The ode
Strophe
ὦ φλόξ ἀείζως ἅν ποτ᾽ ἔδωκε βροτοῖς
καὶ Διὸς οὐκ ἐθέλοντος Ἰαπέτοιο παΐς,
οὔκετ᾽ ἐν ἁμετέροις λάμπεις πολίταις
ἄρτι τάνδε νᾶσον εὔαθλον προλιποῖσα πάλιν ·
ἔκγονος μὲν πᾶς τις Ὑπερβορέων δερκόμενος γάθησε
θαυμαστοὺς ἀγῶνας,
οἱ δὲ νικάσαντες εὑρίσκοντο τιμάν
χρυσέαν ποινὰν ἀπενεγκόμενοι.
Antistrophe
εἰ γὰρ παρείης, Πίνδαρε σεμνοτάτοις
ᾧπερ ἄεθλα πάλαι πόνος κελαδεῖν μέλεσιν
ἔπλετ᾽, ἰοπλοκάμους τ᾽ ἀσκεῖν γε Μοῖσας.
νῦν δὲ χειρὶ χρυσέαν φόρμιγγα λαβεῖν καὶ ἐμέ
καίπερ ἀπείρῳ πρέπει ἁρμονίας Αἰολιδᾶν, δόξαν τε
σὰν αὐτὸν ματεύειν ·
καὶ γὰρ ἔν μέτροισι τοῖσδ᾽ αὔχημ᾽ ἀείδω
καινὸν ἀρχαίοισιν ἀγαλλόμενος,
Epode
ὅσσαι ἐς θεῶν νεόδματοι σταδίων κορυφαί,
ἄστεως δάμῳ πρὸς Ἀῶ,
ὄλβιον ἀθανάτων δῶμα τέτανται,
πλεῖστοι ὄθι δράκον ἢ θρῴσκοντας ἢ τρέχοντας
ἢ κραιπνοὺς ἐσιόντας ὕδωρ.
νῦν κενεοὶ θῶκοι θεατᾶν, ἀλλά τι λαῷ παρμένει
εὐφροσύνας ·
αἰεὶ δ᾽ ἁμιλλᾶν ἐξοπίσω μνάμα φερέτω
φιλᾷ πολυκλειτᾶν μέγα χάρμα πάτρᾳ.
Metrical analysis
[Metre: dactylo-epitrite]
d1 – U U –
D – U U – U U –
e – U –
E – U – X – U –
E2 – U – X – U – X – U –
Strophe/Antistrophe:
– e – D
D U D
D – e –
E – D
e U D d1 – E
E2 –
e – D
Epode:
E – D
E –
D d1 –
D – E – D
d1 – d1 d1 – D
– e – d1 – d1
U e – D
Literal translation
O everlasting flame, which Iapetus’ son once gave to mortals, even against Zeus’ will, you no longer shine among our citizens, having recently departed this island once more: every descendant of the Hyperboreans rejoiced when they beheld the wondrous contests, while those who were victorious received honour, carrying off their golden reward.
If only you were by my side, Pindar whose labour it was to celebrate athletic games in most august songs, and to worship the dark-locked Muses. Now it is time for me too to take up the golden lyre in my hand, though it is unused to Aeolic music, and to seek your glory for myself: for I sing, glorifying a modern achievement in these ancient measures,
Of what great stadia with newly built rooves, in the eastern district of our city, stretch up to the blessed abode of the immortal gods, where so many people watched either jumpers or runners or men diving swiftly into the water. Now the seats are devoid of spectators, but among the people some festive happiness remains: in the future may the memory of these far-famed contests always be a source of great joy for our dear fatherland.
