[Footnote 1: In Hellenic music the accompaniment
was deemed subordinate to the words.]
[Footnote 2: Here are three questions and three
answers.]
[Footnote 3: The Emmenidai.]
[Footnote 4: Oedipus.]
[Footnote 5: Son of Polyneikes. Theron traced
his descent from him.]
[Footnote 6: The War of the Epigonoi against
Thebes.]
[Footnote 7: Reading [Greek: ei ge min echon].
The old readings were [Greek: ei de min echon]
and [Greek: ei de min echei; eu de min echon]
has also been suggested; but of these three none seems
to me to be at all satisfactory. In the reading
I suggest the change is very slight, and it makes
good sense.]
[Footnote 8: For Pindar’s ideas as to a
future life see especially the fragments of his Dirges
which remain to us. He seems to have been influenced
by Pythagoreanism.]
[Footnote 9: Memnon.]
For Theron of Akragas,
Winner in the chariot-race.
* * * *
*
This ode celebrates the same victory as the preceeding
one. It was sung at the feast of the Theoxenia,
given by Theron in the name of the Dioskouroi (Kastor
and Polydeukes) to the other gods. Hence the
epithet hospitable ([Greek: philoxeinois])
applied to the Dioskouroi in the first line.
The clan of the Emmenidai to which Theron belonged
was especially devoted to the worship of the Twins.
* * * *
*
Tyndareus’ hospitable sons and lovely-haired
Helen shall I please assuredly in doing honour to
renowned Akragas by a hymn upraised for Theron’s
Olympian crown; for hereunto hath the Muse been present
with me that I should find out a fair new[1] device,
fitting to feet that move in Dorian time the Komos-voices’
splendid strain.
For crowns entwined about his hair demand from me
this god-appointed debt, that for Ainesidamos’
son I join in seemly sort the lyre of various tones
with the flute’s cry and ordering of words.
And Pisa bids me speak aloud, for from her come to
men songs of divine assignment, when the just judge
of games the Aitolian[2] man, fulfilling Herakles’
behests of old, hath laid upon one’s hair above
his brows pale-gleaming glory of olive.
That tree from Ister’s shadowy springs did the
son of Amphitryon bear to be a memorial most glorious
of Olympian triumphs, when that by his words he had
won the Hyperborean folk, who serve Apollo. In
loyal temper he besought for the precinct of Zeus,
whereto all men go up, a plant that should be a shadow
of all folk in common, and withal a crown for valorous
deeds.
For already, when the altars had been sanctified to
his sire, the midmonth Moon riding her golden car
lit full the counter-flame of the eye of Even, and
just judgment of great games did he ordain, and the
fifth year’s feast beside the holy steeps of
Alpheos[3].
