(c. 522 - c. 443 BC)

Richmond Lattimore Translation

　　　　　OLYMPIA ODES


I 　*** 　II　**** 　III ** 　IV ** 　V **　 VI ***
VII　****　 VIII ***　 IX **　 X **　 XI **　 XII **
XIII ***　XIV *


　　　　　PYTHIA ODES


I 　*** 　II　*** 　III **** 　IV **** 　V **　 VI **
VII *　 VIII 　****　 IX ***　 X **　 XI **　 XII ***


　　　　　NEMEA ODES


I 　*** 　II　* 　III *** 　IV *** 　V ***　 VI ***
VII　****　 VIII ****　 IX **　 X ***　 XI ***　


　　　　　ISTHMIA ODES


I 　** 　II　** 　III ** 　IV *** 　V **　 VI **
VII　***　 VIII ***　 　




　　　　　OLYMPIA 1



Best of all things is water; but gold, like a gleaming fire
by night, outshines all pride of wealth beside.
But, my heart, would you chant the glory of games,
look never beyond the sun
by day for any star shining brighter through the deserted air,
nor any contest than Olympia greater to sing.
It is thence that the song winds strands
in the hearts of the skilled to celebrate
the son of Kronos. They come their ways
to the magnificent board of Hieron,

who handles the scepter of dooms in Sicily, rich in flocks,
reaping the crested heads of every excellence.
There his fame is magnified
in the splendor of music, where
we delight at the friendly table. Then take the Dorian lyre
　　　from its peg,
if any glory of Pisa or Pherenikos
slide with delight beneath your heart,
when by Alpheus waters he sped
his bulk, with the lash laid never on,
and mixed in the arms of victory his lord,

king of Syracuse, delighting in horses; and his fame shines
among strong men where Lydian Pelops went to dwell,
Pelops that he who clips the earth in his great strength,
Poseidon, loved when Klotho lifted him out
of the clean cauldron, his shoulder gleaming ivory.
Great marvels in truth are these, but tales
told and overlaid with elaboration of lies
amaze men's wits against the true word.

Grace, who brings to fulfilment all things for men's delight,
granting honor again, many a time makes
things incredible seem true.
Days to come are the wisest witnesses.
It is better for a man to speak
well of the gods; he is less to
　　　blame.
Son of Tantalos, against older men I will say
that when your father summoned the gods
to that stateliest feast at beloved Sipylos,
and gave them to eat and received in turn,
then he of the shining trident caught you up,

his heart to desire broken, and with his horses and car of gold
carried you up to the house of Zeus and his wide honor,
where Ganymede at a later time
came for the same desire in Zeus.
But when you were gone, and men from your mother looked,
　　　nor brought you back,
some man, a neighbor, spoke quietly for spite,
how they took you and with a knife
minced your limbs into bubbling water
and over the table divided and ate
flesh of your body, even to the last morsel.

I cannot understand how a god could gorge thus; I recoil.
Many a time disaster has come to the speakers of evil.
If they who watch on Olympos have honored
any man, that man was Tantalos; but he was not
able to swallow his great fortune, and for his high stomach
drew a surpassing doom when our father
hung the weight of the stone above him.
He waits ever the stroke at his head and is divided from joy.

That life is too much for his strength; he is buckled fast in
　　　torment,
agony fourth among three others, because he stole
and gave to his own fellowship
that ambrosia and nectar
wherewith the gods made him immortal. If any man thinks
　　　to swindle
God, he is wrong. Therefore, they
sent his son
back to the fleeting destiny of man's race.
And when at the time of life's blossoming
the first beard came to darken his cheek,
he thought on winning a bride ready at hand,

Hippodameia, the glorious daughter of a king in Pisa.
He walked alone in the darkness by the gray sea,
invoking the lord of the heavy trident,
and he appeared clear at his feet.
He spoke: "Look you, Poseidon, if you have had any joy
　　　of my love
and the Kyprian's sweet gifts, block the brazen spear
of Oinomaos, and give me the fleeter chariot
by Elis' river, and clothe me about in strength.
Thirteen suitors he has killed now, and ever
puts aside the marriage
of his daughter.

The great danger never descends upon a man without
　　　strength;
but if we are destined to die, why should one sit
to no purpose in darkness and find a nameless old age
without any part of glory his own? So my way
lies this hazard; yours to accomplish the end."
He spoke, with words not wide of the mark.
The god, increasing his fame, gave him
a golden chariot and horses never weary with wings.

Breaking the strength of Oinomaos, he took the maiden and
　　　brought her to bed.
She bore him six sons, lords of the people, blazing in valor.
Now he lies at the Alpheus
crossing, mixed with the mighty dead.
His tomb is thronged about at the altar where many strangers
　　　pass; but the glory
of Pelops looks afar from Olympia
in the courses where speed
is matched with speed and a man's force harsh at the height.
And the winner the rest of his lifetime
keeps happiness beside him sweeter than honey

as far as the games go; but the good that stays by day and
　　　abides with him
is best that can come to a man. Be it my work to crown
in the rider's rhythm and strain
of Aiolis that king. I believe
there is no man greater both ways, for wisdom in beautiful
　　　things and power's weight
we shall ever glorify by skill in the folds of song.
Some god stands ever about you, musing
in his mind over what you do,
Hieron. May he not leave you soon.
So shall I hope to find once more
even a sweeter word's way to sing and help the chariot
　　　fleeting,
coming again to the lifting hill of Kronos. For me
the Muse in her might is forging yet the strongest arrow.
One man is excellent one way, one in another; the highest
fulfils itself in kings. Oh, look no further.
Let it be yours to walk this time on the height.
Let it be mine to stand beside you
in victory, for my skill at the forefront of the Hellenes.



　　　　　OLYMPIA 2



My songs, lords of the lyre,
which of the gods, what hero, what mortal shall we celebrate?
Zeus has Pisa; but Herakles founded the Olympiad
out of spoils of his warfare;
but Theron, for his victory with chariot-four, is the man
we must sing now, him of the kind regard to strangers,
the tower Akragantine,
choice bud of a high line guarding the city.

In strong toil of the spirit
they were the eye of Sicily, they beside the river kept
the sacred house; their doom drew on, bringing wealth and
　　　delight near
by the valor in their blood.
But, O Kronios, Rhea's son, guarding Olympos'
throne
and the games' glory and the Alpheus crossing,
in mild mood for the song's sake
kind keep for them always the land of their fathers

the rest of their generation. Of things come to pass
in justice or unjust, not Time the father
of all can make the end unaccomplished.
But forgetfulness may come still with happiness.
Grief, breaking again out of quiet, dies at last, quenched
under the waxing weight of fair things,

with God's destiny dropping
wealth deep from above. Thus the tale for the queenly
daughters of Kadmos, who endured much; grief falls a dead
　　　weight
as goods wax in strength. Semele
of the delicate hair, who died in the thunderstroke,
lives on Olympos, beloved of Pallas forever, of Zeus,
best loved of her son with ivy in his hands.

And they say that in the sea
among the daughters of Nereus in the depth, Ino
is given life imperishable for all time. But for mortal men
no limit in death has been set apart
when we shall bring to an end in unbroken good
the sun's child, our day of quiet; stream
upon stream of delights mixed with labor descends upon men.

Thus Destiny, who has from her father
the kindly guidance of these men, yet with wealth sent from
　　　God
bestows some pain also, to return upon us hereafter.
So his doomed son killed Laios
when they met, and brought to accomplishment
the thing foretold long since at Pytho.

And Erinys looked on him in bitterness
and slew all his strong race at each others' hands.
Yet when Polyneikes fell, Thersandros remained for honor
in the trial of fresh battles,
a branch to shield the house of Adrastos.
Stemmed in his stock, it is fit for Ainesidamos' son
to win songs in his honor and the lyre's sound.

He himself took the prize
at Olympia; to his brother equal in right the impartial
Graces brought blossoms of honor for the twelve-lap chariot
　　　race
at Pytho, at the Isthmos; success
for the striver washes away the effort of striving.
Wealth elaborate with virtue brings opportunity for various
deeds; it shoulders the cruel depth of care,

star-bright, man's truest
radiance; if a man keep it and know the future,
how, as we die here, the heart uncontrolled
yields retribution; likewise for sins in this kingdom of God
there is a judge under the earth. He gives sentence
in constraint of wrath.

But with nights equal forever,
with sun equal in their days, the good men
have life without labor, disquieting not the earth in strength
　　　of hand,
never the sea's water
for emptiness of living. Beside the high gods
they who had joy in keeping faith lead a life
without tears. The rest look on a blank face of evil.

But they who endure thrice over
in the world beyond to keep their souls from all sin
have gone God's way to the tower of Kronos; there
winds sweep from the Ocean
across the Island of the Blessed. Gold flowers to flame
on land in the glory of trees; it is fed in the water,
whence they bind bracelets to their arms and go chapleted

under the straight decrees of Rhadamanthys,
whom the husband of Rhea, high throned above all,
our great father, keeps in the chair of state beside him.
They say Peleus is there, and Kadmos,
and his mother with prayer softening Zeus' heart
carried Achilles thither,

who felled Hektor, Troy's unassailable
tall column of strength, who gave death to Kyknos
and the Aithiop, Dawn's child. There are many sharp shafts
　　　in the quiver
under the crook of my arm.
They speak to the understanding; most men need inter-
　　　preters.
The wise man knows many things in his blood; the vulgar
　　　are taught.
They will say anything. They clatter vainly like crows

against the sacred bird of Zeus.
Come, my heart, strain the bow to the mark now. Whom
　　　shall we strike
in gentleness, slipping merciful arrows? Toward Akragas
we will bend the bow and speak
a word under oath in sincerity of mind.
Not in a hundred years has a city given forth
a man kinder to his friends, more open of hand

than Theron. But envy bestrides praise,
though coupled not with justice; still the revilers'
scandal would put secrecy upon fair deeds
of noble men. For sands escape number,
and of all the joy Theron has brought to others
what man could tell the measure?



