindar, in a more poetical manner, characterizes by relating of it some legendary stories (if I may so speak) that were peculiar to the Isle of Rhodes: such as the Golden Shower, and the occasion of Apollo's choosing that island for himself; both which stories he relates at large with such a flame of poetry as shows his imagination to have been extremely heated and elevated with his subjects. Neither does he seem to cool in the short account that he gives, in the next place, of the passion of Apollo for the nymph Rhodos, from whom the island received its name, and from whom were descended its original inhabitants (whom just before the poet therefore called the sons of Apollo): and particularly the three brothers, Camirus, Lindus, and Jalysus; who divided that country into three kingdoms, and built the three principal cities which retained their names. In this island