The Olympian Odes + 

Chiefest is water of all things, for streaming + 

Therefrom all life and existence came; + 

And all proud treasure of princes the gleaming + 

Splendour of gold outshines, as the flame + 

Of a great fire flings through the night its rays. + 

But, heart of mine, if thou fain wouldst praise + 

Triumphs in athlete-contests won, + 

Search not, when day with his glory is glowing, + 

For a radiant star more life-bestowing + 

In the whole void sky, than the kingly sun. + 

Even so shall we find no brighter crown + 

Than Olympia giveth whereof to sing; + 

For thence doth the chant of high renown + 

O’er the spirits of bards its perfume fling, + 

When, the praise of Kronion in song resounding, + 

Unto Hiero’s blest hearth wealth-abounding + 

The hymn of his praise they bring. + 

Hiero!⁠—yea, for the rod of his power + 

Is a sceptre of righteousness stretched o’er the land + 

Of the myriad flocks; and the choice of the flower + 

Of chivalry ever is plucked by his hand. + 

Yea, and he also is garlanded + 

With the blossom of song enstarring his head, + 

The song that with gladsome voices now + 

We singers chant, at the banquet meeting + 

Of the Prince who giveth us friendship’s greeting. + 

Now, O my Muse, from its rest take thou + 

The lyre that is strung to the Dorian strain, + 

If the glory of fleet Pherenikus, he + 

Who triumphed in Pisa’s Olympian plain, + 

Haply with rapture of song thrilled thee, + 

When flashed in the course by Alpheus’ river + 

His body by lash or by goad touched never, + 

And wedded to victory + 

His lord, the ruler of Syracuse-town, + 

The king who joyeth in gallant steeds. + 

Flasheth afar his name’s renown, + 

Flasheth from Sicily far oversea + 

Where Pelops, the exile from Lydia’s meads, + 

Founded a hero-colony⁠— + 

Pelops, beloved of the Earth-enfolder, + 

Poseidon the strong, when the Fate of the Thread + 

Drew him resplendent with ivory shoulder + 

From the undefiled laver, whom men deemed dead. + 

There be marvels full many; and fables hoary + 

With inventions manifold broidered o’er + 

Falsify legend, I wot, with a story + 

Wherein truth liveth no more. + 

But the Grace of Beauty, which aye is weaving + 

All manner of charm round the souls of men, + 

Taketh these tales unworthy believing, + 

And arrays them in honour: so cometh it then + 

That man with unwavering credence clings + 

To a false-feigned tale of impossible things. + 

But the after-days are the witnesses + 

That be wisest. Reverent speech beseemeth + 

The mortal who uttereth that which he deemeth + 

Of the Gods⁠—so shall his reproach be less. + 

O Tantalus’ son, I will speak not as they + 

Who told thy story in days of old! + 

But thy father bade thee a guest that day + 

To a banquet arrayed by the righteous-souled + 

Upon Sipylus’ loved height⁠—so he tendered + 

To the Gods requital for boons they had rendered. + 

On a sudden the chariot of gold + 

Of the Lord of the Trident gleaming splendid, + 

Whose soul was with love for thy youth overcome, + 

Bare thee, as up through the blue ye ascended, + 

To imperial Zeus’s glory-home, + 

Whither also came in the after-day + 

Ganymedes ravished from earth away + 

In halls celestial the nectar to pour. + 

But when viewless thus from the earth they had caught thee, + 

Nor the questers that far and near had sought thee + 

To the arms of thy mother could thee restore, + 

Then spake some neighbour in envious spite + 

A whispered slander of sin and shame, + 

How that over the boiling water’s might + 

Which hissed in the bronze that bestrode the flame + 

Did they carve thy flesh with the knife, and seethe it, + 

And served at the feast, and⁠—dare lips breathe it?⁠— + 

That the God-guests ate of the same! + 

But impossible is it for me to call + 

Any Blest One man-eater⁠—with loathing and scorn + 

I recoil! O, the profit is passing small + 

That the dealer in slander hath ofttimes found. + 

But if ever a man on the earth was born + 

Whom the Watchers from Heaven with honour crowned, + 

That man was Tantalus: yet of their favour + 

No profit he had, nor of that high bliss. + 

But the man’s proud stomach was drunk with its savour + 

And gorged with pride; and by reason of this + 

He drew on him ruin utter-crushing; + 

For Zeus hung o’er him a huge black scaur, + 

And he cowers from it aye on his head down-rushing + 

From happiness exiled far. + 

And there unto torment fettered for ever + 

Living on, living on in eternal despair + 

He abides with the Three on whom hope dawns never, + 

He who from the feast of the Gods could dare + 

To steal the ambrosia and nectar whereby + 

They had given him immortality, + 

That the guests of his wine-cup might revel thereon! + 

But who thinketh to hide his evil doing + 

From God, he errs to his bitter ruing! + 

So then the Immortals sent back his son + 

Exiled to earth from the heavenly home, + 

Thenceforth with the sons of a day to abide. + 

But in process of time, when Pelops was come + 

To the flower-bright season of life’s springtide, + 

When the soft rose-tint of his cheek ’gan darken, + 

To the whisper of love did his spirit hearken, + 

And he dreamed of the world-famed bride + 

Hippodameia, the glorious daughter + 

Of the Lord of Pisa, a prize for him + 

Who could win her. Alone by the surf-white water + 

Of the sea he stood in the darkness dim. + 

To the Thunder-voiced he cried o’er the wave, + 

To the Lord of the Trident mighty to save: + 

And lo, at his side did the God appear. + 

And “O Poseidon,” he spake imploring, + 

“If the gifts of the Cyprian Queen’s outpouring + 

To thy spirit, O King, be in any wise dear, + 

His bronze lance let not Oenomaus lift + 

To mine hurt, but cause me to Elis to ride + 

On a god-given chariot passing swift: + 

There throne thou me by victory’s side. + 

For lovers by that spear merciless-slaying + 

Have died thirteen, and he still is delaying + 

To bestow his child as a bride. + 

In the path doth a mighty peril lie; + 

To the craven soul no welcome it gives. + 

But, seeing a man must needs once die, + 

Wherefore should I unto old age screen + 

From peril a life that only lives, + 

Sitting nameless and fameless in darkness unseen, + 

In the deeds of the valiant never sharing? + 

Nay, lies at my feet the challenge now: + 

I will accept it for doing and daring! + 

Good speed to mine heart’s desire grant thou!” + 

Not fruitless the cry of his heart’s desiring + 

Was uttered. The God heard gracious-souled, + 

And crowned him with honour. Winged steeds untiring + 

He gave, and a chariot of gold. + 

So he won for his bride that maiden peerless; + 

For her terrible father he overcame. + 

And she bare to him six sons battle-fearless, + 

Captains of war-hosts, thirsting for fame. + 

And his portion assured hath Pelops still + 

Where the priests the blood of the sacrifice spill; + 

And unto his tomb resorteth the throng + 

Of strangers from far who have heard his story. + 

From his grave-mound his spirit beholdeth the glory + 

Of the mighty Olympian strife of the strong + 

In the course that from Pelops its name hath ta’en, + 

Wherein be contending the swift to run + 

And the thews that be mighty in wrestling-strain. + 

And whoso therein hath the victory won, + 

Thereafter on through his life-days ever + 

Sweetly his peace shall flow as a river + 

Blissfully gliding on + 

For those Games’ sake. Yea, the good that unceasing + 

On man’s lot daily as dew droppeth down + 

Is that which to each is most well-pleasing. + 

Now is it my bounden duty to crown + 

With a strain wherein hoof-beats triumphant ring + 

In Aeolian mood Sicilia’s King. + 

And hereof is my spirit assured past doubt + 

That amidst all men on the wide earth dwelling + 

There is found no host whom with prouder-swelling + 

Notes in many a winding bout + 

Of noble song I may glorify, + 

Yea, none more learned in honour’s lore, + 

None who showeth therein more potency. + 

The God who guardeth thee watcheth o’er + 

Thine hopes and thine aims, that no evil assail thee; + 

And if⁠—O nay, but he cannot fail thee!⁠— + 

I trust ere long once more + 

To chant a triumph than all more sweet, + 

Inspiration-wafted, as one that flies + 

In a chariot, on paths of utterance meet, + 

Till I win unto Kronos’ Hill sunbright. + 

O yea, in my Muses’ quiver lies + 

A song-arrow winged for stronger flight. + 

By diverse paths men upward aspire: + 

Earth’s highest summit by kings is attained. + 

Thou therefore look to attain no higher + 

Than earth. Be it thine on the height thou hast gained + 

To pace mid splendour of royal achieving + 

Thy life through: mine be it no less long + 

To consort with victors, from Hellas receiving + 

The world o’er praise for my song. + 

Songs, lords of the lyre! what God shall we hymn?⁠—what hero’s praises?⁠— + 

What man’s fame publish afar? + 

Pisa doth Zeus own; Heracles stablished Olympia’s races + 

With the regal spoils of his war; + 

Theron, who honours the guest, whose four steeds raced victorious, + 

Akragas’ stay, let us chant, full flower of an ancestry glorious, + 

His city’s saviour-star. + 

Toils bravely his fathers endured, and a hallowed home by the river + 

They reared: they were Sicily’s eye. + 

And to crown their inborn worth, Fair Fortune attended them, giver + 

Of wealth and of dignity. + 

Son of Kronos and Rhea, enthroned in Olympus, thou lord of the choicest + 

Of contests by Alpheus’ ford, guard, since in our song thou rejoicest, + 

For their sons ever graciously + 

Their fatherland-soil! When for right or for wrong hath been woven the tissue + 

Of our deeds, not Time the father of all can reverse the issue. + 

Yet oblivion may come of the past + 

With the dawn of a happier day; for overmastered and slain + 

By the sunlight of happiness oft is memory’s rankling pain, + 

When broad and high at the last + 

Prosperity grows by the fiat of God. Yea, of Kadmus’ daughters + 

This thing I have said proved true:⁠— + 

Sore anguish they suffered, yet mightier blessings from out the waters + 

Of affliction the stricken ones drew. + 

Mid thunder-crash Semele perished, yet lives in the heavenly star-land; + 

And Pallas and Zeus and her son, who is crowned with the ivy-garland, + 

Enfold her with love ever new. + 

With the Sea-maids, the daughters of Nereus, to Ino a life unending + 

In the deep is ordained for aye. + 

But to mortals no date is appointed whereon death’s bolt descending + 

Shall smite; nor can any man say + 

When one day, child of the sun, shall in calm peace close with unbroken + 

Blessing. With sorrow and joy run life’s streams, giving no token + 

How their mutable courses will stray. + 

So Destiny, she who the line of the fathers of Theron hath guided + 

To happiness, yet for their god-given bliss hath also provided + 

In its season a bitter reverse, + 

Since the hour when met in his journeying Laïus was, and killed + 

By his doom-driven son, and the word that from Pytho went forth was fulfilled, + 

The old-time prophecy-curse. + 

Swift Erinys beheld it, and slew by hands with a brother’s blood gory + 

His warrior sons. When died + 

Polyneikes, Thersander was left to win in a new war glory, + 

The Adrastids’ saviour and pride. + 

From him these trace their descent; and the son of a prince most meetly + 

With all praises of song triumphant and lyres outpealing sweetly + 

This day shall be magnified. + 

Olympia’s guerdon he won, and at Pytho and Isthmus the Graces, + 

Who his kindred have evermore blessed, + 

Brought to his brother the crowns of the twelve-course four-horse races. + 

Ay, triumph to pain bringeth rest. + 

Riches with nobleness graced of many things bring fruition, + 

And they kindle the deep-glowing fire of the huntress of honour, Ambition, + 

Within their possessor’s breast, + 

A lodestar that beacons afar, by whose light men steer most surely, + 

If he who doth hold by it knoweth what shall be⁠—that they which impurely + 

Here lived, shall when they have died + 

Suffer the penalty: sins that in Zeus’s realm of light + 

Were committed shall One judge there in the underworld Kingdom of Night, + 

And their awful doom shall decide. + 

But through sunlitten nights and days a life of bliss untoiling + 

Is ordained for the righteous-souled. + 

No more for a meagre pittance they labour the land sore moiling, + 

Nor on stormy seas are they rolled; + 

But with them that be honoured of Gods, who had pleasure in leal oathkeeping, + 

They have joy of a tearless life, while the wicked are endlessly reaping + 

Sin-harvests too dread to behold. + 

But they that through those three lives have endured, their spirits refraining + 

From sin upon each side death, + 

These traverse the pathway of Zeus, to the Tower of Kronos attaining, + 

Where the breezes of Ocean breathe + 

Round the Isles of the Blest, where flowers all-golden like flames are glowing, + 

Which are drooping from trees of splendour, or float on the flood soft-flowing; + 

