Praise for Xenophon of Corinth and the Myth of Pegasus — Pindar, Olympian Odes 13.1–13.115, Greek & English

τρισολυμπιονίκαν¹

In praising the house of three-time Olympic victors,

ἐπαινέων οἶκον ἅμερον ἀστοῖς,

gentle to citizens,

ξένοισι δὲ θεράποντα, γνώσομαι²

and a servant to strangers, I shall come to know (praise)

τὰν ὀλβίαν Κόρινθον, Ἰσθμίου

fortunate Corinth, the portal of Isthmian

πρόθυρον Ποτειδᾶνος, ἀγλαόκουρον.

Poseidon, glorious in its young men.

ἐν τᾷ γὰρ Εὐνομία ναίει, κασίγνηταί τε, βάθρον πολίων ἀσφαλές,

For in her dwells Order (Eunomia), and her sisters, the secure foundation of cities,

Δίκα καὶ ὁμότροφος Εἰρήνα, ταμίαι ἀνδράσι πλούτου,

Justice (Dike) and companion-bred Peace (Eirene), dispensaries of wealth to men,

χρύσεαι παῖδες εὐβούλου Θέμιτος·

the golden daughters of wise-counseling Themis.

ἐθέλοντι δʼ ἀλέξειν

And they are willing to ward off

Ὕβριν, Κόρου ματέρα θρασύμυθον.

Insolence (Hybris), the bold-speaking mother of Surfeit (Koros).

ἔχω καλά τε φράσαι, τόλμα τέ μοι

I have beautiful things to tell, and a straight

εὐθεῖα γλῶσσαν ὀρνύει λέγειν.

daring rouses my tongue to speak.

ἄμαχον δὲ κρύψαι τὸ συγγενὲς ἦθος.

It is impossible to conceal one’s inborn character.

ὔμμιν δέ, παῖδες Ἀλάτα, πολλὰ μὲν νικαφόρον ἀγλαΐαν ὤπασαν

To you, sons of Alatas, many times indeed did they grant victorious splendor,

ἄκραις ἀρεταῖς ὑπερελθόντων³ ἱεροῖς ἐν ἀέθλοις,

for those who surpassed with highest virtues in the sacred contests,

πολλὰ δʼ ἐν καρδίαις ἀνδρῶν ἔβαλον

and many times did the flower-laden Seasons

ὧραι πολυάνθεμοι ἀρχαῖα σοφίσμαθʼ. ἅπαν δʼ εὑρόντος ἔργον.

cast ancient wisdom into the hearts of men. Every deed belongs to the finder.

ταὶ Διωνύσου πόθεν ἐξέφανεν

Whence did the graces of Dionysus appear

σὺν βοηλάτᾳ χάριτες διθυράμβῳ·

with the ox-driving dithyramb?

τίς γὰρ ἱππείοις ἐν ἔντεσσιν μέτρα,

For who placed measures in horse-trappings,

ἢ θεῶν ναοῖσιν οἰωνῶν βασιλέα δίδυμον

or on the temples of gods the double king of birds

ἐπέθηκʼ; ἐν δὲ Μοῖσʼ ἁδύπνοος,

(the eagle)? There dwells the sweet-breathing Muse,

ἐν δʼ Ἄρης ἀνθεῖ νέων οὐλίαις αἰχμαῖσιν ἀνδρῶν.

and there Ares flourishes with the destructive spears of young men.

ὕπατʼ εὐρὺ ἀνάσσων

You who rule widely supreme

Ὀλυμπίας, ἀφθόνητος ἔπεσσιν

over Olympia, may you be ungrudging to my words

γένοιο χρόνον ἅπαντα, Ζεῦ πάτερ,

for all time, Father Zeus,

καὶ τόνδε λαὸν ἀβλαβῆ νέμων

and keeping this people unharmed,

Ξενοφῶντος εὔθυνε δαίμονος οὖρον·

guide straight the favorable wind of Xenophon’s destiny;

δέξαι τέ οἱ στεφάνων ἐγκώμιον τεθμόν, τὸν ἄγει πεδίων ἐκ Πίσας,

and receive for him the customary praise of crowns, which he brings from the plains of Pisa,

πεντάθλῳ ἅμα σταδίου νικῶν δρόμον· ἀντεβόλησεν

winning the stadium race along with the pentathlon; he achieved

τῶν ἀνὴρ θνατὸς οὔπω τις πρότερον.

what no mortal man before him has ever yet met with.

