O Golden lyre, that are owned alike by Apollo and by the violet-tressed Muses! thou lyre, which the footstep heareth, as it beginneth the gladsome dance ; lyre, whose notes the singers obey, whenever, with thy quivering strings, thou preparest to strike up the prelude of the choir-leading overture ! Thou abatest even the warring thunderbolt of everlasting flame; and the eagle, king of birds, sleepeth on the sceptre of Zeus, while his swift pinions twain are drooping, and a darksome mist is shed over his bending head, sweetly sealing his eyelids; and the bird, as he slumbereth, heaveth his buxom back beneath the spell of thy throbbing tones. For even the stern god of war setteth aside his rude spears so keen, and warmeth his heart in deep repose ; and thy shafts of music soothe even the minds of the deities, by grace of the skill of Léto’s son and the deep-zoned Muses. But all the beings that Zeus hath not loved, are
astonied, when they hear the voice of the Pierides, whether on the earth, or on the resistless sea; whereof is he who lieth in dread Tartarus, that foeman of the gods, Typhon with his hundred heads, who was nurtured of old by the famed Cilician cave, though now the steep shores above Cymé, and Sicily too, lieth heavy on his shaggy breast, and the column that soareth to heaven crusheth him, even snow-clad Etna, who nurseth her keen frost for the live-long year,—Etna, from whose inmost caves burst forth the purest founts of unapproachable fire, and, in the day-time, her rivers roll a lurid stream of smoke, while amid the gloom of night, the ruddy flame, as it sweepeth along, with crashing din whirleth rocks to the deep sea far below. And that monster fling-eth aloft the most fearful founts of fire, a wondrous marvel to behold, a wonder even to hear, when men are hard by; such a being is he that lieth bound between those dark-leaved heights and the ground below, while all his out-stretched back is goaded by his craggy couch. Grant, grant, we may find grace with thee, O Zeus, that hauntest that. mount, that forefront of a fruitful land,—that mount, whose namesake city near at hand was glorified by its famous founder, when the herald proclaimed her in the Pythian course by telling of Hieron’s noble victory with the chariot. Even
as seafaring men deem as their first blessing the coming of a favouring breeze at the outset of their voyage, for, haply, at the end also, they may win them a more prosperous return to their home; even so doth the thought inspired by his good fortune prompt the hope that this city will from henceforth be famous for victorious wreaths and coursers, and that its name will be heard amid tuneful triumphs. O Phoebus, lord of Lycia and of Delos, thou that lovest the Castalian fount of Parnassus, mayest thou be willing to make this purpose good, and this land a land of noble men. From the gods come all the means of mortal exploits ; thanks to the gods are men wise and brave and eloquent. And, while I am eager to praise my hero, I trust I may not fling, as it were, outside the lists the bronze-tipped javelin which I brandish in my hand, but may fling it afar, and thus surpass my foes. Oh that all time to come may, even as heretofore, waft him in the straight course of prosperity and of all the blessings of wealth, and also grant oblivion of all pains. Then would he recall in what battles amid wars he once held his ground with steadfast soul, what time, from the hands of the gods, he and his won
them honour, such as no other Greek hath gathered, even a lordly crown of wealth. But now he was following in the ways of Philoctétés, when he was prompted to take the field; for, under the stress of need, even the proud man fawned for his friendship. Thus do they say that god-like heroes went to bring from Lemnos the bowman son of Poeas, who was wearied with his wound, but who yet sacked the city of Priam, and ended the toil of the Danai, though he went on his way with a frame that was weak; but thus was it ordered of Fate. Even so, for the time that is still to come, may God be the preserver of Hieron, giving him all he desireth in due season. I would bid my Muse also stand beside Deinomenés, while she loudly praiseth the guerdon won by the chariot of four steeds. The victory of the sire is a joy that also concerneth the son; therefore let us devise a friendly song in honour of Aetna’s king, for whom Hieron founded that city with the aid of god-built freedom, according to the laws of the rule of Hyllus. And the sons of Pamphylus, aye, and verily of the Heracleidae also, though they dwell beneath the cliffs of Taygetus, are willing to abide for ever,
as Dorians, under the ordinances of Aegimius. They gat them Amyclae and prospered, sallying forth from Pindus, those glory-laden neighbours of the Tyndaridae with their white horses; and the fame of their spear burst into bloom. O Zeus, that crownest all things, grant that the words of men may with truth assign no less good-fortune to citizens and kings alike, beside the waters of Amenas. With thy blessing may he who himself is the leader, and giveth his behests to his son, honour the people, and prompt them to concord and peace. Grant, I beseech thee, O son of Cronus, that the battle-shout of the Carthaginians and Etruscans may abide at home in peace and quiet, now that they have seen that their over-weening insolence off Cumae hath brought lamentation on their ships®; such were the losses they suffered, when vanquished by‘ the lord of the Syracusans,—-a fate which flung their young warriors from their swift ships into the sea, delivering Hellas from grievous bondage. From Salamis shall I essay to win for my reward the favour of the Athenians,‘ but, at Sparta, I shall tell of the battle before Cithaeron,—those battles twain in which the Medes with curved bows suffered sorely ; but, by the well-watered bank of the river
Himeras, (I shall win reward) by paying my tribute of song to the sons of Deinomenés,—the song of praise, which they won by their valour, while their foemen were fore-spent. If thou shouldest speak in season due, blending the strands of many themes into a brief compass, less cavil followeth of men. For dull satiety blunteth all the eagerness of expectation; but that which is heard by fellow-citizens lieth heavy on their secret soul, and chiefly when it concerns the merits of others. Nevertheless, since envy is better than pity hold to thy noble course! Steer thy people with the helm of justice, and forge thy tongue on the anvil of truth! If any word, be it ever so light, falleth by chance, it is borne along as a word of weight, when it falleth from thee. Thou art the faithful steward of an ample store. Thou hast many trusty witnesses to thy deeds of either kind. But do thou abide in a temper that bloometh in beauty, and, if indeed thou delightest in hearing evermore what is sweet to hear, wax not over-weary in thy spending. Rather, like a steersman, suffer thy sail to be set free to catch the breeze. Be not allured, my friend, by cunning gains! When men are dead and gone, it is only the loud acclaim of praise that surviveth mortals and revealeth their manner of
life to chroniclers and to bards alike. The kindly generosity of Croesus fadeth not away, while Phalaris, ruthless in spirit, who burned his victims in his brazen bull, is whelmed for ever by a hateful infamy, and no lyres beneath the roof-tree welcome him as a theme to be softly blended with the warbled songs of boys. The first of prizes is good-fortune ; the second falleth to fair fame; but, whosoever findeth and winneth both, hath received the highest crown.
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