Isthmian IV

Pindar (518 BC–438 BC), translated by Arthur S. Way · 1922

Pindaric ode in rhymed strophes · 88 lines · from The Odes of Pindar

By grace of the Gods there be countless paths far-spreading before my feet;But, Melissus, thou at the Isthmian Games hast shown me a highway meetWhereon to follow in song the track of the prowess of thy lineWherein the sons of Kleonymus ever have prospered by help divine,And so pass on to the term of mortal life; but ever shiftingAre the winds of fate that swoop upon man, and drive him chartless-drifting.

Ay, the story of these from of yore is told, how with honour in Thebes they were named.Warders they were of the tribes dwelling round, and in arrogance brawling unshamedNo part they had; and what records soever there be of the men which have died,Or of yet living men, such as fly wind-blown through the whole world far and wide,Records of limitless glory, these they attained in their fulness receiving:Yea, Herakles' Pillars they touched by the gallant deeds of their line's achieving:—

But let none press on to achievement that reachethFarther beyond that bound!—And in that house many a loverOf the rearing of steeds was found.And they joyed in the lore that the War-god teacheth.But ere one day's hours passed over,The merciless sleet-laden tempest of war had bereft of hero-scions fourThat hearth once happy; but now againAfter the wintry gloom of the months of changeful vesture, the earth once moreHath blossomed with roses of crimson grain

By the will of Heaven. The Shaker of Earth, who hath at Onchestus his halls,And whose mansion is on the sea-lashed ridge afront of Corinth's walls,Even he bestoweth upon that house this hymn of wondrous praise,And the olden glory of far-famed deeds from her bed doth he upraiseWhere erst she had fallen on sleep, but now is awakened, and shines resplendentOver all her form, as the Morning Star mid the stars is a light transscendent,—

That olden glory which even on Athens' fields proclaimed the renownOf a chariot-triumph; then in Adrastus' Games at Sikyon-townGave wreathèd leaves of such old-time song as these of our own days are.Nor yet at the national contests failed they to ride the curvèd car;But they joyed in contending with all the Hellenes, in spending on steeds their treasure.But unhonoured, unsung, is the man that spareth his might against others to measure.

Yea, even when champions in strife be contending,Till the end in uncertaintyHer face Queen Fortune veileth;For triumph now giveth sheAnd anon defeat; but at whiles in the endingThe craft of the weaker prevailethTo cast to the earth the stronger. Ye know of the prowess of Aias the blood-stained fame,How, when the night was now far spent,He cast himself on his own sword, thereby bringing reproach and abiding shameOn the sons of Hellenes that Troyward went.

But lo, he is honoured of Homer the wide world over, who set on highAll knightly prowess of Aias; and his god-gifted poesyHath taught the measure whereby all other bards must frame the lay:For a noble song passeth down the years with a voice that liveth for aye,And over the harvest-abounding earth, and across the sea for everGoeth the sunbright shining of noble deeds, to be quenchèd never.

May the Muses to us be gracious, that so we may kindle a beacon-lightOf song for Melissus, a wreath that shall worthily crown the pankratian mightOf the son of the House of Telesias; for he showeth in conflict's toilThe courage of roaring lions, and coupled therewith the fox's guileWho lies on his back, so holding at bay the eagle's swoop down-rushing.So cunning and strength must alike be used for the adversary's crushing.

For not by nature was this man doweredWith Orion's giant height;Mean was he to outward showing,But with iron-heavy mightIn the grapple his foe he overpowered.So of old for Antaius' o'erthrowingTo his dwelling in Libya's corn-land came a man low-statured, a hero who boreA spirit unflinching in conflict-strain,A scion of Thebes whose wrestling-grip should for ever stay him from roofing o'erWith the skulls of strangers Poseidon's fane,

Even the son of Alkmena, who passed to Olympus after that heHad tracked all lands, and traversed the cliff-walled face of the surf-white sea,Had slain the sea-rovers, and safe for voyagers made the sea's highway.And now by the Aegis-bearer in glorious bliss he dwelleth for aye,As a friend is honoured of all the Immortals, with Hebe hath made affiance,Is lord of a golden palace, is kinsman to Hera by spousal-alliance.

