Philosopher Pindar: The Complete Odes #13/71

70

He sprang to his feet and seized the marvellous bit that lay beside him,

and joyfully sought out the seer of the place, Coeranus’ son,*

and explained all that had happened in the dream:

how he had slept all night on the goddess’s altar as she had instructed,

and how the daughter of Zeus the thunderbolt-hurler

had herself given him the spirit-taming gold.*

The seer told him to obey the dream as fast as he could:

he should sacrifice a strong-footed beast to the wide-ruling Earth-holder

80

and then at once set up an altar to Athene, goddess of horses.

Even things beyond oath and hope are easily fulfilled by the gods’ power.

And so mighty Bellerophon reached out

and put the soothing charm about the winged horse’s muzzle, and subdued it.

Quickly he mounted, and armed in bronze began to wave his weapon in sport.

Later, with his horse’s help, he swooped down

from the chill gulfs of the empty upper air

and laid low the army of the Amazons, female archers,

and the fire-breathing Chimaera, and the Solymi.*

About his fate*I shall keep silent;

but his horse is still lodged in Zeus’ ancient stables on Olympus.

90

But as I whirl my many javelins on their straight course

I must not hurl weapons from my hand so as to miss the mark,

for I have come as a willing ally of the Muses on their shining thrones,

and to help the clan of Oligaethidae.

As for their victories at the Isthmus and Nemea,

a short word from me will make the sum total plain;

and as a true sworn witness, the excellent herald’s sweet-voiced cry,

100

uttered sixty times at both games, will add its confirmation.

Their victories at Olympia have, it seems, already been told,

and as for those in the future, I shall praise them when they come.

I have my hopes for now, though the outcome lies with the god.

If, with divine help, their clan continues to prosper,

we can leave it to Zeus and Enyalius*to bring about success.

Their victories under the brow of Parnassus were six,

and there were the same number at Argos and at Thebes.

Touching those in Arcadia’s valleys, the regal altar of the Lycaean*will bear witness,

as too will Pellana and Sicyon and Megara,

and the well-fenced precinct of the Aeacids,*Eleusis and gleaming Marathon,

Euboea, and the fine rich cities under high-ridged Aetna.

110

If you search through all Hellas you will find more victories than the eye can see.

Come, swim out*with nimble feet. Zeus the Accomplisher,

grant them modesty and the sweet pleasures of good fortune.

OLYMPIAN 14

For Asopichus of Orchomenus, winner of the short sprint race