Nemean VII

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

iambic pentameter · 180 lines · from The Odes of Pindar

O Eileithyia enthroned for everBy the Destinies deeply-brooding, hearken,Thou Daughter of Hera the mighty, O giverOf birth unto babes! Unholpen of theeNever a child of man may seeThe day-dawn break or the even darken;Nor ever thy sister may we behold,Young Hebe with limbs of glorious mould.We receive not our breath for a like life all,But to each doth his several destiny fall.We are fettered by Fate. By thy grace aloneChanted to-day are the glorious featsWrought in the contest of pentathletesBy Sogenes, son of Thearion.

For he dwells in a city where cannot perishDelight in song, where rule spear-clashingAiakids: eager are they to cherishA spirit in strife of the Games well-tried.If a man by achievements be glorified,He hath dropped on the Muses' rills sun-flashingHoney-sweet matter for song-delight.For shrouded in gloom of oblivion's nightAre mighty deeds that be left unsung.One mirror alone do we know that hath flungTheir reflection afar to endure for long,If by grace of the Lady of MemoryOf the shining coronal, these may seeTheir requital for toils in ringing song.

Wise shipmen know, though the fair wind tarry,It will blow on the third day; therefore they waitPatiently, letting not gain-lust carryTheir freight to destruction. The small and the greatAlike to the bourne of death pass down.But I deem that Odysseus inherits renownFar, far surpassing his sufferings,Through the sweet-voiced lay that Homer sings.

For over his winged poet-craft and its feigningHath some strange glamour of majesty brooded;And beguiled by his inspiration's constrainingThrough his realm of faery lost we stray.Ah, the general throng of mortals ayeAre blinded of heart! Were their eyes not hoodedFrom discerning the truth, never Aias the strong,For the armour wroth, as is told in song,Had thrust through his heart the sword smooth-bright—Aias, the mightiest man in fight,Save Achilles, of all that to Ilium faredBy the west-wind wafted over the tideWith breath unswerving, to rescue the brideOf Menelaus the golden-haired.

Over all men alike the dark surge sweepethOf Hades, on fameless heads hath descendedAnd on men of renown: but honour keepethTheir memories green whose after-fameGod causeth to wax ever fairer, the nameOf battle-helpers whose days are ended,Even such as in old time journeyed onUnto wide-bosomed earth's great navel-stone.So buried 'neath Pytho's floor doth lieNeoptolemus, there foredoomed to dieWhen Priam's town had been sacked by his hand,Where also the Danaans travailed sore.But he missed on the home-voyage Skyros' shore;So wandering came they to Ephyre-land.

Short time in Molossia the mighty-heartedReigned; but the honour was borne evermoreBy the hero's posterity. Thence he departedTo the shrine of Apollo, and thitherward boreRich treasure, the choicest of all the preyThat was gathered from Troy. But there, in a frayEmbroiled touching sacrifice-meats, by the knifeWas he slain of a treacherous lover of strife.

But the Delphians were stricken with grief heart-thrilling—Guest-welcomers they:—howbeit so dyingHis fate foredoomed was he but fulfilling;For in that most ancient hallowed placeWas it destined that one of the royal raceOf the Aiakids should through the ages be lyingBy Apollo's mansion of fair-walled pride,And should over the hero-processions preside,That Justice's fair name none may despise.And, touching the issue, three words shall suffice:No false witness is he, who thereSitteth umpire o'er deeds by the mighty wrought.Aegina, I fear not to utter my thoughtOf the children whom thou unto Zeus didst bear,

Even this—they have trodden a highway of gloryBy inheritance theirs; through deeds most mightyHave they won it—yet needs not to dwell on their story.Sweetly doth rest after labour come:Even honey may cloy, and the flowers that bloomDelightsome in gardens of Aphrodite.Diversely all men's natures be wrought,And each man draweth his several lotIn life; but if any man think to attainUnto bliss all-perfect, his hope is vain.None know I to whom I can say that FateThis consummation hath granted, to beInalienable. Thearion, theeIn season she bringeth to happy state;

Thou hast shown aforetime a spirit daringIn gallant deeds: Fate suffereth notThat thy wisdom now know any impairing.Thy guest-friend I, I abhor the thoughtOf slander stealing in darkness to stainThe man that I love; nay, praise will I rainUpon him, and crown him with glory; thisFor the noble of heart meet guerdon is.