　　　　　OLYMPIA 3



My claim is to sing bright Akragas and please the Tyndari-
　　　dai,
the lovers of strangers,
and their sister Helen with the splendid hair,
shaping the hymn of Olympic triumph for Theron, the speed
　　　of his horses
with feet never weary. So the Muse was near as I found a
　　　fire-new style
to set in the Dorian cast the speech

of acclamation. The wreaths bound over my hair are an
　　　influence
to this duty formed in the hands of God,
to mix the lyre's intricate voice, the clamor of flutes, and the
　　　set of the words
for Ainesidamos' son the right way; and Pisa bids me speak.
　　　From her,
driven of God, songs speed to a man,

over whose locks and brows an upright judge of the Hellenes,
an Aitolian, fulfilling the ordinances of Herakles
anciently founded, has cast
the pale glory of the olive that long ago,
from the shadowy springs of Ister,
Amphitryon's son brought back, to be
the loveliest memorial of the games at Olympia.

By reason he persuaded the Hyperboreans, Apollo's people.
In sincerity of heart he asked, for the grove of Zeus
open to all, that growth to shadow men always and crown
　　　their valor.
Before this in his time, when his father's altars were hal-
　　　lowed, at mid-month,
it had cast back the full orb of evening,

riding in gold. He established the sacred test of the fifth-year
　　　games
under the magic hanging hills of Alpheus river.
But the lawn in the valley of Kronian Pelops had blossomed
　　　not to the beauty of trees.
He thought the garden, naked of these, must endure the
　　　sun's sharp rays.
Then it was the urge took him to journey

to Istrian country. There Leto's daughter, the runner with
　　　horses,
received him when he came from Arkadia's ridges and
　　　winding gullies,
when, at Eurystheus' command,
the doom of his father had driven him
to bring the doe with the golden horns
that once Taygeta had written in fee
to be sacred to Artemis Orthosia.

On that errand he saw the land at the back of the cold north
　　　　　　wind,
and he stood amazed at the trees.
A sweet longing came upon him to plant them at the twelve-
　　　lap running place
of horses. Now he visits in graciousness that festival, with
　　　the godlike
twins, the children of deep-girdled Leda.

He came to Olympos and left those heroes guidance of the
　　　magnificent games,
man's might and the chariot's speed handled.
I will speak, for my heart drives me: on the children of
　　　Emmenos
and Theron glory is descended at the hands of the Tyndari-
　　　dai, since beyond others
they propitiate them at the bountiful feasting-table,

keeping in reverence of heart the gods' mysteries.
But if water is best of all things, and of possessions gold is
　　　goodliest,
still in the virtues of men
Theron has come home to the uttermost
Herakles' pillars
and touched. Beyond no wise man can tread;
no fool either. I will not venture; a fool were I.



　　　　　OLYMPIA 4



Mightiest driver of the weariless speed in the lightning's feet,
Zeus: the circling seasons, yours,
have brought me to testify
to the wide strength of highest achievements
by virtue of song and the lyre's intricacy.
At friends' good luck the noble will rise to welcome
the sweet message.
son of Kronos, lord of Aitna,
blast-furnace to hundred-headed Typhon's bulk,
in the name of the Graces
accept this song of Olympic victory,

light at long last from the wide strength of valor.
For it rides the wheels of Psaumis,
who, his brow shaded in olive
of Pisa, comes home, bringing glory
on Kamarina. May God be kindly
to his prayers hereafter; I have praise for him.
A keen handler of horses,
he rejoices in hospitality to his friends;
and his face, with clean purpose, is turned toward Peace, who
　　　loves cities.
I will not steep my speech
in lies; the test of any man lies in action.

So the son of Klymenos
was set free of dishonor
at the hands of Lemnian women.
As he won the race in bronze armor
and came to Hypsipyle for his garland, he spoke:
"Here am I in my speed.
My hands are as good as my heart.
Many a time even on young men gray hairs
appear, against the likelihood of their youth."



　　　　　OLYMPIA 5



Accept, daughter of Ocean, in kindness of heart the blos-
　　　soming
to delight of high deeds and Olympian garlands
for the mule car and the tireless feet, accept these gifts from
　　　Psaumis.

Increasing your city, Kamarina, that fosters its people,
he honored six double altars at the high festivals of the gods
with the sacrifice of oxen and with five-day games, races

for team, mules, single horse. A winner, to you
he dedicated the delicate glory
and proclaimed his father Akron and the new-established
　　　dwelling.

He comes from the lovely precinct of Oinomaos and Pelops
and lifts again, Pallas, keeper of the city, your sacred wood,
your river Oanis with the lake near by,

and the stately channels whereby Hipparis waters the folk.
With speed he welds the high-groined forest of standing
　　　houses,
bringing back out of despair to the light this people, his
　　　citizens.

Always attendant on valor, work and substance struggle to
　　　win
the end veiled in danger;
but when men succeed, even their neighbors think them
　　　wise.

Savior Zeus, high in the clouds, at home on the Kronian hill,
with honor for the wide course of Alpheus and the sacred
　　　cave of Ida,
I come to you a suppliant, speaking above Lydian flutes.

I will ask that you glorify this city with fame
of good men; and you, Olympic champion, may you carry
your age in happiness to its end, with joy in Poseidon's horses,

your sons standing beside you, Psaumis. But if one water
　　　flowering wealth
in abundance of substance
and fair fame also, let him not seek to become God.



　　　　　OLYMPIA 6



Like architects of a sumptuous palace,
who set the golden columns under the portico wall,
we shall build. The forehead of every work
begun must shine from afar. If a man be Olympian victor,
steward at the mantic altar of Zeus in Pisa,
cofounder of glorious Syracuse, what praise shall he escape
in the song's loveliness, given only citizens without rancor?

Let the son of Sostratos know
in that cast he has set his blessed feet. Accomplishments
without venture win no praise among men
nor in hollow ships; splendor of toil is remembered of many.
Agesias, beside you stands that praise that of old
in justice Adrastos spoke of Amphiaraos,
the seer Oikleidas, when earth folded him under and his
　　　shining horses.

Seven corpse-fires burned to the end, and Talaos' son
spoke at Thebes this word: "I mourn the glory of the host.
He was two things, a good prophet, a fighter with the pike."
　　　Such praise
befalls the lord of the feast at Syracuse.
I, who am not bitter in disputation nor overbold,
owe plain testimony and swear a great oath
over the words; and the sweet-voiced Muses shall hear me
　　　speak.

Up then, Phintis, yoke me the strength of the mules
with speed, let me mount the chariot, drive a clean
highway to the source of these men's race.
They understand, and will guide us better than others;
they took garlands at Olympia. Now before them
we must open the gates of song; to Pitana
and the bank of Eurotas we must take our journey today.

Pitana, the legends tell, lay in love with Poseidon, Kronos'
　　　son,
and bore the dark-haired girl, Euadne. She hid
under the fold of her robe her maiden love's agony,
till in the final month she sent attendants to carry
the child, and give it into the hands of Eilatidas,
lord of the men of Arkady at Phaisana, with Alpheus under
　　　his sway.
There grown, by Apollo she first touched Aphrodite's sweet-
　　　ness.

But Aipytos knew the whole time how she hid the seed of
　　　the god.
To Pytho, with sharp care crushing down the wrath in his
　　　heart unspoken,
he departed, to question the god over grief unendurable;
while she, putting aside her girdle, crimson dyed,
and her silver pitcher, under the darkness of low trees
bore a boy with the heart of divination. The gold-haired god
made gentle Eleithuia and the Destinies to stand beside her.

Out of the lovely distress at her loins came lamos
straightway into the light, whom she in her grief
left on the ground. By the god's design two
green-eyed serpents tended him, with blameless venom dis-
　　　tilled
of bees. The king, riding from rocky Pytho,
questioned all in the house when he came for the child
Euadne had borne, and called him issue

of Phoibos, to be beyond all men a seer among mortals
pre-eminent, nor his race fail ever thereafter.
Thus Aipytos. They swore they had heard
never nor seen the five-day child. He lay
in the long grass and a wilderness of thicket, his soft body
deep over in the blue and yellow brightness of violets,
whereby his mother declared upon him for all time

that name immortal, lamos. He, assuming in time the bloom
of delightful youth, gold-chapleted, wading in Alpheus mid-
　　　stream, called
his forefather strong Poseidon, and the archer over god-built
　　　Delos
under the night sky, claiming upon his head
the care of subjects. Close to his ear his father's voice came
answering, and spoke: "Arise my son, follow
here in the wake of my voice to the place frequented of all."

They came to the sheer rock of towering Kronios.
There the god gave into his hands a double treasure:
seercraft, to hear even then the voice ignorant
of lies: and command when the bold contriver should
　　　come,
Herakles, proud blossom of Alkaid blood, and found
in his father's name the festival thronged of men, prime
　　　ordinance of contests
to establish on Zeus' highest altar the place of prophecy.

