^/ r% ' -V s O X * ?$ # <5^ -X^ •* ...,-. g I \ \ \ ■ % $°« 5 O skilPd at once in noble arts And deck'd with pow'r ! Some god imparts A special guardian providence to speed Thy noble cares ; and never may it fail That I with sweeter voice again may bid thee hail ! 170 e. 4. If bright-wing'd Glory on thy chariot lights My Muse high o'er Olympia's plain Shall pour the loud triumphal strain Round Cronion's sacred heights, Glitt'ring in sun-shine o'er the skies. 175 Nurs'd by the Muse beside me lies A shaft of strongest pinion. Monarchs claim The choicest dart her bow can aim. conjecture, as thus Pindar may intend to image Hiero's greatness by sea. Without doubt Pindar had always good reasons for his digressions, which to us lose their beauty only when we can not trace the circumstances which occasioned them. V» 170. That I.J Hiero perhaps was preparing for another contest at Olympia. V. 174. See Index. V. 177. A shaft.'] Pindar, with great boldness and sublimity, frequently terms his verses shafts of harmony. The Psalmist, with equal sublimity, but much greater propriety, calls the words of an enemy " poisoned arrows." 22 Men rise in dignity o'er men ; the crown Looks on inferior heads majestically down, 180 No loftier source of praise I seek to dignify my lays ; The same exalted path long may'st thou tread And I midst bards of Greece raise my distinguish'd head ! OLYMPIC ODE II. IN PRAISE OF THERON, KING OF AGRIGENTUM, VICTOR IN THE CHARIOT-RACE. s. I. jL E Hymns, who breathe imperial o'er the lyre, What man, what hero shall we name An heir of everlasting fame? What god, celestial Muse, shall claim thy sacred fire r The god, whose guardian love 5 His Pisa shields, immortal Jove, General design of the Ode. As Theron's forefathers had met with misfortunes, Pindar takes occasion to speak of the vicissitudes of fortune, mentioning several instances in his hero's family in former ages. But now he is settled in wealth and splendor, the poet reminds him that to those who use their wealth properly, it shines as a star leading to glory, which will continue even after death, whereas those who misuse it, will be punished. V. 1. Ye Hymns.'] At the beginning of this ode a difficulty occurs of a very different nature from that mentioned in the note on the first Olympic v. 1st. — The poet here addresses his lyre with a compounded word so singularly beautiful, that no translator can hope to express it. lie in one word calls the hymns queens of the lyre, with no less propriety than elegance, since as they vary the metre the lyre still obeys, following these queens of harmony through all their changes. V. 5. The god whose.] Next to Benedictus I acknowledge my obligations to Heyne for his accurate explanation of very many passages. I do not always mention their names but would have the reader assign to one or other of them almost every explanatory note which he may approve. Heyne is remarkable for throwing the clearest light on the subject in a few words. On this passage he says " Jupiter, the greatest of gods, who presided over the games, claims the poet's first notice ; Hercules, the greatest of heroes, who appointed these games, 24 And Hercules, who from the spoils of war Proclaim'd th' Olympic prize : Sweet Hymns, to Theron rise ! To Theron, while bright Victory crowns his car, 10 Harmonious swell the sound ! His country's tow'r ! the friend renown'd ! Flow'r of illustrious stem ! whose righteous sway The sons of Agragas with grateful hearts obey. A. 1. His toil-worn Sires (clouds o'er their dawning day 15 Long dark'ning scowl'd) at length retreat, Where Peace secur'd a sacred seat, To, Agragas, thy banks, and shine with brighter ray the second ; the poet in the third place mentions Theron, who conquered in these games ; thus insinuating that among men none was so great as Theron." This passage Horace imitates thus : Quern virum aut heroa lyra vel acri, Tibia sumes celebrare Clio ? Quern deum, cujus recinet jocosa Montis imago. The different order I conceive Horace thought of no consequence, which is a shield to my translation. From this imitation we may see the different tastes of the two poets. Pindar always loves what is grave and great. Horace does not frequently continue his sublime flights 6o long together, he is ever ready to stoop for something like this " jocosa imago." The classical reader will recollect various passages in Horace imitated or even translated from Pindar, for which I do not remember that he was ever despised as a school-boy.* To set down all such passages would be tedious and impertinent. T. 15. Hit toi/-;vorn.~] His ancestors had been driven by civil wars from Rhodes to Agragas or Agrigentum, a town near the river Agragas. * See Life of Gray, by Johnson. 25 The light of all the land. Fate leads them in his guardian hand SO With riches, honour, happiness in store, And on their virtues down Drops an illustrious crown. Thou, son of Rhea, great Olympian pow'r, High-thron'd above the skies, 25 O'er Alpheus stooping view the prize Of glory, pleas'd the hymn triumphal hear, Make them, their land, their race thine everlasting care! 9 e. 1. Nought can the action past recall ; Just or unjust the deed once done, 30 Not Time, the first great Sire of all, Can e'er undo, 'tis past, 'tis gone. But when good days return, soft-flowing o'er Oblivion's dark'ning, slumbrous tide shall swell, In joy absorb past ills, and never more 35 Shall hateful sorrows on the memory dwell, s. 2, When Gods more bounteous from their heav'nly store Send happier blessings largely down, V. 24. Thou, son of.] Jupiter. V. 36. Shall hateful sorrows,] In allusion to the civil dissentions now no more, E 26 Thus varying Fortune's gloomy frown, Cadmus, thy daughters felt, but lo! her storms are o'er, 40 From clouds the lurid skies Clearing as brighter glories rise : Thy Semele, who midst the fires of Jove And thunder's awful sound Fell lifeless to the ground, 45 Trails her long tresses in the courts above : There midst th' eternal powers 'Tis her's to pass her golden hours, To ivy-crowned Bacchus ever dear, Pallas, thy constant love, and thine, great Jove, to share. 50 a. 2. Below the azure bosom of the main, There ; where the snowy Nereids dwell In sea-bright grots o'er-hung with shell, Glad Ino mixes now with all th' immortal train, Immortal as the rest. 55 Ah ! never knows the human breast Whether in gloom Death springs with horrid stride. Or whether bright'ning skies Shall see the day arise To guide us where sweet calm and peace reside, 60 V. 40. Cadmus, %.] Theron was descended from Cadmus. The poet judiciously takes his instances from the same family ; Semele and Ino were daughters of Cadmus. See the Index. 27 Till evening gently close Our eye-lids in their last repose. The restless tide of life now ebbs, now flows, Now swells to highest bliss, now whelms in deepest woes, e. 2. Theron, thy sires from happier state 65 Soon fell ; Heav'n rais'd and Heav'n opprest ; Such storms of ever- varying fate Burst o'er the destined murderer's breast : Led by mysterious pow'r the king he meets ; Wretch ! By thy hand thy father's blood is shed 1 70 Ah ! hapless blind ! that blood-stain'd hand compleats Fate's dire decree anno unc'd in answer dread. s. 3. The sharp-ey'd Fury saw the horrid deed, And soon along the reeking ground The martial race lie slain around; *5 Arm'd by her ranc'rous gall brothers by brothers bleed. His warlike father lost Thersander cheerslhe drooping host, V. 68. Burst o'er the destined.] This was CEdipus, Theron's forefather. It had been fore- told CEdipus should kill his father. He was therefore exposed an infant. Grown to man= hood he met Laius his father, without knowing him. Neither would turn out of the road j hence a quarrel, in which the father fell. V. 75. Ariridby her.] The sons of CEdipus, Eteocles and Polynices, in a contest for the throne fell by each other's hands. Thersander therefore, the son of Polynices/ remained alone as the root of Theron's family. 28 In vig'rous feats of youthful contest fram'd, Renown'd in deeds of war : 80 Adrastus' stem from far Revives in him, once more with honour nam'd. Lo ! there the ancient root From which illustrious branches shoot, CEnesidemus and his mighty son, 85 Who claims my lyric strain to sing the prize he won. a. 3. Loud peals of triumph shake Olympiad plain, Corinth and Pytho swell his fame And shout at once his brother's name, Equal in glory there the now'ring wreath they gain, 90 Where twelve times round the goal Their steeds the glowing chariot roll. Adventurous heroes, when the heights they dare Of toil triumphant tread, V. 89. And shout at.~\ Xenocrates was his brother, who is celebrated as having been vic- torious, as well as himself, in the Isthmian and Pythian games, in a chariot-race. They used to drive the car twelve times round a goal set up at the farthest part of the course. It will be found Pindar's constant custom to take occasion from the victory of the ode, to celebrate all other victories gained by the hero or his relations, and to add the praises of his ancestors, his relations, or country, or even the tribe to which he belonged. V. 93. Adve/itrous heroes.] A chariot-race being attended with great expence, Pindar often commends his heroes for spending their wealth so gloriously. If I mistake not > the poet in- tends an opposition between the man who uses, and the man who hoards riches. The man who is disposed to make a good use of his gord wants not the threat of judgment, but he who keeps it locked up. Therefore I translate " S%5 Midst clouds of whirling smoke low-sinking on the ground. e. 2. For 'gainst the rising wall Two azure dragons fall Astonied and their baneful lives expire. With furious wing a third 60 Darts ; from his jaws are heard Outcries of strange portent and hissings dire. V. 47. This isle.] Pindar now begins a digression, describing how Apollo and Neptune called i^acus to their assistance when they built the walls of Troy, A body of Argives, called here Dorians, under one Triacon, had occupied JEgina. V. 61. Darts.] In the original the wordi seem so remarkably the echo of the sense, that you see the sudden spring of the dragon and hear the very sounds he uttered. SK cT' Sffoptscrz Coct has observed that the same person was not likely to excel in both, as the Pentathlon and the race required very different powers of body. V. 49. The Isthmian] A more exact translation of such passages as these would please those only who want no translation at all. These have caused by tar the most trouble, though after all they are perhaps the worst translated. I have indeed on this very account frequently been upon the point ot doing what the reader, I fear, heartily wishes I had done, i. e. of giving up the whole work in despair. V. 55. In either Pythian,'} Two separate courses, of which oae was called the double ctufse. 