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Rh Connected with this hero's name,

Will I his sire Asopodorus' fame,

And thy paternal soil, Orchomenos, proclaim.

Propp'd on a wreck that 'scaped the boundless wave,

A refuge from his dire mischance she gave;

And now once more congenial fate

Has raised him to his ancient state;

While prudence arms his mind to bear

The heavy load of adverse care.

But if to purchase valour's meed,

Expense and toil must crown the deed,

Ne'er should the victor's praise be sung

By an unjust and envious tongue.

The poet's recompense is light

His various labours to requite;

Who by the honest meed of praise

A common monument will raise.

To mortal toils of various kind

Are sweet but different gifts assign'd.

The fowler, he that tends his sheep,

Who tills the soil, or ploughs the deep,

All by laborious efforts strive

Hunger's dire pest away to drive.

But he whose valour in the fight,

Or contests of superior might,

Hath borne the splendid prize away,

Shall hear his panegyric sung

By citizens' and strangers' tongue,

And gain of highest worth convey.

Be mine the task with loud acclaim

Saturn's earth-shaking son to name,