From him, the lamid race with their high fame in Hellas.
Wealth came afterward; they honor accomplishment;
the way they walk is clear, and each thing
bears witness. Mockery from malice of others overhangs
their heads who drive foremost over the twelve-lap course,
with grave grace pouring glorification of comeliness on
　　　them.
But if in truth under Kyllana's peaks, Agesias, your mother's
　　　kinsmen

propitiate over and again the gods' herald with supplication
of sacrifice in piety, Hermes, who keeps the games and the
　　　luck of the contest
to magnify the good men of Arkadia, he, son of Sostratos,
abets the weight of his father's thunder to grant you fortune.
I believe a stone upon my speech has honed it to fluency,
and the mother of my mothers, the Stymphalian, blossoming
　　　Metope,
urges my will compliant with the easy breath of persuasion.

Her child is Thebe, bender of horses, whose lovely waters
I drink, and the men I braid this complication of song for are
comrades in arms. Up with your men, Aineas!
Sing first, Hera, of maidenhood, then know
if in true account we escape the ancient
word of shame, swine of Boiotia. You are a true messenger,
letterstaff of the comely-haired Muses, sweet mixing-bowl of
　　　vociferous song.

I have told you to remember Syracuse and Ortygia.
Hieron in serious thought controls them under
his scepter's candid sweep; he guides the crimson feet
of the feast of Demeter and the lady of white horses, her
　　　daughter,
with the power of Zeus on Aitna. The soft-spoken lyres
acknowledge him, and the dancing. May lurking time not
　　　shatter his power.
Let him receive in kindly affection Agesias' victor feast,

sped from home at the keep of Stymphalos to his second
　　　home,
leaving the mother-city of Arkady rich in sheep. In the night
　　　of storms
it is well to have two anchors binding the fleet ship.
May God's love appoint the glory of both my friends.
Lord of the sea's action, consort of Amphitrite,
her of the golden spindle, grant a straight voyage,clear
of distress. Make blossom the joyous flower of my song.



　　　　　OLYMPIA 7



As one who takes a cup from a lavish hand,
bubbling within the foam of the grape,
presenting it
to a young bridegroom, pledging hearth to hearth, the pride,
　　　sheer gold, of possession,
the joy of the feast, to honor his new son, render him
among friends present admired for the bride's consent:

so I, bringing poured nectar of victory,
gift of the Muses, the mind's sweet yield,
offer it up
to the conquerors at Olympia and Pytho. Blessed is he whom
　　　good fame surrounds.
Grace eyes one man, then another, bestowing favor
frequently to the melodious lyre and the manifold music of
　　　flutes;

and to both strains I keep company with Diagoras, singing
the sea's child, daughter of Aphrodite and bride of Helios,
　　　Rhodes,
and give praise, spoil of his boxing, to the onslaught of a
　　　man gigantic,
wreathed in victory beside Alpheus' water
and Kastalia; and to Damagetos his father, darling of Justice,
who dwell in the triple-citied island over against
the jut of broad Asia, by right of an Argive spear.

I will try to straighten the story from the beginning
with news from as far back as Tlepolemos
for Herakles'
race of reaching strength. On the father's side they glory in
　　　Zeus' descent; on the mother's,
Amyntoridai from Astydameia. Delusions innumerable
hang their shadows over men's minds. This thing passes wit
　　　to discover,

what is best now and at the end for a man to attain.
Even Tlepolemos, this island's founder, once
angered, rearing
the stock of brute olive, smote to death Alkmana's bastard
　　　brother,
Likymnios, at Tiryns as he issued from the chamber of Midea.
　　　Despair in the brain has driven
even the wise man out of his course. He went to the god for
　　　counsel.

From the fragrant sanctuary the gold-haired god bespoke a
　　　voyage
of ships from the Lernaian ness straight for a seagirt reach,
where once the high king of the gods drenched their city in
　　　a gold snowfall,
when, by the artifice of Hephaistos,
at the stroke of the bronze-heeled axe Athene sprang
from the height of her father's head with a strong cry.
The sky shivered before her and earth our mother.

Then Hyperion's giant son, light-giver to mortals,
laid a necessity upon his own children
to guard thereafter:
they must be first to found a bright altar to the goddess and
　　　establish a stately sacrifice
and propitiate the heart of her father and the maid of the
　　　ringing spear. Respect
for forethought puts on men goodliness and delight also.

Yet the unpredictable mist of forgetfulness stalks us,
it wrenches aside the right way of action
far from our thoughts.
Thus they went up, having not the bright seed of flame, with
　　　fireless sacrament they appointed
the grove on the acropolis. Yet he, assembling the yellow
　　　cloud,
rained much gold upon them, and the green-eyed goddess
　　　granted

every art, that they should surpass all men in the excellent
　　　work of their hands.
And their streets grew images in the likeness of men and
　　　beasts.
Their fame went deep. For the wise skill will wax greater
　　　for its innocence.
The ancient legends of men
tell how, when Zeus and the immortals divided the earth
Rhodes had not yet shone in the sea's water,
but the island was hidden in the salt depths.

Helios was gone, and none showed forth his lot.
They left him with no guerdon of land,
that blameless god.
He spoke, and Zeus would cast again, but Helios would not
　　　suffer it, for he said
under the gray sea he had spied, as a growth from the floor,
a land to foster multitudes, kindly to sheep.

Straightway he bade Lachesis of the golden veil
lift up her hands, nor deny
the gods' great oath
but assent with the son of Kronos, bending her head; the
　　　island rising thereafter
into the bright air should be his. The words' end was ac-
　　　complished
with a true fall. Out of the winding water the island

blossomed, held of the father of searing sun-rays,
master of horses that breathe fire. Rhodes mixed with him
　　　bore
seven sons, that displayed the shrewdest wits of the men of
　　　old time.
Of these, one sired Kamiros,
lalysos, eldest born, and Lindos; sundered, they held
the land of their patrimony in triple division,
each a city, and these are called by their names.

There, as sweet deliverance after the bitterness of misfortune,
to Tlepolemos, Tirynthian arch-founder, is given
as to a god
the smoking processional of sheep, the judgment of games, in
　　　whose flowers
Diagoras was wreathed twice. At the glorious Isthmos the
　　　luck four times was his.
One win to crown another at Nemea, at rocky Athens.

The bronze at Argos knew him, the caldrons
in Arkadia and Thebes, the temperate games
Boiotians keep;
Pellana likewise. At Aigina he won six times, at Megara the
　　　stone ballot
tells no alternate story. But Zeus father, brooding over
the peaks of Atabyrios, honor the set of the song Olmpion-
　　　ician,

the man who has found excellence with his fists. Grant him
　　　pleasure of veneration
in the sight of citizens and strangers his friends. The bitter
　　　path of pride
he walks straitly, sure of all that the upright minds of his
　　　fathers
left, his heritage. Founder not the seed
of Kallianax, your own. With good fortune for the Eratidai
　　　the city
has also its part of happiness. But in one parcel of time
the winds intershifting flare to new directions.



　　　　　OLYMPIA 8



Mother of games, gold-wreathed, Olympia,
mistress of truth where men of prophecy
by burning victims probe the pleasure of Zeus of the shining
　　　thunderbolt,
what story he has for folk
who strain in spirit to capture
magnificence of strength
and space to breathe after work's weariness:

his will is steered by men's prayers to favor of piety.
Then, O grove of Pisa beside Alpheus, shadowed with trees,
accept this our festival song with its burden of garlands.
　　　Great is his fame forever
whom your bright victory befalls.
Various goods have come
to one man and another; there are many roads
to happiness, if the gods assent.

Timosthenes, destiny has assigned you and your brother
to Zeus Genethlios. He gave you glory at Nemea;
Alkimedon beside the Kronian hill
he made Olympic champion.
Splendid he was to behold, and, in action not shaming his
　　　beauty,
he won at wrestling to herald his homeland, Aigina of the
　　　sweeping oar.
There, beyond men elsewhere, they cultivate
her who sits beside Zeus of hospitality, Themis,

lady of salvation. With right wit to distinguish
that which has large and various weight in the scale, with-
　　　out failure,
is hard; yet some statute of the immortals has made this sea-
　　　girt land also
to strangers from all far places
a wonderful column of safety;
may time, uprolling, falter
never in accomplishment of that end.

Since Aiakos it was under stewardship of a Dorian people.
That hero Leto's son and Poseidon, wide-ranging of mind
in purpose to put a wreath of towers on Ilion, called to their
　　　aid
for the wall whose doom had been written,
how in the upsurge of war,
in the battle to storm the citadel,
smoke of destruction must blaze its end.

And at its first establishment three pale snakes
writhed aloft that rampart. Two, collapsing
overborne, gave up their lives.
One reared up with a cry.
Apollo, pondering
the portent before him, spoke:
"Hero, Pergamos shall be taken where your hands have
　　　wrought.
So speaks to me this vision sent
by Kronos' deep-thundering son, even Zeus.

Nor without help of your children after you; it shall be
　　　broken
in the first and fourth generation." With this plain word the
　　　god
made for Xanthos urgently, and the well-horsed Amazons,
　　　and Ister.
The shaker of the trident steered to the sea's
Isthmos his running chariot,
bearing Aiakos home
aloft on his golden car

to visit the yoke of Korinth with its glorious feasting.
No single joy among men will match another's.
If, for the fame he has won with beardless boys, my song
　　　makes much of Melesias,
let no rancor cast at me a rugged stone.
I can speak of this same gladness
that came to him at Nemea
and thereafter in the men's contests

as pancratiast. It is better to know what you teach
if you teach it; not to study beforehand is thoughtless.
The minds of men untried are flimsy rather.
He better than others can expound
wrestling, the skill to further a man on his way
who out of sacred games would win the most desirable honor.
Now Alkimedon brings to him
with a thirtieth victory, praise.