105 Where Neptune, rising from the tide, His own rites views, his waves on either side 65 Calming their furious roar, Triumphant with his mighty sire He claims the full force of my lyre. The various palms they bore From Pytho, Nemea, who can tell ? 70 Who speak their various worth ? As well Count pebbles on the shore. s. 3. Discretion's steady hand must rule the lyre : She, as occasion ever veers With wanton gale, still wisely steers ; 75 Fraught with a private theme she bids aspire My swelling sail to mightier Corinth's praise. Truth by my side, her far-fam'd race In war, in council bids me trace And the loud strain to her great heroes raise ; SO To Sisyphus, whose heart Was fraught with heav'n-descended art, V. 76. Fraught with a.~\ The poet here explains his own method, which he at all times pursues, of launching out from the private praise of his hero into that of his country, or his country's heroes ; whom being about to celebrate, he begins with Sisyphus, the founder of the city, and ends with Bellerophon, P 105 A God in wisdom ; to the maid, who sav'd The Argo, when for love the threatening deep she bravVL A, 3. Renown'd for wisdom these^ those great in arms 85 Held on Troy's war-worn tow'rs the shield, While others trod th' ensanguin'd field And furious 'gainst her walls hurl'd dire alarms ; Heroes, alike conspicuous shone your sires Who march'd the Grecian chiefs beside, 90 And who the far-sought queen denied. Before proud Glaucus trembling Greece retires. Full haughty is his boast Oi many a dread Corinthian host Obedient to Bellerophon's command, 95 Where sprung Pirene's fount, pow'rful and great the land ; e. S. There long defied the winged horse Of wondrous birth his grand-sire's force Beside the gushing stream, Till in Minerva's hand behold 100 T. 83. To the maid.] Medea, who fled to Corinth. Wisdom is here Pindar's first praise, ralour the second. F. 89. Heroes, alike conspicuous.] Those who fought for the Greekt and for the Trojans. P. 95. Obedient to.] Bellerophon was his grandfather. V% 96* Where sprung,"} Piiene, a Corinthian fountain. 107 The reins and glitt'ring curb of burnish'd gold ; No light, delusive dream ! Quick- vanishing his slumber breaks And clear truth in the vision speaks ; " Sleep'st thou, jEolian king? 105 " A well-fed bull slain to thy sire, " Present beside the sacred fire " The magic gift I bring." s. 4» These accents from the sable-shielded maid Arous'd him, slumb'ring as he lay ; 110 Up-starting on his feet, away Hasting, the gift, that by his side was laid, He grasps with awe-struck hand, and to the seei The honour'd native of the land Joyful presents ; " by thy command 1 15 " Oracular, Minerva's altar near " With rev'rence I repos'd " When night her sable curtain clos'd " O'er the still earth, and sleep's softpow'r I sought; " Op'ning my eyes beheld the dazzling gold she brought 120 V. 105. Sleep'st thou.^ His birth was from JEolus, and he was a king's son, though not a king. V. 108. TheMagic gift.] Neptune was his father, though Sisyphus was commonly so called. V. 114. The honour'd.] Polyidus. — Pindar is speaking of what had previously happened,, telling the story, as is usual in poetry, not according to the exact order of events. 108 a. 4. " Which tames the heart." His call the seer attends, And first a stately-stepping steer He bids him for the God prepare, The billow-beaten cliffs whose trident rends, And raise an altar (her divine command 125 Compleated) to th' equestrian maid. The arm which heav'n vouchsafes to aid, Nor hope, nor force, nor firmest oaths withstand. He feels the hard task light To check or steer his rapid flight ; ISO For now the golden curb with art applied The foaming courser champs ; enchanted sinks his pride. e. 4. The brass-clad warrior's arras resound While dreadful o'er the thund'ring ground In martial joust he wheels ; ,135 From the cold deserts of the air The quiver'd Amazons his flashing spear Strikes dead ; Chimaera feels His pow'rful hand and, all her fires V. 125. Her divine command.'} The vision just before described, V. J 26. To tk> equestrian maid.] Minerva. 109 In fruitless hissings quench'd, expires ; 140 The Solymi lie slain. His death in silence veil'd I leave ; The steed Jove's ancient stalls receive Far o'er the heav'nly plain. .s. 5. Here check, my lyre, thy ever- varying string ; 145 Thy sweet-toned darts of magic pow'r Rolling their full harmonious show'r No more beyond the mark promiscuous fling. Did not the Muse from her bright throne descend And all the numerous wreaths, that grace 150 The hero's tribe, illustrious race, At Nemea won and Corinth bid me blend ? Stand, white-rob'd Truth, and hear The short but faithful oath I swear ; " Loud did the sweet-tongued herald-trumpet raise 155 " Full sixty times their names to never-dying praise." V. 142. His death."] This Pindar thinks a circumstance ill-suited to the present occasion. His lyric Muse never loves to dwell on any thing tragical in the event. The manner of his death too was not honourable to the hero. See Index. V. 150. And all the numerous wreaths.'] He now celebrates Xenophon's whole tribe of the Oligsethidse. It would render these odes in the translation more intelligible, if English poetry would admit the names as they occur in the original, * 110 a. 5. Thrice has Oly mpia heard the same glad strains. Fresh palms the watchful Muse foresees ; Hope lists the far-off-rising breeze And thinks she hears shouts from triumphal plains^ 160 Trusting in heav'n. Should their aspiring soul For fresh wreaths pant, let Jove decide And Mars. Full oft o'er the fali'n pride Of those, they vanquish'd, lowVd the clouds, that roll Parnassus' brows around ; 165 Argos and Thebes the victors own'd And thou Arcadia ; grateful to the skies Thy queen of altars oft has pour'd their sacrifice. e. 5. Glory on golden wing and Fame Through various countries waft their name ; 170 V, 157. Thrice.'] Pindar's ode begins with mentioning three Olympic victories. V. 163. Full oft.] Pindar, according to his custom, cursorily mentions other victories of the family gained, some near Parnassus, i. e. Pythian victories; others at Argos, Thebes, and Arcadia; which were less honourable, as being gained in games of less celebrity. Again in the epode others are enumerated. V. 168. Thy queen.~] On the occasion offerings were made on an Arcadian altar, sacred to Jupiter Lycseus, wherefore it seems to be termed queen, as being most excellent. In the original it is king. V. 170. Various countries.'] Pellene, Sicyon, Megara, and Euboea, are mentioned in the original. One reason of the great honours paid to Pindar might be his constant care to cele- Ill iEgina's groves resound ; O'er Marathon's wide fertile plains It flies triumphant ; ^Etna's heights it gains, Who sees his foot around Extended cities rich and great; 175 In ev'ry town, in ev'ry street All Greece the heroes hails. Thus, Jove, thus ever o'er the tide Of joy and honour may they glide And Fortune swell their sails ! 180 brate not only the particular hero, but so many others, and so many cities and countries. This, however uninteresting it may be to us, not only gave pleasure to the various persons praised, but often to the champion himself, who thus saw himself distinguished in a whole tribe of heroes, whose glories, by being reflected, are blended with his own and increase the splendour. There was also this farther advantage, that the glory of the hero being shared with so many others, and yet not eclipsed, was the less envied. So that Pindar's art, with the nicest observation of truth and propriety, threw the brightest possible beams of glory around his hero, and even turned the eyes of thousands upon him with unabated delight. OLYMPIC ODE XIV. TO ASOPICHUS, OF ORCHOMENUS, VICTOR IN THE RACE. ft. 1. I LLUSTRIOUS Queens, celestial Graces, hear 5 Sacred to whom Cephisus flows, To whom the Minyae their vows Address^ sweet guardians of their land Famed for the steed, whose mild command 5 Orchomenus obeys ; attend my pray'r. From you mankind receives whate'er is sweety \V hate'er is pleasant to the eyes. Is any honour'd ? any wise ? Is any great ? The gift is yours. 10 Without you not th' immortal pow'rs In lively dance or banquet ever meet, Your wise disposal rules all things above ; Where Pythian Phoebus holds his golden bow Ye fix your sacred throne, whence ever flow 15 Hymns to Almighty Jove. V. 6. Orchomenus was sacred to the Graces* V. 15. Yejix.