Grade 10 • Unit 4: Greek Lyric Poetry

Nemean Ode VII (For Sogenes of Aigina, Winner in the Boys’ Pentathlon) Pindar
of Thebes

O Eileithuia that sittest beside the deep-counselling Moirai, child of the

mighty Hera, thou who bringest babes to the birth, hearken unto us! Without
thee looked we never on the light or on the darkness of the night, nor came
ever unto her who is thy sister, even Hebe of the comely limbs.

But we receive our breath not all for a like life; each to his several lot is
kept apart by the yoke of fate.

Now by thy grace hath Sogenes the son of Thearion been foremost in
prowess, and his glory is sung aloud among the winners of the five-game
prize.

For he is a dweller in a city that loveth song, even this city of the
spear-clashing sons of Aiakos, and exceeding fain are they to cherish a spirit
apt for the strife of the games.

If a man have good hap in his attempt, he throweth into the Muses' stream
sweet cause of song: for even deeds of might for lack of song fall into deep
darkness, and in but one way have we knowledge of a mirror for fair deeds,
if by the grace of Mnemosyne of the shining fillet they attain unto a
recompense of toils by the sound of voice and verse.

Wise shipmates know that the wind which tarrieth shall come on the third
day, nor throw away their goods through greed of more: the rich and the
poor alike fare on their way to death.

Now I have suspicion that the fame of Odysseus is become greater than his
toils, through the sweet lays that Homer sang; for over the feigning of his
winged craft something of majesty abideth, and the excellence of his skill

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persuadeth us to his fables unaware.

Blind hearts have the general folk of men; for could they have
discovered the truth, never would stalwart Aias in anger for the arms have struck through
his midriff the sharp sword--even he who after Achilles was best in battle of all men whom,
to win back his bride for fair-haired Menelaos, the fair breeze of straight-blowing Zephyros
wafted in swift ships toward Ilos' town.

But to all men equally cometh the wave of death, and falleth on the fameless
and the famed: howbeit honour ariseth for them whose fair story God
increaseth to befriend them even when dead, whoso have journeyed to the
mighty centre-stone of wide-bosomed earth.

There now beneath the floor of Pytho lieth Neoptolemos, dying there when he
had sacked the city of Priam where the Danaoi toiled with him. He sailing
thence missed Skyros, and they wandered till they came to Ephyra, and in
Molossia he was king for a little while: howbeit his race held this state
continually. Then was he gone to the god's
home, carrying an offering of the chief spoils from Troy: and there in
quarrel concerning meats a man smote him with a knife.

Thereat were the Delphian entertainers of strangers grieved

exceedingly: nevertheless he but paid a debt to destiny: for it was needful that
in that most ancient grove someone of the lords the sons of Aiakos should
abide within thenceforward, beside the goodly walls of the god's house, and
that when with plenteous sacrifice the
processions do honour to the heroes, he should keep watch that fair right be
done. Three words shall be enough: when he presideth over the games there is
no lie found in his testimony thereof.

O thou Aigina, of thy children that are of Zeus I have good courage to
proclaim that as of inheritance they claim the path to glory, through

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splendour of their valorous deeds: howbeit in every work a rest is sweet, yea
even of honey cometh surfeit and of the lovely flowers of Love.

Now each of us is in his nature diverse, and several are the lots
of life we draw, one this and one another: but that one man receive perfect
bliss, this is impossible to men. I cannot find to tell of any to whom Fate
hath given this award abidingly.

To thee, Thearion, she giveth fair measure of bliss, first daring

in goodly deeds, and then understanding and sound mind. Thy friend am I, and I
will keep far from the man I love the secret slander, and
bring nigh unto him praise and true glory, as it were streams of
water: for meet is such recompense for the good.

If there be near me now a man of the Achaians who dwelleth far up the Ionian
sea, he shall not upbraid me: I have faith in my proxeny:
and among the folk of my own land I look forth with clear gaze, having
done naught immoderate, and having put away all violence from before my
feet. So let the life that remaineth unto me run cheerly on.

He who knoweth shall say if indeed I come with slanderous speech upon my lips
to strike a jarring note. To thee, Sogenes of the house of the sons of Euxenos, I
swear that without overstepping the bound I have sent forth the swift speech of
my tongue as it were a bronze-headed javelin, such as saveth from the wrestling
the strong neck sweatless yet, or ever the limbs be plunged in the sun's fire.

If toil there were, delight more abundant followeth after. Let be; if somewhat
over far I soared when I cried aloud, yet am I not froward, that I should deny
his glory unto one that conquereth.

The weaving of wreaths is an easy thing: tarry a little: behold the Muse
fasteneth together gold and white ivory, and a lily flower

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withal, that she hath plucked from beneath the deep sea's dew.

Of Zeus be mindful when thou tellest of Nemea, and guide the

multitudinous voices of our song with a quiet mind: meet is it that with
gentle voice we celebrate in this land the king of gods: for
they tell how he begat Aiakos of a mortal mother, to be for his own
fortunate land a ruler of cities, and for thee, Herakles, a loving
friend and brother.

And if man receiveth aught from man, then may we say that neighbour is to
neighbour a joy worth all else, if he loveth him with steadfast soul: now if even
a god will consent hereto, then in such bond with thee, O conqueror of the
giants, is Sogenes fain to dwell happily in the well-built sacred street of his
ancestors, cherishing a mind of tenderness toward his sire: for as when four
horses are yoked together in a car, so hath he his house in the midst of thy
holy places, and goeth in unto them both on the right hand and on the left.

O blessed spirit, thine is it to win hereto the husband of Hera, and the
grey-eyed maid; and thou art able to give to mortals strength ever and again
against baffling perplexities. Make thou to cleave to them a life of steadfast
strength, and wind the bliss thereof amid both youth and a serene old age, and
may their children's children possess continually the honours that they now
have, and greater in the time to come.

Never shall my heart confess that I have outraged Neoptolemos with irreclaimable words.
But thrice and four times to tell over the same tale is emptiness in the end thereof, even as
he of the proverb that babbleth among children how that Korinthos was the son of Zeus.

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Guide Questions
1. What does the title tell you about the poem’s subject?
2. What is the poem all about?
3. What is the theme of the poem?
4. What poetic devices were used in the poem?
5. How will you describe the way the ode was written?