Now at Megara also hast thou won a prize, and in secluded Marathon, and in the games of Hera in thine own land, three times, Aristomenes, hast thou overcome.

And now on the bodies of four others[8] hast thou hurled thyself with fierce intent, to whom the Pythian feast might not award, as unto thee, the glad return, nor the sweet smile that welcometh thee to thy mother’s side; nay but by secret ways they shrink from meeting their enemies, stricken down by their evil hap.

Now he that hath lately won glory in the time of his sweet youth is lifted on the wings of his strong hope and soaring valour, for his thoughts are above riches.

In a little moment groweth up the delight of men; yea and in like sort falleth it to the ground, when a doom adverse hath shaken it.

Things of a day—­what are we, and what not?  Man is a dream of shadows.

Nevertheless when a glory from God hath shined on them, a clear light abideth upon men, and serene life.

Aigina[9], mother dear, this city in her march among the free, with Zeus and lordly Aiakos, with Peleus and valiant Telamon and with Achilles, guard thou well.

[Footnote 1:  Porphyrion.]

[Footnote 2:  Aiakos and his descendants, especially Aias, were the chief national heroes of Aigina.]

[Footnote 3:  It seems doubtful what this legend exactly was.  Either Amphiaraos, during the attack of the first Seven against Thebes, saw by prophetic vision the future battle of the second Seven, the Epigonoi, among whom were his own son Alkmaion, and Adrastos, the sole survivor of the first Seven; or else these are the words of his oracle after his death, spoken when the battle of the Epigonoi had begun but was not yet ended.]

[Footnote 4:  Abas was an ancient king of Argos.]

[Footnote 5:  Probably there was a shrine of Alkmaion near Pindar’s house at Thebes, so that he considered his household to be under the hero’s protection:  perhaps he had deposited money in the shrine, for temples were often used as treasuries.]

[Footnote 6:  Probably in some vision seen by Pindar on his journey to Delphi.]

[Footnote 7:  Father of Aristomenes.]

[Footnote 8:  His competitors in four ties of the wrestling-match.]

[Footnote 9:  The nymph, protectress of the island.]

IX.

For Telesikrates of Kyrene,

Winner of the foot-race in full armour.

* * * * *

The Hellenic heavy-armed soldier was often called upon to advance at a run, as for instance in the charge at Marathon.  With a view no doubt to such occasions this race in full armour had been instituted at Pytho in 498, and in 478 it was won by Telesikrates.  The ode was probably sung in a procession at Thebes, before Telesikrates had gone back to Kyrene, but the legends related are mainly connected with Kyrene.  Probably the commentators are right in supposing that Telesikrates was to take home with him a bride from the mother-country, a fact which makes the legends told specially appropriate.