Nay, if any Achaian of those abidingBeside the Ionian sea be near me,He shall nowise blame me: I rest confidingOn my friendship-tie: mid the folk of my landWith clear gaze meeting their eyes I stand.Of the charge of presumptuous dealing I clear me;All violence thrust I, a hater of strife,From my feet. May the residue of my lifeFlow blithesomely! He shall testifyWho knoweth me, whether with slander and lieI jangle the music of life as I go.Sogenes, son of the Eupatrid Clan,The mark-line never I overranWhen I shot swift speech—as one that should throw

The bronze-headed dart with a cast that delivers!Neck and sinew from wrestling with sweat down-pouringEre the limbs strain hard where the sunglare quivers—Never, I swear it! If toil there hath been,The delight that succeedeth is yet more keen.Nay, forgive, if my song over-loudly was soaringFor old times' glory! In these my laysNo niggard am I of the victor's praise.Easy it is flower-garlands to twine;Nay, but tarry a space till this Muse of mineShall have knit the gold to the ivoryAnd the lily-like blossom of stone that she drewFrom the depths where it lurked beneath spray-dewThat falls on the face of the slumbrous sea.

But bethink thee of Zeus the while thou raisestFor Nemean triumph the far-ringing songSoft-swelling. 'Tis meet that the while thou praisestHim who sitteth enthroned the Immortals among,Such praise be chanted in this your landWith reverent voice by the chorus-band,For that here of his seed begotten, 'tis sung,Of an Isle-nymph mother hath Aiakus sprung

To be for the fair-famed land of his motherA ruler of cities, in all thy labourTo be ever a loyal friend and brother,O Herakles! If a man may proveOf his fellow-man any fruition of love,Then well may we say that neighbour to neighbourIs a joy that is worth all else besideIf with steadfast heart in his love he abide.Now if also a God will sanction this,By thy favour, O queller of giants, it isThat, rendering aye love-homage meetTo his father, fain would SogenesDwell mid ancestral memoriesIn the stately-builded sacred street

Where his home 'twixt thy temples doth stand, which face himAt his goings forth, as with blessing laden:Like a chariot's twin yokes, so they embrace him.And thee, O Herakles ever-blest,It beseemeth to win to grant his requestHera's Lord and the grey-eyed Maiden.For oft upon mortals canst thou bestowHelp in the hour of the bitter woeOf hopelessly tangled perplexities.Oh wouldst thou but link with the life of theseAll steadfast strength, through youth's glad dayWeaving its web of happiness stillTill an easeful eld thy task fulfil!May their children's children possess for aye

The honour that now is theirs, and everWin greater glory in days to be!But with all my soul I protest that neverHath Neoptolemus' name by meBeen befouled by slander dishonouring!—Yet thrice, four times to repeat this thingIs folly like his of whom children tireAs he babbles ' Corinth hath Zeus for sire.'

