LITERATURE 143FIGURE 38 A Greek papyrus
his imitation of the second Olympian ode, the seventeenth-century poet Abraham
Cowley, though, unlike Pindar or any other Classical poet, he uses a verse form with
a rhyme scheme, nevertheless manages to strike a note of grand enthusiasm
reminiscent of Pindar’s style and manner. The ode is in praise of the charioteer
Theron, whose victory the poet associates with the mythical founder of the Olympian
games, the heroic archetype Heracles (Alcides).
Queen of all harmonious things,
Dancing words, and speaking strings,
What god, what hero wilt thou sing?
What happy man to equal glories bring?
Begin, begin thy noble choice,
And let the hills around reflect the image of thy voice.
Pisa does to Jove belong,
Jove and Pisa claim thy song.
The fair first-fruits of war, th’Olympic games,
Alcides offered up to Jove;
Alcides too thy strings may move;
But, oh, what man to join with these can worthy prove!
Join Theron boldly to their sacred names;