The fate that is born with a man is arbiter of all his acts.  Thou, Euthymenes[3], at Aigina falling into the goddess victory’s arms didst win thee hymns of subtle strain:  yea and now too to thee, O Pytheas, who art his kinsman of the same stock and followest in his footsteps, doth thy mother’s brother honour.  Nemea is favourable unto him, and the month[4] of his country that Apollo loveth:  the youth that came to strive with him he overcame, both at home and by Nisos’ hill of pleasant glades[5].  I have joy that the whole state striveth for glory.  Know that through Menander’s[6] aid thou hast attained unto sweet recompense of toils.  And meet it is that from Athens a fashioner of athletes come.

But if thou comest to Themistios[7], to sing of him, away with chill reserve, shout aloud, hoist to the top-yard of the mast the sail, and tell how in the boxing and the pankration at Epidauros he won a double prize of valour, and to the portals of Aiakos bare fresh wreaths of flowers, led by the Graces of the yellow hair.

[Footnote 1:  Wife of Aiakos and mother of Peleus and Telamon.  They killed Phokos.]

[Footnote 2:  A sea-nymph, mother of Phokos by Aiakos.]

[Footnote 3:  Maternal uncle of Pytheas.]

[Footnote 4:  The month called in Aigina Delphinios (April-May) when the Nemean games took place.]

[Footnote 5:  At Megara]

[Footnote 6:  Pytheas’ trainer, an Athenian.]

[Footnote 7:  Maternal grandfather of Pytheas.]

VI.

For Alkimidas of Aigina,

Winner in the boys’ wrestling-match.

* * * * *

The date of this ode is unknown, but from the mention of the trainer Melesias it has been inferred that it was among Pindar’s later works.  It would seem to have been sung at Aigina, perhaps at some feast of the Bassid clan given in honour of the victory.

* * * * *

One race there is of men and one of gods, but from one mother[1] draw we both our breath, yet is the strength of us diverse altogether, for the race of man is as nought, but the brazen heaven abideth, a habitation steadfast unto everlasting.

Yet withal have we somewhat in us like unto the immortals’ bodily shape or mighty mind, albeit we know not what course hath Destiny marked out for us to run, neither in the daytime, neither in the night.

And now doth Alkimidas give proof that it is with his kindred as with fruitful fields:  for they in turn now yield to man his yearly bread upon the plains, and now again they pause, and gather back their strength[2].

From the pleasant meeting-places of Nemea hath the athlete boy come back, who following the ordinance[3] of Zeus hath now approved him no baffled hunter in his wrestling-quest, and hath guided his feet by the foot-prints of Praxidamas, his father father, of whose blood he sprang.