Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TRANSLATIONS OF PINDAR: 5. TO THE SAME, by REGINALD HEBER Poet's Biography First Line: Accept of these olympian games the crown Last Line: -- have those immortals more? -- Subject(s): Olympic Games; Victory | ||||||||
ACCEPT of these Olympian games the crown, Daughter of Ocean, rushy Camarine! -- The flower of knightly worth and high renown, Which car-borne Psaumis on thy parent shrine, (Psaumis, the patriot, whom thy peopled town Its second author owns,) with rite divine Suspends! -- His praise the twice six altars tell Of the great gods whom he hath feasted well With blood of bull; the praise of victory, Where cars and mules and steeds contest the prize: And that green garland of renown to thee He hallows, virgin daughter of the sea! And to his sire and household deities. -- Thee, too, returning home from Pelops' land, Thee, guardian Pallas, and thy holy wood, He hails with song; and cool Oanus' flood; And of his native pool the rushy strand; And thy broad bed, refreshing Hipparis, Whose silent waves the peopled city kiss; That city which hath blest his bounteous hand Rearing her goodly bowers on high. -- That now, redeem'd from late disgrace, The wealthy mother of a countless race, She lifts her front in shining majesty. -- 'Tis ever thus! by toil, and pain, And cumbrous cost, we strive to gain Some seeming prize whose issues lie In darkness and futurity. And yet, if conquest crown our aim, Then foremost in the rolls of fame, Even from the envious herd a forced applause we claim. O cloud-enthroned, protecting Jove, Who sits the Cronian cliffs above, And Alpheus' ample wave, And that dark gloom hast deign'd to love Of Ida's holy cave! On softest Lydian notes to thee I tune the choral prayer, That this thy town, the brave, the free, The strong in virtuous energy, May feel thine endless care. And, victor, thou, whose matchless might The Pisan wreath hath bound; Still, Psaumis, be thy chief delight In generous coursers found. -- Calm be thy latter age, and late And gently fall the stroke of fate, Thy children standing round! And know, when favouring gods have given A green old age, a temper even, And wealth and fame in store, The task were vain to scale the heaven; -- -- Have those immortals more? -- | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AN INSCRIPTION FOR DOG RIVER by KENNETH SLESSOR HOW WE BEAT THE FAVOURITE by ADAM LINDSAY GORDON OPPORTUNITY by EDWARD ROWLAND SILL THE GLORIOUS TOUCHDOWN by GEORGE ADE THE WINGLESS VICTORY by WILLIAM HERVEY ALLEN JR. LET ME FORGET by OMA CARLYLE ANDERSON EVENING HYMN by REGINALD HEBER |
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