For him above the Elektran Gate we burghers the feast prepare,And the crown-like ring of the altars newly-built will we set to him there,And our sacrifices will offer for those eight bronze-mailed heroes who died,Whom Megara, Kreon's daughter, bare, that mighty Hero's bride—They unto whom at the sun's down-going the nightlong flame is uplifted,And with odorous reek its smoke is lashing the welkin, through cloudland drifted.

Then on the second day is holdenThe struggle of athlete-might,The crown of the year's games ended.There with his brows made brightWith leaves of the myrtle-wreath enfoldenTwin triumphs Melissus blended,When already among the boys he had won another by heeding diligentlyThe words of the wisely-counselling tongueOf the pilot trainer who steered his course: with Melissus Orseas' name joinAs I shed on them grace of delightsome song.

Words in this poem 45

countless a.: Incapable of being counted; not ascertainable; innumerable.
hast: , 2d pers. sing. pres. of. Fave, contr. of havest.
whereon adv.: On which; -- used relatively; as, the earth whereon we live.
prowess n.: Distinguished bravery; valor; especially, military bravery and skill; gallantry; intrepidity; fearlessness. Chaucer. Sir P. Sidney. [OF. proece, proesce, F. prouesse. See Prow, a.]
swoop v. t.: To fall on at once and seize; to catch while on the wing; as, a hawk swoops a chicken. [OE. swopen, usually, to sweep, As. swapan to sweep, to rush; akin to G. schweifen to rove, to ramble, to curve, OHG. sweifan to whirl, Icel. sveipa to sweep; al]
chartless a.: Without a chart; having no guide.
yore adv.: In time long past; in old time; long since. [OE. , yare, , AS. geára;akin to geár a year, E. year. Year.]
honour n.: Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect; consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of respect or reverence. [OE. honor, honour, onour, onur, OF. honor, onor, honur, onur, honour, onour, F. honneur, fr. L. honor, honos.]
brawling a.: Quarreling; quarrelsome; noisy.
limitless a.: Having no limits; unbounded; boundless. Davies (Wit's Pilgr.).
wintry a.: Suitable to winter; resembling winter, or what belongs to winter; brumal; hyemal; cold; stormy; wintery. [AS. wintrig.]
changeful a.: Full of change; mutable; inconstant; fickle; uncertain.
shaker n.: A person or thing that shakes, or by means of which something is shaken.
mansion n.: A dwelling place, -- whether a part or whole of a house or other shelter. [OF. mansion, F. maison, fr. L. mansio a staying, remaining, a dwelling, habitation, fr. manere, mansum, to stay, dwell; akin to Gr. Manse, Manor, Menagerie, Men]
afront adv.: In front; face to face. [Pref. a- + front.]
wondrous adv.: In a wonderful or surprising manner or degree; wonderfully. [OE. wonders, adv. (later also adj.). See Wonder, n., and cf. -wards.]
olden a.: Old; ancient; as, the olden time.
upraise v. t.: To raise; to lift up.
spending n.: The act of expending; expenditure. Spending money, money set apart for extra (not necessary) personal expenses; pocket money.
strife n.: The act of striving; earnest endeavor. [OF. estrif. See Strive.]
anon adv.: Straightway; at once. [OE. anoon, anon, anan, lit., in one (moment), fr. AS. on in + an one. See On and One.]
defeat v. t.: To undo; to disfigure; to destroy. [From F. défait, OF. desfait, p. p. ofe défaire, OF. desfaire, to undo; L. dis- + facere to do. See Feat, Fact, and cf. Disfashion.]
whiles conj.: During the time that; while. Chaucer. Fuller.
craft n.: Strength; might; secret power. [AS. cr strength, skill, art, cunning; akin to OS., G., Sw., & Dan. kraft strength, D. kracht, Icel. kraptr; perh. originally, a drawing together, stretching, fr]
went n.: Course; way; path; journey; direction.
knightly a.: Of or pertaining to a knight; becoming a knight; chivalrous; as, a knightly combat; a knightly spirit. [AS. cnihtlic boyish.]
poesy n.: The art of composing poems; poetical skill or faculty; as, the heavenly gift of poesy. [F. poésie (cf. It. poesia), L. poesis, from Gr. Posy.]
shall v. i.: To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
worthily adv.: In a worthy manner; excellently; deservedly; according to merit; justly; suitably; becomingly.
therewith adv.: With that or this.
dowered p. a.: Furnished with, or as with, dower or a marriage portion.
unflinching a.: Not flinching or shrinking; unyielding.
fane n.: A temple; a place consecrated to religion; a church. [L. fanum a place dedicated to some deity, a sanctuary, fr. fari to speak. See Fame.]
glorious a.: Exhibiting attributes, qualities, or acts that are worthy of or receive glory; noble; praiseworthy; excellent; splendid; illustrious; inspiring admiration; as, glorious deeds. [OF. glorios, glorious, F. glorieux, fr. L. gloriosus. See Glory, n.]
hebe n.: The goddess of youth, daughter of Jupiter and Juno. She was believed to have the power of restoring youth and beauty to those who had lost them. [L., fr. Gr. "h`bh youth, "H`bh Hebe.]
affiance n.: Plighted faith; marriage contract or promise. [OE. afiaunce trust, confidence, OF. afiance, fr. afier to trust, fr. LL. affidare to trust; ad + fidare to trust, fr. L. fides faith. See Faith, and cf. Affidav]
kinsman n.: A man of the same race or family; one related by blood.
spousal a.: Of or pertaining to a spouse or marriage; nuptial; matrimonial; conjugal; bridal; as, spousal rites; spousal ornaments. [See Espousal, Sponsal, and Spouse.]
mailed a.: Protected by an external coat, or covering, of scales or plates.
nightlong a.: Lasting all night.
reek n.: A rick. B. Jonson.
lashing n.: The act of one who, or that which, lashes; castigation; chastisement. South. Lashing out, a striking out; also, extravagance.
welkin n.: The visible regions of the air; the vault of heaven; the sky. [OE. welken, welkene, welkne, wolcne, weolcne, AS. wolcen, pl. wolcnu, a cloud; akin to D. wolk, OFries. wolken, OS. wolkan, G. wolke, OHG. wolchan, and probably]
trainer n.: One who trains; an instructor; especially, one who trains or prepares men, horses, etc., for exercises requiring physical agility and strength.
delightsome a.: Very pleasing; delightful.

Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.

About this text

Isthmian IV is in the public domain. This text is taken from Pindar in English Verse, Internet Archive, the Arthur S. Way translation; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.

Cite as: Pindar, Isthmian IV, in The Odes of Pindar (1922), text of Internet Archive, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/pindar-odes/isthmian-4.html, id L29164.

Form and metre

Isthmian IV is 88 lines in 12 stanzas. The commonest rhyme scheme is AABBCC, in 5 of the 12 stanzas; the rest vary or could not be confirmed.

Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.

Rhyme words, stanza by stanza

The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.

1 AABBCC feet^A · meet^A · line^B · divine^B · shifting^C · drifting^C
2 AABBCC named^A · unshamed^A · died^B · wide^B · receiving^C · achieving^C
3 AB-BA-CDCD reacheth^A · bound^B · lover · found^B · teacheth^A · over · four^C · again^D · more^C · grain^D
4 AABBCC halls^A · walls^A · praise^B · upraise^B · resplendent^C · transscendent^C
5 AABBCC renown^A · town^A · are^B · car^B · treasure^C · measure^C
6 A-B-ABCDCD contending^A · uncertainty · veileth^B · she · ending^A · prevaileth^B · fame^C · spent^D · shame^C · went^D
7 A--ABB high^A · poesy · lay · aye^A · ever^B · never^B
8 AABBCC light^A · might^A · toil^B · guile^B · rushing^C · crushing^C
9 -ABA-B-C-C dowered · height^A · showing^B · might^A · overpowered · o'erthrowing^B · bore · strain^C · o'er · fane^C
10 AA-ABB he^A · sea^A · highway · aye^A · affiance^B · alliance^B
11 AABBBB prepare^A · there^A · died^B · bride^B · uplifted^B · drifted^B
12 ABCBAC---- holden^A · might^B · ended^C · bright^B · enfolden^A · blended^C · diligently · tongue · join · song

Scansion, line by line

Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. How this is done.

