Mythology & Folklore

Olympian 10: For Agesidamos of Epizephyrian Lokris, Winner in the Boys' Boxing-Match (Myers)

by Pindar c. 518–c. 438 BC

Translated by Ernest Myers (1874) · From Olympian Odes (Myers, 1874)

Mythology & Folklore

Sometimes have men most need of winds, sometimes of showered waters of the firmament, the children of the cloud.

But when through his labour one fareth well, then are due honey-voiced songs, be they even a prelude to words that shall come after, a pledge confirmed by oath in honour of high excellence.

Ample is the glory stored for Olympian winners: thereof my shepherd tongue is fain to keep some part in fold. But only by the help of God is wisdom kept ever blooming in the soul.

Son of Archestratos, Agesidamos, know certainly that for thy boxing I will lay a glory of sweet strains upon thy crown of golden olive, and will have in remembrance the race of the Lokrians' colony in the West.

There do ye, O Muses, join in the song of triumph: I pledge my word that to no stranger-banishing folk shall ye come, nor unacquainted with things noble, but of the highest in arts and valiant with the spear. For neither tawny fox nor roaring lion may change his native temper.

This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.

MLA

Pindar. “Olympian 10: For Agesidamos of Epizephyrian Lokris, Winner in the Boys' Boxing-Match (Myers).” Translated by Ernest Myers. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/pindar/54/.

Chicago

Pindar. “Olympian 10: For Agesidamos of Epizephyrian Lokris, Winner in the Boys' Boxing-Match (Myers).” Translated by Ernest Myers. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/pindar/54/.

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