And their heads and their hands they enwreathe, + 

As it standeth by just Rhadamanthus decreed, the eternal assessor + 

Of Kronos the husband of Rhea, of her who is throned possessor + 

Of dominion the universe o’er. + 

And Peleus and Kadmus are numbered amidst the glorified there; + 

And the heart of Zeus by Thetis’ petition was swayed, that she bare + 

Achilles to that blest shore, + 

Him who slew the invincible Hector, and Troy’s strong pillar did shiver, + 

And of whom was Kyknus slain + 

And the Dawn-queen’s Aethiop son. Many swift shafts lie in my quiver; + 

To the wise is their meaning plain; + 

For the common herd need they interpreters. Who is by nature discerning + 

Is the poet inspired; but the vehement babblers of other men’s learning + 

Croak vanity⁠—crows be the twain!⁠— + 

At the hallowed eagle of Zeus! O my soul, on the bow be thou aiming⁠— + 

And at whom in all love wilt thou speed + 

The renown-giving arrow? To Akragas send thou it, boldly proclaiming⁠— + 

Bidding Truth of thine oath take heed⁠— + 

That through years five-score no city on earth hath been known to rear on + 

Her breast any son more kindly in spirit to friends than Theron, + 

None of more liberal deed. + 

Yet praise is by spite ever dogged, wherein never is justice abiding, + 

But from grasping envy it springs; with its slanders it fain would be hiding + 

In darkness the good deeds done + 

By the noble of heart. But, as no man can number the great sea’s sands, + 

So the joys on his fellow-men showered by Theron with lavish hands, + 

Who telleth the tale of them? None! + 

Oh Tyndarids, lords of all guest-welcoming, + 

Oh Helen of the tresses beauty-crowned, + 

Take pleasure in my praises, when I sing + 

Akragas far-renowned, + 

Chanting her son’s Olympian victory, + 

The glory of his tireless-footed team. + 

The Muse hath thrilled me with new harmony + 

Of wedded song and dance, in revelry + 

Where Dorian sandals gleam. + 

Garlands of victory twined in Theron’s hair + 

Exact of me this debt that Heaven ordains + 

For Ainesidamus’ son in order fair + 

To blend the varying strains + 

Of lyres with voice of flutes and ordering + 

Of chanted words; and Pisa bids proclaim + 

His glory⁠—Pisa, poesy’s well-spring + 

Whence, by the Gods inspired, the great songs ring + 

That give men deathless fame, + 

Even they about whose hair the silvery-gleaming + 

Adorning of the olive-leaf is laid + 

By the Aetolian judge’s righteous deeming + 

The victor’s brows to shade, + 

According unto Heracles’ ancient hest. + 

From Ister’s shadowy springs he brought this tree, + 

When fared Amphitryon’s son on perilous quest + 

And gave Olympia’s games this fairest, best + 

Trophy of victory. + 

His courteous speech that Norland people swayed⁠— + 

The folk who serve Apollo⁠—to bestow + 

To his true-hearted prayer for Zeus’s glade, + 

Whither all Hellenes go, + 

A shadowing tree, a universal boon, + 

A wreath for prowess of the mighty given. + 

When hallowed were Zeus’ altars, lo, the Moon + 

Of midmonth flashed her splendour plenilune + 

Full in the face of Even. + 

Then for those great Games he ordained for ever + 

Just judgment and a Five-year Festival + 

By the steep banks of Alpheus’ hallowed river. + 

But of fair trees and tall + 

In Kronian Pelops’ glen, that chosen place, + 

His garden-close, was as a desert bare. + 

Him-seemed it lay unscreened beneath the blaze + 

Of scorching Helios’ arrow-darting rays. + 

Wherefore he yearned to fare + 

To Ister’s land, where She of the swift horses, + 

Queen Leto’s Child, received him graciously + 

When from the hills and winding watercourses + 

He came of Arcady, + 

Sped on Eurystheus’ mission forth to find⁠— + 

By his sire’s doom, wherefrom is no appeal⁠— + 

The Orthian Wood-queen’s golden-antlered hind, + 

Vowed to her by Taÿgete, and signed + 

With consecration’s seal. + 

And in that chase he looked upon the land + 

That sheltered lies behind the North-wind cold, + 

And saw its olive-trees. There did he stand + 

And marvelled to behold, + 

And dearly yearned to enring with those same trees + 

The goal round which twelve times swift horses strain. + 

Graciously still to these festivities + 

He comes: with him be godlike presences, + 

Even Leda’s scions twain. + 

These charged he with the Great Games’ ordering + 

Ere hence he passed to heavenly halls afar, + 

The struggle of strong men, the sweep and swing + 

Of the swift-rushing car. + 

“The Emmenids and Theron Fame hath crowned + 

This day!” my soul constraineth me to cry, + 

“Fame given by Tyndareus’ Sons the steed-renowned, + 

Since unto these of all men most they abound + 

In hospitality, + 

“With hearts of reverence rendering due measure + 

Of service to the Gods for ever blest.” + 

As water chiefest is, and of all treasure + 

Gold is held goodliest, + 

So Glory’s pinnacle doth Theron gain + 

By his high prowess: yea, his fame hath won + 

To Heracles’ pillars! Farther to attain + 

Wise and unwise all fruitlessly should strain, + 

Nor press I vainly on. + 

Zeus, hurler of thunderbolts tireless-winging, + 

Most Highest, returneth thy Feast-tide fair + 

To send me to wed with the lyre subtle-ringing + 

My song: of the chiefest of all Games singing + 

To the victor’s triumph my witness I bear. + 

Yea, the hearts of the good are with joy ever leaping + 

When friends a harvest of triumph are reaping. + 

O Kronos’ Son, whose dominion is o’er + 

Etna, the wind-scourged burden laid + 

On Typho the demon of heads five-score, + 

Receive thou this revel-procession arrayed + 

For a victorv won by the Graces’ aid. + 

For its chant is a record for ever abiding + 

Of wide-prevailing achievement’s renown, + 

On-ushering olive-crowned Psaumis, as riding + 

His chariot he hasteth, aglow for dividing + 

His fame with his own Camarina-town. + 

May our prayers be graciously heard in heaven + 

As we supplicate blessings yet to be given + 

Unto him who is strenuous ever to train + 

The steed, who with wide arms welcomes the guest, + 

The pure-hearted patriot who strives to attain + 

Peace⁠—truth do I speak from an unfeigned breast! + 

Of man is the trial the one proof-test. + 

By such trial it was that Klymenus’ son + 

Silenced the Lemnian women’s taunting + 

Who mocked at his tresses grey; + 

For the foot-race in armour of bronze he won. + 

To Hypsipyle then with no vain vaunting, + 

As he passed to be crowned, did he say: + 

“Lo there, my fleetness of foot have ye seen! + 

And mine hands be as strong, and mine heart as keen. + 

Ay, and not seldom silver-hoary + 

Show the tresses of young men, long ere the story + 

Hath been told of their life’s spring-day.” + 

O Camarina, bright daughter of Ocean, with glad spirit greet + 

Him who the crown of Olympian achievement and glory most sweet + 

Brings for his gifts to thee won by his car-team’s unwearying feet, + 

Psaumis! O nurse of a nation, to magnify thee hath he raised + 

Altars, twin altars twice three, where at feasts of the Blessèd Ones blazed + 

Steers that were slain; and for five days the goals of the race-course they grazed, + 