Line	Syl.	Stress
By grace of the Gods there be countless paths far-spreading before my feet;	17	·······/˘··/˘····
But, Melissus, thou at the Isthmian Games hast shown me a highway meet	18	·······/˘˘·····/··
Whereon to follow in song the track of the prowess of thy line	16	˘/·/˘······/˘···
Wherein the sons of Kleonymus ever have prospered by help divine,	16	········/·/˘··˘/
And so pass on to the term of mortal life; but ever shifting	15	········/˘··//˘
Are the winds of fate that swoop upon man, and drive him chartless-drifting.	17	·············/˘/˘
Ay, the story of these from of yore is told, how with honour in Thebes they were named.	20	··/˘·········/˘·····
Warders they were of the tribes dwelling round, and in arrogance brawling unshamed	18	/˘·····/˘···/˘/˘··
No part they had; and what records soever there be of the men which have died,	19	······˘/˘/˘········
Or of yet living men, such as fly wind-blown through the whole world far and wide,	18	···/˘·············
Records of limitless glory, these they attained in their fulness receiving:	18	˘/·/˘/˘··˘/··/˘˘/˘
Yea, Herakles' Pillars they touched by the gallant deeds of their line's achieving:—	18	···/˘····/˘····˘/˘
But let none press on to achievement that reacheth	12	······˘/˘·/˘
Farther beyond that bound!—	6	/˘····
And in that house many a lover	9	····/˘·/˘
Of the rearing of steeds was found.	8	··/˘····
And they joyed in the lore that the War-god teacheth.	12	··········/˘
But ere one day's hours passed over,	10	····/˘·˘··
The merciless sleet-laden tempest of war had bereft of hero-scions four	19	·/˘·/˘/˘···˘/·/˘/˘·
That hearth once happy; but now again	9	···/˘··˘/
After the wintry gloom of the months of changeful vesture, the earth once more	18	···/˘·····/˘/˘····
Hath blossomed with roses of crimson grain	10	·/˘·/˘·/˘·
By the will of Heaven. The Shaker of Earth, who hath at Onchestus his halls,	18	····/·/˘··········
And whose mansion is on the sea-lashed ridge afront of Corinth's walls,	16	··/˘······˘/·/˘·
Even he bestoweth upon that house this hymn of wondrous praise,	15	/·˘/˘·······/˘·
And the olden glory of far-famed deeds from her bed doth he upraise	17	··/˘/˘·········˘/
Where erst she had fallen on sleep, but now is awakened, and shines resplendent	19	····/˘·····˘/˘··˘/˘
Over all her form, as the Morning Star mid the stars is a light transscendent,—	18	······/˘··········
That olden glory which even on Athens' fields proclaimed the renown	16	·/˘/˘·/·/˘·˘/·˘/
Of a chariot-triumph; then in Adrastus' Games at Sikyon-town	16	··/˘/˘··········
Gave wreathèd leaves of such old-time song as these of our own days are.	15	···········/···
Nor yet at the national contests failed they to ride the curvèd car;	15	····/˘/˘·······
But they joyed in contending with all the Hellenes, in spending on steeds their treasure.	20	····˘/˘···/˘·/˘···/˘
But unhonoured, unsung, is the man that spareth his might against others to measure.	21	····˘/····/˘····/˘·/˘
Yea, even when champions in strife be contending,	11	·/·/˘···˘/˘
Till the end in uncertainty	8	····˘/˘˘
Her face Queen Fortune veileth;	7	···/˘/˘
For triumph now giveth she	7	·/˘·/˘·
And anon defeat; but at whiles in the ending	12	·˘/˘/·····/˘
The craft of the weaker prevaileth	9	····/˘˘/˘
To cast to the earth the stronger. Ye know of the prowess of Aias the blood-stained fame,	20	······/˘····/˘······
How, when the night was now far spent,	8	········
He cast himself on his own sword, thereby bringing reproach and abiding shame	19	··˘/······/˘˘/·˘/˘·