~\ In the Delphic temple their statues were placed at the right hand of Apollo's. 213 s. 2. Revered Aglaia, to my strain attend, Thalia hear, to whom belong The varying melodies of song, And thou, Euphrosyne, of Jove %® Sweet daughters, who for ever love Harmonious o'er the golden lyre to bend, On this glad choir let fall a fav'ring glance ! In Lydian measure lightly flows The hymn ; Asophichus his brows 25 Binds with fresh garlands from your hand, A glory to his native land. Aloud, my voice, breathe to the bounding dance; Hear, Echo, hear the sweetly-vocal string, And in Death's gloomy-vaulted realms profound SO Tell the glad sire his son's young brows are crown'd With glory's purple wing. V. 29. Hear, Echo.] For Echo and Cephisus see Index, PYTHIAN ODE I TO HIERO, OF JETNA, KING OF SYRACUSE, VICTOR IN THE CHARIOT-RACE. s. 1. JlIAIL, golden lyre, thou gift divine! Apollo strikes thy ever-tuneful strings, In contemplating this inimitable ode we are for a time struck dumb with admiration. The poet begins with an address to his lyre in strains no where else to be found in heathen poetry. Every line is harmonious, every word expressive, every thought truly great and sublime. In embellishing the praises of his hero he introduces the boldest scenes of nature. The most dreadful picture, which the earth presents, his Muse exhibits in characters as ad- mirable for singular boldness as they are exactly just and true ; and as if Nature began to fail in fresh images of grandeur, his goddess at last has recourse to fable. In her highest flight, if you can feel cool enough to reflect, you begin to fear she has lost sight of her subject; at once she returns, and a connection most artfully contrived appears. You now admire the dexterity with which, having descended from her flight, she drives her golden car over the plain. The ode is as beautiful for its general design as its execution. The poet begins with the praise of music, which, he says, charms all nature. His hero therefore is happy to deserve the praise of the Muses. He had lately founded the city of JEtna ; the poet therefore hopes and prays that this city mgy produce a race of heroes who may merit the like honours. The power of the Muse's charms being so great is a wonderful encouragement to his hero to con- tinue to deserve her favour, which, the poet adds, will outlive the voice of Flattery, and will attend him even to his tomb. Such appears the general design of this ode, which may per- haps be termed the sublimest and most beautiful left us by Greek or Roman poet. *v 115 Soft-bending o'er thee stand the raptured nine, Their hair like breathing violets. Lightly springs Th' elastic dance ; the glancing feet Wake into joy. The choir their voice prepare Answ'ring the sign, thy prelude sweet, To roll the full tide thro' the trembling air. Quench'd by thy pow'rs, enchanting lyre, The forked lightning's ever-streaming fire W Dies. On Jove's sceptre charmed sits the king Of birds, each rapid wing a i. Loos'ning ; while thick clouds hov'ring round Involve the hooked terrors of his head, And gently closing in sweet trance are bound 15 His eye-lids ; soft a slumb'rous dew is shed On ev'ry plume; his back up-heaves Extatic, while each sweetly-piercing dart Thrills through his frame. Ev'n stern Mars leaves His spear reclin'd, soft joys dissolve his heart. 20 V. 4. Their hair.'} It is not easy to state with certainty the full reasons of some epithets among the poets. From the hyacinth as well as the violet they have borrowed a metaphor to adorn their descriptions of the hair. The beautiful gloss as well as the colour, dark or per- haps golden, may be supposed to make a part of the picture,. But may not the perfume like- wise be intended ? " Divinum vertice odorem spiravere." Virg. — When Milton's angel shook his plumes we know the effect that greatest of poets describes. V. 13. Loos'ning.'] Pindar's words here are so astonishingly the echo of the sense, that you actually see the wings loosening and again the back heaving. t 116 O'er all heav'n's sons entranced around (While from the god of wisdom breathes the sound And the deep-bosom'd Muses' tuneful train) Thy pow'rs triumphant reign. E. 1. But those accursed souls, whom Joye 25 In wrath estranges from his love, Soon as the heav'nly Muse they hear, Astounded petrify with fear By land or o'er the raging deep. Such in caverns drear and steep 30 Of Tartarus the monster lies, Typhon's dread bulk, who braved the skies ; Nurs'd in the famed Cilician cave He rose; now whelm'd near the Cumean wave Lies his huge, rugged giant-breast, 35 Beneath the weight of all Sicilia prest, With iEtna, whose tremendous brows Lifted to heav'n scowl through eternal snows. V. 25. But thou] The thought that what delights the rest of nature should on the wicked souls have an effect so contrary, is truly worthy of Pindar. Thus Milton — •• The more I see Pleasures about me, so much more I feel Torment within me. ■ All good to me becomes Bane, and in heav'n much worse had been my lot." 117 ft' s. 2. Forth from whose deep-mouth'd caves are hurfd Bright streams of ever-unapproached fire. 40 All day thick clouds of billowy smoke are whirPd In burning eddies round the summit dire Of this huge mount, that props the sky ; Red flames by night their spouting cataracts pour And rocks disgorging forth on high, 45 Into the glaring sea dash witli harsh roar. Thundering such floods the monster sends Of fire tempestuous, that with horror rends The welkin ; far-off sailors shudd'ring hear And view aghast with fear ; 50 a. %. Beneath such pond'rous mass of ground, ^Etna's huge heights, frowning with forests black? V. 40. Bright streams.] The beauty or rather grandeur of Pindar's word is not in English to be expressed by any other than that which Milton has chosen. " And never but in unapproached light Dwelt from eternity." Your tongue is made to utter as slowly as steps your foot, when you make the attempt, but dare not approach near. V. 52. With forests black.] See Par. Lost, b. 1. v. 612. — " As when heav'n's fire Hath scathed the forest oaks, or mountain pines ; With singed top their stately growth, tho' bare, Stands on the blasted heath." Whether Milton had or had not Pindar's description in his mind, the blackness, I con- ceive, Pindar intends to be the effect of ^Etna's eruption r m us His hundred heads, his limbs immense lie bound ; The deep-sunk bed of flint griding his back* Grant, ever grant, almighty Jove, &> Who guard'st thine iEtna with outstretched hand, We never lose thy fost'ring love ! From iEtna, the fair front of this rich land, The new-rais'd city claims its name. When Pytho's triumph ask'd the trump of Fame, 60 Ttt the same blast which hail'd the Victor crown'd She bade that name resound, e. 2. As, when a fresh breeze fav'ring springs And swift the new-launch 'd vessel wings Glad from the port, Hope takes the sign, 65 Far o'er the clouds the hand divine Outstretch'd she views the bark to save Back-wafted o'er the placid wave ; w So now the voice of Victory flows Omen of wreaths, to crown the brows 70 Of many an hero; many a steed And rattling car ; of many a glorious deed ; c * V. 61. In the same."] Hiero was proclaimed victor by a new title, " Hiero of^tna," from his lately-built town of that name. This proclamation of victory at the first Pindar ingeniousiy represents as an omen of future good, like a favouring gale at the first sailing of a vessel. IIS * m Of feast and glad triumphal song. Phoebus, to whom Parnassus' heights belong, Hear from thy lov'd Castalia's dews, 75 Grant iEtna victories that shall claim the Muse, m ♦ s. 3. A race of heroes ! For each art, The tongue all-eloquent, the vig'rous hand, Grave wisdom, all that dignifies the heart Is thine, weak mortal, but at heav'n's command. 80 Strike then, my hand, to Hiero's praise, Thy sounding dart high o'er each rival's fling ; Strain ev'ry nerve, thy full force raise ; Beyond the mark no force can urge its wing. Time still untired in copious show'r Sh From wide-spread pinions never-ceasing pour Riches and health around him, toil and pain With all their hideous train a. 3. Deep-whelm beneath Oblivion's wave ; The toils of war, which patient he endured, 90 In everlasting monument engrave ; Battles which to th' illustrious three procured V. 92. Battles which.'] Whence Hiero and his two brothers were settled in honourable peace, after many disputes about the government were ended. 4 2 20 From heav'n a throne ; Greece can not boast Superior honours: o'er tlr admiring plain The valiant warrior led his host ; 95 You'd say, great Philoctetes liv'd again, To whom compell'd his haughty foe With fawning speeches sued and humbler brow; "Whose destin'd aid the heroes to explore Sail'd from a distant shore; 100 ♦ e. 3. In torment from the rankling wound The far-fam'd archer soon they found And bore him by the Fates' command A dreaded foe to Priam's land r His arm though weak alone could save 105 The hosts of Greece ; he only gave Rest to their toil. So by thy side, Great Hiero, may some heav'nly guide O'er all th' expanse of rolling years Still lead thy steps and crown with joy thy cares ! 1 10 V. 94. The valiant] Being ill and carried in a litter, Hiero is here compared to Philoctetes, to bring whom Ulysses and Neoptolemus were sent, since without his arrows Troy could not have been taken. As Philoctetes was by divine power cured of his lameness, Pindar prays that a similar power may be extended to Hiero to cure him of his disease. V. 96. To whom compelled.] The best interpretation of this difficult passage appears to be that Ulysses is the haughty foe who sued to Philoctetes, to entice him to return with him to Troy. The English reader is referred to Potter's translation of the pleasing play of Philoctetes from the Greek of Sophocles. 121 Now rise, my Muse, on golden wing To the glad son the father's laurels sing, And soon thy tuneful voice prepare To hail that son iEtna's imperial heir ! s. 4. * For him those walls his royal sire [ 15 On the firm base of Sparta's righteous laws His future empire founds. Heroic fire There ever burns for Freedom's holy cause. From great Alcides' stem derives This colony her birth. In days of yore 120 The laws which ruled their rigid lives In Sparta's land, full glad they now restore. Sparta, to thee from Pindus came Their fathers; far-illustrious was their name ; Not brighter, Tyndarus, thy sons' renown 125 Shone o'er a sister- town. V. 112. To the glad.} Deinomenes, for whom his father Hiero built the new town of JEtm. V. 116. On the firm.'] The inhabitants were many of them Dorians and other strangers j many of them from Peloponnesus : they were therefore to be governed by the laws of Sparta. It is impossible to make such passages as these shine in English poetry, which are indeed better suited to the antiquarian than the poet. V. 126. Shone o'er.'} Castor and Pollux retired to Argos, near Lacedcemon. 122 a. 4. Grant to the kings and all their host Who drink of Amena, almighty Jove, That truth may sanction still their ancient boast, And their just lives the far-fam'd laws may prove ISO No fabled claim. Oh stretch thy hand, Guide he his son in wisdom, thou the sire, In peace to harmonize the land Aw'd by his age ! Ye warring hosts retire The Punic and the Tyrrhene shore 135 Resounding with sad notes, while ye deplore Your shatter'd fleets, your thousands slain, whose blood Dyed the Cumean flood ! e. 4. The chief his Syracusian fleets Led swift to vengeance. Fierce he meets 140 The terrours of each brazen prow ; Dash'd in the flood, that whirls below, Their youth he leaves and with the voice Of Freedom bids his Greece rejoice. V. 135. The Tunic and.'] This alludes to a late invasion of Carthagenians and Tuscans. At the same time happened the invasion of Greece by the Persians. V. 139. The chief.] Hiero. 