THE SEVENTH OLYMPICK ODE.

'This Ode is infcribed to Diagoras, the fon of Damagetus of Rhodes, who in the Seventy-ninth Olympiad, obtained the victory in the exercife of the cæftus. This Ode was in. fuch efteem among the ancients, that it was depofited in a temple of Minerva, written in letters of gold.

THE Poet begins this noble fong of triumph with a fimile, by which he endeavours to fhew his great efteem for those who obtain the victory in the Olympick and other games; as alfo the value of the present, that he makes them upon that occasion; a prefent always acceptable, because fame and praife is that which delights all mortals; wherefore the Muse, fays he, is perpetually looking about for proper objects to bestow it upon.; and fecing the great actions

of Diagoras, takes up a refolution of celebrating him, the Ifle of Rhodes his country, and his father Damagetus (according to the form obferved by the herald in proclaiming the conquerors); Damagetus, and confequently Diagoras, being defcended from Tiepolemus, who led over a colony of Grecians from Argos to Rhodes, where he fettled, and obtained the dominion of that ifland. From Tlepolemus, therefore, Pindar declares he will deduce his fong; which he addreffes to all the Rhodians in com

mon

mon with Diagoras, who were defcended from Tlepolemus, or from thofe Grecians that came over with him; that is, almost all the people of Rhodes, who indeed are as much (if not more) interested in the greatest part of this Ode, as Diagoras the conqueror. Pindar accordingly relates the occafion of Tlepolemus's coming to Rhodes, which he tells was in obedience to an oracle, that commanded him to feek out that ifland; which, instead of telling us its name, Pindar, in a more poetical manner, characterizes by relating of it fome legendary ftories (if I may fo fpeak) that were peculiar to the Ifle of Rhodes; fuch as the Golden Shower, and the occafion of Apollo's chufing that island for himself; both which ftories he relates at large with such a flame of Poetry, as fhews his imagination to have been extremely heated and elevated with his fubjects. Neither does he feem to cool in the fhort account that he gives, in the next place, of the paffion of Apollo for the Nymph Rhodos, from whom the island received its name, and from whom were defcended its original inhabitants (whom just before the Poet therefore called the fons of Apollo): and particularly the three brothers, Camirus, Lindus, and Jalyfus; who divided that country into three kingdoms, and built the three principal cities which retained their names. In this ifland Tlepolemus (says the Poet, returning to the ftory of that hero) found reft, and a period to all his misfortunes, and at length grew into fuch esteem with the Rhodians, that they worshiped him as a God, appointing

facrifices to him, and inftituting games in his honour. The mention of those games naturally brings back the Poet to Diagoras; and gives him occafion, from the two victories obtained by Diagoras in those games, to enumerate all the prizes won by that famous conqueror in all the games of Greece: after which enumeration, he begs of Jupiter, in a folemn prayer, to grant Diagoras the love of his country, and the admiration of all the world, as a reward for the many virtues for which he and his family had always been diftinguished, and for which their country had fo often triumphed: and then, as if he had been a witnefs of the extravagant transports of the Rhodians (to which, not the festival only occafioned by the triumphal entry of their countryman, and the glory reflected upon them by his victories, but much more the flattering and extraordinary eulogiums bestowed upon the whole nation in this Ode, might have given birth), the Poet on a fudden changes his hand, and checks their pride by a moral reflection on the viciffitude of fortune, with which he exhorts them to moderation, and fo concludes.

A

HEROIC STANZA S.

I,

S when a father in the golden vase,

The pride and glory of his wealthy ftores, Bent his lov'd daughter's nuptial torch to grace, The vineyard's purple dews profufely pours;

II. Then

II.

Then to his lips the foaming chalice rears,
With bleffings hallow'd, and aufpicious vows,
And, mingling with the draught tranfporting tears,
On the young bridegroom the rich gift bestows;
III.

The precious earnest of esteem fincere,
Of friendly union and connubial love :
The bridal train the facred pledge revere,

And round the youth in sprightly measures move,
IV.

He to his home the valued prefent bears,
The grace and ornament of future feasts;
Where, as his father's bounty he declares,
Wonder. shall seize the gratulating guests.

V.

Thus on the valiant, on the swift, and strong,
Caftalia's genuine nectar I bestow;

And, pouring forth the Muse-defcended song,
Bid to their praises the rich numbers flow.

VI.

Grateful to them refounds th' harmonick Ode,
The gift of friendship and the pledge of fame.

Happy the mortal, whom th' Aonian God

Chears with the mufick of a glorious name!

VII.

The Mufe her piercing glances throws around,
And quick discovers every worthy deed :
And now the wakes the lyre's inchanting found,
Now fille with various strains the vocal reed:

VIII. But

VIII.

But here each inftrument of fong divine,
The vocal reed and lyre's enchanting string,
She tunes; and bids their harmony combine
Thee, and thy Rhodes, Diagoras, to fing;

IX.

Thee and thy country, native of the flood,
Which from bright Rhodos draws her honour'd name,
Fair nymph, whofe charms fubdued the Delphic God,
Fair blooming daughter of the Cyprian dame:

X.

To fing thy triumphs in th' Olympick fand,
Where Alpheus faw thy giant-temples crown'd;
Fam'd Pythia too proclaim'd thy conquering hand,
Where sweet Caftalia's myftic currents found. -
XI.

Nor Damagetus will I pafs unfung,

Thy fire, the friend of Juftice and of Truth; From noble ancestors whofe lineage fprung,

The chiefs who led to Rhodes the Argive youth.*

XII.

There near to Afia's wide-extended strand,
Where jutting Embolus the waves divides,
In three divifions they they poffefs'd the land,
Enthron'd amid the hoarfe-refounding tides.
XIII.

To their defcendants will I tune my lyre,
The offspring of Alcides bold and strong;
And from Thepolemus, their common fire,
Deduce the national historick fong.

XIV. Tiepole