AN ODE

IN IMITATION OF CALLISTRATUS.

Εν μυρίε κλαδι το ξιφα φορησω,
Ωσπερ ΑρμοδιΘ. κ. Αριςογείτων,
Οτε τον τυραννον κλανετων

Ισονομος τ Αθηνας εποιησάτην.

x. T. λ.

Quod si post Idus illias Martias e Tyrannoctonis quispiam tale aliquod carmen plebi tradidisset inque Suburram et fori circulos et in ora vulgi intulisset, actum profecto fuisset de partibus deque dominatione Cæsarum; plus mehercule valuisset unum Aguodie μeños quam Ciceronis Philippica

omnes.

LOWTH, De Sacra Poesi, Præl. 1.

VERDANT myrtle's branchy pride
Shall my biting falchion wreath:
Soon shall grace each manly side
Tubes that speak and points that breathe.
Thus, Harmodius! shone thy blade;
Thus, Aristogiton! thine:

Whose, when Britain sighs for aid,
Whose shall now delay to shine?

Dearest youths, in islands bless'd,

Not, like recreant idlers dead,
You with fleet Pelides rest,

And with godlike Diomed.

Verdant myrtle's branchy pride Shall my thirsty blade entwine:

Such, Harmodius! deck'd thy side;

Such, Aristogiton! thine.

They the base Hipparchus slew At the feast of Pallas crown'd:

Gods!-how swift their poniards flew ! How the monster tinged the ground! Then in Athens all was peace, Equal laws and liberty:

Nurse of arts, and age of Greece! People valiant, firm, and free!

Not less glorious was thy deed, Wentworth! fix'd in virtue's cause; Not less brilliant be thy meed, Lenox! friend to equal laws. High in Freedom's temple raised, See Fitz-Maurice beaming stand, For collected virtues praised, Wisdom's voice and Valour's hand! Ne'er shall Fate their eyelids close; They, in blooming regions bless'd, With Harmodius shall repose; With Aristogiton rest.

No, bless'd chiefs! a hero's crown Let the' Athenian patriots claim: You less fiercely won renown; You assumed a milder name.

They through blood for glory strove, You more blissful tidings bring; They to death a Tyrant drove, You to fame restored a King. Rise, Britannia! dauntless rise! Cheer'd with triple harmony, Monarch good, and Nobles wise, People valiant, firm, and free!

THE

FIRST NEMEAN ODE OF PINDAR'.

CALM breathing-place of Alpheus dead Ortygia, graceful branch of Syracuse renown'd. Young Dina's rosy bed,

Sister of Delos, thee, with sweet, yet lofty, sound Bursting numbers call, to raise

Of tempest-footed steeds the trophies glorious (Thus Etnean Jove we praise);

While Chromius' car invites, and Nemea's plain, For noble acts victorious

To weave the' encomiastic strain.

From prospering gods the song begins; [meeds:
Next hails that godlike man and virtue's holy
He the flower of greatness wins
[deeds
Whom smiling fortune crowns; and vast heroic
Every Muse delights to sing.

Now wake to that fair isle the splendid story,
Which the great Olympian king,

Jove, gave to Proserpine, and waved his locks Vowing, that, supreme in glory,

Famed for sweet fruits, and nymph'd-loved rocks,

Sicilia's full nutritious breast

With tower'd and wealthy cities he would crown. Her the son of Saturn bless'd

With suitors brazen-arm'd for war's renown

This Ode is translated word for word with the original; those epithets and phrases only being necessarily added which are printed in italic letters.

See Argument of the Hymns to Pacriti.

By lance and fiery steed; yet oft thy leaves,
Olympic olive! bind their hair

In wreathy gold. Great subjects I prepare;
But none the' immortal verse deceives.

Oft in the portals was I placed

[strain,

Of that guest-loving man, and pour'd the dulcet Where becoming dainties graced

His hospitable board; for ne'er with efforts vain
Strangers to his mansion came:

And thus the virtuous, when detraction rages,
Quench with liberal streams her flame.
Let each in virtue's path right onward press,
As each his art engages,

And, urged by genius, win success.

Laborious action strength applies,

And wary conduct, Sense: the future to foresee
Nature gives to few, the wise.

Agesidamus' son, she frankly gave to thee
Powerful might and wisdom deep.

I seek not in dark cells the hoarded treasure
Groveling with low care to keep,

But, as wealth flows, to spread it, and to hear
Loud fame, with ample measure
Cheering my friends, since hope and fear

Assail disastrous men. The praise
Of Hercules with rapture I embrace:
On the heights, which virtues raise,

The rapid legend old his name shall place;
For, when he brook'd no more the cheerless gloom,

And burst into the blaze of day,

The child of Jove with his twin-brother lay,
Refulgent from the sacred womb.

Not unobserved the godlike boy

By Juno golden-throned the saffron cradle press'd;

Straight heaven's queen with furious joy

Bade hideous dragons fleet the' unguarded floor infest:

They, the portals opening wide,

[mendous,

Roll'd through the chamber's broad recess treAnd in jaws fire-darting tried

The slumbering babe to close. He, starting light, Rear'd his bold head stupendous,

And first in battle proved his might.

With both resistless hands he clasp'd

Both struggling horrid pests, and clothed their necks with death;

They expiring, as he grasp'd,

Pour'd from their throats compress'd the foul envenom❜d breath.

Horror seized the female train,

Who near Alcmena's genial couch attended:
She, from agonizing pain

Yet weak, unsandal'd and unmantled rush'd,
And her loved charge defended,

Whilst he the fiery monsters crush'd.

Swift the Cadmean leaders ran

In brazen mail precipitately bold:
First Amphitryon, dauntless man,

Bared his raised falchion from its sheathing gold,
While griding anguish pierced his fluttering
For private woes most keenly bite

[breast;

Self-loving man; but soon the heart is light,
With sorrow not its own oppress'd.