The cosmic powers of dance and lyre

Golden lyre, rightful possession of Apollo

and the bright-haired Muses,

to you the dancers listen

as they begin the celebration,

and the singers

follow the rhythm

plucked on your trembling strings

in prelude to the chorus;

it is you that quench

the lancing bolt

of ever-flowing fire and lull Zeus’ eagle

perched on his scepter

with folded wings—

the king of birds: over his bowed head

you shed a darkening cloud,

a soft seal upon his eyelids.

His supple back rises

and falls as he dreams, locked in the spell of your music.

Even harsh Ares

drops his brutal spear

and soothes his heart.

Your shafts cast enchantment

on the mood of the gods

through the skill of Apollo

and the deep-breasted Muses.

The ode was sung and danced in 470 BC,

at the court of Hieron at the foot of Mount Etna, 

with the Theban poet Pindar, a guest at Hieron’s court, 

leading a chorus of young Sicilian men with his lyre.

Text from ‘First Pythian Ode’, by Pindar

Translation by Frank Nisetich

back to Introduction to Classicism