THE FIRST NEMEEAN ODE OF PINDA R. Chromius, the son of Agefidamus, a young gentleman of Sicily, is celebrated for having won the prize of the chariot-race in the Nemean games (a folemnity instituted first to celebrate the funeral of Opheltes, as is at large defcribed by Statius; and afterwards continued every third year, with an extraordinary conflux of all Greece, and with incredible honour to the conquerors in all the exercifes there practifed) upon which occafion the poet begins with the commendation of his country, which I take to have been Ortygia (an island belonging to Sicily, and a part of Syracufe, being joined to it by a bridge) though the title of the Ode call him Ætnæan Chromius, perhaps because he was made governor of that town by Hieron. From thence he falls into the praise of Chromius's perfon, which he draws from his great endowments of mind and body, and most especially from his hospitality, and the worthy use of his riches. He likens his beginning to that of Hercules; and, according to his usual manner of being transported with any good hint that meets him in his way, paffing into a digreffion of Hercules, and his flaying the two serpents in his cradle, concludes the Ode with that history. B Eauteous Ortygia! the firft breathing-place Of great Alpheus' clofe and amorous race! Of bright Latona, where she bred 3 Th' oria Th' original new-mo ! Who faw'ft her tender fc Mead ere the horns were. grown! Who, like a gentle scion ne ly started out, From Syracufa's fide dost sprout! With Jove my fong; this happy man, Nor ought he therefore like it lefs, Through earth, and air, and feas, and up to th' heavenly vault. To "To thee, O Proferpine! this ifle I give," Said Jove, and, as haid, Smil'd, and bent his acious head. "And thou, O ifle!" faj, he, " for ever thrive, "The country thick with towns be fet, "Let all the towns be then "Replenish'd thick with men, "Wife in peace, and bold in wars! "Of thoufand glorious towns the nation, "Of thousand glorious men each town a conftellation! "Nor let their warlike laurel fcorn, "With the Olympic olive to be worn, "Whofe gentler honours do so well the brows of peace " adorn!" Go to great Syracufe, my Mufe, and wait 'Twill open wide to let thee in, When thy lyre's voice fhall but begin; And feast more upon thee, than thou on it. For, as by nature thou doft write, So he by nature loves, and does by nature fight. VOL. II. C Nature Nature herself, whilft in the womb he was, Sow'd ftrength and beauty through the forming mafs; And carv'd the members out with wondrous art. And a vast bounty, apt and fit For the great dower which Fortune made to it. 'Tis wifer much to hoard-up friends. Though happy men the present goods poffefs, Th' unhappy have their share in future hopes no lefs. How early has young Chromius begun Whilst other youths yet at the barriers stay! The flow advance of dull humanity. The big-limb'd babe in his huge cradle lay, When, lo! by jealous Juno's fierce commands, Rolling and hiffing loud, into the room; Forth Forth from their flaming eyes dread lightnings went, Their gaping mouths did forked tongues, like thunderbolts, prefent. • Some of th' amazed women dropt down dead With fear, fome wildly fled About the room, fome into corners crept, Where filently they thook and wept : All naked from her bed the paffionate mother leap'd, To fave or perish with her child; She trembled, and the cry'd; the mighty infant fmil'd : The mighty infant feem'd well pleas'd At his gay gilded foes; And, as their fpotted necks up to the cradle rofe, With his young warlike hands on both he seiz’d; In vain they rag'd, in vain they hifs'd, In vain their armed tails they twist, And angry circles cast about; Black blood, and fiery breath, and poifonous foul, he fqueezes out! With their drawn fwords Laugh, and point downwards to his prey, Where, in death's pangs and their own gore, they folding lay. When wife Tirefias this beginning knew, He told with ease the things t' enfue; |