On the sons of Hellenes that Troyward went.	10	····/˘····
But lo, he is honoured of Homer the wide world over, who set on high	17	····/˘·/˘········
All knightly prowess of Aias; and his god-gifted poesy	15	·/˘/˘·····/˘/˘˘
Hath taught the measure whereby all other bards must frame the lay:	15	···/˘···/˘·····
For a noble song passeth down the years with a voice that liveth for aye,	18	··/˘·/˘···········
And over the harvest-abounding earth, and across the sea for ever	16	···/˘˘/˘··˘/···/
Goeth the sunbright shining of noble deeds, to be quenchèd never.	14	····/˘·/˘····/
May the Muses to us be gracious, that so we may kindle a beacon-light	19	··/˘···/˘····/˘·/˘·
Of song for Melissus, a wreath that shall worthily crown the pankratian might	19	··········/˘˘······
Of the son of the House of Telesias; for he showeth in conflict's toil	18	············/˘·˘/·
The courage of roaring lions, and coupled therewith the fox's guile	17	·/˘·/˘/˘·/˘˘/·/˘·
Who lies on his back, so holding at bay the eagle's swoop down-rushing.	17	······/˘···/˘··/˘
So cunning and strength must alike be used for the adversary's crushing.	18	·/˘···˘/····/˘·˘/˘
For not by nature was this man dowered	10	···/˘····˘
With Orion's giant height;	7	·˘/˘/˘·
Mean was he to outward showing,	8	····/˘/˘
But with iron-heavy might	7	··/˘/˘·
In the grapple his foe he overpowered.	11	··/˘····˘/˘
So of old for Antaius' o'erthrowing	9	·········
To his dwelling in Libya's corn-land came a man low-statured, a hero who bore	20	··/˘·/˘······/˘·/˘··
A spirit unflinching in conflict-strain,	10	·/˘˘/˘·˘/·
A scion of Thebes whose wrestling-grip should for ever stay him from roofing o'er	18	·/˘···/˘···/···/˘·
With the skulls of strangers Poseidon's fane,	10	····/˘˘/˘·
Even the son of Alkmena, who passed to Olympus after that he	17	/·········˘/˘····
Had tracked all lands, and traversed the cliff-walled face of the surf-white sea,	16	·····/˘·········
Had slain the sea-rovers, and safe for voyagers made the sea's highway.	16	····/˘···/˘···/·
And now by the Aegis-bearer in glorious bliss he dwelleth for aye,	17	····/˘/˘·/˘··/˘··
As a friend is honoured of all the Immortals, with Hebe hath made affiance,	19	····/˘···˘/˘····˘/˘
Is lord of a golden palace, is kinsman to Hera by spousal-alliance.	20	····/˘/˘·/··/˘·/˘˘/˘
For him above the Elektran Gate we burghers the feast prepare,	16	··········/˘··˘/
And the crown-like ring of the altars newly-built will we set to him there,	18	·······/˘/˘·······
And our sacrifices will offer for those eight bronze-mailed heroes who died,	18	·//˘·˘·/˘·····/˘··
Whom Megara, Kreon's daughter, bare, that mighty Hero's bride—	14	·····/˘··/˘/˘·
They unto whom at the sun's down-going the nightlong flame is uplifted,	16	········/·/˘··/˘
And with odorous reek its smoke is lashing the welkin, through cloudland drifted.	18	··/˘····/˘·/˘·/˘/˘
Then on the second day is holden	9	···/˘··/˘
The struggle of athlete-might,	7	·/˘·/··
The crown of the year's games ended.	8	······/˘
There with his brows made bright	6	······
With leaves of the myrtle-wreath enfolden	10	····/˘····
Twin triumphs Melissus blended,	8	·/˘···/˘
When already among the boys he had won another by heeding diligently	19	·˘/˘·······˘/˘·/˘/˘
The words of the wisely-counselling tongue	10	····/˘/˘˘·
Of the pilot trainer who steered his course: with Melissus Orseas' name join	18	··/˘/˘············
As I shed on them grace of delightsome song.	11	·······˘/˘·

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