Words in this poem 58

giver n.: One who gives; a donor; a bestower; a grantor; one who imparts or distributes.
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.]
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.]
mould n.: Crumbling, soft, friable earth; esp., earth containing the remains or constituents of organic matter, and suited to the growth of plants; soil. [OE. molde, AS. molde; akin to D. mul, G. mull, mulm, OHG. molt, molta, Icel. mold, Dan. muld, Sw. mull, Goth. mulda, and E. meal flour. See Meal, and cf. Mole a]
fettered a.: Seeming as if fettered, as the feet pf certain animals which bend backward, and appear unfit for walking.
strife n.: The act of striving; earnest endeavor. [OF. estrif. See Strive.]
afar adv.: At, to, or from a great distance; far away; -- often used with from preceding, or off following; as, he was seen from afar; I saw him afar off. [Pref. a-.(for on or of) + far.]
coronal a.: Of or pertaining to a corona (in any of the senses). [L. coronalis: cf. F. coronal.]
patiently adv.: In a patient manner.
lust v. i.: To list; to like. [AS. lystan. See Lust, n., and cf. List to choose.]
bourne n.: A stream or rivulet; a burn. [OE. burne, borne, AS. burna; akin to OS. brunno spring, G. born, brunnen, OHG. prunno, Goth. brunna, Icel. brunnr, and perh. to Gr. burn, v., because the source]
deem v. t.: To decide; to judge; to sentence; to condemn. [OE. demen to judge, condemn, AS. d, fr. d doom; akin to OFries. d, OS. ad, D. doemen, OHG. tuommen, Icel. dæma, Sw. dömma, Dan. dömme, Goth. d. See Doom, n., an]
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]
glamour n.: A charm affecting the eye, making objects appear different from what they really are. [Scot. glamour, glamer; cf. Icel. glámeggdr one who is troubled with the glaucoma; or Icel. glam-s weakness of sight, glamour; glamr name of the moon, also of a ]
armour n.: Defensive arms for the body; any clothing or covering worn to protect one's person in battle. [OE. armure, fr. F. armure, OF. armeure, fr. L. armatura. See Armature.]
wroth a.: Full of wrath; angry; incensed; much exasperated; wrathful. [OE. wroth, wrap, AS. wraedh wroth, crooked, bad; akin to wriedhan to writhe, and to OS. wreedhangry, D. wreed cruel, OHG. reid twisted, Icel. reiedhr angry, Dan]
fameless a.: Without fame or renown.
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.]
bosomed a.: Having, or resembling, bosom; kept in the bosom; hidden.
evermore adv.: During eternity; always; forever; for an indefinite period; at all times; -- often used substantively with for.
thitherward adv.: To ward that place; in that direction.
stricken p. p.: Struck; smitten; wounded; as, the stricken deer.
howbeit conj.: Be it as it may; nevertheless; notwithstanding; although; albeit; yet; but; however. [How + be + it.]
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]
despise v. t.: To look down upon with disfavor or contempt; to contemn; to scorn; to disdain; to have a low opinion or contemptuous dislike of. [OF. despis-, in some forms of despire to despise, fr. L. despicere, despectum, to look down upon, despise; de- + spicere, specere, to look. See Spy, and cf. Des]
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,]
suffice v. i.: To be enough, or sufficient; to meet the need (of anything); to be equal to the end proposed; to be adequate. [OE. suffisen, OF. soufire, F. suffire (cf. suffisant, p.pr.), L. sufficere to put under, to substitute, to avail for, to suffice; sub under + facere to make. Se]
didst: , the 2d pers. sing. imp. of Do.
needs adv.: Of necessity; necessarily; indispensably; -- often with must, and equivalent to of need. [Orig. gen. of need, used as an adverb. Cf. - wards.]
dwell v. i.: To delay; to linger. [OE. dwellen, dwelien, to err, linger, AS. dwellan to deceive, hinder, delay, dwelian to err; akin to Icel. dvelja to delay, tarry, Sw. dväljas to dwell, Dan. dv]
cloy v. t.: To fill or choke up; to stop up; to clog. [OE. cloer to nail up, F. clouer, fr. OF. clo nail, F. clou, fr. L. clavus nail. Cf. 3d Clove.]
delightsome a.: Very pleasing; delightful.
aphrodite n.: The Greek goddess of love, corresponding to the Venus of the Romans.
diversely adv.: In different ways; differently; variously.
consummation n.: The act of consummating, or the state of being consummated; completed; completion; perfection; termination; end (as of the world or of life). [L. consummatio.]
hast: , 2d pers. sing. pres. of. Fave, contr. of havest.
aforetime adv.: In time past; formerly.
abhor v. i.: To shrink back with horror, disgust, or dislike; to be contrary or averse; -- with from.
guerdon n.: A reward; requital; recompense; -- used in both a good and a bad sense. [OF. guerdon, guerredon, LL. widerdonum (influenced by L. donum gift, cf. Donation ), fr. OHG. widarl; widar again, against (G. wider wieder) + lon reward, G. lo]
achaian a.: Of or pertaining to Achaia in Greece; also, Grecian.
ionian a.: Of or pertaining to Ionia or the Ionians; Ionic. [L. Ionius. See Ionic.]
nowise adv.: Not in any manner or degree; in no way; noways. [For in no wise. See Wise, n.]
confiding a.: That confides; trustful; unsuspicious.
folk n.: In Anglo-Saxon times, the people of a group of townships or villages; a community; a tribe. [AS. folc; akin to D. volk, OS. & OHG. folk, G. volk, Icel. f, Sw. & Dan. folk, Lith. pulkas crowd, and perh. to E. follow.]
testify v. i.: To make a solemn declaration, verbal or written, to establish some fact; to give testimony for the purpose of communicating to others a knowledge of something not known to them. [OF. testifier, L. testificari; testis a witness + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy, and cf. Attest, Contest, Detest, Protest, Testament.]
jangle v. i.: To sound harshly or discordantly, as bells out of tune. [OE. janglen to quarrel, OF. jangler to rail, quarrel; of Dutch or German origin; cf. D. jangelen, janken, to whimper, chide, brawl, quarrel.]
eupatrid n.: One well born, or of noble birth.
sinew n.: A tendon or tendonous tissue. See Tendon. [OE. sinewe, senewe, AS. sinu, seonu; akin to D. zenuw, OHG. senawa, G. sehne, Icel. sin, Sw. sena, Dan. sene; cf. Skr. snava. sq. root290.]
slumbrous a.: Slumberous. Keats.
nemean a.: Of or pertaining to Nemea, in Argolis, where the ancient Greeks celebrated games, and Hercules killed a lion.
isle v. t.: To cause to become an island, or like an island; to surround or encompass; to island.
fruition n.: Use or possession of anything, especially such as is accompanied with pleasure or satisfaction; pleasure derived from possession or use. [OF. fruition, L. fruitio, enjoyment, fr. L. frui, p. p. fruitus, to use or enjoy. See Fruit, n.]
neighbour v. i.: To dwell in the vicinity; to be a neighbor, or in the neighborhood; to be near.
favour n.: Kind regard; propitious aspect; countenance; friendly disposition; kindness; good will. [Written also favour.]
queller n.: A killer; as, Jack the Giant Queller. Wyclif (Mark vi. 27).
fain v. t.: To be glad ; to wish or desire.
easeful a.: Full of ease; suitable for affording ease or rest; quiet; comfortable; restful.
sire n.: A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir. [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.]