123 Lo! Salamis would tempt my eyes 145 With Athens' favour as a prize, Would tempt my Muse to tune her lays To Athens' victory to Athens' praise ; By Sparta's arms I burn to tell How near Citheron Media's archers fell ; 150 But first the hymn to those I owe Who scourg'd at Himera the trembling foe. * s. 5. When fair occasion wakes the strain. Though copious be the theme, which swells the lays, If modest banks the swelling flood contain, 155 Envy herself may listen to the praise : But when the notes unceasing flow The soul quick-glances with disgust away ; Lo, dazzling shrinks the jealous brow, The heart in secret pines at Glory's ray : 160 V. 145. Lo! Salamis.} To describe the battle of Salamis, in which the Athenians distin- guished themselves so highly. It must require great resolution in Pindar to refrain from the animated description which he thirsted to give of the patriotism of Greece, gloriously trium- phant over the ambition of Persia. V. 151. But first the.'] Hiero and his brothers gained a victory there. V. 156. Envy herself.'] Pindar had in the beginning of the ode said so much of the Muse's power, that he now thinks it proper to add a caution, lest her encomium too long continued should excite envy. He therefore advises his hero to be firm in pursuing a right course, such as may ensure solid glory. This, although not so profuse as flattery, is yet more lasting and more to be desired. 124 Yet, prince, be glory still thy care ! Better men's envy than their pity share. Still may Truth's anvil form thy tongue, the helm Of Justice steer thy realm ! a. 5. Too well men's searching eyes behold 165 Amid the splendour of thy radiant crown Each trivial speck that stains the purer gold. Thee sole disposer num'rous subjects own. Surrounding witnesses attend The royal sire and son. Still calm proceed, 170 From Fame eternal sweets ascend And scent the breezes which thy vessel speed : To great and gen'rous acts expand Thy sail, and scatter wealth with bounteous hand ; To the gilt dross of Flatt'ry's specious art 175 Yield not thy captive heart. e. 5. The lips of Eloquence, the Muse On Glory show'r their sweetest dews : V. 175. To ike gilt.'] Hiero was, it seems, too fond of encouraging buffoons and flatterers, whose praise Pindar styles a trifling gain and low. He therefore advises him to seek real Fame by actions truly liberal ; such Fame, he tells him, will survive the tomb. The passage is however understood otherwise. See West. 125 Soft o'er the tomb their praises flow And follow to the realms below ; 180 Distinguished from th' ignoble dead List'ning Virtue lifts her head. On ev'ry tuneful tongue the fame Of bounteous Croesus dwells ; the name Of Phalaris still shocks the ear, 185 His flaming victims and his monster drear ; That name the youth disdain to sing, Mute ev'ry lyre. Virtue's first meed, great king, Is fortune ; fame the next ; who gains At once each crown, supremely blest he reigns. 190 V. 179. Soft o'er.'l I understand this to be an allusion to the funeral orations. V. 189. Is fortune.'] As Virtue is best celebrated by the Muses, it was with singular pro- priety that Pindar at the beginning spoke so highly of their power. Reader, it is well worth thy while to reflect again and again upon the design of this ode ; the more it is considered, the more will it be admired. PYTHIAN ODE IL IN PRAISE LIKEWISE OF HIERO, VICTOR IN THE CHARIOT-RACE. S. 1. JljLAIL Syracusaj ample seat Where diverse castled cities meet ! Hail fane of Mars ! whose dreadful sway Warriors and neighing steeds obey, Train'd by thy care, stern Nurse, to arms \ 5 Their breasts the clang of armour warms ; To thee from splendid Thebes along I pour the deep, melodious song, Proclaiming triumph to the king Who urg'd his steeds t' arrest the rapid wing 10 Of Vict'ry, while his wheels the ground Made quake. He bears the wreath his temples bound Far-beaming to Ortygia's fane, Whose goddess steer'd with aiding hand the rein. V. I. Hail.'] Syracusa consisted of four cities united. It is but lately I have seen th« odes translated by Pye. I here probably incur his censure, but am at a loss how to give the English reader any idea at all of Pindar without such expansion of his words. V. 13. Par-beaming.] In Ortygia, in Sicily, where he kept his steeds, was a temple of Diana, who with her nymphs loved to bathe in the river. The poet introduces several deities, 127 a. 1. Quicks she glides along the meads 15 From her lov'd stream, to deck his steeds ; The trappings dazzling to the eyes In both hands lifting she applies. While in his glitt'ring car he reins The steeds, which pant for distant plains, 20 Hermes, ere yet the swift wheels glide, The God of contests, stands beside, And cheers him rushing to the course, That god invok'd, whose mace first rais'd the horse. While many a bard enraptured sings %& The hymn, their various virtues claim, to kings ; (For still the grateful voice succeeds By sweet remembrance wak'd to gen'rous deeds) E. 1. To Cinyras while Cyprians raise, Fair Venus' priest, their songs of praise, 30 Whom golden-hair'd Apollo loves ; To thee, as mid the choir she moves to whose aid he represents his hero indebted for his victory. To heaven therefore, it is inti- mated, his hero very properly shows his gratitude by bearing his triumphal wreaths to the fane. Pindar afterwards describes the ill effects of ingratitude. V. 25. While many.'] While others sing the praises of their respective kings, the Locrian maid sings thee, Hiero, for delivering her from a late siege. This is the debt of gratitude. 128 In dance light-stepping o'er the plain, The Locrian virgin bids the strain To thee, lov'd Hiero, sweetly flow; 35 Security smiles on her brow : Aw'd by thy word no longer low'r War's threat'ning storms ; thy guardian pow'r Grateful she hails. Th' ungrateful soul Ixion still rebukes, while tortured roll 40 His limbs ; repeating still the lay, " Remember, man, each kindness to repay. 57 s. 2. This did he learn from vengeful heav'n. To him among the blest was was giv'n To feast his soft, ambrosial hours. 45 Vain mortal ! Soon the full-blown flow'rs Of joy must fade. With frantic love He sought the queen of thund'ring Jove, V. 36. Security smiles.] The best reading appears to be J^pctKZHr' ctiOcthzt, i. e. as Heyne explains it, " looking security, showing security in her looks." It is no small confirmation of this reading and this sense of the expression, that this is the very word used by the tragic poet in his seven chiefs against Thebes, v. 53. teovrcov »$ ctpnu J'i^opKOTCov, which Potter admirably in Shakespeare's language translates, not without something of Milton's added, " as the lion, when he glares determined battle." But, alas ! I can not with equal strength express Pindar's thought. " The lion glared on me." Julius Caesar. " Breathing deliberate valour." Milton. \ c 29 Presumptuous ! in his mortal arms Hoping to clasp celestial charms 50 Due to the raptures of heav'n's king. Such insolence soon rous'd the rapid wing Of vengeance. Heav'n a punishment All horrid as his own black vices sent. His was the first, th' atrocious stain, 55 His host allied by dire devices slain ; A. 2. His too th' attempt with impious love To seize th' illustrious queen of Jove In her divine retreat. The man Who proud beyond his narrow span ? 60 His lowly state, with fierce desires And swelling arrogance aspires, Falls in quick ruin. Empty charms Imag'd in cloud his am'rous arms Delude : Full-sweet the vision smiPd 65 A seeming Juno and the wretch beguiPd. O'er-weening mortal I Such the snare Of splendid ruin which Jove's hands prepare : In adamantine fetters bound Stretch'd on the wheel he whirls in endless round ; 70 V. 56. His host allied.~\ Deioneus, whose daughter he married, s 130 e. 2. There writhe his limbs ; nor time, nor force Checks the dire engine's rapid course, Destruction which himself he wrought. Still by his warning voice are taught Thousands who shudd'ring hear. The cloud 75 Produc'd the Centaur fierce and proud Lonely, detested, graceless foe Of Gods above and men below, Lo ! hence a wondrous race appears O'er Pelion from Magnesian mares. 80 These monsters of tremendous force (Above the Centaur and below the horse Resembling) lead their hideous train Wide o'er Thessalia's astonish'd plain. s. 3. The pow'r of Jove unbounded flies 85 Swift o'er the earth, o'ei seas, o'er skies, Outstrips the rapid eagle's wing, The dolphins that like lightning spring V. 76. Produced the Centaur.] The English reader must carefully distinguish between the Centaur Chiron, son of Saturn, and this other being, called also a Centaur, the unnatural offspring of impious lust. 131 Through the cleft waves. The haughty soul Feels his deep-whelming thunders roll ; 90 The meek he bids, (serene the skies,) To ever-blooming honours rise. Cease, Muse austere, and change the strain, The wretch, who feasting still on others' pain With gall of malice gluts his heart, 95 Unfriended, poor, from social joys apart I saw and shunn'd ; but with the wise 'Tis best on Fortune's fav'ring wing to rise. A. 3. And Fortune, Prince, is amply thine, Her golden splendours round thee shine* 100 Lord of many a castled town And many a host. A twofold crown, Glory and wealth united shed Full-beaming lustre on thy head, P. 89. The haughty souW\ " Parcere subjectis et debellare superbos." V. V. 93. Cease, Muse.'] Pindar loves not to dwell too long on crimes and their punishments, but rather attends those whose virtues deserve praise. He instances in Archilochus, who seemed to exist, " the world despising by the world despis'd j" but as he lived long before, Heyne concludes the words " far off," relate to time. I rather believe the poet describes some one, whom he had himself seen, under th% fictitious name of Archilochus. I therefore take zx,a,{ za>v to signify " standing aloof," as it does in this sentence, iK&s a ix,ct$ ere bgb tfto/. Thus there is a clear opposition. Pindar shuns the man, who by his malevolence brought himself into universal contempt and poverty ;- but loves to commend the wise and good, and with him rise into fortune and eminence. 