THE SECOND OLYMPIC ODE O F PINDAR. Written in praife of Theron, prince of Agrigentum. (a famous city in Sicily, built by his ancestors) who, in the feventy-feventh Olympic, won the chariot-prize. He is commended from the nobility of his race (whose story is often toucht on); from his great riches (an 'ordinary common-place in Pindar); from his hofpitality, munificence, and other virtues. The Ode (according to the conftant cuftom of the Poet) confifts more in digreffions, than in the main fubject: and the Reader must not be choqued to hear him speak fo often of his own Mufe; for that is a liberty which this kind of poetry can hardly live without. UEEN of all harmonious things, Dancing words, and fpeaking ftrings! What happy man to equal glories bring? And let the hills around reflect the image of thy voice. Jove and Pifa claim thy fong. The fair first-fruits of war, th' Olympic games, Alcides offer'd-up to Jove; Alcides too thy ftrings may move; But, oh! what man to join with these can worthy prove! B 4. Jon Join Theron boldly to their facred names ; Theron to no man gives place, Is firft in Pifa's and in Virtue's race; Theron there, and he alone, Ev'n his own swift forefathers has outgone. They through rough ways, o'er many stops they paft, Till on the fatal bank at last They Agrigentum built, the beauteous eye Of fair-fac'd Sicily; With pride and joy efpy. Then chearful notes their painted years did fing, To which, great fon of Rhea! fay The firm word which forbids things to decay! For the past sufferings of this noble race (Since things once past, and fled out of thine hand, Hearken no more to thy command) Let prefent joys fill up their place, And And with Oblivion's filent stroke deface Of foregone ills the very trace. Do these happy changes fhine More brightly, Theron! than in thine. Of the blue-ey'd Nereides, Her cruel midwife, Thunder, bless; Plays with lightnings as they fly, Nor trembles at the bright embraces of the Deity. But death did them from future dangers free ; For living man's fecurity, Or will enfure our veffel in this faithlefs fea? So healthful a fair-day beget, Roll with alternate waves like day and night: Viciffitudes which thy great race pursue, E'er fince the fatal fon his father flew, And did old oracles fulfil Of Gods that cannot lye, for they foretell but their own Erynnis Erynnis faw 't, and made in her own feed The innocent Parricide to bleed; She flew his wrathful fons with mutual blows : But better things did then fucceed, And brave Therfander, in amends for what was past, arofe. Brave Therfander was by none, In war, or warlike sports, out-done. Ifthmus and Nemea does twice happy fee; By not being all thine own; And thofe kind pious glories do deface Greatness of mind and fortune too Th' Olympic trophies fhew: In the noble chace of fame This without that is blind, that without this is lame. Nor is fair Virtue's picture seen aright But in Fortune's golden light. Riches alone are of uncertain date, And on fhort man long cannot wait; The virtuous make of them the best, And put them out to Fame for interest ; . With a frail good they wifely buy The folid purchase of eternity : They, whilft life's air they breathe, confider well, and know Th' account they must hereafter give below; In deep unlovely vaults, By the just decrees of Jove,. Unrelenting torments prove, The heavy neceffary effects of voluntary faults. Whilft in the lands of unexhausted light, Nor aught to labour owe For food, that whilst it nourishes does decay, Thrice had these men through mortal bodies past, Did thrice the trial undergo, Till all their little dross was purg'd at last, The furnace had no more to do. Then in rich Saturn's peaceful state Were they for facred treasures plac'd, The Mufe-discovered world of Islands Fortunate. Soft-footed winds with tuneful voices there Dance through the perfum'd air: There |