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

About this text

Nemean VII 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, Nemean VII, in The Odes of Pindar (1922), text of Internet Archive, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/pindar-odes/nemean-7.html, id L29156.

Form and metre

Nemean VII is 180 lines in 15 stanzas. The commonest rhyme scheme is ABABCCDD, in 4 of the 15 stanzas; the rest vary or could not be confirmed. The metre is iambic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 71%).

See other poems in iambic pentameter.

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 -A-BBACCDD-EE- ever · hearken^A · giver · thee^B · see^B · darken^A · behold^C · mould^C · all^D · fall^D · alone · feats^E · pentathletes^E · thearion
2 ABACCBDDEEF--F perish^A · clashing^B · cherish^A · tried^C · glorified^C · flashing^B · delight^D · night^D · unsung^E · flung^E · long^F · memory · see · song^F
3 ABABCCDD tarry^A · wait^B · carry^A · great^B · down^C · renown^C · sufferings^D · sings^D
4 A-A---BBCCDEED feigning^A · brooded · constraining^A · stray · aye · hooded · strong^B · song^B · bright^C · fight^C · fared^D · tide^E · bride^E · haired^D
5 ABACCB--DDEFFE sweepeth^A · descended^B · keepeth^A · fame^C · name^C · ended^B · on · stone · lie^D · die^D · hand^E · sore^F · shore^F · land^E
6 ABABCCDD hearted^A · evermore^B · departed^A · bore^B · prey^C · fray^C · knife^D · strife^D
7 ABACCBDD--EFFE thrilling^A · dying^B · fulfilling^A · place^C · race^C · lying^B · pride^D · preside^D · despise · suffice · there^E · wrought^F · thought^F · bear^E
8 ABA--BCCDDEFFE glory^A · mighty^B · story^A · come · bloom · aphrodite^B · wrought^C · lot^C · attain^D · vain^D · fate^E · be^F · thee^F · state^E
9 ABABCCDD daring^A · not^B · impairing^A · thought^B · stain^C · rain^C · this^D · is^D
10 ABACCBDDEEFGGF abiding^A · me^B · confiding^A · land^C · stand^C · me^B · strife^D · life^D · testify^E · lie^E · go^F · clan^G · overran^G · throw^F
11 ABA--BCCDD-EE- delivers^A · pouring^B · quivers^A · been · keen · soaring^B · lays^C · praise^C · twine^D · mine^D · ivory · drew^E · dew^E · sea
12 ---ABBAA raisest · song · praisest · among^A · land^B · band^B · sung^A · sprung^A
13 ABACCBDD-EF-EF mother^A · labour^B · brother^A · prove^C · love^C · neighbour^B · beside^D · abide^D · this · is^E · meet^F · sogenes · memories^E · street^F
14 ABACCBDDEE---- him^A · laden^B · him^A · blest^C · request^C · maiden^B · bestow^D · woe^D · perplexities^E · these^E · day · still · fulfil · aye
15 ABABCCDD ever^A · be^B · never^A · me^B · dishonouring^C · thing^C · tire^D · sire^D

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. Read against iambic pentameter. How this is done.

