English 462
Dr. Morillo
PINDARIC ODES
Pindar: Olympian Odes (from http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Pind.+O.+1.1)
A literal
translation of Pindar’s Ode
[1] Water
is best, and gold, like a blazing fire in the night, stands out supreme of all
lordly wealth. But if, my heart, you wish to sing of contests,
[5] look no further for any star warmer than the sun, shining by
day through the lonely sky, and let us not proclaim any contest greater than Olympia.
From there glorious song enfolds the wisdom of poets,1 so that they loudly sing [10] the
son of Cronus, when they arrive at the rich and blessed hearth
of Hieron, [12] who
wields the scepter of law in Sicily
of many flocks, reaping every excellence at its peak, and is glorified
[15] by the choicest music, which we men often play around his
hospitable table. Come, take the Dorian
lyre down from its peg, if the splendor of Pisa
and of Pherenicus placed your mind under the influence of
sweetest thoughts, [20] when that horse ran
swiftly beside the Alpheus,
not needing to be spurred on in the race, and brought victory to his master, [23] the
king of Syracuse
who delights in horses. His glory shines in the settlement of fine men founded
by Lydian
Pelops, [25] with whom
the mighty holder of the earth Poseidon
fell in love, when Clotho took him out of the pure cauldron, furnished
with a gleaming ivory shoulder. Yes, there are many marvels, and yet I suppose
the speech of mortals beyond the true account can be deceptive, stories adorned
with embroidered lies; [30][30] and
Grace, who fashions all gentle things for men, confers esteem and often
contrives to make believable the unbelievable. But the days to come are the
wisest witnesses. [35] It is seemly for a man to
speak well of the gods; for the blame is less that way. Son of Tantalus,
I will speak of you, contrary to earlier stories. When your father invited the
gods to a very well-ordered banquet at his own dear Sipylus, in return for the meals he had enjoyed,
[40] then it was that the god of the splendid trident seized you, [41] his
mind overcome with desire, and carried you away on his team of golden horses to
the highest home of widely-honored Zeus,
to which at a later time Ganymede
came also, [45] to perform the same service for Zeus.
But when you disappeared, and people did not bring you back to your mother, for
all their searching, right away some envious neighbor whispered that they cut
you limb from limb with a knife into the water's rolling boil over the fire,
[50] and among the tables at the last course they divided and ate
your flesh. [52] For me it is
impossible to call one of the blessed gods a glutton. I stand back from it.
Often the lot of evil-speakers is profitlessness. If
indeed the watchers of Olympus
ever honored a mortal man, [55] that man was Tantalus.
But he was not able to digest his great prosperity, and for his greed he gained
overpowering ruin, which the Father hung over him: a mighty stone. Always
longing to cast it away from his head, he wanders far from the joy of
festivity. [59] He has this
helpless life of never-ending labor, [60] a
fourth toil after three others, because he stole from the gods
nectar and ambrosia, with which they had made him immortal, and gave them to
his drinking companions. If any man expects that what he does escapes the
notice of a god, he is wrong. [65] Because of
that the immortals sent the son of Tantalus
back again to the swift-doomed race of men. And when he blossomed with the
stature of fair youth, and down darkened his cheek, he turned his thoughts to
an available marriage, [70][70] to win glorious Hippodameia from her father, the lord of Pisa.
