THE THIRD OLYMPICK ODE.

This Ode is likewife infcribed to Theron King of Agrigentum, upon the Occafion of another Victory obtained by him in the Chariot-Race at Olympia; the Date of which is unknown.

A R G U M E N T.

THE Scholiaft acquaints us, that as Theron was celebrating the Theoxenia (a festival instituted by Caftor and Pollux in honour of all the gods) he received the news of a victory obtained by his chariot in the Olymick Games: from this circumftance the Poet takes occafion to address this Ode to those two deities and their fifter Helena, in whofe temple, the fame Scholiaft informs us, fome people with greatest pròbability conjectured, it was fung, at a folemn facrifice there offered by Theron to those deities, and to Hercules alfo, as may be inferred from a paffage in the third Strophe of the Translation. But there is another, and a more poetical propriety in Pindar's invoking these divinities, that is fuggefted in the Ode itfelf: for, after mentioning the occafion of his compofing it, namely, the Olympick victory of Theron, and faying that a triumphal fong was a tribute due to that perfon upon whom the Hellanodick, or Judge of the Games, beftowed the facred Olive, ac

cording

cording to the inftitution of their first founder Hercules, he proceeds to relate the fabulous, but legendary story, of that Hero's having brought that plant originally from Scythia, the country of the Hyperboreans, to Olympia; having planted it there near the temple of Jupiter, and ordered that the victors in thofe games fhould, for the future, be crowned with the branches of this facred tree. To this he adds, that Hercules, upon his being removed to heaven, appointed the twin-brothers, Caftor and Pollux, to celebrate the Olympick Games, and execute the office of bestowing the Olive-crown upon those who obtained the victory; and now, continues Pindar, he comes a propitious gueft to this facrifice of Theron, in company with the two fons of Leda, who, to reward the piety and zeal of Theron and his family, have given them fuccefs and glory; to the utmost limits of which he infinuates that Theron is arrived, and fo concludes with affirming, that it would be in vain for any man, wife or unwife, to attempt to furpafs him.

то

то

THERON KING OF AGRIGENTUM.

WHILE

STROPHE I.

HILE to the fame of Agragas I fing,
For Theron wake th' Olympick string,

And with Aonian garlands grace

His fteeds unweary'd in the race,

may

the hospitable twins of Jove,

And bright-hair'd Helena, the fong approve!
For this the Muse bestow'd 'her aid,

As in new measures I essay'd

To harmonize the tuneful words,

And fet to Dorian airs my founding chords.

ANTIS TROPHE I.

And lo! the conquering fteeds, whofe toffing heads Olympia's verdant wreath bespreads,

The Muse-imparted tribute claim,

Due, Theron, to thy glorious name;

And bid me temper in their master's praise

The flute, the warbling lyre, and melting lays.

Lo! Pifa too the fong requires!

Elean Pifa, that inspires

The glowing Bard with eager care

His heaven-directed prefent to prepare:

EPODE

The present offer'd to his virtuous fame,

On whofe ennobled brows

The righteous umpire of the facred game,
Th' Ætolian judge, bestows

The dark fome olive, ftudious to fulfill
The mighty founder's will,

Who this fair enfign of Olympick toil From diftant Scythia's fruitful foil, And Hyperborean Ifter's woody thore, With fair entreaties gain'd, to Grecian Elis bore.

STROPHE II.

The blameless fervants of the Delphick God
With joy the valued gifts bestow'd ;
Mov'd by the friendly chief to grant,

On terms of peace, the facred plant,

Deftin'd at once to fhade Jove's honour'd shrine
And crown heroick worth with wreaths divine
For now full-orb'd the wandering moon
In plenitude of brightnefs fhone,

And on the fpacious eye of night

Pour'd all the radiance of her golden light:
ANTIS TROPHE II.

Now on Jove's altars blaz'd the hallow'd flames,
And now were fix'd the mighty games,

Again, when e'er the circling fun
Four times his annual course had run,

Their period to renew, and fhine again

On Alpheus' craggy fhores and Pifa's plain

:

But

But fubject all the region lay

To the fierce fun's infulting ray, While upon Pelops' burning vale No fhade arofe his fury to repell.'

E PODE II.

Then traverfing the hills, whofe jutting bafe
Indents Arcadia's meads,

To where the virgin goddess of the chace
Impells her foaming steeds,

To Scythian Ifter he directs his way,
Doom'd by his father to obey
The rigid pleafures of Mycena's king,
And thence the rapid hind to bring,
Whom, facred prefent for the Ortbian maid,
With horns of branching gold, Täygeta array'd.

STROPHE III.

There as the longfome chace the chief pursued,
The fpacious Scythian plains he view'd;
A land beyond the chilling blaft

And northern caves of Boreas caft:

There too the groves of olive he furvey'd,

And gaz'd with rapture on the pleasing shade,
Thence by the wondering hero borne

The goals of Elis to adorn.

And now to Theron's facred feaft

With Leda's twins he comes, propitious gueft!

ANTI