Chariots of horses and mules, and swift coursers. To thee consecrated + 

All his proud glory was, and to his sire and the burg new-created. + 

Back from Oenomaus’ home and from Pelops’ dear dwelling he brings + 

Songs unto Pallas Protectress of Cities; her precinct he sings, + 

Sings of thy river Oanis, the mere that thine highland enrings. + 

Hallowèd Hipparis sings he that quencheth thy citizens’ thirst, + 

Floating down fast for rebuilding thee trees in his hill-cradle nursed, + 

So that from darkness the light of new life on thy commonwealth burst. + 

Labour and cost for all noble achievement in one must be blended: + 

Veiled is the issue in risk; but success is for wisdom commended. + 

Cloud-hidden Saviour, O Zeus who art throned on the Kronian hill-crest, + 

Honourest Alpheus’ flood and the cave under Ida’s green breast, + 

Suppliant I come to thee, voicing through Lydian flutes my request: + 

O let this city with chivalry’s glory be aye magnified! + 

Thou too, Olympian victor, whose god-nurtured steeds are thy pride, + 

Unto a peaceful old age mayst thou win with thy sons at thy side. + 

If as a well-watered garden thy bliss be, and if thou desire not + 

More, with thy wealth and thine honours content⁠—unto godhead aspire not! + 

’Neath our song’s forecourt-rooftree pillars golden + 

Will we uprear; a palace shall it seem. + 

’Tis meet the forefront shine out far-beholden + 

Of work that hath such splendour-flashing theme. + 

The victor at Olympia, who withal + 

Is treasurer of Zeus’s oracle-altar, + 

Who is co-founder of the glorious wall + 

Of Syracuse⁠—shall his song-praises falter? + 

Share not the joy his fellow-burghers all? + 

Such sandal⁠—let the son of Sostratus know it⁠— + 

Gleams on his foot. Deeds without peril brought + 

To pass on land or sea win from no poet + 

Honour; but of each high achievement wrought + 

With hard toil, many the recorders are. + 

Thy deeds, Agesias, that same praise hath followed + 

Which justly Adrastus spake and published far + 

Of Amphiaraus, when the earth had swallowed + 

Oïkleus’ son and his bright battle-car. + 

When on the seven great pyres the dead lay burning, + 

Before Thebes’ gates the son of Talaos cried: + 

“For one that is not here mine heart is yearning, + 

Eye of mine host, good seer and warrior tried!” + 

And this same praise in song processional + 

To Syracuse’ son is rendered with all fitness. + 

I, who hate strife and disputation’s gall, + 

With a great oath to him I bear my witness: + 

The sweet-voiced Muses sanction it withal. + 

Phintis, thy mighty mule-team harness straightway, + 

That we may speed along a clear highway + 

The car, that I may reach the ancestral gateway + 

Whence came his race. None know so well as they + 

To find the track, who at Olympia won + 

Crowns: wherefore unto them it well beseemeth + 

That wide the doors of song should now be thrown. + 

For Pitane-ward, to where Eurotas gleameth + 

Must I in season due this day begone. + 

Now Pitane bare, by Lord Poseidon fathered, + 

Evadne of the violet hair, men say, + 

But hid her shame ’neath vesture-folds upgathered, + 

Till she might send her maidens thence away, + 

Bidding them bear her babe to Eilatus’ son + 

Who at Phaisane ruled in hill-girt places + 

Arcadian, and his lot by Alpheus won. + 

There was Evadne nurtured: in the embraces + 

Of Phoebus her love’s story was begun. + 

She could not for her full time hide the blossom + 

Of a God’s love from Aipytus: keen dread + 

And wrath no words might utter racked his bosom. + 

For light in darkness Pytho-ward he sped. + 

She laid the while her girdle crimson-twined + 

’Neath boughs dark-shadowing, and her silver ewer. + 

And there she bore a boy of godlike mind; + 

For golden-haired Apollo drew unto her + 

The Fates, and Eileithyia travail-kind. + 

So from her womb in painless birth outleaping + 

Iamus came. Grief-stricken on the ground + 

She left him. Came two bright-eyed serpents creeping + 

By the Gods’ counsel; softly coiling round + 

They fed him with the sweet dews of the bee. + 

But when the king from rocky Pytho riding + 

Came, he asked all his household eagerly: + 

“Where is the babe Evadne bare in hiding? + 

For fathered of Apollo’s self is he; + 

“A prophet shall he be all men excelling + 

To this folk: nevermore shall fail his race,” + 

But they, “Of him have we heard no man telling, + 

Nor seen him”⁠—yet the babe was born five days! + 

But in a pathless reed-brake, oversprayed + 

With gold and purple splendours was he lying, + 

Which pansy-petals on his soft flesh rayed. + 

“So shall he,” spake his mother prophesying, + 

“Bear this name that through all time shall not fade.” + 

Now when to fruitage of youth golden-pinioned + 

He won, to Alpheus’ mid-stream he strode + 

’Neath the night-stars, and on the wide-dominioned, + 

His grandsire, called, and Delos’ Archer-god, + 

Praying, “Let honour nation-fostering rest + 

Upon mine head!” And answer made his father + 

With voice infallible to his request: + 

“Arise, and to that place where all men gather + 

Follow, my son, obeying my behest.” + 

So reached they Kronion’s steep rock sunward-soaring. + 

There prophecy’s twin treasure gave his sire⁠— + 

To hear his voice unswerving truth outpouring + 

First: then, when Heracles, that soul of fire, + 

Should come, when he, the Alkaïds’ seed renowned, + 

Should found his God-sire’s Feast thronged by all nations, + 

Of all world-games with chiefest honour crowned, + 

Then high on Zeus’s altar of oblations + 

A second oracle he bade him found. + 

Thereafter through all Hellas famed in story + 

Were Iamus’ sons, and prospered. High emprise + 

They honour; so they tread the path of glory. + 

The achievement proves the man: but envious eyes + 

Of slanderers follow still him on whose head + 

The Grace rains beauty, who before all other + 

His chariot round the twelvefold course hath sped. + 

Agesias, if the forbears of thy mother, + 

Who ’neath Kyllene had their old homestead, + 

With prayer and sacrifice ceased not adoring + 

Heaven’s herald Hermes, him in whom begun + 

Be Games and ended, who is honour pouring + 

On Arcady’s hero-land⁠—He, Sostratus’ son, + 

With his deep-thundering Sire, thy bliss fulfils. + 

My tongue is poesy’s whetstone shrilly-sounding! + 

That fancy all my willing spirit thrills + 

With breathings beauty-rippling. Flower-abounding + 

Metope in Stymphalus ringed of hills, + 

My ancestress, bare Thebe chariot-glorious. + 

I’ll sip her dear springs, and for warriors twine + 

A song-wreath rainbow-hued. Thy choir victorious, + 

O Aeneas, teach to chant the Maid divine + 

Hera, and know that none in after days + 

With scoffed “Boeotian swine!” our ear abuses! + 

A messenger thou art whose faith all praise, + 

O cryptic herald-staff of bright-haired Muses, + 

Sweet mixing-bowl of royal-ringing lays! + 

Bid Syracuse and Ortygia’s praise be chanted, + 

By Hiero with righteous sceptre swayed + 

Who honours Her whose feet on furrows planted + 

Make red the com, the great Feast of the Maid + 

Of the White Steeds, and Zeus throned on the height + 

Of Etna honours. Lyre and song sweet-pealing + 

Know Hiero well. His fortune may the flight + 

Of time not wreck! With welcome love-revealing, + 

King, greet this song that chants Agesias’ might, + 

Which from Stymphalus’ mother-town comes winging, + 

From home to home⁠—Sicilia, Arcady! + 

’Tis good the ship on anchors twain be swinging + 

In night of storm. May Heaven propitiously + 

Grant either folk high glory without stain. + 

