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186 Oh! may it be my happy fate

To Nemea and Saturnian Jove

Where wrestling Timasarchus strove,

The prelude hymn to consecrate.

May Æacus' well-guarded seat

With candid mind this tribute greet,

Where Justice rears her sheltering arm

Of power to save each guest from harm.

Were still Timocritus thy sire

Warm'd by the genial solar ray,

Intent upon the varied lyre

He oft had framed the victor's lay,

That should his numerous wreaths proclaim

Won in the Cleonæan game,

In Athens, rich with fair renown,

And the seven-portall'd Theban town.

When near Amphitryo's splendid tomb

For him with no unwilling hand

Their chaplets the Cadmæan band

Gave for Ægina's sake to bloom;

As to his kindred city's walls

With hasty steps the hero went,

Seeking the bless'd Herculean halls,

On amicable purpose bent.

With him to aid, in days of yore

Troy the bold Telamon o'erthrew,

Invaded Merops' Coan shore,

And the stupendous warrior slew

Alcyoneus—but first he broke

With a huge stone's vindictive stroke

Twelve chariots by four coursers whirl'd,

And heroes to destruction hurl'd

Who tamed the steed and urged the car

Of twice that number to the war.

Unskill'd in fight must he appear

To whom the moral is not clear;