cording to the inftitution of their first founder Hercules, he proceeds to relate the fabulous, but legendary ftory, of that Hero's having brought that plant originally from Scythia, the country of the Hyperboreans, to Olympia; having planted it there near the temple of Jupiter, and ordered that the victors in thofe games fhould, for the future, be crowned with the branches of this facred tree. To this he adds, that Hercules, upon his being removed to heaven, appointed the twin-brothers, Caftor and Pollux, to celebrate the Olympick Games, and execute the office of beftowing the Olive-crown upon those who obtained the victory; and now, continues Pindar, he comes a propitious gueft to this facrifice of Theron, in company with the two fons of Leda, who, to reward the piety and zeal of Theron and his family, have given them fuccefs and glory; to the utmoft limits of which he infinuates that Theron is arrived, and fo concludes with affirming, that it would be in vain for any man, wife or unwife, to attempt to furpass him.

τό

то

THERON KING OF AGRIGENTUM.

WH

'STROPHE I.

HILE to the fame of Agragas I fing,
For Theron wake th' Olympick string,

And with Aonian garlands grace

His fteeds unweary'd in the race,

O may the hospitable twins of Jove,
And bright-hair'd Helena, the fong approve!
For this the Muse bestow'd her aid,

As in new measures I effay'd

To harmonize the tuneful words,

And fet to Dorian airs my founding chords.

ANTIS TROPHE I.

And lo! the conquering fteeds, whofe toffing heads Olympia's verdant wreath befpreads,

The Mufe-imparted tribute claim,

Due, Theron, to thy glorious name;

And bid me temper in their master's praise
The flute, the warbling lyre, and melting lays,
Lo! Pifa too the fong requires!

Elean Pifa, that infpires

The glowing Bard with eager care

His heaven-directed prefent to prepare:

2

EPODE

The present offer'd to his virtuous fame,

On whofe ennobled brows

The righteous umpire of the sacred game,
Th' Ætolian judge, bestows
The dark fome olive, ftudious to fulfill
The mighty founder's will,

Who this fair ensign of Olympick toil
From diftant Scythia's fruitful foil,
And Hyperborean Ifter's woody shore,
With fair entreaties gain'd, to Grecian Elis bore
STROPHE II.

The blameless fervants of the Delphick God
With joy the valued gifts bestow'd;
Mov'd by the friendly chief to grant,

On terms of peace, the facred plant,

Deftin'd at once to fhade Jove's honour'd fhrine
And crown heroick worth with wreaths divine.
For now full-orb'd the wandering moon
In plenitude of brightness shone,
And on the fpacious eye of night

Pour'd all the radiance of her golden light :

ANTIS TROPHE

II.

Now on Jove's altars blaz'd the hallow'd flames,

And now were fix'd the mighty games,

Again, when e'er the circling fun
Four times his annual courfe had run,

Their period to renew, and shine again
On Alpheus craggy shores and Pisa's plain :

But

But fubject all the region lay
To the fierce fun's infulting ray,
While upon Pelops' burning vale

No fhade arofe his fury to repell.

E PODE II.

Then traverfing the hills, whofe jutting base
Indents Arcadia's meads,

To where the virgin goddess of the chace
Impells her foaming steeds,

To Scythian Ifter he directs his way,
Doom'd by his father to obey
The rigid pleasures of Mycena's king,
And thence the rapid hind to bring,
Whom, facred prefent for the Orthian maid,
With horns of branching gold, Täygeta array'd.

STROPHE III.

There as the longsome chace the chief pursued,
The fpacious Scythian plains he view'd ;
A land beyond the chilling blast

And northern caves of Boreas caft:
There too the groves of olive he furvey'd,

And gaz'd with rapture on the pleafing shade,
Thence by the wondering hero borne
The goals of Elis to adorn.

And now to Theron's facred feaft

With Leda's twins he comes, propitious guest!

ANTIS TROPHE III.

To Leda's twins (when heaven's divine abodes
He fought, and mingled with the gods)

He

gave th' 'illuftrious Games to hold,

And crown the swift, the ftrong, and bold. Then, Mufe, to Theron and his houfe proclaim The joyous tidings of fuccefs and fame, By Leda's twins beftow'd to grace, Emmenides, thy pious race,

Who, mindful of heaven's high behefts, With ftricteft zeal obferve their holy feafts.

E PODE III.

As water's vital streams all things furpass,
As gold's all-worship'd ore

Holds amid fortune's stores the highest class;
So to that distant shore,

To where the pillars of Alcides rise,
Fame's utmost boundaries,
Theron, pursuing his fuccefsful way,

Hath deck'd with glory's brightest ray

His lineal virtues.-Farther to attain,

Wife, and unwife, with me despair: th' attempt were vain,

THE