In thy protection, Sea-lord King, enfolden + 

Straight onward may he sail: guard him from bane, + 

Spouse of the Sea-queen of the distaff golden, + 

And bless the gladsome flower of this my strain. + 

As a father with wealth-laden hand uplifteth a cup + 

With the flashing dew of the joy-giving wine brimmed up, + 

And pledgeth therein the youth who hath won for a bride + 

His daughter, and therewith giveth to him, to bear + 

From the old home unto the new, that golden pride + 

Of his treasures, and maketh the fair feast yet more fair, + 

And his kinsman envied of all friends banqueting there + 

For the marriage that joins hearts, one evermore to abide; + 

So send I the Song-queens’ gift, the nectar outpoured + 

From my spirit, its vintage of sweetness, a chant to record + 

The triumph of guerdon-winners, their victory + 

At Olympia and Pytho gained in the athlete-strife. + 

Whom praiseful report companioneth, happy is he! + 

Now on one, now another the Grace that enricheth life + 

Propitiously looks, and with manifold music of fife + 

And of lyre sweet-echoing breathes on him melody. + 

To the sound of the lyre and the pipe on-sailing + 

Homeward I come with Diagoras hailing + 

Aphrodite’s Daughter, the Bride of the Sun, + 

Sea-girdled Rhodes, to a man fair-fighting + 

And strong giving glory, whose clenched hand smiting + 

By Alpheus and Castaly garlands hath won. + 

And his father I praise, who in justice excelleth, + 

And in Rhodes triple-citied mid warriors dwelleth + 

Nigh Asia’s foreland that seaward doth run. + 

From their line’s first father beginning, I fain would upraise, + 

From Tlepolemus, this mine herald-song of praise, + 

The common right this of Heracles’ puissant race; + 

For these be descended from Zeus on the father’s side⁠— + 

Ay, this is their boast!⁠—on the mother’s their blood they trace + 

To Amyntor through Astydameia Tlepolemus’ bride. + 

Thick clouds of delusion the truth from men’s hearts hide: + 

This thing would we find, yet aye it eludes our chase, + 

What is best for a man to attain both now and at last. + 

For the founder of this land smote in his passionate haste + 

Alkmena’s base-born brother a deadly blow + 

With his olive-wood staff, as forth Likymnius came + 

From Midea’s bower; for his spirit with wrath was aglow. + 

In the city of Tiryns befell that sin and shame. + 

Yea, the feet of the wise be misled when the soul is aflame + 

With wrath. To the oracle fratricide-stained did he go. + 

And the Golden-haired spake from his shrine sweet-breathing: + 

“Thou must voyage afar o’er a sea surf-seething, + 

From the shore of Lerna in exile sped, + 

To a sea-ringed land of pasture, where showered + 

By the King of the Gods omnipotent-powered + 

Was a golden snow, when forth of the head + 

Of Zeus by the axe of Hephaistus sundered + 

Athena leapt, and her shout far thundered, + 

That Heaven and Earth-mother quaked with dread.” + 

Hyperion’s Son, the God who bringeth the day, + 

Commanded his children: “See that your debt ye repay. + 

Of all men be ye first to uprear in your isle in my sight + 

To the Goddess an altar: her godhead do ye revere + 

With offerings holy, filling the souls with delight + 

Of Allfather and Her of the thunderous-crashing spear.” + 

It is Reverence, Forethought’s daughter, that maketh dear + 

To the spirits of men high courage and joy of the fight. + 

Yet there cometh Oblivion’s wildering mist, to misguide + 

The hearts of men, and to cause them to swerve aside + 

From the deed’s straight path; and so it befell that these + 

Not bearing the seed of flame to the altar drew nigh. + 

So with fireless rites did they plant those hallowed trees + 

On their citadel’s height. Yet Zeus drew over their sky + 

A fire-hued cloud whence rained gold plenteously, + 

And the Grey-eyed made them in all craft-mysteries + 

Unrivalled; for on their highways were gleaming + 

Things living and moving to outward seeming, + 

So that great was their glory. Yea, craft that doth show + 

No semblance of false pretence excelleth + 

In the eyes of the wise. Now a legend telleth + 

How that Zeus and the Deathless drew lots to know + 

How shared should the earth be. Rhodes was unrisen + 

From the wide sea’s breast, but in darkling prison + 

Of abysses of brine lay far below. + 

But since in the place where they gathered the Sun-god was not, + 

None for that stainless Divine One had drawn a lot; + 

And so, when he spake of it, Zeus was minded again + 

To cast the lots; but Helios would not: he said + 

That he saw deep under the face of the hoary main + 

A land upgrowing fast from its rocky bed, + 

A land that for myriad dwellers should bring forth bread, + 

Should rejoice in its sheep-flocks whitening hill and plain. + 

Eftsoons unto Lachesis golden-tired spake he: + 

“Uplift thou thine hands, and swear in sincerity + 

The Gods’ great Oath, and pledge thee with Kronos’ Son + 

That the isle that shall be sent up into heaven’s light + 

Shall be mine head’s guerdon of honour while time shall run.” + 

And the word of truth that from Lachesis’ lips took flight + 

Was fulfilled in the end. Grew up, as a flower blooms bright, + 

That isle from the roUing darkness of water won. + 

He possesseth it. Sire of the sun-arrows gleaming, + 

The breath of whose steeds is a flame outstreaming. + 

With Rhodos the Isle-nymph there he lay: + 

Seven sons he begat, who in years forgotten + 

Were wisest of men; and of one were begotten + 

Ialysus, Lindus, Kameirus; and they + 

Of their father’s land made threefold division, + 

Neither any transgressed that righteous partition; + 

And after them named be their homes to this day. + 

There standeth an altar, a sweet recompense for the grief + 

Of his fall before Troy, to Tlepolemus battle-chief + 

Of Tirynthians: as to a God do they sacrifice + 

Victims, the reek of whose burning floats far round. + 

And at athlete-strife in his name is awarded the prize. + 

There twice were Diagoras’ brows with flower-wreaths bound. + 

And at Isthmus the famed four times, and at Nemea crowned + 

Once and again, and at crag-built Athens twice. + 

At Argos the victors’ bronze shield knoweth him well; + 

Memorials in Thebes and Arcadia his glory tell; + 

At Pellene in games Boeotian the prize did he gain; + 

Six times in Aegina he conquered; in Megara + 

The column of stone doth chant none other strain. + 

O Father Zeus, who holdest omnipotent sway + 

Over wild Atabyrium’s ridges, honour this day + 

The victory-hymn that use and wont ordain! + 

And the hero whose hands have so gallantly striven, + 

Unto him be all worshipful honour given + 

Alike of the stranger and citizen. + 

For he treadeth the path that from insolence turneth: + 

Great lessons bequeathed by his fathers he learneth + 

By his true heart taught. Thou, hide not from men + 

His fame who from Kallianax’ blood springeth. + 

With the Eratids’ joy lo, all Rhodes ringeth! + 

Yet the winds in an hour may be veering again. + 

Mother of contests golden-crowned, O Queen + 

Of truth, Olympia, where from sacrifice + 

Diviners seek the will of Zeus to glean, + 

Who hurls white-flickering lightnings through the skies, + 

To wot if he hath any word of grace + 

For men whose hearts yearn hotly to attain + 

To high achievement, and a breathing-space + 

From toil to gain. + 

This he vouchsafes to reverent prayer and vow. + 

O Pisan precinct fair with olive-lines, + 

Welcome this victory-procession thou, + 

And the crown-bearing! Bright his glory shines + 

Whom splendour of thy guerdon shall attend! + 