By luck that comes from the gods and no failure of nerve
he forced on four boys' bodies
homecoming in bitterness, speech without honor, a secret
　　　path;
but into his sire's father inspired
strength to grapple his old age.
A man achieving the things desired
makes Hades to be forgotten.

But I must waken memory and bespeak
for the Blepsiadai success in the flowering strength of their
　　　hands.
Now is laid along their brows the sixth wreath from the
　　　leaves of contests.
Even they that are dead have some share
of things done in the true way;
nor does the dust obscure
the grace of their kinsmen's virtue.

Iphion, giving ear to Angelia, daughter of Hermes,
might speak to Kallimachos of the shining
glory at Olympia Zeus granted
them and theirs. May he will to bestow noble success
on nobility, fending aside the bitter edge of infirmity.
I pray him that destiny be of no doubtful counsel over
　　　these good men's fate,
but bring a life untroubled of grief
to bless themselves and their city.



　　　　　OLYMPIA 9



The Archilochos song
cried aloud at Olympia, the victor hailed in his glory three
　　　times over
was enough by the Kronian hill to lead in triumph
Epharmostos in revelry with his beloved companions.
But now shower from the Muses' bows that range into wide
　　　distance,
Zeus, lord of the light in the red thunderbolt,
and with even such arrows
the solemn headland of Elis
that the hero Lydian Pelops of old
won, fairest bridal dower of Hippodameia.

Cast a winged shaft of delight
to Pytho likewise; you will find words that falter not to the
　　　ground
as you throb the lyre for a man and a wrestler
from famed Opous. Praise the land and her son.
Themis and the lady of salvation, Eunomia, her daughter,
the glorious, keep it for their own; he blossoms in exploits,
Kastalia, beside your spring
and by Alpheus river,
to make the garlands in their bloom lift up
the mother of Lokrian men, land of trees shining.

And I, lighting a city beloved
with blaze of whirling song,
swifter than the proud horse
or winged ship on the sea
will carry the message,
if with hand blessed I garden
this secret close of the Graces.
It is they who minister delightful things.
If men are brave, or
wise, it is by the divinity

in them; how else could Herakles'
hands have shaken the club against the trident
when by Pylos' gate Poseidon stood over against him,
and Phoibos strode on him with the silver bow in his hands
　　　poised;
neither the death-god Hades rested the staff
wherewith he marshals mortal bodies of men perished
down the hollow street. But, my lips,
cast this story from us.
For to revile the gods
is hateful learning, and to vaunt against season carries

an underweb of madness.
Speak not idly such things;
let be war and all discord
apart from the immortals. Rather to Protogeneia's city
bring our speech, where, by
decree of Zeus of the rippling
　　　thunder,
Deukalion and Pyrrha, coming down from Parnassos,
founded their house at the first and with no act of love estab-
　　　lished
a stone generation to be their folk.
These were named people therafter.
Wake for them the high strain of song,
and praise old wine, but the blossoms of poetry

that is young. For they say
the black earth was awash
under the weight of water; but by
Zeus' means, of a sudden the ebb-tide
drained the flood. And from these
came your ancestors, men with brazen shields,
traced back at the outset
to lapeton's seed, sons of his daughters by the great sons of
　　　Kronos, kings in the land for all time

until the lord of Olympos,
ravishing from the Epeian land Opous' daughter, lay with
　　　her
secretly on Mainalian slopes; and thereafter he brought
her
to Lokros, lest age, overtaking, doom him
to be childless. The bride carried the mighty
seed; and the hero was glad to see the son for his fostering.
He named him after his mother's sire,
to be called Opous,
a man surpassing in stature and action,
and gave him the city and the people to govern.

There came to him stranger-guests
from Argos and Thebes, Arkadians and Pisatans.
But beyond all newcomers he honored Aktor's son and Ai-
　　　gina's
Menoitios; he whose child, brought with the sons of Atreus,
in the plain of Teuthras stood his ground alone with Achilles
when Telephos, bending back the rest of the valiant Danaans,
hurled them against their own beached ships.
Thus was made plain for any
with wit to see how strong the heart of Patroklos;
and Thetis' son ordained thereafter that never

in grim battle should Patroklos be
marshaled apart from his own
man-wrecking spear's place.
May I find words now to win through
riding the car of the Muses
to the occasion. May daring and compassing power
come upon me. I went, in virtue of proxeny,
to stand by Lampromachos in his garlands of Isthmos, where
　　　both men won

on a single day their events.
And twice thereafter delight of victory came to him at the
　　　gates
of Korinth, as in the Nemean valley to Epharmostos.
He likewise at Argos won glory among men, and as a boy
at Athens; in Marathon, torn from beardless antagonists,
he stood the onset of older men for the silver vessels.
He threw these in his speed and craft
with no fall scored against him
and walked through the ring to loud acclamation
in the pride of his youth, splendid, and with achievement of
　　　splendor.

Before the Parrhasians assembled,
he appeared, a wonder, at the festival of Zeus Lykaios;
as when he won the cloak, warm medicine
of cold winds, at Pellene; the tomb of lolaos
witnesses to his shining glory,
as Eleusis the sea-borne.
Best by nature is best; but many have striven before now
to win by talents acquired
through art the glory.
But the thing unblessed by God is none
the worse for silence, always. There are ways

that surpass others.
But no one discipline sustains
us all. And skills are steep things
to win. As you bring the games' prize,
be bold to cry aloud
this man that is blessed by nature,
strong of hand, nimble, with eyes of valor,
who at your feast, Aias, son of Oileus, has wreathed your altar
　　　in victory.



　　　　　OLYMPIA 10



Read the name of the conqueror, Olympian
son of Archestratos, where it is written down
on my heart. I owed him a sweet strain of music and forgot.
　　　O Muse and Truth,
daughter of Zeus, with steady hands
lift me back from the lies
and the reproach of bad friendship.

Stealing from afar upon me, time delayed
has shamed the depth of my debt.
Still, interest has strength to solve blame's bitterness; see how
　　　the wave, running, washes
back the piled surf-stones
and how we shall settle this debt
between us, the way of grace, as friends.

For the goddess of strict truth steers the city of the West
　　　Wind Lokrians,
and the Muse of heroes is among them,
and brazen Ares. The fight with Kyknos turned back even
　　　the surpassing might
of Herakles; and Agesidamos, winner
in boxing at Olympia,
may give thanks to Has his trainer, as once
to Achilles, Patroklos.
Sharpening one born for great achievement,
a man, under God's hand aiding, could drive to gigantic
　　　glory.

But, without striving, few have won joy of victory
to be a light upon their lifetime for all deeds accomplished.
The rights of Zeus are urgent with me to sing that pride of
　　　contests that Herakles by the primeval grave of Pelops
founded sixfold for his labors
when he had slain Poseidon's son,
the perfect fighter, Kteatos,

and slain Eurytos, in will to extract from Augeas
unwilling the mighty price of his lackey-service.
Lurking in ambush under Kleonai, Herakles smote them by
　　　the wayside,
since aforetime they had shattered
his following, the men of Tiryns,
as they lay in the deep places of Elis,

these Moliones in their high pride. The king of the Epeians,
treacherous to his very guest-friends, not long
thereafter saw his own rich city under stark fire
and the stroke of iron settling into the deep
pit of destruction.
No man can fend aside
the onset of stronger men.
Augeas also, at the last, in his fool's counsel
was taken and dragged to the edge of steep death, nor
　　　escaped it.

But the strong son of Zeus at Pisa,
gathering together his host and all their spoil,
ordained the grove sacred to his father, and fixed the Altis
　　　about in a clean place;
and a level floor circle-wise
he dedicated to be the banquet place,
doing honor to the Alpheus crossing

with the twelve gods who are lords; he named
the hill of Kronos. Before this,
under sway of Oinomaos, nameless it had been sunk under
　　　deep snow; and at this festival birth
the Fates were attendant, with him
who alone makes apparent
truth and that which things are,

Time. Who in his sweep forward has made plain
the way of the battle gift
and the division Herakles made of his war-spoil, the sacrifice,
　　　how he established
with this first Olympiad the five-year festival
and with prizes for games won.
Who, then, was given
the young wreath of victory
for his hands' work, or speed of foot, or chariot,
putting before his eyes the games' glory and accomplishing
　　　thought in action?

In the furlong race, keeping
the strain of his running
in an even course, Likymnios' son,
Oionos, who came from Midea with his people; in the
　　　wrestling Echemos brought Tegea acclaim.
At boxing it was Doryklos won his way,
who dwelt in the city of Tiryns.
Guiding four horses abreast, Samos

of Mantinea, Halirothios' son.
Phrastor threw the spear to the limit;
but, whirling the stone disk in his hand, Nikeus spun a
　　　length beyond all others, and his fellowship
burst into uproar of acclamation. Into that evening
the winsome light of a moon,
full blown, burned on.

And every precinct in that glad celebration was filled with
　　　song,
in the mode of victory strains.
In the path of which ancient traditions, now also, for grace
in this namesake and exalting victory, we shall sing the
　　　thunder
and the fire-handed bolt
of Zeus of the loud stroke,
who, in strength, forever
grips the blazing thundershaft;
and the strain of song ripening shall meet melodies of the
　　　reed flute

that came to light long since by famed Dirke.
Yet as his wife's child comes .desirable
to a father who goes the way backward from youth, and with
　　　great love makes warm his heart;
for wealth that is given an alien,
brought from without to master,
is a bitterness upon him who dies and leaves it;

so also, Agesidamos, a man who has done splendid things
without song, goes down into the courts of death
and has breathed out his might in empty endeavor, and got
　　　brief joy. For you, the fair-spoken lyre
and the delicate flute drench you in beauty.
Wide is your honor, kept
by the maiden Pierides, Zeus' children.