Line	Syl.	Stress
O Eileithyia enthroned for ever	10	······˘·/˘
By the Destinies deeply-brooding, hearken,	11	··/˘˘/˘/˘/˘
Thou Daughter of Hera the mighty, O giver	12	·/˘·/˘·/˘·/˘
Of birth unto babes! Unholpen of thee	10	··········
Never a child of man may see	8	/˘······
The day-dawn break or the even darken;	10	······/˘/˘
Nor ever thy sister may we behold,	10	·/˘·/˘··˘/
Young Hebe with limbs of glorious mould.	9	·····/˘˘·
We receive not our breath for a like life all,	11	·˘/·/······
But to each doth his several destiny fall.	10	·····/˘/˘·
We are fettered by Fate. By thy grace alone	11	··/˘·····˘/
Chanted to-day are the glorious feats	10	/˘····/˘˘·
Wrought in the contest of pentathletes	9	···/˘····
By Sogenes, son of Thearion.	7	·······
For he dwells in a city where cannot perish	12	·····/˘·/˘/˘
Delight in song, where rule spear-clashing	9	˘/·····/˘
Aiakids: eager are they to cherish	9	··/˘···/˘
A spirit in strife of the Games well-tried.	10	·/˘·······
If a man by achievements be glorified,	11	····˘/˘·/˘·
He hath dropped on the Muses' rills sun-flashing	11	·····/˘··/˘
Honey-sweet matter for song-delight.	9	/˘·/˘··˘/
For shrouded in gloom of oblivion's night	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
Are mighty deeds that be left unsung.	9	·/˘····˘/
One mirror alone do we know that hath flung	11	·/˘˘/······
Their reflection afar to endure for long,	11	·˘/˘˘/·˘/··
If by grace of the Lady of Memory	11	·····/˘·/˘˘
Of the shining coronal, these may see	10	··/˘/˘˘···
Their requital for toils in ringing song.	10	·˘/˘···/˘·
Wise shipmen know, though the fair wind tarry,	10	········/˘
It will blow on the third day; therefore they wait	11	···········
Patiently, letting not gain-lust carry	10	/˘˘/˘···/˘
Their freight to destruction. The small and the great	11	···˘/˘·····
Alike to the bourne of death pass down.	9	˘/·······
But I deem that Odysseus inherits renown	12	····˘/˘˘/˘˘/
Far, far surpassing his sufferings,	9	··˘/˘·/˘˘
Through the sweet-voiced lay that Homer sings.	10	····˘··/˘·
For over his winged poet-craft and its feigning	11	····/˘···/˘
Hath some strange glamour of majesty brooded;	11	···/˘·/˘˘/˘
And beguiled by his inspiration's constraining	12	·˘/···˘/˘˘/˘
Through his realm of faery lost we stray.	9	·········
Ah, the general throng of mortals aye	10	··/˘˘··/˘·
Are blinded of heart! Were their eyes not hooded	11	·/˘······/˘
From discerning the truth, never Aias the strong,	10	·˘/˘··/···
For the armour wroth, as is told in song,	10	··/˘······
Had thrust through his heart the sword smooth-bright—	9	·········
Aias, the mightiest man in fight,	8	··/˘˘···
Save Achilles, of all that to Ilium fared	12	·˘/˘····/˘˘·
By the west-wind wafted over the tide	10	····/˘····
With breath unswerving, to rescue the bride	10	··˘/˘·/˘··
Of Menelaus the golden-haired.	9	·····/˘·˘
Over all men alike the dark surge sweepeth	11	····˘/···/˘
Of Hades, on fameless heads hath descended	11	·/˘·/˘··˘/˘
And on men of renown: but honour keepeth	11	····˘/·/˘/˘
Their memories green whose after-fame	9	·/˘˘·····
God causeth to wax ever fairer, the name	10	·/˘··//˘··
Of battle-helpers whose days are ended,	10	·/˘/˘···/˘
Even such as in old time journeyed on	10	/˘·····/˘·
Unto wide-bosomed earth's great navel-stone.	10	···/˘··/˘·
So buried 'neath Pytho's floor doth lie	9	·/˘······
Neoptolemus, there foredoomed to die	10	··········
When Priam's town had been sacked by his hand,	10	·/········
