THE ELEVENTH NEMEAN ODE.
TO ARISTAGORAS THE PRYTANIS OF TENEDOS, SON OF ARCESILAUS.
ARGUMENT.
In this ode the poet supplicates Vesta to receive propitiously Aristagoras and his colleagues, who were entering on their annual dignity at Tenedos.—Commends him on account of his father Arcesilaus, his own beautiful form and numerous triumphs, blaming his parents, whose cautious fears would not allow him to engage in the more illustrious Pythian and Olympic contests.—Details the origin of the victor's ancient family from Pisander and Melanippus; but his race having been for a time obscured and inglorious, he concludes the ode with reflections on human vicissitudes, exhorting his hero to aim at attainable objects.
Hail, Vesta, Rhea's offspring! thou whose care
The hearths of Prytanæan mansions share, [1]
Sister of Juno, throned on high
With Jove in kindred majesty—
Let Aristagoras and social train 5
A friendly welcome entertain,
Where thine illustrious sceptred sign is found,
Who guard fair Tenedos and thee adore,
Slay the fat victims, the libations pour,
While lyre and song, thee, first of gods, resound; 10
And at the constant board they prove
The rites of hospitable Jove.
- ↑ The Prytanæum was the place at Athens where the council of five hundred held their deliberations, and where the sacred fire of Vesta was kept—(πυροταμειον.) In this part of the city they who had deserved well of their country were maintained at the public charge.
