Neither in death was he of songs forsaken, for at his funeral pyre and beside his tomb stood the Helikonian maiden-choir, and poured thereon a dirge of many melodies.  For so the immortals willed, to give charge unto the songs of goddesses over that valorous man even in his death.

And now also holdeth such charge good, and the Muses’ chariot speedeth to sound the glories of Nikokles the boxer[3].  Honour to him who in the Isthmian vale hath won the Dorian parsley:  for he even as Achilles overcame men in battle, turning them to confusion, with hand from which flight was vain.  Him shameth not this kinsman of his father’s noble brother.  Wherefore let some one of the young men his fellows twine for Kleandros a wreath of tender myrtle for his pankratiast victory.  For the games whose name is of Alkathoos[4], and the youth of Epidauros[5], have ere now entertained him with good hap.  To praise him is given unto the good:  for in no hidden corner quenched he his youth, unproven in honourable deeds.

[Footnote 1:  Because, though the Persians had been defeated, Thebes, Pindar’s city, had not shared the glory.]

[Footnote 2:  Thebe and Aigine.]

[Footnote 3:  Uncle of the winner.]

[Footnote 4:  A son of Pelops:  he slew the lion of Kithairon.]

[Footnote 5:  The Epidaurian games were in honour of Asklepios.]

FRAGMENTS.

Nearly two-thirds of the Fragments cannot be assigned to any distinct class:  the rest are divided among (1) [Greek:  Epinikia], or Triumphal Odes (such as are the odes remaining to us entire), (2) [Greek:  Hymnoi], or Hymns sung by a choir in honour of gods, (3) [Greek:  Paianes], or Hymns of a like kind but anciently addressed especially to Apollo and Artemis for their intervention against pestilence, (4) [Greek:  Dithyramboi], or choral songs of more general compass, verging sometimes on the drama, (5) [Greek:  Prosodia], or Processional Songs, (6) [Greek:  Parthenia], or Songs for a Choir of Maidens, (7) [Greek:  Hyporchaemata], or Songs with Accompaniment of Dance, (8) [Greek:  Enkomia], or Odes sung by a [Greek:  komos] in praise of some person but not necessarily on any special occasion, (9) [Greek:  Skolia], or Songs to be sung at Banquets, (10) [Greek:  Thraenoi], or Dirges.

FRAGMENT OF A DITHYRAMB,

To be sung at Athens.

Hither!  Olympian gods to our choice dance, and make your grace to descend thereon and to glorify it, ye who in sacred Athens visit the city’s incensed centre-stone, and her famed market-place of splendid ornament; receive ye violet-entwined crowns and drink-offerings of spring-gathered herbs, and look on me who am come from the house of Zeus with my bright song a second time unto the ivy-crowned god, whom we call Bromios, even the god of clamorous shout.