# Pindar and Anacreon/Pindar/Nemean Odes/5

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Celebrating the victory of Pythias of Aegina in the Nemean Games of 483 B. C. (?), and incorporating myths of Peleus, Hippolyta, 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 FIFTH NEMEAN ODE.
TO PYTHEAS OF ÆGINA, VICTOR WITH THE CÆSTUS.
ARGUMENT.
The poet charges his song with the celebration of the victory which Pytheas, son of Lampo, has achieved in the Nemean games.—Hence he digresses to the heroes of Ægina, descendants of Æacus, especially Peleus, Euthymenes, Pytheas, the Athenian Menander his alipta, and Themistius.—Concludes with an address to his muse, exhorting her boldly to sing the triumphs of Pytheas at Nemea and in the festivals which were held at Epidaurus in honour of Æsculapius.
Mine is no statuary's fame, Whose art constructs the mimic frame, Forever standing on the selfsame base. But leave, sweet song, Ægina's port, On long-deck'd ships and cutters short, 5 To tell that Lampo's mighty son Pytheas the Nemean crown hath won, Whose honours the pancratium's victor grace. Incipient manhood's tender flower Not yet his downy cheek array'd 10 When his triumphant deeds display'd Th' Æacidæ's victorious power— ​Heroes whose warlike glories spring From Saturn and the heavenly king, And Thetis' golden Nereid train; 15 Illustrating with high renown The parent city's walls that crown Ægina's hospitable plain. 16
Her they implored, as near the shrine Of their Hellenian sire they stood, 20 That bless'd with sons in battle good And naval strife her fame might shine; Then raised their suppliant hands on high Endeis' noble progeny, Together with King Phocus' might, 25 Whom erst bright Psamathea bore, A goddess, on her sandy shore. I dread to speak with lofty tongue, And show what direful ills have sprung From slighted sense of right. 30 By what avenging god expell'd, Their glorious isle the valiant band Deserted—but my song withheld From the sad theme, will make a stand. 'Tis not for every truth to show 35 Its undisguised and open brow— Oft the best prudence of the wise In silent meditation lies. 33
But would my song a tribute raise Their wealth or manual strength to praise, 40 And iron firmness in the war, I'd leap beyond the rest afar, Proving with lightly bended knee My supple frame's agility; While rushes my adventurous strain 45 On eagle wing beyond the main. ​The ready muses' lovely choir To them on Pelion's mountain sang, And in the midst Apollo's lyre, Struck by his golden plectrum, rang, 50 As the great leader sounded high Its varied seven-toned harmony. 45
They hymn'd, beginning first from Jove, Peleus and Thetis' sacred name, And how the fair Cretheis strove, 55 Hippolyta, to soil his fame. Magnesia's lord, her spouse, she led By many a lure and artful wile, Feigning a tale of treacherous guile, That he Acastus' nuptial bed 60 Attempted basely to defile. 56
'Twas false—for him with raging mind And suppliant prayer she oft address'd: Yet her warm speech no love could find Responsive in his tortured breast. 65 But he refused the nymph's desire, Dreading His wrath the stranger's sire. Heaven's mighty king, immortal Jove, Who guides the clouds that roll above, Observed the deed, and gave a sign 70 That from the golden-sceptred line Of Nereids sporting in the main The hero should a consort gain; Persuading Neptune to approve The social bond of kindred love; 67 75
The god who oft from Ægæ's height To Dorian Isthmus speeds his flight. ​Him there receive the festal choir With sound of the melodious reed, And in firm strength of limb aspire, 80 The native test of every deed; While thou, Euthymenes, at rest On the fair goddess Victory's breast, Raisest the varied hymn to crown Thine own Ægina with renown. 85 Now Pytheas' rapid footsteps trace His uncle's fame in glory's race; 80
Illustrating his kindred line. Such fame the strife of Nemea's field And the month's circling periods yield, 90 Which Phœbus views with love divine. At home and on green Nisus' height, His equals, rushing to the fight, He conquer'd—I exult to view The city these fair deeds pursue. 86 95
To brave Menander's presence, know, Thy toils their sweet requital owe. Who fits the athletes for the ring Should like himself from Athens spring. No longer let chill fear control 100 The generous purpose of thy soul, Themistius if thou come to sing. But raise thy voice—and to the end Of the tall mast thy sails extend— ​Loudly his double palm proclaim, 105 Which in the Epidaurian field The hardy wrestler's glorious game, And the pancratium's contests yield. Assisted by the nymphs of auburn hair, 109 To Æacus' high fane 'twas his the wreaths to bear.
* ↑ The opening of this ode contains an indirect reproach of the kindred of Pytheas, who wished to procure from Pindar an ode to commemorate his victory for a less sum than three drachmæ, (about ten pounds,) asserting that it would be preferable to purchase a statue for that sum: but afterward, sensible of their error, they request the bard to furnish them with an ode. He therefore begins very appropriately by instituting a comparison between the immobility of a statue and the universal celebrity which verses would obtain for the victor, by penetrating the most distant regions of the habitable world.
* ↑ I. e., Telamon and Peleus, sons of Æacus, and Endeis, the daughter of Chiron.
* ↑ I. e., Jupiter the protector of strangers.
* ↑ Neptune and Peleus married Amphitrite and Thetis, two of the Nereids; they were therefore brothers-in-law.
* ↑ I. e, the month Delphinius, in which a contest was celebrated by the Æginetans, sacred to Apollo, called the Hydrophoria.
* ↑ This and the following line are thus paraphrased by Sudorius:— "Cecropidam decet Fortem exercitiis præesse virilibus." It appears from this passage that the Athenians were as preeminent for their skill in athletic exercises as in arts and arms.