THE SEVENTH OLYMPICK ODE.

This Ode is inscribed to‘Diagoras, the son of Dama

getus of Rhodes, who in the Seventy-ninth Olym

piad, obtained the victory in the exercise of the cæstus. This Ode was in such esteem among the ancients, that

it was deposited in a temple of Minerva, written in letters of gold.

THE Poet begins this noble song of triumph with a

fimile, by which he endeavours to thew his great esteem for those who obtain the victory in the Olympick and other games; as also the value of the present, that he makes them

upon

that occasion ; a prefent always acceptable, because fame and praise is that which delights all mortals; wherefore the Muse, says he, is perpei ually looking about.for proper objects to bestow it

upon; and feeing the great actions of Diagoras, takes up a resolution of celebrating him, the Isle of Rhodes his eountry, and his father Daimagetus (according to the form observed by the herald in proclaiming the conquerors); Damagetus, and consequently Diagoras, being descended from Tiepolemus, who led over a colony of Grecians from Argos to Rhodes, where he settled, and obtained the dominion of that island. From Tlepolemus, therefore, Pindar declares he will deduce luis Song ; which he addresses to all the Rhodians in com

mon

.mon with Diagoras, who were descended from Tlepolemus, or from those 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 occasion of Tlepolemus's coming to Rhodes, which he tells was in obedience to an oracle, that commanded him to seek out that island ; which, instead of telling us its name, Pindar, in a more poetical manner, characterizes by relating of it some legendary stories (if I may so speak) that were peculiar to the Isle of Rhodes; such as the Golden Shower, and the occafion of Apollo's chusing that island for himself ; both which stories he relates at large with such a flame of Poetry, as thews his imagination to have been extremely heated and elevated with his subjects. Neither does he seem to cool in the thort account that he gives, in the next place, of the passion of Apollo far the Nymph Rhodos, from whom the island received its name, and from whom were descended its original inhabitants (whom just before the Poet therefore called the sons of Apollo): and particsılarly the three brothers, Camirus, Lindus, and Jalysus; who divided that country into three kingdoms, and built the three principal cities which retained their names.

In this island Tlepolemus (Gays the Poet, returning to the story of that hero) found rest, and a period to all his misfortunes, and at length grew into such esteem with the Rhodians, that they worshiped him as a God, appointing

sacri

facrifices to him, and instituting games in his honour. The mention of those games naturally brings back the Poet to Diagoras ; and gives him occasion, 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 distinguished, and for which their country liad so often triumphed : and then, as if he had been a witness 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 sudden

a changes his hand, and checks their pride by a moral reflection on the viciffitude of fortune, with which he exhorts them to moderation, and so concludes.

HEROIC STAN Z A S.

I,

A

$ when a father in the golden vase,

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

II. Then,

II.
Then to his lips the foaming chalice rears,

With blessings hallow'd, and auspicious vows,
And, mingling with the draught transporting tears,
On the young bridegroom the rich gift bestows ;

III.
The precious earnest of esteem ficere,

Of friendly union and connubial love :
The bridal train the sacred pledge revere,
And round the youth in sprightly measures move,

IV.
He to his home the valued present bcars,
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-descended song,
Bid to their praises the rich numbers flow.

VI.
Grateful to them resounds th' harmonick Ode,

The gift of friendship and the pledge of fame.
Happy the mortal, whom th' Aonian God
Chears with the musick of a glorious name!

VII.
The Muse her piercing glances throws around,

And quick discovers every worthy deed :
And now she wakes the lyre's inchanting sound,
Now fills with various strains the vocal reed :

VIII. But

VIII.
But here each instrument' 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'dname, Fair nymph, whose charms subdued the Delphic God, Fair blooming daughter of the Cyprian danie :

X.
To fing thy triumphs in th' Olympick fand,

Where Alpheus saw thy giant-temples crown'd;
Fam'd Pythia too proclaim'd thy conquering hand,
Where sweet Caltalia's mystic currents sound.

XI.
Nor Damagetus will I pass unsung,

Thy fire, the friend of Justice and of Trut!? ;
From noble ancestors whose lineage sprung,
The chiefs who led to Rhodes the Argive youth."

XII.
There near to Asia's wide-extended strand,

Where jutting Embolus the waves divides,
In three divisions they they poffefs’d the land,
Enthrou'd amid the hoarse-resounding tides.

XIII.
To their descendants will I tune my lyre,

The offspring of Alcides bold and strong;
And from Tlepolemus, their common fire,
Deduce the national historick song.

XIV. Tiepole