Page:Pindar and Anacreon.djvu/164

156

Glory for her his conquests weave

Who shall with willing mind receive

The hero from the Delphic toil,

In his loved female-beauteous soil.

Great virtues ask a lengthen'd song—

But to adorn a high emprise

Briefly, is grateful to the wise;

Since its due limits to each act belong.

Seven-portall'd Thebes great Iolaus knew

The fitting opportunity pursue.

Him, when the proud Eurystheus' head

His vengeful sword had severed,

By charioteer Amphitryo's tomb

Earth hid within its tranquil breast,

Whither in ages past had come

His grandsire, th' earth-sown warrior's guest;

Who dwelt where milk-white coursers' feet

Sounded in the Cadmæan street.

Compress'd by his and Jove's embrace,

With the same pang Alcmena bore

Of sons a twin heroic race.

Mute and unskill'd in sacred lore

Were he who would refuse to raise

His voice in great Alcides' praise;

Forgetting the Dircæan spring,

That nurtured him and Iphicles, to sing.

To them will I the hymn address

Who crown my efforts with success.

Ne'er let the vocal Graces' ray

Cease to illuminate my lay.

Already has the victor's fame

Oft raised this glorious city's name,

Once in Ægina's day of fight,

And thrice on the Megarean height;

Forbidding o'er the victor's tale

Silence to draw her dusky veil.