This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
250
PINDAR.

Th' encomiastic strain shall be
Pronounced with Argive brevity. 87 95


Three crowns in the pancratium's fray,
Victorious on the Isthmian shore,
And some from Nemea's plain away
Th' illustrious sons and uncles bore.
What theme for lyric glory bright 100
Their valiant deeds have brought to light!
And with the Graces' fairest dew
Your tribe, Psaleuchidæ, imbue:
Themistius' house their love shall crown,
Dwelling in this Heaven-favour'd town; 105
While Lampo strives by deeds to prove,
And efforts of laborious care,
How much the words of Hesiod move
His warm approval to declare;
Exhorting his remotest race 110
Their common city's fame by valiant acts to grace.


Bless'd in the cherish'd strangers' love,
Retain'd within the mild control
Of mediocrity of soul:
His tongue ne'er wont beyond the mind to move.
His name among the athletes known, 116
Who oft were taught his might to feel,
Sounds like the hardy Naxian stone,
Which best subdues the temper'd steel.
To slake their thirst, them will I lave 120
In Dirce's pure and hallow'd wave,
Which the fair nymphs to light have brought,
Mnemosyne's assiduous train,
Whose costly robes with gold are wrought,
Where Cadmus' gates the well-built walls maintain. 111 125