THE FIRST NEMEEAN ODE OF PINDAR. Chromius, the fon of Agefidamus, a young gentleman of Sicily, is celebrated for having won the prize of the chariot-race in the Nemean games (a folemnity instituted first to celebrate the funeral of Opheltes, as is at large described by Statius; and afterwards continued every third year, with an extraordinary conflux of all Greece, and with incredible honour to the conquerors in all the exercises there practised) upon which occafion the poet begins with the commendation of his country, which I take to have been Ortygia (an island belonging to Sicily, and a part of Syracufe, being joined to it by a bridge) though the title of the Ode call him Ætnæan Chromius, perhaps because he was made governor of that town by Hieron. From thence he falls into the praise of Chromius's perfon, which he draws from his great endowments of mind and body, and moft efpecially from his hospitality, and the worthy use of his riches. He likens his beginning to that of Hercules; and, according to his usual manner of being transported with any good hint that meets him in his way, paffing into a digreffion of Hercules, and his flaying the two ferpents in his cradle, concludes the Ode with that history. Eauteous Ortygia! the firft breathing-place Of great Alpheus' close and amorous race! Of bright Latona, where she bred 3 Th' ori Th' original new-moon! Who faw'ft her tender forehead ere the horns were grown! Who, like a gentle fcion newly started out,. From Syracufa's fide doft sprout! Thee first my fong does greet, With numbers fmooth and fleet With Jove my fong; this happy man, Nor ought he therefore like it lefs, For whom should we esteem above The men whom Gods do love ? Through earth, and air, and feas, and up to th' heavenly vault. To "To thee, O Proferpine! this ifle I give," Said Jove, and, as he said, Smil'd, and bent his gracious head. ""And thou, O ifle!" faid he, " for ever thrive, "And keep the value of our gift alive! "As Heaven with ftars, fo let "The country thick with towns be fet, "Let all the towns be then rr Replenish'd thick with men, "Wife in peace, and bold in wars! "Of thousand glorious men each town a conftellation! "Nor let their warlike laurel fcorn, "With the Olympic olive to be worn, "Whofe gentler honours do fo well the brows of peace "adorn!" Go to great Syracufe, my Muse, and wait 'Twill open wide to let thee in, When thy lyre's voice fhall but begin; And feaft more upon thee, than thou on it. . For, as by nature thou doft write, So he by nature loves, and does by nature fight. VOL. II. C Nature Nature herfelf, whilft in the womb he was, Sow'd strength and beauty through the forming mafs; And carv'd the members out with wondrous art. And a vast bounty, apt and fit For the great dower which Fortune made to it. 'Tis wifer much to hoard-up friends. Though happy men the present goods poffefs, Th' unhappy have their share in future hopes no lefs. How early has young Chromius begun The race of virtue, and how fwiftly run, Whilst other youths yet at the barriers stay! None but Alcides e'er fet carlier forth than he : The God, his father's, blood nought could restrain, 'Twas ripe at firft, and did disdain The flow advance of dull humanity. The big-limb'd babe in his huge cradle lay, When, lo! by jealous Juno's fierce commands, Rolling and hiffing loud, into the room; To the bold babe they trace their bidden way; Forth Forth from their flaming eyes dread lightnings went, Their gaping mouths did forked tongues, like thunderbolts, prefent. Some of th' amazed women dropt down dead With fear, fome wildly fied About the room, fome into corners crept, Where filently they fhook and wept: All naked from her bed the paffionate mother leap'd, To fave or perish with her child; She trembled, and the cry'd; the mighty infant fiil'd: The mighty infant feem'd well pleas'd And, as their spotted necks up to the cradle rose, And angry circles caft about; Black blood, and fiery breath, and poisonous foul, he fqueezes out! With their drawn fwords In ran Amphitryo and the Theban lords; Laugh, and point downwards to his prey, ing lay. When wife Tirefias this beginning knew, He told with ease the things t' enfue; |