And I, laying my hand strongly, have come to embrace
the famed men of Lokris, with honey
perfuming their city of good men. I have praised the beau-
　　　tiful son
of Archestratos. I saw him win by strength of his hand
beside the Olympian altar
on that day long ago,
a splendor to behold,
and with that youth upon him that once
by the Kyprian's power delivered Ganymede from death the
　　　shameless.



OLYMPIA 11



There is a time when men need most favoring
gales; there is a time for water from the sky,
rain, child of cloud.
But if by endeavor a man win fairly, soft-spoken songs
are given, to be a beginning of men's
speech to come and a true seal on great achievements.

Abundant is such praise laid up for victories
Olympian. My lips have good will
to marshal these words; yet only
by God's grace does a man blossom in the wise turning of his
　　　thought.
Son of Archestratos, know
that for the sake, Agesidamos, of your boxing

I shall enchant in strain of song a glory upon
your olive wreath of gold
and bespeak the race of the West Wind Lokrians.
There acclaim him; I warrant you,
Muses, you will visit no gathering cold to strangers
nor lost to lovely things
but deep to the heart in wisdom, and spearmen also. No
　　　thing, neither devious fox
nor loud lion, may change the nature born in his blood.



OLYMPIA 12



Daughter of Zeus who sets free, I beseech you, Fortune,
lady of salvation, guard the wide strength of Himera.
By your power are steered fleet ships on the sea,
sudden wars by land, the gatherings heavy
with counsel. Men's hopes, oft in the air,
downward rock again as they shear a heaving sea of lies.

Never yet has a man who walks upon earth
found from God sure sign of the matter to come.
Perception of future goes blind.
Many things fall counter to judgment, sometimes
against delight, yet others that encountered evil
gales win in a moment depth of grandeur for pain.

Son of Philanor, like a cock that fights at home
by his own hearth, even so the splendor
of your feet might have dropped to obscurity, had not
strife that sets men at odds cost you your homeland, Knossos.
Now, Ergoteles, garlanded at Olympia,
twice at Pytho, at the Isthmos, here at your new home,
Himera, you magnify in fame the Bathing Place of the
　　　Nymphs.



OLYMPIA 13



Thrice Olympionician
the house I praise, gentle to fellow-citizens,
ministrant to strangers. I will know
Korinth the rich, forecourt
of Poseidon of the Isthmos, shining in its young men.
There Law, sure foundation-stone of cities, dwells with
　　　Justice
and Peace, dispenser of wealth to man, her sisters,
golden daughters of Themis, lady of high counsels.

They will to drive afar
Pride, the rough-spoken, mother of Surfeit.
I have fair things to say, and straightforward
courage urges my lips to speak.
It is vain striving to hide inborn nature.
To you, sons of Alatas, the Hours have brought many times
　　　bright victory,
as in high achievement you ascended in the sacred contests,
even as, blossoming, they have founded in men's minds

the beginning of many a wise device, from you. To the
　　　inventor the deed belongs.
Where else did the graces of Dionysos
shine forth with the dithyramb ox-driven?
Who else put curbs to the gear of horses
or set pediments like the double eagle, lord of birds, on the
　　　gods'
temples? Among you the Muse, sweet-spoken,
among you Ares also,
flowers in your young men's spears of terror.

Lord on high, wide ruling
over Olympia, Zeus father,
begrudge not in all time these words;
and, guiding clear of disaster these people,
for Xenophon steer the wind of his destiny.
Take in his name this festival measure of garlands that he
　　　brings from the lawn of Pisa,
winner at once in pentathlon and the stade run; a thing
no mortal has matched in time before.

When he came forward at Isthmos,
two wreaths of parsley shaded him.
Nemea will tell no other story.
For Thessalos his father the shining glory
of speed in his feet is laid up by Alpheus' stream,
and at Pytho he had honor in one sun's course of the stade
　　　and the two-lap race; in the selfsame month
at Athens of the rocks one fleet-running day
laid wreaths of loveliness for three successes on his locks.

Seven times at the maid Hellotis' contests. In the field of
　　　Poseidon by the sea
for Terpsias and Eritimos with their father
Ptoiodoros, there are songs too long for my singing.
But for all your success at Delphoi
and in the Lion's meadow, I dispute with the rest
the multitude of your splendors. Yet in truth
even I have not power to number
surely the pebbles in the sea.

To each thing belongs
its measure. Occasion is best to know.
I in my own right have sailed with the multitude
and cry aloud the wisdom of your forefathers,
their warcraft in heroic courage
without lies that touch Korinth: Sisyphos most skilled of
　　　hand, as a god is;
Medeia, who ordained her marriage even in her father's
　　　despite,
savior of the ship Argo and her seamen;

the show of valor they made
long ago, before the Dardanian battlements,
on either side hewing to the end of strife;
these with the beloved sons of Atreus,
striving to win back Helen; those guarding her
amain. The Danaans shook before Glaukos, who came from
　　　Lykia. Before them
he vaunted that in the city of Peirene the power abode
and the deep domain and the house of Bellerophon, his fore-
　　　father,

who beside the Springs, striving to break the serpent Gor-
　　　gon's child,
Pegasos, endured much hardship
until the maiden Pallas gave him
the bridle gold-covered. Out of dream
there was waking, and she spoke: "Do you sleep, king de-
　　　scended of Aiolos?
Behold, take this magic for the horse
and dedicate to the father who tames
beasts, a shining bull in sacrifice."

To his dream in darkness
the girl of the black shield seemed to speak
such things, and he sprang upright on his feet.
Gathering up the strange thing that lay beside him,
he sought out, delighted, the prophet in the land
and showed Koiranides all the ending of the matter, how he
　　　had slept
that night, at his behest, by the goddesses' altar. How the very
　　　child
of Zeus of the thunder-spear had given into

his hands the conquering gold.
The seer bade him obey
in speed the dream; and, when he had immolated
a bull to him who grips the earth in his wide strength,
to found straightway an altar of Athene of the horses.
God's power makes light possession of things beyond oath
　　　or hope.
Strong Bellerophon, pondering, caught
with the quiet device drawn to the jaw

the winged horse. Riding, he made weapon play in full
　　　armor of bronze.
So mounted, out of the cold gulfs
of the high air forlorn, he smote
the archered host of women, the Amazons;
and the Chimaira, breathing flame; and the Solymoi, and
　　　slew them.
On his fate at the last I will keep silence.
But to Pegasos were given on Olympos
the lordly mangers of Zeus.

It becomes me not, spinning
the shaft's straight cast beside the mark, to speed
too many bolts from my hand's strength.
For I came fain helper to the Muses
on their thrones of shining, and to the Oligaithidai.
In brief word I will illumine their assembled success at Isth-
　　　mos and Nemea; and the lordly
herald's sworn glad cry of truth will bear witness
they conquered sixty times in these places.

It has beseemed me before this
to speak of all they have done at Olympia.
Things yet to come shall be told clear as they befall.
Even now I am full of hope, but the end lies
in God. If only his natal divinity walk far,
we shall bring this duty to Zeus and Ares. Under the brow
　　　of Parnassos there were six
wins; as many at Argos, in Thebes; the king's altar of Zeus
Lykaios will bespeak as many gained in Arkadian gorges;

Pellana and Sikyon, Megara, the fenced grove of the Aiaki-
　　　dai,
Eleusis and Marathon the shining,
the rich cities in their loveliness under the crest of Aitna,
Euboia also; stir with your hand
all Hellas, they will rise to outpass the eyes' vision.
Let me swim out with light feet.
Zeus accomplishes to all grant grave restraint
and attainment of sweet delight.





OLYMPIA 14



You who have your dwelling
in the place of splendid horses, founded beside the waters of
　　　Kephisos:
O queens of song and queens of shining
Orchomenos: Graces: guardians of the primeval Minyai,
hear! My prayer is to you. By your means all delight,
all that is sweet, is given to mankind.
If a man be wise, or beautiful, or splendid, it is you.
Without the grave Graces, not the gods even
marshal their dances, their festivals; mistresses of all
heavenly action, they who have set their thrones
beside Pythian Apollo of the bow of gold
keep eternal the great way of the father Olympian.

Lady and mistress Aglaia,
and Euphrosyne, delighting in song, daughters of the greatest
god, hear me now; and Thalia,
lover of dancing, as you look down, with fortune favorable,
　　　on this victory throng
stepping delicately. For I have come to Asopichos
with song worked carefully to the Lydian measure,
because the Minyan land has been made triumphant at
　　　Olympia
by your grace, Lady. Go now, Echo, to the black wall
of the house of Persephone, bring to his father the clear mes-
　　　sage;
stand in the presence of Kleodamos and say that his son
in the renowned valley of Pisa
has put on his young hair the wings of glory for games won.