He drew near to the gray sea, alone in the darkness, and called aloud on the
deep-roaring god, skilled with the trident; and the god appeared to him, close
at hand. [75] Pelops said to the god, “If the loving gifts of
Cyprian Aphrodite
result in any gratitude, Poseidon,
then restrain the bronze spear of Oenomaus, and speed me in the swiftest chariot to Elis,
and bring me to victory. For he has killed thirteen [80] suitors,2 and postpones the marriage [81] of
his daughter. Great danger does not take hold of a coward. Since all men are
compelled to die, why should anyone sit stewing an inglorious old age in the
darkness, with no share of any fine deeds? As for me, on this contest
[85] I will take my stand. May you grant a welcome achievement.” So he spoke, and he did not touch on
words that were unaccomplished. Honoring him, the god gave him a golden
chariot, and horses with untiring wings. [88] He
overcame the might of Oenomaus, and took the girl as his bride. She bore six
sons, leaders of the people eager for excellence. [90] Now
he has a share in splendid blood-sacrifices, resting beside the ford of the Alpheus,
where he has his attendant tomb beside the altar that is thronged with many
visitors. The fame of Pelops shines from afar in the races of the Olympic
festivals, [95] where there are contests for
swiftness of foot, and the bold heights of toiling strength. A victor
throughout the rest of his life enjoys honeyed calm, [99] so
far as contests can bestow it. But at any given time the glory of the present
day [100] is the highest one that comes to every
mortal man. I must crown that man with the horse-song in the Aeolian strain. I
am convinced that there is no host in the world today who is both knowledgeable
about fine things and more sovereign in power, [105] whom
we shall adorn with the glorious folds of song. A god is set over your
ambitions as a guardian, Hieron, and he devises with this as his concern. If he
does not desert you soon, I hope that I will celebrate an even greater
sweetness, [110][110] sped by a swift chariot, finding a helpful
path of song when I come to the sunny hill of Cronus. For me the Muse tends her mightiest shaft of
courage. Some men are great in one thing, others in another; but the peak of
the farthest limit is for kings. Do not look beyond that! [115] May
it be yours to walk on high throughout your life, and mine to associate with
victors as long as I live, distinguished for my skill among Greeks
everywhere.
Notes/Glossary:
Olympia = city in Greece for which our Olympics are
named
Cronus = leader of the Titans, ruled during the Golden Age
Heiron = tyrant king of Syracuse,
city in Sicily, owns horse that wins the race
Dorian = one of the Greek musical modes; a
lyre’s like a harp
Pisa = city in Italy of leaning tower fame; home of Oenomaus
Pherenicus = Heiron's horse, wins the real race
Alpheus = a river god and a river in NW Greece
Lydian Pelops =
from Lydia (now Turkey),
grandson of Zeus, founder of Olympic games
Poseidon = god of sea
Clotho = one of 3 fates, she spins the thread of life
Tantalus = son of Zeus, father of Pelops
Hippodaemia = wife of Pelops, daughter of Oenomaus
Aphrodite = goddess of love
Oenomaus = son of Ares & king of Pisa; races against Pelops and loses
Elis = site of first Olympics
John Dennis, remarks on the Pindaric Ode in Preface to the Court
of Death (1695)
.. it will not be amiss to
show what the Ode and its Character is in general, what Pindar and his manner was in particular, and how far it may be
convenient to imitate him in our Age and Climate.
…the Ode ought to have
as much boldness, elevation and majesty, as Epic Poetry itself; but then it is
certain that it ought to have more vehemence, more transport, more enthusiasm.
The reason is evident, For the Design of the Ode (I mean upon great occasions)
is, like that of Heroic Poetry, to move the Reader, and cause in him
admiration. Now by Heroic Poetry,
the Readers mind is exalted gradually, with a more sedate and composed Majesty;
but the Ode, by reason of its shortness of its compass, is obliged to fly into
transport at first, and to make use immediately of all its fury, and its most violent efforts, or else it would want time to work
its effect.
[on
the traits of Pindar]
…here are some great
qualities conspicuous in Pindar . . .
his vehemence, his impetuousness, and the magnificent sounds of his numbers;
and here is another thing which is the result of the rest, and that is
something dreadful, something which terribly shakes us, at the very same time
it transports us. There remains some other things which all the World has observed
in Pindar, and that is, his affected
digressions, his perpetual rambles, and his sudden and unexpected returns.
… as
we ought not to imitate Pindar in the
boldness of some of his figures, so neither in the wildness of his frequent
digressions; as Mr. Cowley has imitated him. For the English Reader, generally
speaking, not having half the degree of Fire which the Grecians had, nor
Spirits so strangely volatile, cannot immediately Sympathize
with an Author in his sudden and impetuous starts from his subject; nor discern
in a moment the almost imperceptible connexion
between the Digression and the principle matter
…the Ode ought to be by
its character, strong, and warm, and grave, and great, and exalted. (in Hooker ed.,
pp. I.43-4).