Ay, diverse boons to diverse men be given, + 

And many paths to happiness ascend + 

By grace of Heaven. + 

Timosthenes, to Zeus, who hath in keeping + 

Thine house, thee and thy brother Destiny + 

Allotted: He at Nemea honoured thee, + 

And Kronos’ Hill saw glory’s harvest-reaping, + 

Alkimedon’s Olympian victory. + 

Goodly of presence, not by deeds he shamed + 

His beauty! He, in wresthng-bout victorious, + 

Aegina of far-sweeping oars proclaimed + 

His home. There Saviour Themis, throned all-glorious + 

With Guest-ward Zeus, is most with honour named. + 

Far-reaching issues, whose decision still + 

Shifteth, with mind unwarped to judge of these + 

Fairly, is hard: yet sure the Immortals’ will + 

Ordained this island rampired by the seas + 

To be for strangers out of every clime + 

A god-reared pillar of strength, land of the free⁠— + 

Oh may the years in this work through all time + 

Toil tirelessly!⁠— + 

This isle committed unto Dorian hands + 

To be Heaven’s stewards, since, in Aiakus’ days, + 

When Phoebus and the Girder of all lands + 

A tower-coronal for Troy would raise, + 

And as their fellow-builder bade him come + 

To rear that wall, which should, when wars awoke, + 

Breathe out, when battle brought her day of doom, + 

Wild-billowing smoke. + 

Scarce was it built, when, with eyes lurid-glaring, + 

Three dragons leapt to scale its ramparts high. + 

Now twain of these fell back, and suddenly + 

Died, writhing as in impotent despairing: + 

But the third leapt in with fierce battle-cry. + 

That portent Phoebus pondered; then spake he: + 

“Aiakus, where thine hands reared this stone wonder, + 

There breached and taken Pergamus shall be, + 

As this sign sent down by the Lord of Thunder, + 

Zeus, Kronos’ Son, revealeth unto me. + 

“This shall thine house accomplish. Troy shall fall + 

Stormed by thy son and thy fourth in descent.” + 

So plainly spake the God, and therewithal + 

To Xanthus and the fleet-horsed Amazons went, + 

And unto Ister speeding fast his car. + 

With golden team the Trident-wielder fares + 

To Isthmus oversea, and Aiakus far + 

To Aegina bears. + 

Thence, to behold his glorious festival, + 

To Corinth’s mountain-ridge he bore him on. + 

No praise of song is sweet alike to all: + 

If I retrace all fame Melesias won + 

Through boys, no stone at me let envy fling! + 

I sing of honours no less high attained + 

At Nemea, and of crowns pankratian sing + 

By his men gained. + 

To teach is no hard task for him who knoweth; + 

But who unlearned would teach, a fool is he, + 

For wit untrained hath no stability. + 

But this Melesias best of all men showeth + 

How with the strong to strive victoriously, + 

Teacheth what training shall to triumph guide + 

Our champion to repeat the oft-told story, + 

In those great Games, of longed-for victory’s pride. + 

Now hath Alkimedon achieved that glory⁠— + 

Melesias’ thirtieth triumph published wide! + 

By God’s grace, and by his own prowess he + 

Hath vanquished striplings four. Ha! not for him, + 

But them, to steal back home shamefacedly + 

Shrinking from taunting tongues through bypaths dim! + 

His victory hath thrilled his old grandsire + 

With strength that o’er eld’s frailty triumpheth. + 

For he that hath attained his heart’s desire + 

Forgetteth death. + 

I must awaken Memory, I wis, + 

To tell the glory of old champions’ might, + 

The Blepsiads’ conquering sons: the sixth crown this + 

That wreathes their brows from those games garland-dight. + 

Yea, their dead fathers have their share therein, + 

When due memorial rites are not forgot. + 

The grace of honour living kinsmen win + 

The dust hides not. + 

The song by Hermes’ child, Glad-tidings, chanted + 

Shall Iphion hear, his bright Olympic fame, + 

And to Kallimachus shall tell the same, + 

The glory Zeus to this old House hath granted. + 

With triumph on triumph may he crown their name, + 

And aye avert affliction’s bitter blow! + 

And, for the glory in their lot, may never + 

God’s jealousy make Nemesis their foe. + 

May he exalt them and their country, ever + 

Vouchsafing them a life unvexed of woe. + 

Archilochus’ chant of the sweet voice singing + 

The Olympian hymn of victory, + 

With its threefold measure of triumph outringing, + 

Sufficed to lead onward the revelry + 

To the Hill of Kronos, as paced along + 

Epharmostus amidst of his comrade-throng. + 

But now with such soul-stirring arrows of song + 

As in these our days fly fittingly + 

Shot from the Muses’ bows far-ranging, + 

Sing praises, my soul, unto Zeus, whose hand + 

Hurls red-glowing lightnings sin-avenging; + 

And the holy foreland of Elis-land + 

Praise thou, the land which long agone + 

Pelops the hero, Lydia’s son, + 

With Hippodameia for dowry won, + 

The glorious clasp of her wedlock-band. + 

And a sweet feathered shaft on the bowstring laying + 

Pytho-ward shoot thou: not to the ground + 

Shall thy words fall, when thy fingers are straying + 

O’er the quivering strings of the lyre, to sound + 

The praise of a lord of the wrestling-ring + 

Who from Opus the famed came journeying; + 

And the glory of that good town do thou sing + 

And the praise of her champion triumph-crowned. + 

’Tis a city that Themis and Safety-bestower, + 

Her child Fair Governance, won for their own; + 

And in knightly deeds she blooms as a bower; + 

For by Castaly’s fountain her praise is known, + 

And Alpheus murmureth her renown, + 

Where blow fair flowers for victory’s crown + 

To shine on the brows of the mother-town + 

Of Lokris, with trees girt stately-grown. + 

The light of my song shall fierily blaze + 

O’er this city so dear unto me, + 

And swifter than high-mettled steed can race + 

Or a white-winged galley can flee, + 

I will speed this story of Opus’ glory + 

Far, far over land, over sea, + 

If by Destiny guided my hand essay + 

To gather fruit and flower + 

In the Graces’ garden of gardens, for they + 

All things delightsome shower. + 

Whether hero or poet one be, he doth owe it + 

To Heaven’s all-gracious power. + 

How else could Heracles’ arm have wielded + 

Mace against Trident in battle-strain?⁠— + 

When by Poseidon was Pylos shielded, + 

And the Sea-god pressed on the Hero amain, + 

When fast did the arrows of Phoebus fly + 

As the silver bow rang terribly, + 

Neither Hades refrained him from swinging on high + 

His staff, till his blows flashed down like rain⁠— + 

The staff wherewithal through the cavernous portals + 

Of his mansion he leadeth, that Underworld-king, + 

The shadowy forms of perished mortals:⁠— + 

Nay, nay, this slander afar from thee fling, + 

O mouth of mine! Him who dares impeach + 

The Gods, him hatefullest wisdom doth teach! + 

O yea, for untimely bold-mouthed speech + 

Doth with strains insensate of madness ring. + 

Babble not thou in witless folly + 

Of battle and war of Immortals, nor dare + 

Blaspheme them! Nay, to the city holy + 

Of Protogeneia thy song-gift bear, + 

Telling how by His dooming who wields evermore + 

The flickering lightning, the thunder’s roar, + 

Deukalion and Pyrrha long of yore + 

Fixed their first habitation there, + 

When down from Parnassus they came, and unmated + 

Of Aphrodite in wedlock-yoke, + 

Out of the stones of the field created + 

A race that should be thenceforth one folk; + 

And from stones were they named, that stone-born race. + 

Awaken for these thy clear-ringing lays! + 

O yea, old wine well mayest thou praise; + 

But ’tis song’s fresh flowers that our praises provoke. + 

Out of old days cometh a legend which saith + 

