Pythian

Pindar

Pindar. Arnson Svarlien, Diane, translator. Created for the Perseus Project, 1990.

  1. more than anyone has approached his father’ s standard,
  2. and he rivals his father’s brother in every splendor. He manages his wealth with intelligence, reaping not an unjust or arrogant youth, but the wisdom found in the quiet haunts of the Pierian Muses.
  3. Earth-shaking Poseidon, he is devoted to you, who rule over horse-races, and his thoughts are pleasing to you. His sweet temperament, when he associates with his drinking companions, surpasses even the bee’s intricate honeycomb.
  1. The great city of Athens is the most beautiful prelude of song, which the widely powerful race of the Alcmaeonids can lay as a foundation of odes in honor of their horses.
  2. What fatherland, what family will you name that is more illustrious in Greece ?
  3. For in all cities the story
  4. of the citizens of Erechtheus makes the rounds, Apollo, how they made your dwelling in divine Pytho a marvel to see. Five Isthmian victories lead my song forward, and one outstanding triumph
  5. at Zeus’ Olympian games, and two from Cirrha —
  6. yours, Megacles, and your ancestors’. I rejoice at this new success; but I grieve that fine deeds are repaid with envy.
  7. It is true what they say: the abiding bloom of good fortune brings with it both good and bad.
  1. Kindly Peace, daughter of Justice, you who make cities great, holding the supreme keys of counsels and of wars,
  2. receive this honor due to Aristomenes for his Pythian victory. For you know both how to give and how to receive gentleness, with precise timing.
  3. And yet, whenever anyone drives pitiless anger into his heart,
  4. you meet the strength of your enemies roughly, sinking Arrogance in the flood. Porphyrion did not know your power, when he provoked you beyond all measure. Gain is most welcome, when one takes it from the home of a willing giver.
  5. Violence trips up even a man of great pride, in time. Cilician Typhon with his hundred heads did not escape you, nor indeed did the king of the Giants. [*](Porphyrion, mentioned above.) One was subdued by the thunderbolt, the other by the bow of Apollo, who with a gracious mind welcomed the son of Xenarces on his return from Cirrha , crowned with
  6. a garland of laurel from Parnassus and with Dorian victory-song.
  7. His island with her just city has not fallen far from the Graces, having attained the famous excellence of the Aeacidae; she has had perfect
  8. glory from the beginning. She is praised in song for having fostered heroes who were supreme in many victory-bearing contests and in swift battles;
  9. and she is distinguished in these things even for her men. But I do not have the time to set up
  10. their whole long story to the lyre and the gentle voice, for fear that satiety would come and distress us. But my debt to you, child, which comes running at my feet, your latest fine achievement, let it fly on the wings of my artfulness.