THE SECOND OLYMPIONIQUE. To THERON of AGRIGENTUM, victorious in the CHARIOT-RACE. A R G U MEN T. He praises Theron king of Agrigentum, on account of the victory obtained in the Olympic Games, with a chariot and four horfes; likewife for his juftice, his hofpitality, his fortitude, and the illuftriousness of his ancestors; whofe adventures are occafionally mentioned then he interweaves digreffions to Semele, Ino, Peleus, Achilles, and others, and describes the future state of the righteous and of the wicked. Laftly, he concludes with extolling his own skill in panegyrick, and the benevolence and liberality of Theron. STROPHE I. Measures 16. SOVER OVEREIGN hymns, whofe numbers fway What man, fhall we refound? Is not Pifa Jove's delight? And did not Hercules, with conqueft crown'd, To him ordain Th' Olympiad for an army slain, And muft we not, in Theron's right, Four courfers whirl, fleeting along, 10 Το To ftranger-guefts indulgent hoft, Of Agrigentum the fupport and boast, Fair bloffom of his ancient race, ANTISTROPHE I. Meafures 16. Worthies fore perplex'd in thought, 15 Till, wandering far, they found, what long they fought, A facred feat, faft by Where the stream does rapid run, And reign'd, of Sicily the guardian eye, And wealth, and favour, flow'd, and praife, That in-born worth inflames. Saturnian Jove, O! Rhea's fon, Who o'er Olympus doft prefide, 20 25 Incline thine ear, propitious to my vow, 30 Bleffing, with a bounteous hand, The rich hereditary land E PODE I. Measures 10. Through their late lineage down. No power can actions paft, Whether deeds of right or wrong, As things not done recall, Not even Time, the father, who produces all; Yet can Oblivion, waiting long, Cc 3 35 Gather Gathering ftrength Through the length Of profperous times, forbid those deeds to last: The feftering fmart of evils to destroy, STROPHE II. Measures 16. When felicity is fent Down by the will fupreme with full content :. Thy daughters, Cadmus, they Greatly wretched here below, Bless'd evermore, this mighty truth display. No weight of grief, But, whelm'd in pleasures, finds relief, Sunk in the fweet abyfs.. Thou, Semele, with hair a-flow, 40 45 50 Thou by thunder doom'd to die, Thee thy fon holds ever dear, Thy fon with the ivy-wreath'd fpear. ANTISTROPHE II. Meafures 16. Beauteous Ino, we are told, 55 With the fea-daughters dwells of Nereus old, 60 And has, by lot, obtain'd Lasting life, beneath the deep, A life within no bounds of time reftrain'd. The hour of death, The day when we refign our breath, 65 That That offspring of the fun, Which bids us from our labours sleep, Or who deftin'd is to run A life unintangled with woe;. For none are able to difclofe The feafons of th' uncertain ebbs and flows Now of pleafures, now of pains, Which hidden fate to men ordains:. EPO DE II. Meafures 10. Thus Providence, that to thy ancestry, long-fam'd, Portions out a pleasing share Of heaven-fprung happiness, Does, ceafing in another turn of time to blefs, Diftribute fome reverfe of care, As from years Paft appears, Since the predeftin'd fon, at Pytho nam'd, And the oracle, of old pronounc'd, fulfil: STROPHE III. Meafures 16. Fell Erinnys, quick to view The deed, his warlike fons in battle flew, But to Polynices flain Surviv'd Therfander, glory of his age, And youthful contefts, honour'd far, The fcion, kept alive To raife th? Adraftian house again a CC 4 70 Does his fpreading root derive, To branch out a progeny fair; Who, fpringing foremost in the chace Of fame, demands we should his triumph grace, Sweet union of melodious praife; ANTISTROPHE III. Measures 16. For not only has he borne Th' Olympian prize, but, with his brother, worn At Pytho and at Ifthmus; where, Victorious both, they fhar'd th' allotted crown, Joint-honour, won In twelve impetuous courses, run With four unwearied fteeds. To vanquish in the ftrife fevere And to this, if wealth fucceeds. Purfuits which please a noble mind, 95 100 105 I LO 1-15 E PODE III. Meafures 10. Refulgent ftar! to man the purest beam of light! The poffeffor of this store, Far-future things difcerning, knows Obdurate wretches, once deceas'd, to immediate woes Confign'd, too late their pains deplore; 121 For |