Heracles had by his eloquence won over
the Hyperborean people,*Apollo’s servants.
With honourable intent he begged from them
for the all-welcoming grove of Zeus
a tree to furnish shade for all,
and to be a crown for deeds of prowess.
For by now altars had been dedicated to his father,*
and the gold-charioted moon at mid-month evening
had shone her eye full upon him.
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He had laid down the great games’ holy principle of judgement, and had established the four-year cycle for his festival,
to be held beside the sacred banks of Alpheus;
but the land of Pelops grew no lovely trees
in the dales of the son of Cronus.
Without their protection this enclosure seemed to him
to be at the mercy of the sun’s burning rays.
It was then his spirit moved him to go to the land of Istrus.
There Leto’s daughter,*driver of horses, had welcomed him
from Arcadia’s mountain ridges and its secret twisting places,
when in obedience to Eurystheus’*commands
and under duress from his father
he was ordered to capture the doe with golden horns
which once the nymph Taygeta had dedicated
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to be a sacred offering to Orthosia.
In his pursuit of her he came to see the land
that lies beyond the blasts of the icy North Wind.
There he stood and marvelled at the trees,
and a sweet desire seized him to plant some
around the point in the twelve-lap course where horses turn.
And so today he gladly attends this his festival
with the godlike twins, sons of deep-girdled Leto.
Departing for Olympus he instructed them
to take charge of the admired games,
where men compete in prowess and swift chariots are driven.
And so, I believe, my spirit urges me to tell Theron
and the Emmenidae*that glory has come to them
through the gift of the sons of Tyndareus, expert horsemen,
because of all mortals they honour them
with the most numerous hospitable feasts,
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preserving by their pious intention the rites of the blessed gods.
If water is best,*and gold the most revered of all possessions,
now Theron in his turn, by his deeds of merit,
has travelled from his home to the world’s limits
and lays hold of the pillars of Heracles.
Further than this neither simpletons nor wise should go.
I shall not venture there; I should be a fool to try.
OLYMPIAN 4
For Psaumis of Camarina, winner of the chariot race(?)
Supreme charioteer of the tireless-footed thunder, | |
Zeus;*you I invoke because your Seasons, | |
circling to the sound of the many-voiced lyre, | |
have sent me to be a witness at the greatest games. | |
When friends achieve success, | |
men forthwith feel joy at the welcome news. | |
Come, son of Cronus, you who reign over Aetna, | |
windswept cap of powerful hundred-headed Typhos’*prison, | |
receive this Olympic victor and, to please the Graces, | |
welcome this revelling procession, a longest-shining light | 10 |
on noble deeds of mighty strength. | |
It comes*in honour of the chariot of Psaumis, | |
who was crowned at Pisa with a garland of olive, | |
and makes haste to bring glory to Camarina. | |
May the god listen kindly to his prayers in time to come, | |
for I praise him as a diligent rearer of horses, | |
a man who delights in offering hospitality to all, | |
and whose candid manner inclines him | |
towards Concord,*the friend of cities. | |
I shall not stain my tale with a lie; | |
the true test of men is endurance to the end. | |
This it was that saved the son of Clymenus* | |
from losing face among the women of Lemnos. | 20 |
He had won the race in bronze armour, | |
and going up to Hypsipyle to receive his crown, said: | |
Often even young men produce grey hairs | |
before the time they are expected to appear.’ |
OLYMPIAN 5
For Psaumis of Camarina, winner of the mule race
Camarina, daughter of Oceanus,*accept with a joyful heart | |
this sweet offering, a supreme reward | |
for high deeds of prowess and crowns won at Olympia: | |
a gift of Psaumis and his tireless-footed*mules. | |
He has glorified your city, nurse of people, | |
and has honoured the six double-altars* | |
at the god’s greatest festival with ox sacrifices | |
and, in the strenuous five-day games, | |
with races of chariots, mules, and the single horse. | |
Victorious, he has made you an offering of lavish glory, | |
spreading abroad the fame of his father Acron | |
and of his newly founded city. |