Pindar and Anacreon/Pindar/Olympic Odes/5
THE FIFTH OLYMPIC ODE.
TO THE SAME PSAUMIS, ON HIS THREE VICTORIES, ONE IN THE CHARIOT DRAWN BY FOUR HORSES; ANOTHER IN THE APENE, OR CHARIOT DRAWN BY MULES; AND THE THIRD IN THE SINGLE-HORSE RACE—ALL GAINED IN THE EIGHTY-SECOND OLYMPIAD.
ARGUMENT.
The poet in this ode invocates Camarina, a sea nymph, from whom the town and lake in Sicily wore fabled to have taken their name; to bespeak her favourable acceptance of the hymn in which are celebrated the three victories of Psaumis; whom he also commends for his liberality and patriotism.—Concludes by supplicating Jupiter to grant continued prosperity to the victor, and expressing his own good wishes towards him.
Daughter of Ocean! this sweet strain,
Which Psaumis' lofty virtues wake,
Whose mules untired glide o'er Olympia's plain,
And victory's fairest chaplet gain,
With mind propitious take. 7 5
Eager to grace with high renown,
Oh Camarina! thy well-peopled town;
To the bright rulers of the skies
He bade the six twin altars rise,
And spread to each celestial guest 10
Of oxen slain the liberal feast;
Five times the sun's diurnal blaze
Each well-contested strife surveys,
The strong-yoked chariot's conquering speed,
Drawn by fleet mule or generous steed; 15
Or where impatient of control
The courser presses to the goal. 15
Thy mighty combatant to thee
Conveys the meed of victory,
That bids the herald's loud acclaim 20
Join with thy new-built walls his father Acron's name. 19
From Pelops' and Œnomaus' pleasant seat,
Oh Pallas! our loved city's guardian pride,
The victor comes with festal hymn to greet
Thy solemn grove and fair Oanus' tide, 25
The native lake, the sacred source
Whence Hipparis directs his course,
And pours, the thirsting host to lave,
Through long canals his fruitful wave,
Transported down whose rapid tide 30
Beams for the stable fabrics glide,
When Psaumis rears the wondrous pile,
Lightens his country's woes, and renovates her smile.
But labour still and cost his steps attend,
Whose virtue strives to gain this glorious end.
Around his path uncertain hazards wait, 36
And clouds obscure the mighty combat's fate—
Yet when his persevering toils succeed,
A nation's voice confirms the wisdom of the deed. 38
Hear, earth's protecting sovereign, Jove, 40
Who dwell'st enthron'd in clouds above,
And on the Cronian mount—whose care
Alpheus' widely flowing wave,
And Ida's venerable cave
Protects, oh hear thy suppliant's prayer!— 45
Who, breathing on his Lydian reed,
Implores thee still to crown this state with valour's meed.
Oh Psaumis! victor in th' Olympic strife.
Who mak'st Neptunian steeds thy joy and pride,
May placid age attend thy closing life, 50
Thy children standing round to grace a father's side! 53
Of fortune's ample stores possess'd,
And with fair reputation bless'd,
No higher let thy wishes rise,
Since all that mortals gain is thine, 55
Nor madly try to reach the skies,
Ambitious of a lot divine. 57