The Odes of Pindar were the acknowledged models of lyric poetry.

Lyric poets imitated his manner as closely as they could; and nothing was more remarkable in his compositions than the extreme violence and abruptness of the transitions.

This in Pindar was quite natural and defensible.

He had to write an immense number of poems on subjects extremely barren, and extremely monotonous.

There could be little difference between one boxing-match and another.