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Rh Shrines to th' immortal twelve he placed,

Who the celestial banquet graced,

Ranking with these Alphéus' wave,

To Saturn's hill the name he gave.

(For erst, while old Œnomaus' hand

Possess'd the sceptre of the land,

Upon the nameless mountain's head

Their snows unnumber'd ages shed.)

On the first rites with aspect mild

The destinies assistant smiled;

And hoary Time, whose steady ray

Oft brings undoubted truth to day.

He in his onward course reveal'd

What time Alcides' conquering might

Bestow'd, to found Olympia's field,

The earliest offerings of the fight.

And on each fifth returning year

Bade victory's sons the chaplet wear.

Tell, muse, in that illustrious day

Who first the glorious prize obtain'd;

Who bore the wrestler's palm away;

Who the high meed of swiftness gain'd:

Or urged his chariot to the goal,

Curbing by deeds the pride of boastful rivals' soul.