PYTHIA 1



Golden lyre, held of Apollo in common possession
with the violet-haired Muses: the dance steps, leaders of
　　　festival, heed you;
the singers obey your measures
when, shaken with music, you cast the beat to lead choirs of
　　　dancers.
You have power to quench the speared thunderbolt
of flowing fire. Zeus1
eagle sleeps on his staff, folding his
　　　quick wings both ways to quiet,

lord of birds; you shed a mist on his hooked head,
dark and gentle closure of eyes; dreaming, he ripples
his lithe back, bound in spell
of your waves. Violent Ares even, leaving aside the stern
　　　pride
of spears, makes gentle his heart in sleep.
Your shafts enchant the divinities by grace of the wisdom of
　　　Lato's son and the deep-girdled Muses.

Yet such creatures as Zeus loves not are shaken to hear
the music of the Pierides, whether on earth or the sea unrest-
　　　ing;
likewise he who sprawls, God's enemy, in the pit of Tartaros,
Typhon, the hundred-headed, whom of old
the cave of many names in Kilikia bred; and now
the sea-dykes above Kymai are set over him;
Sicily crushes his shaggy
chest; the sky's pillar is piled above him,
Aitna of the snows, year-long
minister of the cleaving ice.

Thence erupt pure founts of unapproachable fire
from the secret places within; by day the rivers spout in a
　　　flood of smoke,
shot through with shining; by dark from the rock
the red flame rolling plunges to the deep sea-plain in tumult.
The monster hurls aloft such spouts
of weird flame; a portent and a wonder to behold, a wonder
　　　even to hear from those who have seen.

Thus, beneath the pinnacles dark in leaves of Aitna he lies
　　　shackled
underground, and the jagged bed rips all his back that is
　　　cramped against it.
May it be our lot, Zeus, rather to please you.
You are lord of this mountain, forefront of a bountiful land,
　　　and in its name
a famous founder has made glorious the city beside it
when in the Pythian field the herald cried aloud, announcing
　　　Hieron's splendor of victory

in the chariot race. For men who would take ship first grace
is a favoring wind to befall the passage begun; there is like to
　　　follow
at the last also a better homecoming therefor; and calculation
upon these things befallen brings hope
that this city hereafter will be famed for garlands won with
　　　its horses,
and in the singing festivals be a place renowned.
Lykian and lord of Delos,
Apollo, who love Parnassos also and the Kastalian spring,
may it please you to bring these things to pass
and to make this country one blessed in its manhood.

From the gods come all means to mortal endeavor;
by them we are wise, or strong with our hands, or eloquent
　　　of speech; and I, pondering
praise of Hieron, have hope
not, like a thrower, hefting the bronze-shod spear to fling it
　　　wide of the course,
but with a far cast to beat my antagonists.
If only the rest of his time might keep firm such wealth and
　　　possession of goods, and bring also forgetfulness of his
　　　labors.

So might he remember in what onsets of battle
he stood with enduring heart, when these men found at the
　　　gods' hands honor
such as reaps no Hellene else,
a garland of wealth to make men proud. Now in truth he
　　　takes Philoktetes' way
of war; and in constraint even the proud man
fawns on his friendship. They say that godlike heroes came
　　　to bring Poias' son, the mighty archer,

from Lemnos, where he lay in pain of his festering wound;
and he sacked Priam's city and made an end of the Danaans'
　　　labors;
he came with flesh infirm, but a man of doom.
In such wise may God guide Hieron
in the time that steals upon us, granting him occasion of all
　　　he longs for.
Muse, be governed by me to sing
for Deinomenes requital of the chariot victory.
The joy of his father's triumph is no stranger to him.
Let us find for the king of Aitna
some splendor of song that shall be his own.

For him Hieron founded that city in liberty built
of gods, and ordinances of Hyllos' rule, and the descendants
　　　of Pamphylos,
even of Herakles' seed,
who dwell beside Taygetos' slopes, are minded to abide forever
　　　in the decrees of Aigimios,
Dorians. These were blessed in Amyklai's taking;
they rose and went from Pindos to dwell, deep in glory, next
　　　to the Tyndaridai, and the fame of their spears has blos-
　　　somed.

Zeus accomplisher, beside the waters of Amenas forever
let all men's speech decree such praise on the citizens and
　　　their kings.
By your aid, this leader of men,
enjoining it upon his son also, might glorify his people and
　　　turn them to peace and harmony.
Kronion, I beseech you, bend your head in assent
that the Phoenician and the war-crying Tyrsenian keep
　　　quietly at home, beholding the shame of their wreck by
　　　sea at Kyme,

the things they endured, beaten at the hands of Syracuse's
　　　lord,
how he hurled their young men out of their fleet-running
　　　ships on the sea,
gathering back Hellas from the weight of slavery. I am given
favor in requital from men of Athens for Salamis
battle, and in Sparta for the fighting before Kithairon,
where the Medes, benders of the bow, went under;
so likewise for singing fulfilment
for Deinomenes' sons of their victory at the watered strand
　　　of Himera,
that which they won by valor
when their foemen were beaten down.

Singing in season and drawing narrow the strands
of many matters, you will find less mockery of men that
　　　follows. Sad surfeit blunts
the speed of flying hopes.
If citizens hear overmuch of the bliss of others, it galls the
　　　secrecy of their hearts.
Nevertheless, for envy outshines pity,
pass not over splendid things. With a just tiller steer your
　　　host. Forge your speech on an anvil that rings no falsehood.

A spark of dross flying is called a great matter
coming from you. You are steward of many, and many are
　　　the witnesses for good or ill who shall be believed.
Abide in this flowering temper,
and, if you would hear speech of delight always, falter not in
　　　your bounty.
Let go, like a pilot, your sails
free to the wind. Be not beguiled, dear friend, by easy profit.
　　　The vaunt of reputation to come

alone controls the way men speak of those that are gone, their
　　　life
in song and story. The generous achievement of Kroisos fades
　　　not.
But hateful everywhere is the speech that oppresses Phalaris,
the heart without pity, who roasted men in the bronze bull.
Nor lyres under the roof welcome him
as the sweet theme for the voices of boys singing.
Good fortune is first of prizes,
and good repute has second place; the man who attains
these two and grasps them in his hands
is given the uttermost garland.




PYTHIA 2



Great city, O Syracuse, precinct of Ares
that haunts the deeps of battle; nurse divine of horses and
　　　men that fight in iron,
from shining Thebes I come, bringing you
this melody, message of the chariot course that shakes the
　　　earth,
wherein Hieron in success of his horses
has bound in garlands that gleam far Ortygia,
site of the river-Artemis, whose aid stood not afar
when, with gentling hands, he guided the intricate reins of
　　　his young mares.

For the lady of arrows, in both hands bestowing,
and Hermes of the contests set the gleam of glory on his
　　　head, when to the polished car
and the harness he yokes temperate strength
of horses, invoking also the god of wide strength who shakes
　　　the trident.
For other kings aforetime other men also have given
the high sound of song, requital of their achievement.
Incessantly the Kyprian songs are of Kinyras,
beloved of the gold-haired god, Apollo, in fulness of heart,

and sacred in the favor of Aphrodite. Grace of friendship
in courteous gaze comes also to bless in requital deeds done.
Son of Deinomenes,
the West Lokrian maiden
at her doors speaks of you; and her gaze, by grace of your
　　　might,
goes now untroubled, after the hopeless struggles of war-
　　　time.
It is by gods' work that they say Ixion,
fixed on his winged wheel, spun in a circle,
cries aloud this message to mortals:
To your benefactor return ever with kind dealing rendered.

He learned that lesson well. By favor of the sons of Kronos,
he was given a life of delight but could not abide blessedness
　　　long; in his delirious heart
he loved Hera, dedicated to the high couch
of Zeus. That outrage hurled him into conspicuous
ruin. He was a man and endured beyond all others
distress full merited. Two sins flowered
to pain in his life: a hero, he first
infected the mortal breed with kindred bloodshed, not with-
　　　out treachery;

also, in the great secret chambers of Zeus he strove to ravish
the Queen. A man should look at himself and learn well his
　　　own stature.
The coupling unnatural brought accumulation of evil
on him, even in success; it was a cloud he lay with,
and he in his delusion was given the false loveliness.
A phantom went in the guise of that highest daughter
of Uranian Kronos; a deceit visited upon him
by the hands of Zeus, a fair evil thing. Zeus likewise wrought
　　　the crucifixion on the wheel,

Ixion's bane; and, spinning there, limbs fast
to the ineluctable circle, he makes the message a thing that
　　　all may know.
But she, graceless, spawned
a child of violence.
There was none like her, nor her son; no honor was his
　　　portion in the usage of god or man.
Nursing him, she named him Kentauros, and he coupled
with the Magnesian mares on the spurs of Pelion;
and a weird breed was engendered
in the favor of either parent:
the mare's likeness in the parts below, and the manlike father
　　　above.

It is God that accomplishes all term to hopes,
God, who overtakes the flying eagle, outpasses the dolphin
in the sea; who bends under his strength the man with
　　　thoughts too high,
while to others he gives honor that ages not. My necessity
is to escape the teeth of reproach for excessive blame.
Standing afar, I saw Archilochos the scold,
laboring helpless and fattening on his own cantankerous
hate, naught else; to be rich, with fortune of wisdom also, is
　　　the highest destiny.

You, in freedom of your heart, can make this plain,
you, that are prince of garlanded streets in their multitude
　　　and lord of the host. If any man
claims that, for possession of goods and high honor,
some other of those that lived of old in Hellas has overpassed
　　　you,
that man with loose heart wrestles emptiness.
I shall mount the wreathed ship to speak aloud
your praise. Your youth is staunch in valor to endure
stark battle; whence I say you have found glory that knows
　　　no measure

in striving against those who rode horses in battle
and the fighting footranks also. But your elder counsels
set me free to speak forth
in your praise, a word without peril
against any man's contention. Hail, then! This melody is
　　　sent you
like Phoenician ware over the gray sea.
Be fain to behold and welcome the Kastor-chant
on Aiolian strings, by grace
of the seven-stringed lyre.
Learn what you are and be such. See, the ape to children is a
　　　pretty thing, pretty indeed.