δύο δʼ αὐτὸν ἔρεψαν

And two wreaths of wild celery

πλόκοι σελίνων ἐν Ἰσθμιάδεσσιν

crowned him when he appeared at the Isthmian

φανέντα· Νέμεά τʼ οὐκ ἀντιξοεῖ.

games; and Nemea does not oppose.

πατρὸς δὲ Θεσσαλοῦ ἐπʼ Ἀλφεοῦ

And by the streams of Alpheos, the glory of the feet

ῥεέθροισιν αἴγλα ποδῶν ἀνάκειται,

of his father Thessalos is dedicated,

Πυθοῖ τʼ ἔχει σταδίου τιμὰν διαύλου θʼ ἁλίῳ ἀμφʼ ἑνί, μηνός τέ οἱ

and at Pytho he has the honor of the stadium and the diaulos under a single sun; and in the same month

τωὐτοῦ κρανααῖς ἐνʼ Ἀθάναισι τρία ἔργα ποδαρκὴς

in rocky Athens three fleet-footed deeds

ἅμερα θῆκε κάλλιστʼ ἀμφὶ κόμαις,

placed the most beautiful days (crowns) about his hair,

Ἑλλώτια δʼ ἑπτάκις· ἐν δʼ ἀμφιάλοισι Ποτειδᾶνος τεθμοῖσιν

and seven times at the Hellotia; and in the sea-girt ordinances of Poseidon,

Πτοιοδώρῳ σὺν πατρὶ μακρότεραι

with his father Ptoiodoros, even longer

Τερψίᾳ θʼ ἕψοντʼ Ἐριτίμῳ τʼ ἀοιδαί.

songs will follow Terpsias and Eritimos.

ὅσσα τʼ ἐν Δελφοῖσιν ἀριστεύσατε

And as for your deeds of valor at Delphi

ἠδὲ χόρτοις ἐν λέοντος, δηρίομαι πολέσιν

and in the pastures of the lion (Nemea), I would contend with many

περὶ πλήθει καλῶν, ὡς μὰν σαφὲς

concerning the abundance of your beautiful honors, for indeed

οὐκ ἂν εἰδείην⁴ λέγειν ποντιᾶν ψάφων ἀριθμόν.

I would not know how to state clearly the number of the pebbles in the sea.

ἕπεται δʼ ἐν ἑκάστῳ

And in everything

μέτρον· νοῆσαι δὲ καιρὸς ἄριστος.

there follows a measure; and to perceive the opportune moment (kairos) is best.

ἐγὼ δὲ ἴδιος ἐν κοινῷ σταλεὶς

But I, having set out on a private journey for the public good,

μῆτίν τε γαρύων παλαιγόνων

and singing of the wisdom of the ancient-born

πόλεμόν τʼ ἐν ἡρωΐαις ἀρεταῖσιν

and their war in heroic virtues,

οὐ ψεύσομʼ ἀμφὶ Κορίνθῳ, Σίσυφον μὲν πυκνότατον παλάμαις ὡς θεόν,

shall not speak falsely about Corinth: concerning Sisyphus, most crafty in his devices like a god,

καὶ τὰν πατρὸς ἀντία Μήδειαν θεμέναν γάμον αὐτᾷ,

and Medea, who settled her marriage against her father’s will,

ναῒ σώτειραν Ἀργοῖ καὶ προπόλοις.

a savior to the ship Argo and her crew.

τὰ δὲ καί ποτʼ ἐν ἀλκᾷ

And also once in valor

πρὸ Δαρδάνου τειχέων ἐδόκησαν

before the walls of Dardanus they seemed

ἐπʼ ἀμφότερα μαχᾶν τάμνειν τέλος,

to cut the end of battles in both directions;

τοὶ μὲν γένει φίλῳ σὺν Ἀτρέος

some with the beloved race of Atreus

Ἑλέναν κομίζοντες, οἱ δʼ ἀπὸ πάμπαν

seeking to recover Helen, others entirely

εἴργοντες· ἐκ Λυκίας δὲ Γλαῦκον ἐλθόντα τρόμεον Δαναοί. τοῖσι μὲν

keeping her away. And the Danaans trembled at Glaucus when he came from Lycia. To them

ἐξεύχετʼ ἐν ἄστεϊ Πειράνας σφετέρου πατρὸς ἀρχὰν

he boasted that in the city of Peirene lay the rule of his father,

καὶ βαθὺν κλᾶρον ἔμμεν καὶ μέγαρον·

and his deep estate and palace;

ὃς τᾶς ὀφιώδεος υἱόν ποτε Γοργόνος ἦ πόλλʼ ἀμφὶ κρουνοῖς

who once suffered much beside the springs, desiring

Πάγασον ζεῦξαι ποθέων ἔπαθεν,

to yoke Pegasus, the son of the snaky Gorgon,

πρίν γέ οἱ χρυσάμπυκα κούρα χαλινὸν

until the maiden Pallas brought him

Παλλὰς ἤνεγκʼ· ἐξ ὀνείρου δʼ αὐτίκα

a bridle with a golden band; and immediately from a dream

ἦν ὕπαρ· φώνασε δʼ· εὕδεις, Αἰολίδα βασιλεῦ;

it was a waking reality; and she spoke:

ἄγε φίλτρον τόδʼ ἵππειον δέκευ,

”Are you sleeping, king of the line of Aeolus?

