Page:Odes of Pindar (Paley).djvu/28

xxii on very weak points in the characters of his patrons, such as meanness, tyrannical conduct, incontinence, or ingratitude. Examples of this are very numerous; see, for instance, Pyth. ii. 21, x. 31, xi. 18; Nem. viii. 18. In this respect, as in his general defence of kings and of the aristocracy, he had to act with great caution, for he had both rival poets, especially Bacchylides and Simonides, to compete with in securing court-favour, and a host of enemies besides, who were either jealous of his fame, or thought themselves slighted by not being noticed in his poems. Beside these obstacles in his path, he had to keep clear of the factions in the Greek cities; and he occasionally shows a desire to steer clear of extremes, and to please all parties as far as he could.

3. The habit of borrowing metaphors and figures of speech from the particular contest he is celebrating may be called one of Pindar's peculiarities. There is a striking example of this in the concluding verses of Nem. iv., which is noticed by Dr. Donaldson. Generally, this may be said to give quite a tone to the poet's phraseology, for he is continually talking of ascending the car of poetry, aiming a javelin at the mark, the crowns and flowers of song, the nimble foot of the runner, the