But Rhadamanthys has done well, to reap
a blameless harvest of the mind, without joy of deception at
　　　the inward heart,
such as ever befalls a man by action of those who whisper.
To both sides the speakers of slander are an evil beyond
　　　control.
They are minded like foxes, utterly.
But what good then befalls the greedy fox of his slyness?
As when the rest of the gear founders in the sea's
depth, I, the cork at the net, ride not drenched in the brine.

But the treacherous citizen has no force to cast a word of
　　　power
among the great. Still, fawning on all, he threads his way
　　　too far.
His confidence is not mine. Be it mine to love my friend,
but against the enemy, hateful indeed, turn with the wolfs
　　　slash,
treading, as the time may need, my devious path.
Yet in each state the candid man will go far,
when tyrants rule, or the swirling rabble,
or the wise keep the city in ward. Yet, it is ill to strive with
　　　God

who upholds now one faction, now to the other gives
great glory. Even success softens not the heart
of the envious. Straining
as it were at a pegged line
too far, they stab the spike to rend their own hearts
before attainment of the desire in their minds.
To bear lightly the neck's yoke
brings strength; but kicking
against the goads is the way
of failure. Be it mine that good men will to have me among
　　　their friends.



PYTHIA 3



I could wish that Chiron, Philyra's son
(if such word of prayer from my lips could be published),
the departed, were living yet,
child wide-minded of Uranian Kronos, and ruled the Pelian
　　　glades, that beast of the hills
with the heart kindly to men, as of old when he reared
the gentle smith of pain's ease to heal bodies, Asklepios,
the hero who warded sickness of every kind.

Koronis, daughter of Phlegyas the rider,
before with the ministration of Eleithyia she brought her
　　　child to birth, was stricken
by the golden bow of Artemis
and went down into the house of death from her chamber,
　　　by design of Apollo. No slight thing
is the anger of the children of Zeus. She, forgetting him
in her confused heart, accepted a second marriage, in secrecy
　　　from her father,
she who had lain before with Phoibos of the loose hair

and carried the immaculate seed of the god.
She could not stay for the coming of the bride-feast,
not for hymen cry in many voices, such things
as the maiden companions of youth are accustomed to sing
at nightfall, using the old names of endearment. No.
She was in love with what was not there; it has happened to
　　　many.
There is a mortal breed most full of futility.
In contempt of what is at hand, they strain into the future,
hunting impossibilities on the wings of ineffectual hopes.

The will of delicately robed Koronis held
this sin of pride. For she lay in bed with a stranger
that came from Arkadia, nor escaped
the Watcher. In his temple at Pytho, where the sheep are
　　　offered, King Loxias knew,
persuading his heart to the sheerest witness, his own
mind that knows all; he has no traffic with lies, nor god
nor man escapes him in purpose or deed of the hand.

Knowing the hospitality of bed given Ischys,
Eilatos' son, and the graceless treachery, he sent his sister,
　　　inflamed
with anger that brooked no bar,
to Lakereia, for the girl lived by Boibias under the pendulous
　　　cliffs; her angel
shifted to evil and struck her down; and many a neighbor
shared, and was smitten together. Fire on a mountain leaping
from one seed will obliterate a great forest.

But when her kinsmen had laid the girl in the wall
of wood, and Hephaistos' greedy flame
ran high, then spoke Apollo: "No longer
will I endure in my heart the destruction of my own child
by death in agony for the weight of his mother's punish-
　　　ment."
He spoke, and in the first stride was there and caught the boy
from the body, and the blaze of the pyre was divided before
　　　him.
Carrying him to the centaur in Magnesia, he gave him to be
　　　perfected
in the healing of sickness that brings many pains to men.

They came to him with ulcers the flesh had grown,
or their limbs mangled with the gray bronze, or bruised
with the stone flung from afar,
or the body stormed with summer fever, or chill; and he
　　　released each man and led him
from his individual grief. Some he treated with guile of
　　　incantations,
some with healing potions to drink; or he tended the limbs
　　　with salves
from near and far; and some by the knife he set on their feet
　　　again.

But even genius is tied to profit. Someone
turned even Asklepios with a winning price, showing the
　　　gold in his hand,
to bring back from death a man
already gone. But Kronion, with a cast of his hand, tore life
　　　from the hearts of both men
instantly, and the shining thunder dashed them to death.
With our mortal minds we should seek from the gods that
　　　which becomes us,
knowing the way of the destiny ever at our feet.

Dear soul of mine, never urge a life beyond
mortality, but work the means at hand to the end.
But if only temperate Chiron were living yet in his cave,
and the charm of these songs I make might have cast some
　　　spell
across his heart, I could have persuaded him even now
to give me a healer against the burning sickness of great men,
someone called son of Latoidas or even Zeus the father.
I could have come by ship cutting the Ionian sea
to the spring of Arethousa and my friend and host of Aitna.

He disposes in Syracuse as a king,
mild to citizens, not envious of good men, to strangers a
　　　father admired.
If I could have come down from the sea
with a gift in either hand, golden health, and praise, glorious
with garlands of the Pythian Games
Pherenikos won him long ago, the best horse beside Kirrha,
I say that I would have crossed the deep sea bringing him
　　　light
to shine afar, more bright than a star in heaven.

But I will pray to the Great Mother
to whom night after night before my doors, a stately goddess,
the maidens dance, and to Pan beside her.
But, Hieron, if you know how to take the straight issue of
　　　words, you have seen from what came before:
For every one good thing the immortals bestow on men
two evils. Men who are as children cannot take this becom-
　　　ingly;
but good men do, turning the brightness outward.

The portion of happiness has come your way.
Great destiny looks to you, if to any man, as a lord
and leader of people. But a life unshaken
befell neither Peleus called Aiakidas
nor godlike Kadmos, yet men say these two were given
blessedness beyond all mortals. They heard on the moun-
　　　tain
and at seven-gated Thebes the gold-chapleted Muses singing
when one married ox-eyed Harmonia, and the other
wise Nereus' legendary daughter, Thetis.

And the gods feasted beside them each in turn,
and they saw the kings, the sons of Kronos, in their golden
　　　chairs, and accepted
their gifts. And after weariness of old
they won in requital the favor of Zeus, and their hearts were
　　　lifted. Yet in time
three daughters suffered and made Kadmos desolate
of gladness; though Zeus father came to the lovely embrace
of the fourth, white-armed Thyona.

And Peleus' son, the sole child
immortal Thetis bore him in Phthia, left life in battle, arrow-
　　　struck;
and his body, burned on the pyre,
stirred the Danaan grief. If any mortal keeps in mind the
　　　right road to truth, he must take
with grace whatever the gods give. Various ways go the
　　　blasts
of the high-flown winds. Men's prosperity will not walk far
safe, when it fares under its own deep weight.

I will be small in small things, great among great.
I will work out the divinity that is busy within my mind
and tend the means that are mine.
Might God only tender me delicate wealth,
I hope I should find glory that would rise higher hereafter.
Nestor and Sarpedon of Lykia we know,
men's speech, from the sounding words that smiths of song
　　　in their wisdom
built to beauty. In the glory of poetry achievement of men
blossoms long; but of that the accomplishment is given to
　　　few.



PYTHIA 4



Today, my Muse, you must stand by a man beloved,
king of Kyrene, the city of noble horses; there at Arkesilas'
　　　festival
swell the wind of singing, the debt to Lato's children and
　　　Pytho,
where, throned beside the golden eagles of Zeus,
with Apollo himself not far, the priestess
prophesied that Battos should come to colonize the corn-
　　　lands of Libya,
leaving his sacred island to found a city
of chariots at the shining breast of the sea;

that he must bring home at last
in the seventeenth generation, Medeia's word, that Aietes'
mantic daughter, lady of Kolchis, spoke of old with immortal
　　　lips at Thera. Her prophecy
to the half-god crew of Jason the spearman:
"Hearken, children of high-hearted men and of gods.
I say to you that from this sea-beaten soil, Epaphos' daughter
Libya shall be planted, and made a stock beloved of cities
in Zeus Ammon's place of establishment.

"They shall change winged dolphins of the sea for running
　　　horses,
oars for reins, and steer chariots with storm in their feet.
That augury shall make Thera to be mother-city
of great populations, the prophecy spoken, where Triton's
　　　lake
pours to the sea, by a god in mortal guise; he offered earth,
and Euphamos, leaping down, accepted the token of friend-
　　　ship,
and over the portent Kronos' son, Zeus father, clashed his
　　　thunder.

"The god came as we slung the bronze-fanged
anchor aboard, fleet Argo's bridle. Twelve full days before
we had carried the sea-timber from Ocean's stream, over the
desolate ridges, at my behest heaving up the weight.
There the lonely divinity drew near, and upon him
was the shining appearance of a man august. He opened in
　　　words
of friendship, as those whereby men of kindness
proffer newcome outlanders entertainment.