καὶ Δαμαίῳ νιν θύων ταῦρον ἀργᾶντα πατρὶ δεῖξον.

Come, receive this horse-charm,

κυαναιγὶς ἐν ὄρφνᾳ

and sacrificing a white bull, show it to Damaios, your taming father.”

κνώσσοντί οἱ⁵ παρθένος τόσα εἰπεῖν

The maiden of the dark aegis seemed to say so much

ἔδοξεν· ἀνὰ δʼ ἐπᾶλτʼ ὀρθῷ ποδί.

to him as he slumbered in the darkness; and he leaped up to his feet.

παρκείμενον δὲ συλλαβὼν τέρας,

Seizing the wonder that lay beside him,

ἐπιχώριον μάντιν ἄσμενος εὗρεν,

he gladly found the prophet of the land,

δεῖξέν τε Κοιρανίδᾳ πᾶσαν τελευτὰν πράγματος, ὥς τʼ ἀνὰ βωμῷ θεᾶς

and showed to the son of Coiranus the whole outcome of the matter, and how on the altar of the goddess

κοιτάξατο νύκτʼ ἀπὸ κείνου χρήσιος. ὥς τέ οἱ αὐτὰ

he had slept the night according to his oracle; and how she herself,

Ζηνὸς ἐγχεικεραύνου παῖς ἔπορεν

the daughter of Zeus who wields the spear-thunderbolt, had given him

δαμασίφρονα χρυσόν.

the mind-taming gold.

ἐνυπνίῳ δʼ ᾇ τάχιστα πιθέσθαι

And the prophet bade him obey the dream as quickly as possible;

κελήσατό μιν, ὅταν δʼ εὐρυσθενεῖ

and when he should sacrifice a strong-footed bull

καρταίποδʼ ἀναρύῃ Γαιαόχῳ,

to the wide-ruling Earth-holder (Poseidon),

θέμεν Ἱππίᾳ βωμὸν εὐθὺς Ἀθάνᾳ.

to set up immediately an altar to Athena of the Horse.

τελεῖ δὲ θεῶν δύναμις καὶ τὰν παρʼ ὅρκον καὶ παρὰ ἐλπίδα κούφαν κτίσιν.

The power of the gods accomplishes easily what is contrary to oath and beyond hope.

ἤτοι καὶ ὁ καρτερὸς ὁρμαίνων ἕλε Βελλεροφόντας,

Truly even strong Bellerophon, eagerly striving, captured

φάρμακον πραῢ τείνων ἀμφὶ γένυι,

the winged horse, stretching the gentle remedy around its jaw;

ἵππον πτερόεντʼ· ἀναβὰς δʼ εὐθὺς ἐνόπλια χαλκωθεὶς ἔπαιζεν.

and mounting immediately, clad in bronze, he played his weapon-sport.

σὺν δὲ κείνῳ καί ποτʼ Ἀμαζονίδων

And with him once, from the cold, empty

αἰθέρος ψυχρῶν ἀπὸ κόλπων ἐρήμου

bosom of the upper air,

τοξόταν βάλλων γυναικεῖον στρατόν,

he shot the female archer-host of Amazons,

καὶ Χίμαιραν πῦρ πνέοισαν καὶ Σολύμους ἔπεφνεν.

and slew the fire-breathing Chimera, and the Solymoi.

διασωπάσομαί οἱ μόρον ἐγώ·

As for his fate, I shall keep silent;

τὸν δʼ ἐν Οὐλύμπῳ φάτναι Ζηνὸς ἀρχαῖαι δέκονται.

but him the ancient stalls of Zeus in Olympus receive.

ἐμὲ δʼ εὐθὺν ἀκόντων

But for me, who am throwing the straight

ἱέντα ῥόμβον παρὰ σκοπὸν οὐ χρὴ

whirl of the javelin, it is not right

τὰ πολλὰ βέλεα καρτύνειν χεροῖν.

to strengthen many weapons with my hands wide of the mark.

