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The swift-moving ship hurtled forwards; and the north wind, blowing astern, drove it along. But the race of Athenian youths was afraid, when the hero jumped into the sea,
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and they shed tears from their lily eyes, awaiting grievous compulsion. But sea-dwelling dolphins swiftly carried great Theseus to the home of his father, lord of horses;
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and he came to the hall of the gods. There he saw the glorious daughters of prosperous Nereus, and was afraid; for brightness shone like fire from their splendid limbs,
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and ribbons woven with gold whirled around their hair. They were delighting their hearts in a dance, with flowing feet. And he saw in that lovely dwelling the dear wife of his father,
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holy, ox-eyed Amphitrite. She threw a purple cloak around him
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and placed on his curly hair a perfect wreath,
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dark with roses, which once deceptive Aphrodite had given her at her marriage. Nothing that the gods will is unbelievable to sensible men. Theseus appeared beside the ship with its slender stern. Oh,
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from what thoughts did he stop the war-lord of Knossos, when he emerged unwetted from the sea, a marvel to all, and the gifts of the gods shone on his body.
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The splendid-throned maidens cried out with new-founded joy, and the sea resounded. Nearby the young people sang a paean with lovely voices.
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God of Delos, may the choruses of the Ceans warm your heart, and may you grant god-sent noble fortune.
Ode 18 (Dithyramb 4) Theseus [for the Athenians]
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King of sacred Athens, lord of the luxuriously-living Ionians, why has the bronze-belled trumpet just now sounded a war song?
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Does some enemy of our land beset our borders, leading an army? Or are evil-plotting robbers, against the will of the shepherds,
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rustling our flocks of sheep by force? What is it that tears your heart? Speak; for I think that you of all mortals have the aid of valiant young men at your disposal,
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son of Pandion and Creusa.
