# Pindar and Anacreon/Pindar/Isthmian Odes/8

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Celebrating the victory of Cleandrus of Aegina in the Isthmian Games of 478 B. C., and incorporating the myth of Peleus and Thetis.
"The inner number, placed at the end of the several paragraphs, shows the corresponding line of the original." [ note on p. 17 ]
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THE EIGHTH ISTHMIAN ODE.
TO CLEANDER OF ÆGINA, VICTOR IN THE PANCRATIUM.
ARGUMENT.
The poet in this ode exhorts the youths liberated from the calamities of the Persian war to apply their minds to the framing of hymns in honour of the victor.—It becomes a Theban to sing the praises of an Æginetan, on account of their common origin.—Thence he digresses to fables of the Æacidæ and the nuptials of Peleus and Thetis; which leads him to panegyrize Achilles.—Returns to the praise of the victor, and his uncle Nicocles, with which he concludes the ode.
To celebrate Cleander's praise, Oh youths! the hymn of triumph raise, That ever forms the glorious meed To crown the blooming hero's deed. To Telesarchus' splendid halls5 Some friend his victor offspring calls The pomp and revel to convey: Potent upon the Isthmian plain, The wreath of conquest to obtain, And Nemea's guerdon bear away.10 For him, though bitter grief control The wonted ardour of my soul, To me is given th' unequal task The golden muses' aid to ask. 12
Now from our mighty sorrows free,15 No want of chaplets may we find, Around the victor's head to bind, Nor feed again our misery. ​Pausing a while, from fruitless wo Let us direct the patriot mind20 Some public blessing to bestow; Since a kind god hath turn'd aside Of threat'ning ills the direful shock That hung like the Tantalean rock O'er Græcia's land, unskill'd the storm to bide. 23
But now my fear has pass'd away,26 And anxious Care relax'd her sway. To seize each object as it lies Before his foot becomes the wise. O'er man impends deceitful age,30 Revolving still life's onward stage. Yet mortals e'en these ills may cure, While liberty continues sure. In calm contentment let them rest, Of favourable hope possess'd.35 Me too the happy task awaits, (Nurtured where Thebes expands her sevenfold gates,) With the bright muses' wreath to grace Ægina, nymph of kindred race. Twin daughters of a common sire,40 And youngest of Asopus' line, Whose beauties could the soul incline Of Jove himself to fond desire. 41
To her the heavenly lover gave By Dirce's sweetly flowing wave45 O'er that fair city to preside, Who joys the rapid car to guide. Thee to Œnopia's isle convey'd, The thundering sire a parent made Of Æacus, whose honour'd birth50 Raised him above the sons of earth. ​His godlike offspring's latest line With might from him reflected shine, Who erst, their skill and prudence to display, Appeased the brazen din of the celestial fray. 55
This on the memory dwells impress'd56 Of the assemblies of the bless'd. What time for lovely Thetis Jove And the illustrious Neptune strove; Each wishing the fair nymph to gain,60 Bound in the hymeneal chain; For mighty love their souls possess'd. But to complete their nuptial state The counsels of th' immortal kind, Soon as they heard the will of fate,65 And prudent Themis' voice, declined; 67
Who to the circle of the skies Pronounced the destinies' decree, That soon a sovereign progeny From the sea goddess would arise,70 Superior to his potent sire, Whose hand should wield a dart of fire, Fiercer than lightning's rapid flame, Or trident which no force can tame. Such is the fruit of Jove's embrace,75 Or brother's, of immortal race. Then cease your strife—in battle slain She who could but a mortal couch obtain Is doom'd her offspring to behold, With hands that rivall'd Mars in deed,80 And feet which mock'd the lightning's speed. Should I my mind's intent unfold, Let the fair prize decreed by heaven To Peleus, sprung from Æacus, be given; That pious hero, bred upon Iolcos' plain. 8785
​To Chiron's venerable cave Quick let the messengers repair: Nor Nereus' daughter give, as once she gave, To us the records of contention there. But when at evening's highest noon90 Rides in her state the full-orb'd moon, The hero may untie the zone, And make the virgin prize his own. 'Twas thus the goddess spoke to the Saturnian train;
When from immortal lids reveal'd95 Th' approving nod their purpose seal'd. Nor fell her words with empty sound, Like fruitless blossoms on the ground: For, as 'tis said, high-ruling Jove Thetis with him to join in wedlock strove.100 Hence to th' unskill'd the poet's tongue Achilles' youthful valour oft has sung; Who on the Mysian soil, with vines o'erspread, By Telephus possess'd, black streams of slaughter shed. 110
Who gave th' Atridæ back to roam105 With liberated Helen home, And sever'd with his spear Troy's nervous strength; Hector, who in the murderous fray With Memnon dared a while to stay His fury o'er the plain's extended length:110 And other chiefs to whom Achilles show'd The path that led to Proserpine's abode. Guard of th' Æacidae, whose virtues grace Ægina and his own illustrious race. Him the sweet song's melodious breath115 Deserted not when cold in death, But round his tomb and funeral pyre Stood the fair Heliconian choir, And gave the sounding notes of wo In honour of his name to flow;120 ​Since to their hymns it pleased th' immortal train To render back the valiant hero slain. 132
And now to haste with loud acclaim The muses' rapid car, agrees With him who would exalt the fame125 Of pugilistic Nicocles, Whose valour on the Isthmian plain The Doric parsley could obtain: Since he as well in days of yore The palm from neighb'ring rivals bore;130 And their presumptuous spirit broke With his inevitable stroke. 141
Actions like these will ne'er disgrace His valiant uncle's noble race. May one of the coeval band135 The laurel crown with friendly hand, For the pancratium's victor twine, Around Cleander's brow to shine; Since him before with prosperous fate Alcathous' game in festal state140 Throng'd by the Epidaurian youth, received. Well may the good resound his praise Who ne'er the morning of his days Consumed in idle sloth, by no fair deeds retrieved.
END OF PINDAR.
* ↑ See the note on Ol., i., 90.
* ↑ I. e., Neptune's.