Victory Odes

2

Ah, but my tongue would fail me to tell all glories wherein the hallowed close
Of Argos hath shared; and ill to encounter is jealousy of praise-weary foes.
Yet, yet awaken the lyre of the lovely strings! Be thy rapt meditation
Of the prowess of wrestlers! The strife for the buckler of bronze forth summons a nation
To the sacrifice of oxen to Hera, to conflict’s decision, where Oulias’ son,
Theaius, the twice-triumphant, to rest from the toils so unflinchingly borne hath won.

Antistrophe 2

And at Pytho once o’er the Hellene host was he victor, and won by the gracious will
Of Fortune at Isthmus and Nemea crowns; and he gave to the Muses new acres to till
Thrice at the mountain-gates of the sea in the athlete-contests excelling,
And thrice on the hallowed ground where stood mid pastures Adrastus’ dwelling.
Zeus Father, his lips are sealed, but thou knowest his heart’s desire, for in thine hands rest
All issues of deeds. He prayeth thy grace with a toil-strong heart, with a dauntless breast.

Epode 2

All that I sing is known unto him and to whoso striveth to win the crown
Of that which of athlete-contests is chief⁠—yea, Pisa beareth the highest renown
In Heracles’ ordinance;⁠—yet was it sweet, that strain for his victory ringing,
When mid sacred Athenian rites he twice heard voices the prelude singing
Of processional chants, and the limpid fruit of the olive to Hera’s city came
In shrines fire-hardened, in pictured vases, unto the folk of heroic fame.

Strophe 3

Full often, Theaius, the glory of contests triumphant attendeth the far-famed race
Of thy mother’s sires by the Graces’ favour, and by the Tyndarid heroes’ grace.
Were I unto Thrasyklus kinsman, and Antias, then with assurance unfailing
I would claim in Argos proudly to walk, the light of mine eyes never veiling.
For with how many victories hath this city of fleet steeds blossomed, this Proitus’ town!
Four times in Corinthian glens and from hands of Kleonae’s sons she received the crown;

Antistrophe 3

And from Sikyon home with silver laden they came, with cups for the blood of the vine;
And they fared from Pellene with shoulders mantled with woof of the fleece soft-woven fine.
But the countless prizes of works of bronze, their tale can we nowise measure⁠—
For the time would fail us to reckon their number, too brief were all our leisure⁠—
Which Kleitor and Tegea-town, and the burgs Achaian each on her mountain-throne,
And the Hill Lykaian by Zeus’ course, offered, by prowess of feet and of hands to be won.

Epode 3

Since Kastor and Polydeukes his brother came for guest-welcome to Pamphaes,
No marvel it is that ever thereafter it should be inborn in the race of these
To be mighty men in the athlete-lists, for these twain, warders abiding
Of the wide-spreading dancing-lawns of Sparta, still unseen are presiding
Along with Hermes and Heracles, and mete out all fair governance due;
And to righteous men they have great regard, for the race of the Gods is faithful and true.

Strophe 4

Now these twin brethren with lives interchanging pass with their father Zeus one day;
Through the next in the crypts of the underworld where the gorge of Therapnae yawns must they stay;
And so fulfil they an equal lot, for, when the choice was given,
Thus Polydeukes willed to live, and not to abide in Heaven
Alway and wholly a brotherless God, when Kastor his brother perished in fight:
For him did Idas, wroth for the raided kine, with the point of his bronze spear smite.

Antistrophe 4

For down from Taÿgetus Lynkeus gazing afar, in an oak’s hollow trunk had espied
These twain in ambush; for he of all men dwelling on earth was keenest-eyed.
And straightway thither did Idas and Lynkeus hasten with feet swift-flying,
And suddenly compassed an awful deed when low lay Kastor dying.
Yet they suffered, those sons of Aphareus, dread retribution at Zeus’ hands. Came straightway
Leda’s son Polydeukes in chase: by the tomb of their father they turned to bay.

Epode 4

Thence did they wrench the carven stone which graceth the dead who in Hades lie,
And hurled it against Polydeukes’ breast; howbeit they crushed him not thereby,
Nor drave him backward; but onward he rushed with his lance as the lightning flashing,
And sped against Lynkeus the brazen point thereof through the ribs of him crashing.
And Zeus against Idas hurled a smouldering thunderbolt of fiery glow.
So together unmourned were the twain consumed. Hard is it to strive with a mightier foe.

Strophe 5

Thence to his mighty brother Kastor Tyndareus’ son returned straightway,
And not yet dead he found him, but drawing his breath in shuddering gasps he lay.
Then from his eyes the hot tears burst, and broken with groanings panted
His wild cry forth, “O Father Kronion, shall no release be granted
From anguish? With this my brother, O King, command thou that death take also me!
From a man bereaved of friends is the glory departed; in suffering few there be

Antistrophe 5

“That will loyally share with a man his trouble!” So cried he; and Zeus before him stood
And in this wise spake: “Mine own son thou art, but he that lieth here in his blood
Was after thee gotten of mortal seed by the hero-lord of thy mother.
But nathless choices twain do I grant unto thee; choose one or other:
If thy will be from death to escape and from grey old age that all men hate and fear,
And to dwell in Olympus with me and Athene and Ares of darkness-shrouded spear,

Epode 5

“This lot is thine to take; but if for thy brother thou strivest so earnestly
That steadfastly minded thou art that he shall in all things equally share with thee,
Then for the half of thy time shalt thou breathe with the underworld-gloom enfolden,
And for half thy time shall thy dwelling be in Heaven’s palaces golden.”
So spake the Father, and not for a moment doubted the son as touching his choice.
And the death-smitten eyes of bronze-mailed Kastor did Zeus unseal, and unchained his voice.

XI

This has nothing to do with the Nemean Games,