That the great deep’s fountains rained + 

On the dark earth’s bosom a deluge of death, + 

Till, by counsels of Zeus restrained, + 

The flood-tide sinking with waters shrinking + 

Swiftly was seaward drained. + 

And this stone-born generation’s sons + 

Your grey forefathers were, + 

All valiant bearers of shields of bronze, + 

Whom Iapetus’ daughters bare + 

When they made affiance with Kronos’ scions, + 

And kings of their blood reigned there, + 

Till the Lord of Olympus, from earth upraising + 

The daughter of Opus, wafted his bride + 

To a lone spot meet for a God’s embracing + 

Mid Mainalus’ ridges, and lay by her side. + 

Thereafter to Lokrus the childless he brought + 

That maid, lest the fingers of eld should blot + 

Out his name, and his line be continued not + 

If heirless the king of the land should have died. + 

But the king’s bride bare till her time’s fulfilling + 

The seed of the Mightiest ’neath her zone; + 

And the hero rejoiced with a joy heart-thrilling + 

O’er the fair babe not of his own seed sown; + 

And he gave him his mother’s father’s name, + 

And a man pre-eminent he became + 

In goodlihead and in deeds of fame, + 

And his sire gave a city to rule for his own. + 

And there unto him were gathered strangers: + 

From Argos the horse-land, from Thebes they hied, + 

And from Pisa, and Arcady’s mountain-rangers; + 

But of all that came in his land to abide + 

Was Aegina’s and Aktor’s son honoured most, + 

Menoitius, whose son with the Atreids’ host + 

Unto Teuthras’ plain by the Troyland coast + 

Sailed. There alone by Achilles’ side + 

Steadfast he stood, when Telephus turning + 

The valiant Danaans backward in flight, + 

Of their sea-pacing galleys essayed the burning; + 

So that all men knew who could deem aright + 

That a brave soul dwelt in Patroclus’ breast. + 

And the son of Thetis with earnest request + 

Exhorted him, yea, with insistent behest: + 

“Never hereafter in murderous fight + 

“Do thou range thyself mid the battle-strain + 

From my man-quelling spear afar!” + 

O that to fit praise I may attain + 

Of those that your champions are, + 

As, bearing my burden of glory’s guerdon, + 

I speed in the Song-queen’s car! + 

And may Daring attend me close at my side + 

And Power all-compassing! + 

For hither at friendship’s call have I hied, + 

And at Chivalry’s summons I sing + 

Of Lampromachus telling in prowess excelling + 

In the Isthmian athlete-ring. + 

Yea, in the same day stood victorious + 

He and his brother in mimic fray; + 

And at Corinth’s gates was the name twice glorious + 

Of Epharmostus in athlete-play. + 

Other wreaths did he win him in Nemea’s vale, + 

And at Argos again did his prowess prevail, + 

When in strife with men did he nowise fail, + 

As he failed not at Athens in boyhood’s day. + 

And what contest was that, when, waxing bolder, + 

From the boys’ ranks stealing at Marathon, + 

He abode the grapple of strong men older + 

Than he, for the silver cups to be won; + 

And by ring-craft that shifteth its balance fast + 

Never falling, he threw them. As tempest-blast + 

Rang the cheering, as down the arena he passed + 

In his goodlihead, goodliest deeds who had done. + 

At the festal assembly of Zeus Lycaean + 

Wondrous he showed in Parrhasia’s sight, + 

And again at Pellene’s games Heraean + 

He won him a warm defence from the spite + 

Of the blasts of winter, a mantle-vest. + 

And the sepulchre where Iolaus doth rest, + 

And Eleusis beside the sea attest + 

The splendour of all his deeds of might. + 

The gifts that by Nature’s self be given + 

Are ever the best; yet many there be + 

That by learning of teachers have painfully striven + 

To attain unto honour’s felicity. + 

But the deed whose achievement no God hath blessed, + 

That it never be published abroad is best. + 

Some paths there be that in glory’s quest + 

Lead farther than others her votary. + 

One path of endeavour, ye well may deem, + 

Leads not all men unto fame. + 

Ah, steep are poesy’s heights supreme; + 

Yet, Muse, when thou crownest his name + 

With thy guerdon of singing, with shout high-ringing + 

Fearlessly then proclaim + 

Of our champion, that Nature hath dowered him + 

By the favour of Fate the divine, + 

With deftness of hand, with litheness of limb, + 

With valour’s light in his eyne, + 

And that now victorious hath he made glorious + 

Oïlean Aias’ shrine. + 

Read ye to me his name⁠—upon mine inmost heart ’tis writ⁠— + 

Archestratus’ son, he who won the Olympian victory: + 

I owe him a sweet triumph-song⁠—I had forgotten it! + 

At last, O Muse, and thou, O Truth, the child of Zeus most high, + 

Do ye with your atoning hands make of the offence an end: + 

Blot out the stain of broken troth, the sin against a friend! + 

From far hath come accusing Time with wings that slowly trail + 

Yet surely, crying shame on me for my deep debt unpaid. + 

Yet if with usury I pay it now, this may avail + 

To lift the burden, hush the lips that faithlessness upbraid. + 

My song shall swell as rolling surge that sweeps the shingle down, + 

Shall pay the wronged one friendship’s debt, shall chant his land’s renown. + 

Unswerving Honour’s home is there beside the western seas. + 

The Lokrians’ burg. They reverence the Queen of Epic Song + 

And Ares bronze-arrayed. Yea, even mighty Heracles + 

Must needs before your Kyknus flee, a foeman over-strong. + 

To Has let the Olympian victor render thanks this day, + 

Who trained Agesidamus’ hands for that grim gauntlet-play; + 

As oft Patroclus thanked Achilles, saith the old-time story. + 

The man for high achievement born shall win yet higher glory + 

If one with God’s help whet his spirit’s edge to each essay. + 

The joy of triumph few have won without hard toil, I ween, + 

The joy that is a light of life that makes the toil seem naught. + 

Statutes of Zeus have kindled me to sing the peerless queen + 

Of contests, which beside the tomb of Pelops ancient-wrought + 

Did Heracles with altars six found in that haunted dell + 

When Kteatus, Poseidon’s flawless son, before him fell; + 

And Eurytus he slew withal, to wrest his hire thereby + 

For service wrought, which Augeas the tyrant grudged to pay. + 

Couched in a copse ’neath Kleonae in ambush did he lie, + 

And as they came, leapt forth and fought and slew them in the way; + 

For Molos’ haughty sons had slaughtered his Tirynthian men + 

Erewhile by treachery, as they lay encamped in Elis’ glen. + 

And verily it was not long ere that Epeian lord + 

Guest-faithless saw his wealth-abounding land and his own town + 

Beneath the fire’s remorseless breath and iron stroke of sword + 

Into the dark unfathomed gulf of ruin sinking down. + 

Ay, when a man hath rushed into contention, hard it is + 

To win forth thence, and loose the grip of mightier foes, I wis. + 

Yea, Augeas’ self, brought by his redeless counsel to confusion, + 

Was captive taken at the last, nor ’scaped sin’s retribution, + 

Hurled down to death, as one who falls from some sheer precipice. + 

Then Zeus’s mighty son assembled all his battle-band + 

And all the spoil of war: a sacred precinct did he trace + 

In Pisa for his sire supreme, and fenced on every hand + 

The Altis, and the bounds thereof in a clear open space + 

He marked out, and for rest and feasting all the plain around + 

Ordained; and so was Alpheus’ stream by him with honour crowned, + 

With the twelve Royal Gods; and on the height therein bestowed + 

The name of Kronos’ Hill; for when Oenomaus was king + 

