Ode 13
For Pytheas of Aegina
Pancratium at Nemea
?483 B. C.
...
Clio ...
[10]
...
1
“ ...
[45]
He shall stop them from arrogant violence, bringing about judgments of law for mortals:
look how the descendant of Perseus brings his hand down heavily on the neck of the bloodthirsty lion with every type of skill!
[50]
For the gleaming, man-subduing bronze refuses to pierce the lion's fearsome body; the sword was bent back. Someday, I prophesy,
[55]
[in this place] there will be a strenuous toil for the Greeks, competing for garlands in the pancratium.”
... beside the altar of Zeus, the greatest ruler, the blossoms of glory-bringing Victory
[60]
nurture for men golden, conspicuous fame throughout their lives—for a select few—and when the dark cloud of death covers them,
[65]
the undying glory of their fine deed is left behind, secure in its destiny.
You too have attained this at
Nemea, son of Lampon;
[70]
your hair crowned with garlands of flourishing blossoms, [you walk] the lofty streets of the city [of Aeacus, so that] your ancestral island [teems] with gentle-voiced victory processions, in which mortals delight,
[75]
revealing your overweening strength in the pancratium. Kindly Aegina, daughter of the whirling river,
[the son of Cronus]
[80]
gave you great honor, shining [your new victory?] like a torch among all Greeks. And a proud maiden [sings the praises of your strength?]
[85]
... often lightly springing with her feet like a carefree fawn on the flowery [hills]
[90]
with her far-famed [companions] who live nearby.
The maidens wear garlands of crimson blossoms and rushes, the native decoration, and sing of your [child],
[95]
mistress of the all-hospitable [land], and of rosy-armed Endaïs, who bore [godlike Peleus] and the helmeted warrior Telamon, having gone to bed with Aeacus.
[100]
Of their battle-rousing sons I shall sing, and of swift Achilles, and the high-spirited son of beautiful Eriboea, Aias, the shield-bearing hero,
[105]
who stood on the stern of his ship and stopped bold-hearted, bronze [helmeted] Hector in his rush to burn the ships with dread fire,
[110]
at the time when the son of Peleus stirred fierce wrath [in his breast]
and released the [Dardanians from ruin]. Before they had not left the [many-towered]
[115]
marvellous town of
Ilium, but had cowered, dazed by fear, before the fierce battle, when Achilles raged destructively across the plain,
[120]
shaking his murderous spear. But when the fearless son of the violet-garlanded Nereid withdrew from battle,
—as when the North wind, on the dark-blossoming sea,
[125]
afflicts the spirits of men beneath the waves, when it comes upon them as night begins, but it withdraws with the break of Dawn, who shines on mortals, and a gentle breeze smooths the sea;
[130]
they billow their sail with the breath of the South wind, and eagerly reach unhoped-for dry land—
in such a way, when the Trojans heard that the spearman Achilles
[135]
was remaining in his tent because of the golden-haired woman Briseis with lovely limbs, they raised their arms to the gods, seeing a bright
[140]
gleam from out of the storm. With all speed they left the walls of Laomedon and rushed onto the plain, bringing violent battle,
[145]
and roused terror in the Danaans. Ares, god of the spear, urged them on, and Loxias Apollo, lord of the Lycians. And they came to the shore of the sea,
[150]
and fought beside the ships with their fine sterns, and the dark earth ran red with the blood of men slain by the hand of Hector,
[155]
... heroes ... through the onslaught of godlike ...
... with great hopes, and arrogant shouts,
[160]
the Trojan horsemen ... the dark-eyed ships ... the god-built city would have ... and feasts, in ... But before that could be they were doomed after all
[165]
to redden with blood the whirling Scamander,
dying at the hands of the tower-destroying [Aeacidae.] Of these, if ... or on a [pyre] piled high with wood ...
2
[175]
for all-shining Excellence is not hidden and effaced in the lightless [veil?] of night,
but always abounding in unfailing glory
[180]
she roams the earth and the shifting seas. And truly she honors the fame-bringing [island] of Aeacus; she guides the state with garland-loving Eucleia
[185]
and sound-minded Eunomia, to whom festivities belong, and who guards the cities of pious men in peace.
[190]
Sing, young men, of the very glorious victory of Pytheas, and the helpful care of Menander, which often by the streams of the Alpheus has been honored by
[195]
holy, great-spirited Athena of the golden chariot; before now she has garlanded the hair of countless men with crowns in the panhellenic contests.
Let every man
[200]
who is not bullied by bold-tongued envy praise the man who is skillful, as is just. All works of mortals are open to fault-finding. But truth tends
[205]
to win the victory, and all-subduing time always [preserves] a fine deed. The [vain speech] of enemies diminishes, unseen ...
3
...
[220]
warms the spirit with hope. With such hope I too, trusting in the [Muses] with their crimson headdresses,
present a [crown] of songs, [of newly-combed wool],
[225]
and honor the splendor-loving hospitality which [you], Lampon, [have provided] for me; may you not regard [my gift for your son] as slight. And if it truly is flourishing Clio who has distilled this gift in my [mind],
[230]
songs filled with words of delight will proclaim him to all the people.
