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OLYMPIAN ODES: 14. ADDRESS TO THE GRACES by PINDAR

First Line: YE POW'RS O'ER ALL THE FLOWERY MEADS
Last Line: AND DECK WITH WREATHS OF FAME HIS YOUTHFUL HEAD.

Strophe I

Ye Pow'rs, o'er all the flow'ry Meads,
Where deep Cephius rolls his lucid Tide,
Allotted to preside,
And haunt the Plains renown'd for beauteous Steeds,
Queens of Orchomenus the fair,
And sacred Guardians of the ancient Line
Of Minyas divine,
Hear, O ye Graces, and regard my Pray'r!
All that's sweet and pleasing here
Mortals from your Hands receive:
Splendor ye and Fame confer,
Genius, Wit, and Beauty give.
Nor, without your shining Train,
Ever on th' Aetherial Plain
In harmonious Measures move
The Celestial Choirs above;
When the figur'd Dance they lead,
Or the Nectar'd Banquet spread.
But with the Thrones immortal grac'd,
And by Pythian Phoebus plac'd,
Ord'ring thro' the blest Abodes
All the splendid Works of Gods,
Sit the Sisters in a Ring,
Round the golden-shafted King:
And with reverential Love
Worshipping th' Olympian Throne,
The Majestick Brow of Jove
With unfading Honours crown.

Strophe II

Aglaia, graceful Virgin, hear!
And thou, Euphrosyna, whose Ear
Delighted listens to the warbled Strain!
Bright Daughters of Olympian Jove,
The Best, the Greatest Pow'r above;
With your illustrious Presence deign
To grace our Choral Song!
Whose Notes to Victory's glad Sound
In wanton Measures lightly bound.
Thalia, come along!
Come, tuneful Maid! for lo! my String
With meditated Skill prepares
In softly soothing Lydian Airs
Asopichus to sing;
Asopichus, whose Speed by thee sustain'd
The Wreath for his Orchomenus obtain'd.
Go then, sportive Echo, go
To the sable Dome, repair,
There to Cleodemus bear
Tidings of immortal Fame:
Tell, how in the rapid Game
O'er Pisa's Vale his Son victorious fled;
Tell, for thou saw'st him bear away
The winged Honours of the Day;
And deck with Wreaths of Fame his youthful Head.



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