Himself to high Olympus bound,
To these a latest charge he gave,
A solemn annual feast to found,
And of contending heroes round
To deck the strong, the swift, the brave.—
Nor doubt I that on Theron's head,
And on the good Eumenides,
The sons of Jove their blessing shed
Whom still, with bounteous tables spread,
That holy tribe delight to please;
Observing with religious dread
The hospitable god's decrees.
But, wide as water passeth earthy clay,
Or sun-bright gold transcendeth baser ore:
Wide as from Greece to that remotest shore
Whose rock-built pillars own Alcides' sway;
Thy fame hath pass'd thine equals !—To explore
The further ocean all in vain essay,
Or fools or wise;-here from thy perilous way
Cast anchor here, my bark! I dare no more!—
Он, urging on the tireless speed
Of thunder's elemental steed,
Lord of the world, Almighty Jove!
Since these thine hours have sent me forth
The witness of thy champion's worth,
And prophet of thine olive grove ;-
And since the good thy poet hear,
And hold his tuneful message dear;
Saturnian Lord of Etna hill !—
Whose storm-cemented rocks encage
The hundred-headed rebel's rage;
Accept with favourable will
The Muses' gift of harmony:
The dance, the song, whose numbers high
Forbid the hero's name to die,
A crown of life abiding still!——
Hark! round the car of victory,
Where noble Psaumis sits on high,
The cheering notes resound;
Who vows to swell with added fame
His Camarina's ancient name;
With Pisan olive crown'd.
And thou, oh father, hear his prayer !-
For much I praise the knightly care
That trains the warrior steed:
Nor less the hospitable hall
Whose open doors the stranger call;
Yet, praise I Psaumis most of all
For wise and peaceful rede,
And patriot love of liberty.
What?-do we weave the glozing lie?— Then whoso list my truth to try, The proof be in the deed!—
To Lemnos' laughing dames of yore,
Such was the proof Ernicus bore,
When, matchless in his speed,
All brazen-arm'd the racer hoar,
Victorious on the applauding shore,
Sprang to the proffer'd meed;-
Bow'd to the Queen his wreathed head;“Thou seest my limbs are light,” he said; "And, lady, mayst thou know,
That every joint is firmly strung,
And hand and heart alike are young;
Though treacherous time my locks among
Have strew'd a summer snow!".
ACCEPT of these Olympian games the crown,
Daughter of Ocean, rushy Camarine !—
The flower of knightly worth and high renown,
Which car-borne Psaumis on thy parent shrine,
(Psaumis, the patriot, whom thy peopled town
Its second author owns,) with rite divine
Suspends !-His praise the twice six altars tell
Of the great gods whom he hath feasted well
With blood of bull; the praise of victory,
Where cars and mules and steeds contest the prize :
And that green garland of renown to thee
He hallows, virgin daughter of the sea!
And to his sire and household deities.-
Thee, too, returning home from Pelops' land,
Thee, guardian Pallas, and thy holy wood,
He hails with song; and cool Oanus' flood;
And of his native pool the rushy strand;
And thy broad bed, refreshing Hipparis,
Whose silent waves the peopled city kiss;
That city which hath blest his bounteous hand
Rearing her goodly bowers on high.~
That now, redeem'd from late disgrace,
The wealthy mother of a countless race,
She lifts her front in shining majesty.-
'Tis ever thus! by toil, and pain,
And cumbrous cost, we strive to gain
Some seeming prize whose issues lie
In darkness and futurity.
And yet, if conquest crown our aim,
Then foremost in the rolls of fame,
Even from the envious herd a forced applause we claim. O cloud-enthroned, protecting Jove,
Who sits the Cronian cliffs above,
And Alpheus' ample wave,
And that dark gloom hast deign'd to love
Of Ida's holy cave!
On softest Lydian notes to thee
I tune the choral prayer,
That this thy town, the brave, the free,
The strong in virtuous energy,
May feel thine endless care.
And, victor, thou, whose matchless might
The Pisan wreath hath bound;
Still, Psaumis, be thy chief delight
In generous coursers found.—
Calm be thy latter age, and late
And gently fall the stroke of fate,
Thy children standing round!
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