Nameless it was, a crest by clouds of winter oversnowed. + 

And while men bowed them in that rite primeval worshipping, + 

The Fates were there unseen, yet close they stood beside him then, + 

And Time was there, who of the truth alone convinceth men. + 

For, journeying onward, clearly Time hath told truth manifest + 

How Heracles took battle’s gifts, how he divided all, + 

And to those Gods apportioned out of all the spoils the best, + 

And with due sacrifice ordained that fifth-year festival, + 

That first Olympiad whose fame has pealed the ages down. + 

And who were they, the first that won that new-appointed crown + 

With battling hands, with racing feet, with chariot swiftly flying, + 

Who in their hearts the vision saw of glory’s wreath undying, + 

And by their deeds of prowess won unperishing renown? + 

Adown the straight course of the racing-track Likyminius’ son + 

Oionus sped: fast did his feet before all rivals bound: + 

From Midea’s gates in Argolis he led his war-host on. + 

And by his wrestling Echemus made Tegea renowned. + 

The gauntlet-fighters’ guerdon from the lists Doryklus bore + 

Who dwelt in Tiryns. In the chariot-race of horses four + 

Samos of Mantinea, Halirhothius’ son, sped fast + 

Beyond the rest; and Phrastus’ lance with aim unerring flew; + 

And Nikeus past all rival marks the huge stone discus cast, + 

The weight that whirling round with circling sweep of hand he threw. + 

Then thundered forth the mighty cheer from all his war-mates there. + 

And lo, the fair-faced moon’s sweet light lit up the evening air. + 

Then rang the close with songs, as music rings through banquet-hall. + 

So voices still the victor sing, and feet the revel tread. + 

Now, as the grey beginnings of those contests we recall, + 

We too, in song named after Victory stately-charioted, + 

Will chant the thunder’s praise, the fiery-handed flames that fly + 

In crimson-flickering bolts of Him who wakes the thunder’s cry, + 

And sendeth down upon the earth his lurid-gleaming levin + 

Which sealeth every victory with Zeus’s sign from heaven. + 

And consonant with flutes shall ring my song’s rich melody, + 

Which here by Dirke’s stream renowned hath come to light at last. + 

As welcome to that father comes a son in wedlock born + 

Whose feet unto the further slope of young life’s hill have passed, + 

And lights a love-flame in the heart that was of joy forlorn⁠— + 

For to a dying man is death a thing to hate yet more + 

If alien heirs like sheep shall herd his wealth of garnered store;⁠— + 

Even so, Agesidamus, when from emprise nobly wrought + 

A man descendeth all unsung to mansions of the dead, + 

Scant pleasure all his toil hath won, his breath was spent for nought. + 

But upon thee the sweet-voiced lyre and dulcet flute have shed + 

The grace of all their winsomeness: like some wide-spreading tree + 

By those Zeus-born Pierian Maids thy fame shall fostered be. + 

And I, their earnest fellow-worker, to mine heart enfold + 

This glorious race of Lokrians. Song’s honey-dew I shower + 

On that burg of heroic men. Thy praises have I told, + 

Archestratus’ all-comely son, whose victory in that hour + 

Achieved by prowess of thine hand by mine own eyes was seen. + 

Beside the altar crowned in that Olympian demesne + 

I saw him! Goodly was his presence, strength and beauty blended + 

With that spring-bloom which glowed on Ganymede when he ascended + 

Heaven-high above death’s ruthless clutch, by favour of Love’s Queen. + 

Sometimes the wind-battalions shouting loud + 

Do men most service, now again + 

The rains of heaven, the children of the cloud, + 

Bring blessing in their train. + 

But when by toil one winneth victory, + 

The singer’s honey-throated lays + 

Upringing, plant for fame that yet shall be + 

A sure foundation, are a prophecy + 

Of exploits worthy praise. + 

Far beyond envy are the praises stored + 

For victors at Olympia crowned. + 

Songs are my sheep; I, as some shepherd-lord, + 

Find them fair pasture-ground. + 

By God’s gift inspiration bloometh aye + 

In the bard’s heart unfadingly. + 

Son of Archestratus, know thou this day, + 

Agesidamus, that my victory-lay + 

Shall sweetly sound for thee, + 

Shall for the triumph of thy ring-craft grace + 

With splendour thy bright olive-wreath, + 

And honour therewithal the Lokrian race + 

Fanned by the West-wind’s breath. + 

O Song-queens, hither speed your festal feet! + 

I pledge me in sincerity + 

No guest-repelling folk ye there shall meet, + 

Nor in fair chivalry + 

Unschooled: nay, over wisdom’s heights they range, + 

They with the spear were valiant ever. + 

That these be like their sires is nowise strange: + 

Red fox and thunder-throated lion change + 

Their inborn nature never. + 

Hear, O thou Daughter of Zeus the Deliverer, Fortune the Saver + 

From peril! Keep watch and ward, I implore, + 

Over Himera, burg of the far-stretching might; for ’tis by thy favour + 

That ships be steered to their haven-shore + 

Over the sea; and torrent-like wars, and council-decisions + 

Be guided on land. Tossed high, whelmed low + 

Be the hopes of men, as over a sea of delusive visions + 

Cleaving the treacherous waves they go. + 

But through all the years never any of men on the earth abiding + 

Hath found sure tokens from God to reveal + 

How he shall fare in the days to come, but in darkness hiding + 

Are the future’s warnings of woe or weal. + 

Many chances to men have befallen, yea, past all expectation: + 

Some plunge from joy into sorrow’s abyss; + 

And some, who have battled with troublous surges, by sudden mutation + 

Their anguish have changed for the height of bliss. + 

O son of Philanor, verily even thy swift feet’s glory + 

Had as dead leaves faded, unmarked, uncrowned, + 

There by the hearth of thy fathers: thy name had been heard not in story; + 

As a home-fighting cock hadst thou been unrenowned, + 

Had contention in Knossus of burgher with burgher in conflict gory + 

In the homeland not left thee no foot of ground. + 

But now at Olympia, Ergoteles, winning a victory-garland + 

And at Isthmus, at Pytho, twain⁠—by these + 

Thou exaltest to honour the steaming Baths of the Nymphs in a far land, + 

On thine own lands dwelling in stormless peace. + 

Now, while I laud a house that thrice can vaunt + 

Olympian victory, gracious to the guest, + 

To fellow-burghers courteous, I will chant + 

With theirs the praise of Corinth heaven-blest. + 

Here Isthmian Poseidon fixed his portals, + 

This city glorious⁠—noble sons are hers! + 

Here hath Fair Governance her home mid mortals, + 

Here dwell her sisters, city-stablishers, + 

Justice, and Peace her fellow-fosterling: + 

God’s stewards of true wealth to men they be, + 

Themis’s golden daughters, they who bring + 

Wise counsels from the Queen of Equity; + 

And resolute are they afar to scare + 

Insolence, glutted greed’s tongue-shameless dam. + 

Fair witness of them it is mine to bear; + 

By forthright boldness spurred to speak I am. + 

None can suppress our nature’s inborn powers, + 

Hide them can none. On you, Aletes’ seed, + 

Oftentimes have the Seasons crowned with flowers + 

Bestowed the splendour of the victor’s meed + 

As upon men with hero-prowess fired, + 

Men in the sacred Games with victory wreathed; + 

And oft into men’s souls have they inspired + 

Devices wise by them of old bequeathed. + 

To him of whom first each invention came + 

Is all the honour due. Who caused to appear + 

Dionysus’ graces, with the dithyramb + 

That wins the ox? Who unto horses’ gear + 

Added the rein? On temples god-enshrining + 

