Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ISHTMIAN ODES: 5. THE SONS OF AEACUS, by PINDAR


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ISHTMIAN ODES: 5. THE SONS OF AEACUS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Long since her warrior sons abroad did wend
Last Line: And crave the joyous triumph-ode.
Subject(s): Sons


LONG since her warrior sons abroad did wend
And won great glory, which through ages long
The lyre and voiceful flute shall spread.
Now by God's grace a theme
For holy hymns are they. The AEtolian lights
For OEneus' sons the blaze of offerings fair;
In Thebes hath Iolaus solemn rites,
Perseus in Argos, and the Heavenly Pair
Are honoured by Eurotas' stream.

But in OEnone AEacus and all
His great-souled sons are famed, who twice did seize
Troy's war-swept town, led once by Heracles,
And then with Atreus' sons they wrought her fall.
Lift me, O Muse, from earth to loftier song!
Say who were they who laid fair Cycnus low,
Who slew great Hector, and the undaunted foe,
Memnon bronze-mailed, who led the AEthiop throng?
And who was he who by Caicus' shore
Speared Telephus of yore?
Men were they who for motherland could claim
AEgina's isle of glorious name.

A tower of old was there
Built for their climbing virtues, and my tongue
Hath many a singing shaft to praise their might:
Yea, even now from Ajax' isle hath sprung
The witness of her seamen's saving fight,
When Salamis the tempest bare,

The ruining blast of God,
And countless men as thick as hailstones fell.
But let no boast be heard, for it is Zeus,
Zeus, Lord of All, who dealeth ill or well.
Your honours too awaken the sweet muse,
And crave the joyous triumph-ode.





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