FRAGMENTS.
Nearly two-thirds of the Fragments cannot be assigned to any distinct class: the rest are divided among (1) Ἐπινίκια, or Triumphal Odes (such as are the odes remaining to us entire), (2) Ὕμνοι, or Hymns sung by a choir in honour of gods, (3) Παιᾶνες, or Hymns of a like kind but anciently addressed especially to Apollo and Artemis for their intervention against pestilence, (4) Διθύραμβοι, or choral songs of more general compass, verging sometimes on the drama, (5) Προσόδια, or Processional Songs, (6) Παρθένια, or Songs for a Choir of Maidens, (7) Ὑπορχήματα, or Songs with Accompaniment of Dance, (8) Ἐνκώμια, or Odes sung by a κῶμος in praise of some person but not necessarily on any special occasion, (9) Σκόλια, or Songs to be sung at Banquets, (10) Θρῆνοι, or Dirges.
FRAGMENT OF A DITHYRAMB,
TO BE SUNG AT ATHENS.
Hither! Olympian gods to our choice dance, and make your grace to descend thereon and to glorify it, ye who in sacred Athens visit the city's incensed centre-stone, and her famed market-place of splendid ornament; receive ye violet-entwinëd crowns and drink-offerings of spring-gathered herbs, and look on me who am come from the house of Zeus with my bright song a second time unto the ivy-crownëd god, whom we call Bromios, even the god of clamorous shout.
To sing the offspring[1] of the Highest and of Kadmean mothers am I come.
In Argive Nemea the prophet of the god overlooketh not the
- ↑ Dionysos, son of Zeus and of Semele, daughter of Kadmos.