Where also the Danaans travailed sore.	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
But he missed on the home-voyage Skyros' shore;	11	······/˘···
So wandering came they to Ephyre-land.	10	·/˘˘······
Short time in Molossia the mighty-hearted	11	·······/˘/˘
Reigned; but the honour was borne evermore	10	···/˘··/˘·
By the hero's posterity. Thence he departed	12	··/˘˘/˘··˘/˘
To the shrine of Apollo, and thitherward bore	12	····˘/˘·/˘˘·
Rich treasure, the choicest of all the prey	10	·/˘·/˘····
That was gathered from Troy. But there, in a fray	11	··/˘·······
Embroiled touching sacrifice-meats, by the knife	11	˘//˘/˘·····
Was he slain of a treacherous lover of strife.	11	·····/˘/˘··
But the Delphians were stricken with grief heart-thrilling—	12	··/˘·/˘···/˘
Guest-welcomers they:—howbeit so dying	11	·····˘/˘·/˘
His fate foredoomed was he but fulfilling;	11	········˘/˘
For in that most ancient hallowed place	10	····/˘/˘˘·
Was it destined that one of the royal race	11	··/˘····/˘·
Of the Aiakids should through the ages be lying	12	·······/˘·/˘
By Apollo's mansion of fair-walled pride,	10	·˘/˘/˘····
And should over the hero-processions preside,	11	····/˘˘/˘˘/
That Justice's fair name none may despise.	10	·/˘˘····˘/
And, touching the issue, three words shall suffice:	11	·/˘·/˘···˘/
No false witness is he, who there	8	··/˘····
Sitteth umpire o'er deeds by the mighty wrought.	11	/˘/˘····/˘·
Aegina, I fear not to utter my thought	11	·······/˘··
Of the children whom thou unto Zeus didst bear,	11	··/˘·······
Even this—they have trodden a highway of glory	12	/···/˘·/··/˘
By inheritance theirs; through deeds most mighty	11	·˘/˘˘····/˘
Have they won it—yet needs not to dwell on their story.	13	···········/˘
Sweetly doth rest after labour come:	9	/˘····/··
Even honey may cloy, and the flowers that bloom	10	//˘····/··
Delightsome in gardens of Aphrodite.	11	˘/˘·/˘··˘/˘
Diversely all men's natures be wrought,	9	/˘˘··/˘··
And each man draweth his several lot	9	···/˘·/˘·
In life; but if any man think to attain	11	····/˘···˘/
Unto bliss all-perfect, his hope is vain.	10	····˘/····
None know I to whom I can say that Fate	10	··········
This consummation hath granted, to be	10	··˘/˘·/˘··
Inalienable. Thearion, thee	8	˘/˘˘˘···
In season she bringeth to happy state;	10	·/˘·/˘·/˘·
Thou hast shown aforetime a spirit daring	11	···˘/˘·/˘/˘
In gallant deeds: Fate suffereth not	9	·/˘··/˘˘·
That thy wisdom now know any impairing.	11	··/˘··/˘˘/˘
Thy guest-friend I, I abhor the thought	9	·····˘/··
Of slander stealing in darkness to stain	10	·/˘/˘·/˘··
The man that I love; nay, praise will I rain	10	··········
Upon him, and crown him with glory; this	10	·······/˘·
For the noble of heart meet guerdon is.	10	··/˘···/˘·
Nay, if any Achaian of those abiding	11	··/˘····˘/˘
Beside the Ionian sea be near me,	11	·/·˘/˘˘····
He shall nowise blame me: I rest confiding	11	··/˘····˘/˘
On my friendship-tie: mid the folk of my land	11	··/˘·······
With clear gaze meeting their eyes I stand.	9	···/˘····
Of the charge of presumptuous dealing I clear me;	12	····˘/˘/˘···
All violence thrust I, a hater of strife,	10	·/˘···/˘··
From my feet. May the residue of my life	11	·····/˘····
Flow blithesomely! He shall testify	11	········/˘·
Who knoweth me, whether with slander and lie	11	·/˘····/˘··
I jangle the music of life as I go.	11	·/˘·/˘·····
Sogenes, son of the Eupatrid Clan,	9	·····/˘˘·
The mark-line never I overran	9	···/˘·/˘/
