Leaving the lake and Delos' rocky isle,
At Pallas' ship-frequented shores he lands, 10
Then gains this region, those Parnassian seats;
Him onward speed, and mightily adore,
Hephæstos' sons, road-fashioners, who wrought,
Taming for him the savage wilderness.
Him, when he comes, highly the people honour,
King Delphos also, steersman of this land.
Zeus with prophetic art his mind inspired,
And throned him on this sacred seat, fourth seer;
So Loxias[1] now is prophet of his sire.
These gods I worship with preluding prayers. 20
But be Pronæan[2] Pallas likewise hailed
With words of honour! you too I salute,
Nymphs who frequent Korykia's caverned rock,
Kindly to birds, and haunt of deities.
Bromios, full well I wis, the region holds,
Since with his Thyads thence the god made war,
And Pentheus coursed, like doubling hare, to death.
The founts of Pleistos, and Poseidon's might
Invoking, and high-consummating Zeus,
As prophetess I now assume this seat.
Beyond the past my entrance may they crown 30
With fair response! Are sons of Hellas here,—
- ↑ Loxias, an epithet of Apollo, interpreted by most etymologists as alluding to the ambiguities (λοξά) of Delphian oracles; some, indeed, think it can be referred to λόγος, speech, as implying that Apollo is the interpreter of Zeus.
- ↑ Pronæan, an epithet of Athena at Delphi, as having a chapel or statue there in front of the great temple of Apollo.