132 Brighter than Greece through all her coasts 105 From earliest ages ever boasts. But when I seize th' impatient lyre To sound thy youthful deeds and martial fire, Smooth glides my bark ; from many a flow'r Rich zephyrs breathe their sweets ; with all my pow'r 1 10 I stretch my ev'ry sail ; thy praise Demands the fullest gale that Fame can raise. e. 3. The ranks of foot, th' embattled horse Thy valour saw, thy youth, thy force: But when around thy rev'rend head 115 Maturer years their honours spread, Thy wisdom shines with steady rays ; Dauntless I wake the voice of praise Secure of blame. Lov'd monarch, hail ! Far o'er the hoary sea my sail l$Q This choicest texture of the Muse Shall waft rich-dyed with Tyrian hues. Thou, while in sweet iEolian notes Loud o'er the sev'n-string'd lyre the full strain floats, Look fav'ring on my hymn, and scorn 125 Flatt'ry's feign'd speech : thy Bard shall ever warn 133 s. 4. To shun her wiles, The odious shape, Base counterfeit of man, the ape Pleases but children. He, (whose heart Disdain'd vile Slander's odious art J 39 Watching the weakness of mankind . Basely to taint th' unguarded mind) The richest fruit of wisdom found With joys unen vied justly crown'd. With fox-like art the whisperer preys 5 135 The slander'd and the list'ning ear betrays ; And what's the gain ? His baited hook And fine-drawn tackle sink beneath the brook 3 I buoyant o'er the surface play And glorying feel the sun's all-cheering ray. 140 V. 128. The ape.'] Pindar's words are obscure, but I understand him to compare the flatterer to an ape, assuming a form not his own. It is the heart which distinguishes the man from the ape, the friend from the flatterer. The excellence of the comparison in this sense makes me conceive this to be Pindar's meaning, and he would, I hope, pardon me him- self for giving such an interpretation, rather than following others in their learned researches, which after all leave us by no means satisfied. V. 129. He, zvhose heart.] Rhadamanthus. V. 137. His baited hook.'] The learned will pardon the little alteration here made in the allusion, which was rather to a net. It has been conjectured that a shipwreck suggested the metaphor. But when it is considered the Sicilians were famous for fishing, we shall admire the poet's art in alluding to that employment. 134 a. 4«, Bat nought the good and wise among Avails base Falsehood's glozing tongue. Though fawning Flattery tries her wiles All hearts to win ; alike she smiles On all. I loathe her shameless art ; 245 My friend I clasp with open heart And boldly I pursue my foe : Frowns he ? I frown with fiercer brow* Or flees he swift ? With swifter pace Like the gaunt wolf his winding paths I trace. 150 Whether the sceptre rules the land, Or the wise Senate with sedate command, Or people fierce, in each are blest The tongue direct of truth, the righteous breast* e. 4. But arrogant that voice and vain 155 Which dares the will of heav'n arraign, Whose ever- wise decrees dispose With various lot to these or those His honours ; dazzling to the sight Of Envy shines their lustre bright. 160 135 O'erswayM upon herself rebounds Her heavy-hilted sword and wounds With poison'd point her heart. Whatever TV ungen'rous burden, still I bear With patient steps its weight; in vain 165 Resistance, struggling but augments the pain. Ye envious, sland'ring tongues, farewell ! Still with the fav'ringgood I wish to dwell. V. 161. O'ersway'd from.'] Here again I may incur the censure of the deeply-read Greek scholar. V. 164. TV ungen'rous.'] The burden here complained of seems to be that imposed on him by the envious. If we were better acquainted with the minute events at Hiero's court, I conceive we should discover very great beauties in this ode, which now we can only imagine by conjecture. We have been told the king attended to buffoons. It appears to me that some favourite had attempted, by viie insinuations, to excite suspicions and disgust in the prince's mind, and to raise his hatred against others, and Pindar in particular. If so there is great beauty in the story of Ixion, who is perhaps the image of the favourite courtier detected and despised. Princes can punish with severity equal to the fondness with which they favour. I conceive then that Pindar, by the image of Ixion, pointed to some well-known Sejanus or Wolsey of his time. It has been said that Bacchylides, the poet, was the person. PYTHIAN ODE III. TO HIERO, VICTOR IN THE RACE OF SINGLE HORSES. s. 1. OH would indulgent Fate allow (And thousands as I pour the common vow, Unite with mine their breath) That Philyra's sceptred hero ? sprung from heav'n. There is not perhaps any thing in which the peculiarity of Pindar's art is more conspi- cuous than in his embellishment of some particular circumstances relating either to the per- sons to whom he addressed his odes, or the place where they lived. He certainly was fond of introducing fable and antiquated history ; but in many of his odes the main thoughts were founded on some particular circumstance. Nay he has often the art so to adapt even the adventitious materials, that when you take a fair and proper view of the whole, they seem not only an ornamental but even useful part of the structure. Hiero was afflicted with sick- ness when this ode was addressed to him. The poet therefore very properly begins with a wish that Chiron were again alive, who trained the great physician JEsculapius, whose birth he goes on to describe. V. 4. That Philyra- 's.] Chiron, sen of Fhityra and Saturn, who turned himself into an horse, whence was produced the Centaur. The perusal of these ancient poets is thought by some moderns useless. Nothing is useless which leads the mind into proper reflections. Can any one read the poetry of this astonishing genius and not observe his want of information in matters of religion ? That such poetry should be employed to exhibit such theology ! Should a man of Pindar's genius at this time write an ode, exhibiting the deity in the same light as this does, would not the author be hooted from society, even if he produced his composition among the exiles in Eotany Bay ? Yet Pindar was admired by the most polished nations of the heathen world j almost idolized in Greece, and imitated by a poet ot the most exquisite taste in Rome. Whence but from Christianity has been this change ? Not from time alone, for at this very day there may be found nations who would he;\r the like representations of the Deity without horror. Can the Deist then avoid conviction ? 137 Again to bless our earth were giv'n 5 From the cold realms of death ! That Chiron's presence yet again Might cheer his happy Pelian plain I Uncouth his form and strange ; his mind Ever breathed benevolence, 10 Ever friendly to mankind. Health and safety to dispense He train'd the hero by whose healing hand Fresh vigour nerv'd all limbs, diseases fled the land. A. 1. Coronis, ere her destined hour 15 Call'd for Lucina's life-producing pow'r, By stern Apollo's art Untimely to grim Pluto's realm was thrown From her lov'd bridal chamber down, Pierc'd by Diana's dart. 20 Tremendous is the kindling ire Which blazes into ruinous fire From heav'nly bosoms. Error turn'd To folly her inconstant mind, For with a recent flame she burn'd, 25 Her glorious privilege resign'd, V. 13. He trained the hero,"] ^Esculapius, of whose birth the poet now gives an account. V. 15. Coronis,] Mother of ^Esculapius. T 138 Apollo now she slights, her sire deceives, And pregnant by the god his glowing arms she leaves* E. 1* No social mirth her fickle breast Can cheer : the bridal feast SO The hymeneal hymn, whose jovial voice Bids the fair virgin-choir rejoice At eve, while melting strains of love Their tender bosoms move To heave responsive sighs of soft desire^ 35 She not awaits. A distant fire Consuming with ignoble smart Attracts her wand'ring heart. Thus erring mortals judge ! Their longing eyes The absent good for ever prize, 40 Searching for joys beyond their reach In vain their arms they stretch, And while with fruitless hope their bosoms burn From taste of present good fastidiously they turn, s. 2. Such was the fate Coronis found, 45 Whose purple flounces proudly swept the ground* From Arcady there came A favour'd youth ; to him she gave her charms, 139 But lo ! infolded in his arms She covers not her shame. 50 Before the god's far-seeing eye Th' unhallow'd deeds all-open lie. Where from his Pythian altar roll Clouds o'er the redd'ning fiery gleams, In consult with his mighty soul 55 Omniscience pours its radiant beams, Pervades all space ; falsehood in deed or thought Of God or man dissolv'd before it fades to nought, a. 2. Stern he beheld with impious art The stranger lure Coronis' wanton heart ? QQ Blushing with shame and ire Diana his chaste sister quick he sent The full force of his rage to vent And blast with ruin dire. The virgin dwells the lake beside ^5 Bcebeis, on whose ruffled tide Ossa's vast shadow rolls. To shame Her evil daemon lured her soul And fell destruction. Fierce as flame The pest's increasing horrors roll 7q V. 58. Before it fades.-] Ithuriel's spear (P. L. 4, 810,) seems an imitation of this. V. 60 and 48. The stranger,] Ischys. 140 O'er thousands ; like one fatal flash they spread Which, widening still, devours the woods that clothe the mountain's head. e. 2. Her weeping friends prepare the pyre And light the funeral fire. Apollo, when he sees the smoke arise, 71 With one quick step darts from the skies Through the cleft pyre with rapid force And from the lifeless corse Seizes his child, inspiring vital breath j 66 Thy innocence her guilty death 80 " Shall never undistinguish'd share " Without a father's tear " Dropt o'er the fatal flame ; thy mother's woe " Apollo's son shall never know." The child he wafted as he spoke 86 To Chiron's cave ; he took The sacred charge, his opening mind to train Skilful to chase from man disease and ghastly pain. s. 3. Expecting myriads throng around Or vex'd with grievous malady or wound ; 90 V, 71. O'er thousands.'] By this figure Pindar expresses the series of evils which often arise from one wicked action. Her punishment was a pestilential disorder, which involved many of her neighbours in the same destruction. 