When I shot swift speech—as one that should throw	10	··········
The bronze-headed dart with a cast that delivers!	12	··/˘·····˘/˘
Neck and sinew from wrestling with sweat down-pouring	12	··/˘·/˘···/˘
Ere the limbs strain hard where the sunglare quivers—	11	·········/˘
Never, I swear it! If toil there hath been,	10	/˘········
The delight that succeedeth is yet more keen.	11	·˘/·˘/˘····
Nay, forgive, if my song over-loudly was soaring	12	·˘/····/˘·/˘
For old times' glory! In these my lays	9	···/˘····
No niggard am I of the victor's praise.	10	·/˘····/˘·
Easy it is flower-garlands to twine;	10	/˘··/˘/˘··
Nay, but tarry a space till this Muse of mine	11	··/˘·······
Shall have knit the gold to the ivory	10	·······/˘˘
And the lily-like blossom of stone that she drew	12	··/˘·/˘·····
From the depths where it lurked beneath spray-dew	10	··········
That falls on the face of the slumbrous sea.	10	·······/˘·
But bethink thee of Zeus the while thou raisest	11	·˘/······/˘
For Nemean triumph the far-ringing song	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Soft-swelling. 'Tis meet that the while thou praisest	11	·/˘······/˘
Him who sitteth enthroned the Immortals among,	12	··/˘···˘/˘··
Such praise be chanted in this your land	9	···/˘····
With reverent voice by the chorus-band,	10	·/˘˘···/˘·
For that here of his seed begotten, 'tis sung,	11	······˘/˘··
Of an Isle-nymph mother hath Aiakus sprung	10	····/˘····
To be for the fair-famed land of his mother	11	·········/˘
A ruler of cities, in all thy labour	11	·/˘·/˘···/˘
To be ever a loyal friend and brother,	11	··/˘·/˘··/˘
O Herakles! If a man may prove	8	········
Of his fellow-man any fruition of love,	12	··/˘·/˘˘/˘··
Then well may we say that neighbour to neighbour	11	······/˘·/˘
Is a joy that is worth all else beside	10	········˘/
If with steadfast heart in his love he abide.	11	··/······˘/
Now if also a God will sanction this,	10	··/˘···/˘·
By thy favour, O queller of giants, it is	12	··/˘·/˘·/˘··
That, rendering aye love-homage meet	9	·/˘˘··/˘·
To his father, fain would Sogenes	8	··/˘····
Dwell mid ancestral memories	8	··˘/˘/˘˘
In the stately-builded sacred street	10	··/˘/˘/˘˘·
Where his home 'twixt thy temples doth stand, which face him	12	·····/˘·····
At his goings forth, as with blessing laden:	11	··/˘···/˘/˘
Like a chariot's twin yokes, so they embrace him.	11	··/˘····˘/·
And thee, O Herakles ever-blest,	8	·····/˘·
It beseemeth to win to grant his request	11	·········˘/
Hera's Lord and the grey-eyed Maiden.	9	/˘·····/˘
For oft upon mortals canst thou bestow	10	····/˘··˘/
Help in the hour of the bitter woe	10	···/˘··/˘·
Of hopelessly tangled perplexities.	10	·/˘˘/˘˘/˘˘
Oh wouldst thou but link with the life of these	10	··········
All steadfast strength, through youth's glad day	8	·/······
Weaving its web of happiness still	9	/˘···/˘˘·
Till an easeful eld thy task fulfil!	9	··/˘·····
May their children's children possess for aye	10	··/˘/˘˘/··
The honour that now is theirs, and ever	10	·/˘·····/˘
Win greater glory in days to be!	9	·/˘/˘····
But with all my soul I protest that never	11	······˘/·/˘
Hath Neoptolemus' name by me	8	········
Been befouled by slander dishonouring!—	10	····/˘˘/˘˘
Yet thrice, four times to repeat this thing	9	·····˘/··
Is folly like his of whom children tire	11	·/˘····/˘/˘
As he babbles ' Corinth hath Zeus for sire.'	11	··/˘/˘···/˘

The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.

More by Pindar

The Odes of Pindar