Μοίσαις γὰρ ἀγλαοθρόνοις ἑκὼν

For to the glorious-throned Muses and the Oligaitheidai

Ὀλιγαιθίδαισίν τʼ ἔβαν ἐπίκουρος.

I have willingly come as a helper.

Ἰσθμοῖ τά τʼ ἐν Νεμέᾳ παύρῳ ἔπει θήσω φανέρʼ ἀθρόʼ, ἀλαθής τέ μοι

Their victories at the Isthmus and Nemea I shall make clear in a few words all at once, and as a true

ἔξορκος ἐπέσσεται ἑξηκοντάκι δὴ ἀμφοτέρωθεν

witness on oath, sixty times indeed from both places

100

ἁδύγλωσσος βοὰ κάρυκος ἐσλοῦ.

shall be the sweet-tongued cry of the noble herald.

τὰ δʼ Ὀλυμπίᾳ αὐτῶν

Their victories at Olympia

ἔοικεν ἤδη πάροιθε λελέχθαι·

seem fitting to have been spoken of before;

τά τʼ ἐσσόμενα τότʼ ἂν φαίην σαφές·

and those that are to come, I would then speak of clearly.

νῦν δʼ ἔλπομαι μέν, ἐν θεῷ γε μὰν

For now I hope, but in God

105

τέλος· εἰ δὲ δαίμων γενέθλιος ἕρποι,

is the end. And if the birth-daemon marches on,

διʼ τοῦτʼ Ἐνυαλίῳ τʼ ἐκδώσομεν πράσσειν. τὰ δʼ ὑπʼ ὀφρύϊ Παρνασσίᾳ

we shall leave this to Enyalios to accomplish. And those under the Parnassian brow

ἕξ· Ἄργεΐ θʼ ὅσσα καὶ ἐν Θήβαις, ὅσα τʼ Ἀρκάσιν ἀνάσσων

are six; and as many at Argos and Thebes, and as many as the kingly altar of Lycaon,

μαρτυρήσει Λυκαίου βωμὸς ἄναξ,

ruling over the Arcadians, shall witness,

Πέλλανά τε καὶ Σικυὼν καὶ Μέγαρʼ Αἰακιδᾶν τʼ εὐερκὲς ἄλσος,

and Pellana, and Sicyon, and Megara, and the well-walled grove of the Aeacidai (Aegina),

110

ἅ τʼ Ἐλευσὶς καὶ λιπαρὰ Μαραθών,

and Eleusis, and shining Marathon,

ταί θʼ ὑπʼ Αἴτνας ὑψιλόφου καλλίπλουτοι

and the beautiful and wealthy cities beneath high-crested Etna,

πόλιες, ἅ τʼ Εὔβοια· καὶ πᾶσαν κατὰ

and Euboea; and searching through all

Ἑλλάδʼ εὑρήσεις ἐρευνῶν μάσσονʼ ἢ ὡς ἰδέμεν.

Greece, you will find more than can be seen.

ἄνα, κούφοισιν ἐκνεῦσαι ποσίν·

Arise, swim out with light feet!

115

Ζεῦ τέλειʼ, αἰδῶ δίδοι καὶ τύχαν τερπνῶν γλυκεῖαν.

Father Zeus, the Accomplisher, grant respect (aidos) and sweet fortune of pleasant things.

Syntax notes5 items

13.1τρισολυμπιονίκαν
Accusative form of the adjective τρισολυμπιονίκας (three-time Olympic victor). It modifies οἶκον (13.2) and refers to the cumulative victories of the entire household (oikos) rather than Xenophon alone.
13.3γνώσομαι
First-person singular future middle of γιγνώσκω. Used in the sense of 'to acknowledge, praise, or declare publicly.' The future tense indicates the poet's immediate intention to begin the song of praise.
13.15ὑπερελθόντων
Genitive plural of the aorist participle ὑπερέρχομαι (to surpass). It functions either as a genitive of possession or in apposition explaining the dative ὔμμιν (13.14, 'to you') as the recipients of the victories.
13.45ὡς μὰν σαφὲς οὐκ ἂν εἰδείην
Potential optative with ἄν (ἂν εἰδείην). The conjunction ὡς introduces a comparison or result. The poet expresses that enumerating all their victories is as impossible to do with precise accuracy as counting all the pebbles in the sea.
13.71κνώσσοντί οἱ
Dative pronoun οἱ (to him) and dative present participle κνώσσοντι (sleeping). A dative of interest/experience with ἔδοξεν (13.72, 'seemed'), expressing how the dark-aegis maiden appeared to Bellerophon in his sleep.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-22)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0033.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:13.1-13.115