141 The horrid gash they show From cleaving sword or smiting axe or spear, Whose sharp point lightens through the air, Or rough stone's stunning blow ; Here wild, solstitial Fever burns, 95 Here livid Ague shiv'ring turns His winter- wasted visage pale Imploring aid ; each various woe Yields to his hand ; his pow'rs ne'er fail 5 To some sweet strains of magic flow, 100 One tastes the cup, one with soft hand he binds, One trembling from harsh steel returning vigour finds. a. 3. But lo ! ev'n Wisdom's sable brow, When radiant gems with tempting lustre glow, Relaxes; gold had charms 105 Which urg'd him to restore the parted breath And wrest a struggling soul, whom death Grip'd in his horrid arms. The indignant father of the skies Thunders, the bolt of vengeance flies. 110 Transfix'd their breasts, they both to ground Fall black'ning with the blastings dire V, 111. They both.'} wEsculapius and Hippolytus, whom he restored to life. 142 Which struck from Jove's own hands the wound In furious storms of streaming fire. Man, tempt not heav'n, weigh well thyself nor soar, 115 Reptile of earth, to heights 'twere impious to explore ! e. S. Glow not, my soul, with vain desire To feed an unquench'd fire In the frail lamp of mortal life; thy pow'r Use, where thou canst, thy stinted hour, 120 Oh that the sage yet dwelt below ! My sweetest strains should flow, Soft through his cave the magic numbers roll Till half-entranc'd his melting soul Yield ; till his powerful art he lend ; 125 Till some great son he send Of Phcebus or of Jove, who knows to save From burning pest the good and brave ; Swift should my gladden'd vessel glide Cleaving the Ionian tide ISO To greet the isle, where flows thy silver spring Sweet Arethuse and hail my friend the iEtnean king. V. 121. Ok that the.'] How exquisitely has the poet introduced this thought! Though his wish seems almost bordering upon impiety, almost in danger of incurring the resentment of Jupiter, yet he seems unable to refrain from indulging it. V. 123. His cave.'] Chiron, who lived in a cave. V. 131. To greet the isle."] Sicily, where Hiero lived. 143 s. 4. Soft as the dew his kindness flows O'er his lov'd Syracuse ; no envy knows His breast ; with fondest care 135 He smiles a father o'er his happy land ; His love the good, his shelt'ring hand Admiring strangers share. There could I breathe his temples round Health's fresh'ning gale, and bid rebound 140 Triumphal from the golden lyre With inextinguishable ray Bright Glory, whose far-beaming fire Should on his proud steeds' chaplets play At Cirrha won ; from ocean should I rise 145 Bright as a star in heav'n before his wond'ring eyes* • a. 4. Fond wish ! Then Rhea fav'ring hear ! Thee, while the virgin-train by night revere V. 143. Bright Glory .] Pindar frequently taking a metaphor from one of the senses, ap° plies it to another. See Burke on the Sublime and Beautiful. I have sometimes taken the same liberty. V. 147. Fond wish.'] Pindar first wishes to sail to Syracuse, with health and good news of victory ; as that is not in his power, he at least offers his vows at home : at last he endea- vours to console his hero by moral reflections. This ode is inimitably beautiful throughout, nor is its nice connection its least beauty. That his hero's cure was to be effected by heaven alone, he insinuates by showing that the gods save or destroy as they please. Apollo destroyed 144 Thy power, with lifted hands I call, while loud to Pan their hymns resound. 150 My door beholds the sacred ground Where thy lov'd temple stands. But thou, my Hiero ! hear and prize The lofty precepts of the wise, This truth, which ancient ages show ; 155 " The cup of mortal life in heav'n " Is mix'd, small joy with double woe." Fools, when they take the portion giv'n, Repine ; the good still turn their eye, resigned. To scenes that brightest shine, the dark they cast behind. 160 e. 4. Nor is all good to thee denied From Fortune's varying tide ; If Fate on mortal ever deign'd to shine His fullest splendours still are thine ; Coronis, and saved ./Esculapius, out of the fire. When man presumed too far, trying to recall a soul from death, Jove himself interfered, asserting to himself the sole disposal of life and death. V. 152. Where.'} Rhea's temple stood near Pindar's abode. She used to be celebrated in the night by Theban virgins, in hymns addressed to herself and to Pan, at the same time. V. 163. If Fate. ~\ Pindar speaks of Fate as ruling all things, even the fortunes of men. Indeed whoever believes in Providence must acknowledge there is no such thing as blind Chance. Upon the whole Pindar's sentiments of religion appear to me superior to the other Heathen poets, Greek or Latin. In attributing all events to Providence he equals Homer, but avoids Homer's error of representing the gods engaged in battles, or if his Muse begin such an 145 On Majesty's far-beaming crown 165 He looks auspicious down Yet not with cloudless skies. Time never flow'd In one unceasing stream of good, When o'er each blest-lov'd hero's head Fortune her pinions spread 170 And blessings shower'd. Each heard the Muses' choir With gold-bound tresses strike the lyre ; Peleus, when up the mountain-side He led his far-famed bride Wise Nereus' daughter ; Cadmus in his arms 175 When first at Thebes he clasp'd his lov'd Harmonia's charms. s. 5. To either hero was it giv'n To feast great Saturn's sons, the gods of heav'n. Blest were their mortal eyes, The kings divine seated on thrones of gold 180 With awe and wonder they behold account he at once checks her. Fables indeed degrading to the gods, Pindar, as well as other Heathen poets, relates, but when he can, he endeavours, in some respect, to give these fables a better turn. In his description of the next life, short as it is, he seems to surpass Homer, who makes his great hero in the regions below express a wish of returning, if possible, to earth ; and if Virgil's longer account of the regions of the dead equal Pindar's more concise description, yet in the deification of men he, as well as Horace and Statius, falls far below Pindar. U 146 Dispensing, ere they rise, Rich bridal gifts. Rais'd by the hand Of Jove, with hearts elate they stand While on past labours far below, 1 83 Scatter'd by Fortune's sportive gale Wide o'er the deep, with calmer brow They smile. But soon the joy must fail ! How did thy daughters, Cadmus, vex thy soul ! Ah fatal charms, o'er which Jove's fires too fiercely roll ! 190 a. 5. But the great son, whom Thetis bore, Slain by the dart on Troy's destructive shore, Though not of mortal blood, Thy evening, Peleus, damp'd with clouds of woe. See, round the pyre from thousands flow 193 Tears in a copious flood. Well would it be for human kind Would they but learn with humble mind The sacred paths of truth to tread, Whatever fate the Gods prepare, 200 Whatever storms burst o'er their head Driv'n by the veering blast to bear, P. 190. Ah fatal charms.'} Serr.ele. See the Index, V. 191. But the great.'] Achilles. 147 Nor dream of bliss transcending mortal pow'r : Joy smiles with transient gleam the sunshine of an hour, E» Om Should Fortune bid her cheering ray 205 In copious radiance play And rear my full-blown honours to the skies, High as the highest would I rise ; Bat if she cast her cloud around I humbly walk the ground. 210 My guardian god I follow and obey With willing soul his gentle sway; The gold lie show'rs as seed I sow Whence Glory's flow'rs shall blow. 'Tis thus Sarpedon's thus wise Nestor's name 215 Lives in the golden trump of Fame, While glowing Bards the breath inspire That wakes the holy fire Of Rapture's high immortalizing strains. Blest are the few whose worth th' illustrious glory gains. PYTHIAN ODE IV. TO ARCESILAUS, KING OF CYRENE, VICTOR IN THE CHARIOT-RACE. S. 1. HeAV'NLY Muse, this festal day Calls thee from Helicon away Before ray royal friend to stand. Lead the glad choir with fav'ring hand ! Breathe on the Bard thy sacred fire ! To Pytho's praises wake the sounding lyre. The Priestess there, who sate Jove's birds beside, Which spread their golden pinions wide In this ode, which has as much of the epic in its manner as the lyric, the poet leaves no one at a loss to comprehend his design, which simply was to compliment his hero with an account how Battus, a progenitor, had settled in Cyrene ; which having been effected by pro- phecy, Pindar traces the matter up as far as the Argonautic expedition, of which he is thence led to give an account. V. 3. Before my royal friend.] Arcesilaus. V. 7. The Priestess there."] Two golden images. Poets, unlike historians, love to relate things not beginning at once in order of time. This could not have been connected so well if Pindar had not mentioned the prophecy of the Priestess immediately after speaking of Pytho. In order of time this event is after the other. During the expedition of the Argonauts an event had happened, whence Medea had foretold what was accomplished by Battus, who was urged to it by the Pythian priestess. 149 Within Apollo's fane, her mortal eyes Illumined by the god, prophetick cries ; 10 " Battus shall rest on Libya's beach his oar " Leaving his ancestor's all-honour'd shore, " Rais'd by his hand Cyrene's tow'rs shall rise " On cliffs, whose chalky bosom swells high-gleaming to the skies.'