# Pindar and Anacreon/Pindar/Nemean Odes/3

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Celebrating the victory of Aristocleides of Aegina in the Nemean Games of 475 B. C. (?), and incorporating myths of the Aeacides and Achilles.
"The inner number, placed at the end of the several paragraphs, shows the corresponding line of the original." [ note on p. 17 ]
Layout 2
THE THIRD NEMEAN ODE.
TO ARISTOCLIDES OF ÆGINA. VICTOR IN THE PANCRATIUM.
ARGUMENT.
This ode opens with a beautiful address to the muse, whom the poet invites to pass at Ægina, which was a Doric colony, the sacred month in which the Nemean festival is held.—This leads to the praises of the island Ægina, which the victor, son of Aristophanes, has exalted by his triumphs, as much as if he had sailed to the Pillars of Hercules, and thus gained the extreme point attainable by human exertion.—The poet then checks himself, and enters on a theme more closely connected with his subject, the panegyric of the native heroes of Ægina, Peleus, Telamon, Achilles.—He then returns to the victor, declaring him to have fulfilled the various duties of boyhood, manhood, and more advanced age.—Concludes with bidding adieu to his friend, whom he pronounces worthy of the meed which the poet sends him, on account of his triumphs at Nemea, Epidaurus, and Megara.
Oh sacred muse!—on thee I call, Mother of our poetic band, Come to Ægina's Doric strand, So throng'd at Nemea's festival; For near Asopus' hallow'd wave 5 The youths who frame their choral lay, And sweet-toned minstrelsy display, Thy voice with eager fondness crave. Each deed a different object claims— While the proud victor in the games 10 To the sweet strain his wishes bends, That still his virtues and his wreath attends. 13
Then grant this vocal boon to me In unrestrain'd satiety. ​Th' accepted hymn, oh child of Jove, 15 Who dwells enthroned in clouds above, Begin, for I to chant his praise Their voice and social lyre will raise. The fruit of my delightful toil Shall crown the glory of the soil. 20 Where dwelt the Myrmidons of yore, Whose ancient and illustrious race Aristoclides with disgrace Of tarnish'd fame ne'er cover'd o'er; Subdued in the pancratium's fight, 25 Where heroes strive with valiant might. 27
He who on Nemea's fertile plain The palm of conquest wins, has found An antidote to labouring pain, A healing balm for every wound. 30 With his sweet form's unequall'd grace The valour of his arm agrees, And onward bears in glory's race The son of Aristophanes. No farther o'er the trackless main 35 An easy passage hope to gain Than where Alcides' pillars stand. 37
Placed by the hero god, to stay The wandering seaman on his way, And witness the proud naval band 40 What time on the Herculean main The mighty monsters he had slain. Impell'd by his adventurous mind The springs of marshy lakes to find, Proceeding far as he could roam, 45 He traced the realm and voyage home. But to what distant headland, say, Waft'st thou, oh mind, my sail away? To Æacus I charge thee bear And to his race the chaplet fair; 50 ​For Justice adds her flower to raise A tribute to the good man's praise. 50
Unjust the love that only views With pleasure names of foreign lore— Wouldst thou a worthy hero choose 55 To raise and ornament thy muse, Domestic chronicles explore. His royal virtues thus prolong King Peleus' fame in ancient song; Who his hewn spear exulting shook, 60 And all alone Iolcos took; Then with aspiring labour strove To win the seaborn Thetis' love; While Telamon's far-potent might With Iolas overthrew Laomedon in fight. 63 65
Him to the Amazonian band, Whose bow of brass twang'd in their hand, He follow'd—nor subduing fear Quench'd his impetuous mind's career; For true nobility of soul 70 Prevails beyond all weak control. The man that darkling gropes his way, But for his borrow'd wisdom blind, With foot uncertain where to stray, And hopes that various objects sway, 75 Grasps all alike with feeble mind. 74
Meanwhile in Philyra's abode Achilles of the golden hair In sports of active childhood show'd The ripen'd hero's manly care; 80 Shaking his iron-headed dart In hands that play'd the warrior's part. He combated with lions wild, And swift as storms destruction wrought. The boars he slew when scarce were fled 85 Six winters o'er his youthful head, ​And to Centaurus, Saturn's child, Their palpitating bodies brought. Him ever wonder'd to behold Diana and Minerva bold, 90 Without or dogs or nets' deceit, O'ercome the stags with rapid feet. 89
I find it thus in legends old: Wise Chiron in his stony cave Long since to Jason nurture gave; 95 And taught Asclepias there to gain The manual art that softens pain; Then bound in matrimonial tie Nereus' fair-handed progeny; Storing her noble offspring's mind 100 With every excellence combined. 100
That soon as to the Trojan coast Him winds and urging waters bore, He might sustain the battle roar Of Lycia's and of Phrygia's host. 105 Mingled with Æthiopia's band, On high the martial spear who wield, Combining mind with active hand; That ne'er returning from the field Should Helenus' brave kinsman roam, 110 Memnon their liege, and trace his journey home. 111
Jove, from this source the glories shine Of Æacus' illustrious line, Since from thy sacred blood they spring; While thy great influence rules the game, 115 Which native youths with loud acclaim, And hymns of joy tumultuous sing. Shouts which the victor's triumphs tell Become Aristoclides well; ​Whose noble deeds this island raise 120 To heights of glory and of praise; Gracing with Phœbus' Pythian strain Thearion's venerable fane. The issue of the contest tells In what high efforts each excels. 125 When with the stripling band a boy, A man with men of riper age, He made triumphant aims employ Each period of life's mortal stage; And lengthened time with wisdom fraught 130 Prudence, the fourth best virtue, taught; 130
That can success on each design bestow. Then hail, my enterprising friend; To thee this beverage sweet I send, Where the white milk and mingled honey flow. 135 Thus with the dew of song aspire Soft breathings of th' Æolian lyre, Though tardy be the lay. 138
Swiftest of birds, the eagle wends Her flight, and with sharp talon rends 140 On high th' ensanguined prey; While daws, below, a chattering brood, Inglorious crop their earthly food. For thee, if high-throned Clio raise In thy victorious spirit's praise 145 The hymn, from Nemea shines the light, From Megara and Epidaurus bright. 148