Philosopher Pindar: The Complete Odes #10/71

To him came strangers from Argos, from Thebes, from Arcadia and from Pisa;

but above all these settlers he honoured Menoetius, son of Actor and Aegina,

he whose sonwent with Atreus’ sons to the plain of Teuthras,

and alone stood firm beside Achilles when Telephus routed the strong Danaans

and stormed their sea-going ships; and so discerning men saw and understood

Patroclus’ forceful spirit. From that time Thetis’ son

advised him never to take his stand in the murderous battle

far away from his own man-slaying spear.

May I find the appropriate words to set out in the Muses’ chariot,

and may resolution and abundant power accompany me.

Impelled by his success and by the ties of guest-friendship,

I came to honour Lampromachus’Isthmian crown,

when on the same day both menwere victorious.

Later, there were two more joyful occasions for him

at the gates of Corinth,and others for Epharmostus in the valley of Nemea.

At Argos he won glory among men, and at Athens as a boy;

and what a contest he endured at Marathon,

where, deprived of the chance to challenge beardless boys,

he competed with older men for silver cups!

Without falling himself he threw men by nimble shifting feints,

and left through the ring of spectators to noisy shouts,

young and handsome and the winner of handsome victories.

And again, he won admiration among the people of Parrhasia

at the festival for Lycaean Zeus,and also at Pellana

where he won a warm antidote to cold winds.

Iolaus’tomb and coastal Eleusis are true witnesses of his

glorious deeds.

Natural talents are the best in every way.

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Many have taken lessons in prowess,

trying their utmost to achieve distinction;

but without a god’s help every achievement is best passed over in silence.

Some roads reach further than others,

and no single regime will develop us all.

All skills lie on a steep path; but when you give him this prize

raise a loud and confident shout that this man was with divine help

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born with quick hands and agile legs, and with courage in his eyes.

At your feast, Ajax son of Ileus,he has set on your altar a victor’s crown.

OLYMPIAN 10

For Hagesidamus of Western Locri, winner in the boys’ boxing

Read me the name of the Olympic victor, Archestratus’ son,
where it is written in my mind,
for I owe him a sweet song and have forgotten it.
Come, Muse, and you too, Truth, daughter of Zeus,
and with an amending hand keep me from the charge of
breaking my word and wronging a friend.
For the future has caught up with me from afar,
and shamed me for my deep indebtedness.
But payment with interest can free me from the sharpness of that reproach;
as a rolling wave washes a tumbling pebble down the beach,	10
so I shall fulfil our contract and win a favour between friends.
Strict integrity rules the city of the Western Locrians,
and they pay heed to Calliopeand brazen Ares.
Even all-powerful Heracles was beaten back in battle with Cycnus.
So now let Hagesidamus, boxing victor at the Olympic games,
give thanks to Ilas,as Patroclus did to Achilles.
If a man is born for success, another may with a god’s help	20
sharpen his edge and drive him towards prodigious feats of glory;
and without exertion few have won joy,
which is a radiance in men’s lives beyond all deeds.
The ordinances of Zeus have roused me
to sing of that special competition with its six altars
which Heracles once established beside the ancient tomb of Pelops.
He had killed Cteatus, Poseidon’s handsome son, and Eurytus*too,
to compel payment from Augeas for the menial service he did him—
willingly done, though Augeas was reluctant to pay him.
In a copse below Cleonae he lay in wait for them, and on the road he slew these haughty Moliones,	30
because before this they had crushed his Tirynthian army
while it lay encamped in the dales of Elis.
And indeed soon afterwards the Epeian king, betrayer of guests,
saw his rich homeland subside under pitiless fire and blows of iron
into a deep trough of calamity.
Conflict with those who are stronger cannot be avoided.
So Augeas too at the end through his folly fell into captivity
and could not escape a sheer descent into death.	40
Then Zeus’ mighty son gathered his whole army and all its plunder at Pisa,
and there measured out a sacred enclosure in honour of his great father.