Pythian Ode I
ΙΕΡΩΝΙ ΑΙΤΝΑΙΩι ΑΡΜΑΤΙ
- For Hieron of Aitna, Chariot Victor
- 470 B.C.
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Jointly with the dark-tressed Mousai, unto whom harkens the dance-step, merriment's birth.
And the singers obey thy notes,
Whene'er the opening preludes thou dost stir to song with thy shaking strings.
Even the warlike thunderbolt thou quench'st, 5
Ever-lasting fire though it be. And slumbereth upon the scepter of Zeus his eagle strong, who slackens his swift wings on his either side,
Yea, even that lord of birds, o'er his dark face dost thou pour a mist
O'er his mighty curved beak, o'er his eyelids a sweet seal. And slumb'ring,
His rippling back he lifts in breath, for thine own
Spell is he wholly under. Even mighty Ares, far-off doth he leave 10
His own jagged-tipped spear, and warmeth he his heart
In sleep -- thy shafts bewitch even the hearts of the gods with both the skill of Leto's son and the deep-bosomed Mousai!
And those whom Zeus has loved not, are by fear distraught when
They have heard the shouts of the Pierian Mousai, on both Earth and the irresistible Sea!
For he in the dread Tartaros lies, the gods' enemy, 15
Typhon, hundred-headed! Once the
Kilikian many-named cave nurtured him, but now indeed,
The sea-girt cliffs o'er Kymai
And Sikelia weigh down upon his woolly breast! And that Heaven's pillar holdeth him,
She, Snow-clad Aitna, year-round nurse of bitter snowfall, 20
Belches forth the purest fonts of unapproachable fire
From her innermost places. And her rivers in daytime pour forth a burning stream of
Smoke, while rocks in the darkness,
Doth the crimson-red flame toss headlong down and bear to the deep plain of the sea with a crash!
And streams of Haphaistos does yon beast 25
Upward throw, ah, the most terrible streams! A wondrous sign it is to behold!
And a wonder to hear about from who have thereby seen
What a monster in Aitna's dark-leafed heights is bound,
And under the plain, his bedspread which cuts his whole back into furrows and stings his outstretched length.
Let this be, O Zeus, let this be something which giveth thee delight,
Thou who haunt this very mountain, the well-fruited earth's brow, whose namesake, 30
The city hard by, her famous founder made glorious with renown,
When the Pythian herald in the racecourse proclaiming announced that Hieron had beautifully triumphed
In chariot-racing! As for sea-faring men the foremost blessing
On a voyage's outset is the coming of a favorable breeze -- for most likely
At the end shall they also happen upon a luckier homecoming; and this saying 35
Amidst these circumstances beareth the expectation
That what remains is for this city to become well-renowned with garlands and horses,
And famously known for her sweet-sounding feasts!
O Lykian lord, O Phoibos, lord of Dalos, to whom Parnassus' font, the Kastalia, is dear,
Thou didst wish to keep within thy mind these places, and make this a land of good men. 40
For from the gods do all nature's achievements arise to make use of mortal excellence,
Be it experience, or might of hands, or how one plies his tongue: and when that victorious man
I am eager to praise, I hope that
I not be like one who throws his bronze-cheeked spear outside the lists after brandishing it in hand,
But I would rather outstrip my rivals with the lengths of my casts. 45
Would that all time to come grant him a gift of money or of goods, and offer him a forgetfulness of hardships.
He might remember again in what sort of battles in wars
With stout-hearted courage he stood his ground, when men found honor in the gods' handiwork,
Honor no other of the Hellenes can pluck,
A lordly crown of wealth. And now he is in the manner of Philoktetes who went to war 50
After enrolling in the army. And then need of his friendship drove
Even some great-hearted man to fawn o'er him, for they say that from Lamnos returned
The godlike heroes sent to fetch him, yea Poias' archer son,
Still suffering from his wound;
And Priamos' city he destroyed, and brought to an end the toils of the Danaoi,
Though weak in body he went -- but such was fated. 55
And thus may god become a redeemer for Hieron
In the time to come, granting him the moment to seize that for which he lusts.
O Mousa, upon me prevail to sing aloud in Deinomenes' house
Of the reward won by Hieron's four-horse car, for not unknown to him is the joy of his father's victory.
But come, let us then come up with a friendly song for the king of Aitna, 60
Who with god-wrought freedom established a city,
And, with Hyllus' teachings grafted on the constitution, Hieron peopled said city, and opened it to any willing member of Pamphylos' tribe,
And, yea, the Sons of Herakles,
Dwelling under the heights of Taygetos, ever do they stay under the law of Aigimios,
As Dorians. And blessed be they who hold Amyklai, 65
They who hailed from Mt. Pindus, and then neighbors of Tyndareos' sons of the white horses, and their fame with a spear hath blossomed.
O Zeus, thou Fulfiller, forever decree that the true report of men
May dispense good fortune to her townspeople and her kings alongside Amenas' waters,
And alongside thee may a man become a leader,
Who bids his son to honor his homeland and turn his people into one voice, one peace. 70
I beseech thee, son of Kronos, for thy calm assent
So that the Phoenician and the war-shouts of the Tyrsenoi be kept only at their own home, since the downfall of their ships, their pride, they beheld at Kumai,
Smitten as they were by the Syrakusans' captain,
Who from their ships did hurl their youth into the sea, drawing Hellas out of heavy slavery. I shall win 75
From Salamis the thanks of the Athenaioi,
As well as their pay; and in Sparta shall I compose about the battle before Kithairon,
Where the crooked-bowed Medeioi toiled hard,
And then to the well-watered strand of Himeras shall I complete a hymn for sons of Deinomenes,
A song which they, girded by valor, earned when their foes were likewise hard-pressed. 80
If at the proper time thou shouldst sing and stitch together many strands
Into one brief song, then less shall there be any of men's reproach, for un-ending satiety doth blunt
Any hasty hopes.
And what townsfolk hear doth weigh heavy on their hidden hearts, especially when hearing the praise of others.
But yet, better than to be pitied is to be envied. 85
Let not thy good works by the wayside fall. Steer with a rudder of justice thy people, and on an anvil of truth temper thou thy tongue.
Should a paltry word fall lightly from thy lips, great will its weight be,
As it is born from thee. For thou art the dispenser of much. Many are the trusty witnesses of thy deeds, both good and ill.
Flourish thou by remaining within thy temper,
And if thou dost love to hear a pleasant compliment, grow not weary to spend on expense, 90
But like a ship's captain, raise up, thou,
Thy ship's windswept mast. Be not ensnared, my friend, by deceitful gain. In the time that lives after men, a boasting tale
Alone revealeth the lives of men long-gone
To both scribblers and singers alike. For fadeth not the friendly valor of Kroisos;
But as for the merciless heart who burnt men in a brazen bull, 95
Yea, doth hateful talk on everyone's lips hold Phalaris fast,
And no phorminx playing under any roof doth sing of him
In the gentle fellowship of children's songs.
To be well off is the chiefest prize -- and famous is the next best lot. And if both a man
Hath met and then achieved, the supreme crown he hath received. 100
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