* A. 1 These were the destined tow'rs of old 15 By the fam'd Colchian Queen foretold. Deep-imaged in her pregnant soul Events of distant ages roll : And thus the heroes of the wave Who first were seen the unknown deep to brave 20 With more than mortal voice the maid addrest ; " Attend the counsels of my breast, u Ye sons of gods and heroes; future days " Shall see these waves from their deep bosom raise " Famed Thera; thence shall Libya rise ; her hand 25 " Where Amnion's eye smiles on his favour'd land s V. 10. Illumined.] Medea's prophecy was delivered to the Argonauts, when they were on that part of the sea where afterwards the island Thera rose up. V. 16. By the fam'd.] Medea. V* 26, Wiere Amman's.] In Libya, sacred to Jupiter Ammon, 30 150 " Shall raise a stem, whence branching states shall spread " And midst admiring realms new cities lift their head, E. 1. " The short-wing'd dolphins shall they change cc For steeds that lightly o'er the meadows range. u The oar their hands no more shall guide " But rapid car, whose wheels like meteors glide, " You saw the gift, the mystic sod, " No gift of mortal ; 'twas a god ; li Shap'd like a man, he stretch'd his social hand, 35 " When our proud bark had gain'd the land " Safe-mo or'd in Triton's lake ; this omen owns " Thera great mother of great towns; A. 6e Lo! both the noble brothers came 215 Rous'd by the cheering call of Fame ? From diverse habitations meet And glad their long-lost hero greet $ Pheres from the fountain near, Whence Hypereia draws her waters clear, 220 And Amythaon his Messene leaves. Admetus comes and kind receives The hero ; and Melampus quick attends. With gentle words Jason accosts his friends 5 Rich, hospitable presents he bestows 225 While round the board the copious goblet flows* V. 210. Of his son eni'ring,] His father's house, we are left to supply, u well other previous circumstances. F. 222 and 223. Admetus and Mekmpus,} Relations c 160 With converse sweet five days and five long nights They crop the sacred flow'rs of mirth and choice delights* e. 6. When rose the sixth, on ev'ry friend He calls his weightier counsels to attend 230 Disclosing all. With him they rose, And each to the Usurper's palace goes. Soon within his doors they stand A friendly, close-united Band. The son of lovely-tressed Tyro hears, 235 And straight before their eyes appears. Words soft as dew-drops flow'd from Jason's breast While thus to Pelias he addrest Wise counsels ; " Hail son of the pow'rful God " Who on his rocky throne rules Ocean with his nod I 240 s. 7, u Though man too dearly loves the vain " And empty gloss of unjust gain, " And rashly holds by lawless might a The tempting, treacherous delight ; V. 235. The son o/.] Pelias. V. 240. Who on his rocky,] The learned have assigned several reasons for Neptune's title, none of which would seem pleasant to an English reader. 1 therefore take the liberty to sub- stitute poetry for learning, which I think Pindar would not disapprove. 161 u 'Tis not for us to grasp the prey ; 245 " Transient the short-liv'd riot of a day ! " But calm our joy, when curbing wild desire " We quench Ambition's frantic fire. Twas his to."] His piety was such as Chiron* the sage, endeavoured to instil into Achilles. It was equal to that of Nestor's son. 187 Paris, thy steel had pierc'd the father's steed, Swift as he urg'd his flight, and check'd his speed; On rushes Memnon fierce, his dart he flings ; &■& Nestor the furious light'ning of the spear Sees flashing o'er his son ; aghast he springs To earth and shuddering calls aloud with sudden fear, s. 3. He call'd, but ah ! his words fall to the ground : s All-vain the father's voice to save 50 The pious hero from his grave ; Resolv'd his generous blood he shed, Rejoic'd his godlike spirit fled His sire to ransom from the shades profound. V. 49. He called, but.] As Heyne interprets this, the poet would say, *' the father's words were not uttered in vain." What then ! are we to suppose Nestor called his son to die in his stead ? To honour the son we must then dishonour the wise and good Nestor. No. Heyne intended not this, the father called for assistance and called not in vain. But what follows ? Why that the son died for the father. Then the intention of the father's call was defeated, and Pindar's words were not true. But that Nestor called through fear for his son is a thought worthy of the great poet, and the words will more properly bear this interpre- tation than the other ; if you consider where the negative stands this really seems the more natural meaning ; Pindar does not say, a yjLy.eLnrni*; i ? ctf sxo? aj7n^i\iv ctvTVt but p^6t//ct/TST5? «T' cfcp' ST0£ an otTsp/^gj' O.VTV. Now if you say these two expressions naturally mean the same, you reduce many sentences to an uncertainty. No author should rashly be supposed so to place a negative as to make its application, and consequently the meaning of the whole' sentence, doubtful. When the orator, as with a whirlwind, throws together four negatives in a breath, (xftTTQT a^iV Y\piV s p») he so does it that no one can misunderstand his meaning. 188 Where midst the various deeds of high renown 55 In ancient days, should Glory fix her crown If not on piety and worth like this ? Such was the wonder of our younger days : We wonder now no more ; for warm as his Our hero's pious love claims ever-living praise. CO a. 3. He rivals too his honour'd Theron's name. See sober Wisdom walks, his guide, Nor ever Insolence nor Pride, Those cankers, from his riches sprung To waste the flow'rs that grace the young : 65 The Muse of heav'n lights in his soul her flame. Great Neptune smiles, first author of the steed, With grace and vigour as he guides his speed. An equal grace in calmer life he shows, His social ease amid the feast appears, 70 And, sweet as from its cell the honey flows, Warm in his smile his heart speaks to the guest he cheers. V. 61. He rivals loo."] Theron his uncle. V. 67. Great Neptune.] As the production of the horse was attributed to Neptune, Pindar means that his hero was skilful in managing the steed. We are told he drove his father's horses. As the chariot race was attended with very great danger, I cannot help thinking there was more than common difficulty and danger in driving these steeds of Xenocrates. If so the whole ode appears with an addition of beauty, as the pious hero hazarded his own life for his father's glory, and thus might very properly be compared to Antilochus. PYTHIAN ODE VII. TO MEGACLES, OF ATHENS, VICTOR IN THE RACE OF CHARIOTS DRAWN BY FOUR HORSES. W HERE, queen of cities, shall I raise Nobler the structure of immortal praise, Than where thy car-borne Victor shakes the ground, Athens, with glory crown'd ? What more distinguish'd race, More high, more ancient shall I trace Midst all the families of Greece, than thine, Illustrious progeny of famed Alcmaeon's line ? In ev'ry city lives your name, Alcmaeon's sons, all nations speak your fame. 10 The Delphic temple their admiring eyes Beheld from ruins rise, V. 1 1. The Delphic.'] No wonder the victors were desirous of being celebrated by Pindar, who not confining himself to the victory, always searched for some nobler theme of praise. The sons of Alcmaeon were the chief restorers of this temple, which had been burnt. 190 Fours was the pious deed ; Justly ye claim the Victor's meed ; Eight times has Victory been seen to crown . . . , 15 Thee, hero, and thy sires with honour and renown. How does thy Bard rejoice And in glad strains his voice Thy late-won laurels hail ! But envious Fate succeeds 20 Scowling dark cloud o'er Virtue's splendid deeds, Chill rise the eddy blasts and rend each swelling sail. Life's happiest tide for ever wavering flows, Now billowing high in joy, low-sinking now in woes. F. 15. Eight limps.} They won five Isthmian crowns, one at Olympia, two at Cirrha, V. 20. But envious Fate.'] It has been supposed this alludes to a friend of Megacles, who died about the time of his victory. PYTHIAN ODE VIII. TO ARISTOMENES, OF iEGINA, VICTOR IN WRESTLING. s. 1. SWEET Peace, soft-bosomtt child Of Justice, ever*mild, Exalter of great states, whose lovely hand Unlocks the secret breast Of Council, in deep rest 5 Grim War composes with enchanted band 3 The Pythian Conqueror receive And for his brow thy choicest laurels weave. While blooms the season fair, well knows thy heart All blessings to enjoy, all blessings to impart. 10 A. 1. When Rage tempests the soul And boist'rous billows roll Thy pow'rful beams break forth upon the foe. No more the sails of Pride jEgina being well regulated with regard to laws and blest with peace, the poet begins this ode with a beautiful address to Peace. 192 Swell o'er the calmed tide, • 15 Mad Insolence beneath the flood sinks low : But ne'er Porphyrin's savage breast. Whose law was force, thy gentle pow'r contest. Yet soon he saw, his mad attempts how vain ; The voluntary gift is far superior gain : 20 e. 1. Time and avenging Pow'r confound Pride and her lawless sons ; The vast Typhceus falls to ground, Jove's vollied thunder stuns His hundred giant-heads ; Apollo's dart 25 Pierces the tyrant-monster to the heart. That god with fav'ring hand Our hero o'er the Delphic land To Glory leads, his brows with laurel crown'd, While loud the Dorian songs ot victory resound. 30 s. 2. This ever-favour'd isle Still shares the eternal smile V. 20. The voluntary.] This alludes to something I have never seen satisfactorily ex- plained. The instance seems abruptly introduced, but Pindar's meaning I conceive to be, " that Peace and Justice will in time prevail over lawless Force : that the sons of Force the gods destroy, but the hero of the ode, a son of Peace, Apollo leads to glory." V. 26. Pierces the tyrant.] Porphyrion, Alcyoneus, or Ephialtes : it seems uncertain which was meant. 193 Of each celestial Grace; here ever dwells Justice, whose steady hand Protects her much-lov'd land, 35 Which in each ancient virtue still excels. That glory, which in earlier days Rose o'er the helm of iEacus, still plays With beams unquench'd on all the martial line, And Victory's brightest wreaths on many a hero shine. . 40 A. 2. Their ever-honour'd name The golden trump of Fame Speaks loud to men. Time bids my Muse respire Nor to their various praise Unceasing pour her lays ; 45 Her voice would fail to charm th' exhausted lyre ; Attention o'er the wearied string Sated would nod. But Glory's new-fledg'd wing, Champion ! thy fresh-blown laurels bears on high And as she soars she sings thy triumphs to the sky. 50 E. 2. Th' athletic contests with bright crown Thy kindred heroes grace. V. 52. Thy kindred."} Theognetus and Ctytomachus, C C 19 h Thy steps pursue the high renown Which beams on all the race. They with strong limbs the garland grasping held 55 High o'er th' Olympian and the Isthmian field. Such praise, as gave the seer When he foresaw full many a spear Flash o'er the walls of Thebes and o'er her plains Grim War his horrors roll, such praise thy valour gains ; 60 s. 3. The far-off-rising host Who for their fathers lost Resumed the sword of vengeance, he addrest ; a The spirit of the sire M Revives with recent fire 65 " To warm his genuine offspring's martial breast. u Lo, where I see Alcmanes wield u Blazon'd with impress dire, his glitt'ring shield, V. 57. Such praise, as.] The praise given by Amphiaraus long before, Pindar now applies to his hero, i. e. " that he was illustrious above others in renewing the glory of his race." This manner of comparison often occasions an obscurity not to be avoided in the translation, which, in the present instance, is still increased by the poet's digression. If the sentence had ended sooner, it would have been more intelligible. There seems to have been a chapel or some monument sacred to the memory of Alcmanes, near Pindar's residence: hence he catches at the opportunity of preparing a garland to adorn it. Alcmanes seems purposely mentioned at first for the sake of introducing soon after, a poetical fiction, that as Pindar was going to Delphi he heard a prophecy from this Alcmanes, whose shade was endowed with the art of his father Amphiaraus. 