Ere yet the sun's resplendent light
Had travell'd its meridian height, 205
For his own daughter hoped to gain
A brighter hymeneal chain. 200
For in the stadium's farthest end
To the whole choir he fix'd a place,
And bade the amorous train contend 210
By skill in the pedestrian race,
Where each aspiring hero strove
To win the object of his love.
'Twas thus the Libyan sire allied
The husband to his destined bride. 215
Adorn'd in all her bright array
Close to the goal he bade her stay. 208
Sweet issue of their manly toil—
"Her garments," thus he cried aloud,
"Who touches first, of all the crowd, 220
Shall bear away the lovely spoil."
Alexidamus then, who press'd
Through the swift course before the rest,
Seizing the noble virgin's hand,
Led her through Libya's warlike band. 225
To him in many a strife before
The leafy crown they gave, on victory's wing to soar! [1] 220
- ↑ The metaphor here is the same as at the conclusion of the [[../../Olympic Odes/14|fourteenth Olympic ode]], and at v. 129 of the eighth, and the last of the ninth Pythian, on which passage the scholiast considers the expression as simply a periphrasis for victory. It appears to be a favourite image with Pindar to denote the exultation produced by victory on the ardent mind. West, however, in his note on the fourteenth Olympic ode, maintains the opinion, founded on a passage in Plutarch, that the word wings is to be taken m its literal sense, to denote some emblematical ornaments added to the Olympic wreaths, &c. Let the reader decide.