Who set the twofold image of the king + 

Of birds? Flower-fragrant there the Muse is shining, + 

And Ares spear-girt by a warrior-ring. + 

Olympian Lord most high, who far and wide + 

Reignest, grudge not fulfilment of my prayer + 

Through all time! May this city’s folk abide + 

In safety! May the breeze of fortune fair + 

That breathes on Xenophon, blow constant ever! + 

The due procession singing home his crown + 

Accept thou, as from Pisa’s plain and river + 

He leads it onward to his native town. + 

For victor in the Contests Five is he + 

And in the foot-race: so hath he attained + 

Such glory multiplied of victory + 

As mortal never yet before hath gained. + 

And shadowed was his head by garlands twain + 

When Isthmus saw him win the parsley-meed: + 

Kindness no less from Nemea did he gain + 

The record of his father’s lightning speed + 

Is treasured still where Alpheus softly paces. + 

Yea, and at Pytho by his feet were won + 

The crowns of honour in the twofold races, + 

Single and double, under one day’s sun. + 

In that same month at rocky Athens-town + 

A day fulfilled of glorious victory + 

Set on his hair crown after victor’s crown + 

Whose flying feet had won him races three. + 

Seven times Hellotia crowned him. ’Twere too long + 

To tell how with their father Ptoiadore + 

Did Terpsias and Eritimus strong + 

Triumph in games beside the Sea-god’s shore; + 

How oft at Delphi ye, and in the Lion’s + 

Dark glen stood first⁠—though my song-treasury + 

Outrival all bards, their tale bids defiance + 

To reckoning; countless as the sands they be. + 

But to each thing pertaineth measure meet, + 

And best of all it is to know aright + 

The fit time. I, who sail in your great fleet, + 

Yet choose mine own course, sing the battle-might + 

And wisdom of old days, and in the telling + 

Lie not⁠—of heroism’s highways trod + 

By Corinth, and of Sisyphus excelling + 

In cunning counsels even as some God, + 

And of Medea, her who dared defy + 

Her father, chose at her own heart’s behest + 

A bridegroom, and the saviour was thereby + 

Of Argo and the Heroes of the Quest. + 

Again of old when dashed the war’s red seas + 

Against Troy’s walls, ’twas ever Corinth’s sons + 

That swayed to either side war’s balance, these + 

Helping Atreides and his mighty ones + 

To win back Helen, those to make resistance + 

Unto the uttermost, when Danaans quailed + 

Before strong Glaukus, who from the far distance + 

Of Lycia’s highlands flashed on them bronze-mailed, + 

And vaunted of his father’s empery + 

Over the city of Peirene there, + 

And of his heritage of deep-loamed lea, + 

And of his stately palace royal-fair, + 

That sire who sorely suffered by the spring + 

Where he would fain bind snake-haired Gorgon’s son + 

Pegasus. Dreaming, he saw Pallas bring + 

The bridle that with golden frontlet shone:⁠— + 

And lo, ’twas no dream! “Aiolid prince, awake thee!” + 

She cried⁠—“Receive this spell to charm yon steed. + 

To thine horse-taming Sire with this betake thee; + 

There let a white bull on his altar bleed.” + 

Thus as he slumbered in the gloom of night, + 

The Maid of the Dark Aegis seemed to say. + 

Upleaping, on his feet he stood upright, + 

And seized the marvel that beside him lay. + 

Then joyously to Corinth’s seer he wended, + 

And to the son of Koiranus he showed + 

How that strange venture of the night had ended, + 

How, trusting all the prophet did forebode, + 

He laid him down to sleep all through the night + 

Upon the altar in Athene’s fane; + 

How she, the Child of Him whose lance of light + 

Is levin, with her own hands did she deign + 

To bring to him the spirit-taming gold. + 

The seer bade haste that vision to obey; + 

To the Wide-ruler who doth earth enfold + 

The bull, the mighty-footed beast, to slay; + 

And then to rear to Pallas chariot-reining + 

An altar. Ah, by power of Gods is brought + 

To pass a thing transcending prayers’ attaining, + 

Transcending all hope⁠—effortlessly wrought! + 

So was it now; for strong Bellerophon + 

With haste impetuous hied him forth to quell + 

That winged steed⁠—lo, the victory was won + 

When touched his jaws the fury-stilling spell! + 

He sprang on Pegasus’ back; in brazen mail + 

Arrayed to play the play of swords he sped; + 

And riding on that steed did he assail + 

From the chill cloudland’s folds untenanted + 

The Amazon host, the maids that bear the quiver; + 

Fire-breath’d Chimaera slew and Solymi. + 

That steed in Zeus’s stalls abideth ever:⁠— + 

His rider’s doom I pass in silence by. + 

But, as I hurl the whizzing casting-spear, + 

My shaft beside the mark I may not speed. + 

To Song-queens splendour-throned with joy draws near + 

Their champion, and to Oligaithus’ seed. + 

How oft at Nemea these have shone victorious + 

And at the Isthmus, all will I comprise + 

In few words: of the record passing-glorious + 

My tale a truthful witness ratifies⁠— + 

Ay, under oath⁠—that noble herald’s tongue + 

Which published threescore victories in the names + 

Of this House⁠—welcome-sweet his accents rung!⁠— + 

When Nemea and the Isthmus held their games. + 

Touching their victories at Olympia won, + 

Meseems, the tale already hath been told; + 

And of the great deeds that shall yet be done, + 

Their tale hereafter shall my song unfold + 

Clearly. I hope now: with God lies the issue; + 

But, if this House’s fortune speed, I trow, + 

Zeus and the War-god’s hands shall weave the tissue + 

Of that bright future. ’Neath Parnassus’ brow + 

Six triumphs won they: all at Argos gained + 

And Thebes, and where by that Lykaian height + 

The altar royal unto Zeus ordained + 

Shall witness in Arcadia’s people’s sight, + 

And in Pellene, Megara, Sikyon, + 

And in the Aiakids’ close fair-walled around, + 

And at Eleusis, shining Marathon, + 

And towns by Etna’s huge mass overfrowned, + 

Euboea⁠—nay, all Hellas through, thy questing + 

Shall prove them countless. Zeus, who answerest prayer, + 

Light let their feet glide on! Be honour resting + 

On these, all bliss be theirs and fortune fair! + 

O ye who your lot by Kephisus have found, + 

Ye who dwell in the land where the swift horse races, + 

O bright Orchomenus’ queens, ye Graces + 

Who compass the ancient Minyans round + 

With your guardian arms, O song-renowned, + 

Now hearken my prayer! By your bounty all pleasure, + 

All sweet things on menfolk descend in full measure, + 

All wisdom, all beauty, all fame with its splendour. + 

’Tis with help that the Graces, the worshipful, render + 

That the Gods’ own dancings and feastings be holden; + 

Yea, these be dispensers of all things in Heaven. + 

By the side of the Lord of the bow all-golden, + 

Pythian Apollo, be thrones to them given; + 

The Olympian Sire are they ever adoring, + 

And his majesty’s fountain for aye outpouring. + 

O Daughters of Zeus of the Gods most high, + 

Euphrosyne lover of song, and Aglaia, + 

And thou who dost joy in the chant, Thalia, + 

Hearken ye now to our suppliant cry! + 

Look down as our triumphing troop sweeps by, + 

As onward with lightsome foot it is pacing + 

The victor’s fortune of happiness gracing. + 

I come hither the praise of Asopichus singing, + 

In Lydian measure my chant outringing, + 

For that now is the Minyan House victorious + 

By your grace at Olympia. Fly, Echo, telling + 

Unto old Kleodamus the tidings glorious + 

That shall brighten Persephone’s dark-walled dwelling, + 

How his son in the Vale far-famous in story + 

Hath enwreathed his tresses with garlands of glory. + 