195 " A various-colour'd dragon ; at the gate " Of Thebes in front he stands and vengeance hurls and fate. 70 a. 3. " Adrastus, now no more " The hapless lot deplore " Which fell destructive o'er thy former host ; " Fill thou the lonely urn " With thy son's dust ; return 7 ^ " With strange reverse of fortune, for the lost " Mourning in victory. From heav'n " (Whence mid the universal wreck was giv'n " Safety to thee alone) now glorying comes " A bird of happier wing and to their native homes SO e. 3. " The troops in jovial triumph sends." Thus spake the reverend seer s Hence my triumphal song attends Alcmanes ; glad I bear V. 71. Adrastus, wow.] Pindar is not content with the praise given to Alcmanes, but goes on with what befel Adrastus. That chief had before escaped himself with the loss of his troops, but now he gains the victory with the loss of his son. See Index on Adrastus. Heyne often calls out " such a passage requires a diviner not an interpreter," where the obscurity arises perhaps only from a bold image. But it is the difficulty of tracing and ex- hibiting the train of thought through all these dark histories and fables, that has given the translator the most trouble. To show the connection here and in other places, it has been deemed no improper liberty to express more fully what the original seems to imply only. 196 Fresh garlands breathing sweets his fane around, 85 Which neighb'ring stands and ever guards my ground. Lo, while the central shrine, Whence flows the Pythian voice divine, I sought, he glided from his tomb ; forth-brake Strange sounds, his father's art in him reviving spake. 90 s. 4. Sweet the prophetic voice Which bade our souls rejoice With brilliant hopes, but Phoebus gave success, Whose ever-holy ground Invites the nations round ; 95 With awe they hear, with wonder they confess His oracles divine. Thy hand Apollo late within his native land, While loud thy praises swelPd the festal strain, To glorious triumph led this champion of the plain. 100 V. 90. Strange sounds.'] The original expresses Alcmanes as a neighbour to Pindar and actually meeting him with the prophetic art of his father. I despaired of making this intel- ligible in a literal translation. V. 91. Sweet the.] What it was we are left to conjecture. I conceive it was success to the hero, and translate accordingly. V. 97. Thy hand.'] He was victor in games sacred to Apollo, in yEgina, therefore the poet describes Apollo as giving him success. 197 a. 4. And may thy rays divine With equal favour shine On ev'ry chord that strings my well-tun'd lyre ! For as the sweet notes play 'Tis Justice pours the lay, 105 Truth stands beside and lights a purer fire. Heav'n, for our hero hear our pray'r, And for his sire ; to each extend thy care, To thee that care belongs ; when mortals rise To wealth unearned by toil, the vulgar deem them wise, 110 By pow'r their own they seem to stand ; But 'tis the will of heav'n Which guards us ; to no human hand That sacred shield is giv'n. The gods their various lot mete out to all, 115 At their high nod these rise and others fall. Hero, thy native land Beheld thee crown'd by Juno's hand ; And Megara and deep-valed Marathon Twined their triumphal wreaths which o'er thy temples shone. ISO F. 117, Hero, thy native land.J In games sacred to Juno. 198 s» 5* On thy late glorious day The heroes vanquish'd lay, Their shatter'd limbs confess'd thy mightier pbw'r; O'er thee bright chaplets glow. They with dejected brow , ^ Their joyless sentence hear and rue the hour Which looks upon their shame, which sends Four humbled champions to their sorrowing friends; No mother's smile sweetens their sad return, From foes they trembling skulk, wounded with shame they burn. ISO a. 5. But precious above gold The flying wreaths unfold, Which Strength and Valour round their hero fling. His new-born glories rise Resplendent to the skies 1^5 Beyond hope ; Joy triumphant lends her wing. Yet transient is the smiling hour When man's prosperity puts forth her flow'r, With rip'ning blush of fruit to-day she's crown'd, Dash'd by to-morrow's blast those honours strew the ground. 140 199 e. 5. What's man ? Poor reptile of a day. Dream of a fleeting shade, Mere nothing : is he aught ? away, If aught, he soon shall fade. But when Jove smiles, cheer'd by the vernal rays 145 Sweet breathes his life, serenely glide his days. Lov'd isle ! thy people rear Beneath thine own maternal care And Freedom's wing. Ye guardian sires, from Jove To great Achilles, shield the race with never-failing love ! 150 PYTHIAN ODE IX. TO TELESICRATES, OF CYRENE, WHO WON THE RACE IN ARMOUR. 8. 1. VICTORY clad in brazen arms Thund'ring swift my bosom warms. The Graces girt with broider'd zone, Great Telesicrates, their crown Have twined around thy honour'd brow ; 5 Thence Glory's beams their brightest lustre throw On thy lov'd country, whose distinguished name Cyrene gave, a nymph of ancient fame ; Her, as she rang'd the heights of Pelion o'er, Where loud the wild blasts roar, 10 Apollo seiz'd. Off-roll'd On flashing wheels his car of gold. Late huntress, now queen of a lovely land, O'er fruitful Libya's sheep-clad plains she stretch'd her sceptred hand. 201 A. 1. Before the heav'n-built car was seen 15 Smiling love's silver-footed queen In haste her Delian guest to greet With hospitable welcome sweet ; Her light hand on the chariot laid. She breathes a lovely blush around the maid, 20 The timid blush of shame, to grace her charms, The sweeter transport for his longing arms. Great Hipseus is her sire, whose potent sway The Lapithae obey. (From Ocean was his birth, £5 Creusa daughter of the earth To Peneus bore him, Pindus' shady heights Their couch prepared, the soft, ambrosial dear delights T. 15. Before the heatfn-built.] This reminds me of a passage in Statius, Theb. Ill . 26S P which Collins seems to have had in view : ** Thy form from out thy sweet abode O'ertook him on his blasted road And stopp'd his wheels," &c. Thus torch from torch catches the brilliant flame. V. 17. Her Delian guest.] For Pindar calls this the garden of Venus, the goddess of every- thing that is sweet, graceful, and beautiful. V. 20. She breathes.] Virg. JEn. I. 594. Venus breathed on iEneas the purple light of youth, &c. that he might captivate Dido. Pindar's idea seems still more delicate. D d 202 E. 1 Of love deep-shrouding.) His paternal care Cherisk'd the young Cyrene fair. 30 She nor pass'd the tedious day Guiding the shuttle's mazy way Nor with her equals gave to social feast The cheerful hours ; but 'gainst the rav'ning beast, Whose steps with carnage stain the royal fields, 35 The spear she darts, the flashing falchion wields And strikes the savage dead. Again the wings of Peace are spread And vales and flocks secure ; then sweetly close, Till peeps the blushing morn, her eyes in short repose, 40 s. 2. The quiver'd God the Virgin saw Dare the huge lion's hideous jaw Opening in thunder ; not a spear To guard her, not a comrade near. V. 43. Not a spear.] By this Pindar increases the wonder, bringing the heroine to a closer engagement with the lion ; we must suppose she attacks him with the sword. Spenser in his animated descriptions often resembles Pindar. See F. Q. 1, 6, 24. " His trembling hand he would him force to put Upon the lyon and the rugged bear — - he would learn The lyon stoop to him in lowly wise." 203 The noble ardour of her breast 45 Astonish'd Phoebus saw and loud addrest The Centaur ; " instant, rev'rend Chiron, come, " Leave thy deep-vaulted chamber's solemn gloom ; " A nymph, whose soul springs with enliv'ning fire " Above all toils, admire : 50 u No blast of freezing fear u Chills her firm heart; those eyes, that glare " Fierce as heav'n's bolt, she meets % what sire on earth " Hail'd the blest child his own, what mother gave her birth ? A. 2* " Deep in the mountain's hollow gloom 55 " Of arching branches is her home ; " Health ever-fresh with vigour feeds " Her glowing heart to glorious deeds. " Will Fate allow these longing arms " On love's soft couch to grasp her blooming charms 60 " And crop the sweet-breath'd flow'r '?" The Centaur mild Relax'd his awful brow and answ'ring smil'd ; " When wise persuasions that soft passion move, ... " The sacred keys of love " Must glide with secret art 65 ic Through each close winding of the heart : " For gods and mortals blush aloud to name " Th' initial rites of love veil'd by the hand of Shame. 204 e. 2. u And dost thou, great Apollo, condescend ** Meek to address me as a friend ? ™ " Dost thou, -whom Falsehood comes not nigh, " Her birth enquire ? whose piercing eye " Sees all events, traces each secret way, " Beholds each leaf that trembles on the spray " Fann'd by the breath of Spring ; the sands, where glide 75 " The foaming rivers, where the hasty tide " Rolls their vast banks or where " The rude blasts whirl them through the air, " Observes and numbers ; all things, as they rise " Far in succession, views and their dark birth descries? 80 s 3. " May Chiron dare then to disclose u Events thy prescience better knows ? u From this fair valley by thy side u Far o'er the waves the blushing bride u New to the pressing arms of love B5 " Attends thee to the garden of great Jove. " A Theran colony there waits her reign " Where castled cliffs survey the ambient plain, V. 73. Sees all events*] This is for an Heathen very excellent, but compare it with Ps. 139. How does it then hide its diminish'd head i V. 88. Where.} At Cyrcne, built on a hill. 205 " There wide-valed Libya shall her doors unfold " Glitt'ring with burnish'd gold, 90 " Glad that th' illustrious bride " Deigns in her regions to reside, " By her own laws in equity to reign, " Whose forests teem with beasts while Plenty crowns her plain* A. 3. " A child she bears, the mighty birth 95 u Hermes receives and to the earth " Presents and to the Seasons fair, " Who on their bright thrones rule the year |