"We spoke of the sweet necessity of return that stayed
our lingering. He named himself Eurypylos, son of the
　　　earthshaker immortal, Poseidon;
he understood our haste, but, tearing a clod from the soil,
proffered it in his right hand, a token of friendship.
The hero Euphamos disobeyed him not, but, vaulting ashore,
set hand in hand and accepted the magic piece of earth.
They tell me that, washed from the deck,
it has gone with the current,

"at nightfall down the salt sea's bending track. Indeed, over
　　　and again I charged
the grooms, easing their masters, to guard it well. But their
　　　hearts forgot.
And now the seed imperishable of wide
Libya is washed before its time to this island. But had Eu-
　　　phamos gone
home to sacred Tainaron and cast it down at the mortal gate
　　　of Hades,
he being lord and son of Poseidon, ruler of horses,
born of Tityos' daughter, Europa, beside the banks of
　　　Kephisos;

"in his children's fourth generation
his blood, with the Danaans' aid, had taken the broad con-
　　　tinent. For in that time
they shall be driven, and leave Lakedaimon and Argos bay
　　　and Mykenai.
As it is, he shall beget a race elect in the bed
of strange women; and thereafter, coming by God's ordi-
　　　nance to this
island, they shall bring forth a man to be lord of shadowy
　　　plains.
On a day to come, in the golden house,
as he approaches at last the Pythian shrine,

"Phoibos shall speak to him in words of prophecy
and bid him carry in ships cities to the rich demesne of
　　　Kronian Neilos."
Lo, the marshaled words of Medeia; and the godlike heroes
　　　were struck to motionless
silence, hearing the depth of her brooding thought.
O son of Polymnastos, blessed, by this decree
the oracle steered your course in the voice unasked of the
　　　winged priestess,
who, with threefold salutation, revealed you
destined king of Kyrene,

as you came to ask what release the gods might grant of your
　　　stammering voice.
And in after time, and now, as in the bright pride of flower-
　　　ing spring,
eighth in his generation, Arkesilas ripens to his prime,
and to him Apollo and Pytho have sped glory at the Amphik-
　　　tyons' hands
for his chariot victory. I give him now to the Muses
with the ram's fleece all of gold, in whose quest
the Minyans sailed, and honors bestowed of God were made
　　　to befall them.

What, then, was the beginning of their adventure?
What danger nailed them fast in the strength of steel? The
　　　word of God ran that Pelias
must die at the hands, or the unyielding contrivance, of some
　　　proud scion of Aiolos.
The stark prophecy came to his wary mind
spoken beside the naveled center of leafy Earth, our mother:
"Beware and hold in all guard him of the single sandal
when he comes down from the steep steadings
to the rising round of famed lolkos,

stranger be he or citizen." And he came in his time,
a man terrible with twin javelins; and a twofold guise was
　　　on him.
A tunic of Magnesian fashion fitted close his magnificent
　　　limbs,
and across it a panther's hide held off the shivering rains.
Nor did the glory of his streaming locks go shorn,
but blazed the length of his back. Striding apace
he stood, and tested his unfaltering will
in the market place that filled with people.

They knew him not; yet awe-struck one man would say to
　　　another:
"This cannot be Apollo, surely, nor Aphrodite's lord,
he of the brazen chariot. And in shining Naxos they say
Iphimedeia's children died, Otos, and you, lord Ephialtes the
　　　reckless.
And Artemis' arrows, cast from the might of her quiver,
struck down Tityos in the speed of his desire,
that any man hereafter may long rather to catch at loves he
　　　has power to take."

So they questioned one another and made
answer. But with his polished car and mules Pelias urgently
drove up. He stared as he saw the sandal conspicuous
on the right foot, and there only. But, veiling the fear
in his heart, he spoke: "What manner of land, my friend,
might you claim as your own? What groundling woman let
　　　you forth
from a sere womb? See that you stain not your race
with lies, that to all men are most hateful."

He boldly but in speech of gentleness made answer:
"I think I can carry Chiron's discipline. For I come from his
　　　cave
and the side of Chariklo and Philyra, where the Centaur's
　　　stainless daughters brought me to manhood.
With twenty years gone to fulfilment and no deed
done, no word spoken to offend them, I have come
home, bringing back my father's lordship (administered
now by no right) that Zeus of old granted, privilege
of Aiolos, leader of men, and his sons thereafter.

"For I hear that Pelias, unrighteously and in persuasion
　　　of his pale heart,
has stripped the power by force from my fathers, the kings
　　　of old.
They, when I first saw light, fearing the proud
chief's violence, made dark mourning as if I had died
in the house; under the cloak of women's mingled
lamentation they sent me away in my splendid raiment;
they made their way by night and brought me to Chiron,
　　　Kronos' son, to be reared.

"But the heads of all these chapters you know well.
Point me now clearly, honored citizens, the house of my
　　　fathers, lords of white horses.
I am one of you, Aispn's child, and this soil I tread is not
　　　alien.
And the divine beast when he spoke to me called me Jason."
He said; and his father's eyes, as he came in the house, knew
　　　him,
and tears gathered and fell from the withered eyelids
for joy in his heart, as he saw his chosen son
a man, and splendid beyond all others.

And from either side his two brothers
came at the rumor of him: from near at hand, Pheres, leaving
　　　the rock Hypereian,
and from far Messana, Amythaon; and with speed came
　　　Admetos also and Melampos
to their cousin's side. And in the feast's spell
with words of love Jason gave them entertainment,
appointing the feast of fellowship with all delight for these
　　　men
assembled, reaping five nights together and five days
the hallowed blossoming of life's luxury.

But on the sixth he laid all the urgent
tale open from the
　　　beginning
to his kinsmen. And they followed his guidance. Suddenly
　　　from their benches
they sprang up, he and they together. They came to the hall
　　　of Pelias
and thronging strode within. At the noise of their coming
　　　he, lovely-haired
Tyro's child, stood forth to meet them. But Jason,
letting his voice flow gently into quiet discourse,
cast down the foundation-stone of wise argument: "Son of
　　　Poseidon

"of the Rock: the hearts of mortals are all too rapid
to take the crooked way of gain over righteousness, though
　　　they edge withal to the rough reckoning day.
But it beseems you and me, tempering our passion, to weave
　　　wealth in our time.
You know well what I mean. One dam mothered Kretheus
and reckless Salmoneus, whence, in the third generation
born, you and I gaze on the golden strength of the sun.
The very Fates, their faces veiled for shame, stand apart
before hatred growing among blood kinsmen.

"It is not for us by brazen edge of the sword
or with spears to divide our great patrimony. Behold: I
　　　release to you
the sheep, and all the tawny herds of cattle you wrested once
from my people, and administer to make fat your wealth.
It grieves me nothing that thereby you advanced your estate
　　　so far.
But the scepter of single rule and the throne, where Aison,
　　　Kretheus' son, in his sessions
made straight the dooms for a knightly multitude--
these, with no strife joined between us,

"surrender to me; lest you make some fresh disaster to rise."
He spoke, and mildly in his turn Pelias made answer: "Such
　　　a man
will I be. But the elder spell of life
is on me, while your youth gathers even now to its blossom-
　　　ing. You have strength to lift
the wrath of the undergods. Phrixos calls us to journey
to Aietes house, and bring home his ghost
and the deep fleece of the ram whereby he fled death at sea

"and the godless weapons of his stepmother.
The weird dream-shape haunts me and speaks. And I have
　　　taken counsel at the shrine by Kastalia
what shift to make; the god's behest is in speed to appoint a
　　　sea-venture.
Take this endeavor upon yourself and achieve it; I swear
I will yield you the whole kingship. Let Zeus
of our fathers be witness, to bind us under a strong oath."
These two assenting to the compact were parted.
But Jason now in his own right

Sped heralds abroad with news of the voyage that was be-
　　　ginning.
In speed came three sons of Kronian Zeus, heroes wearied
　　　never in battle,
Alkmana's son and two by Leda of the glancing eyes; and
　　　two deep-haired men
sprung of Poseidon, heroes whose thoughts were of valor
from Pylos and the rock of Tainaron; thereby splendor
of glory was brought to fulfilment for Euphamos, and for
　　　you, Periklymenos the mighty.
And of Apollo's blood the harper came and father of lyric
voices, Orpheus the admired.

Hermes also of the golden staff sent twin sons on this labor
　　　relentless,
Erytos and Echion in the laughing pride of their youth. And
　　　two
that were swift came, dwellers beside the Pangaios pastures.
For of his own will and with heart favorable, Boreas, king
　　　of the winds,
their father, sent Zetes and Kalais, men with backs
　　　ruffled to two red wings.
And Hera inflamed overpowering sweet desire in the demi-
　　　gods

for the ship Argo; lest any, left at home,
sit mulling beside his mother a life with no danger; rather
　　　against death even
they found the fairest defense that essence of valor in their
　　　own fellowship.
Such company, flower of seafarers, came down to the sea
　　　at lolkos,
and Jason assembled them and admired all. The seer
Mopsos, making prophecy by birds and the sacred lots,
sent with good augury the host on board; and when
they had slung the anchors at the cutwater,

the leader, taking a golden bowl in his hands
at the stern, intreated Uranian Zeus our father, of the thun-
　　　derspear, invoked
fleet-running currents of the waves, winds, nights, and the
　　　sea's ways
and days to be favorable, and the dear doom of homecoming
　　　at the end.
And out of the clouds Zeus, answering, called back a mantic
peal of thunder; and the bright branches of sheer lightning
　　　broke in flame.
The heroes, trusting the signs apparent of God,
drew breath; and the prophet cried aloud,

bespeaking glad expectations, to bend to their sweeps;
and slakeless the oars went dipping from the speed in their
　　　hands.
On a following southwest wind they came to the Euxine
　　　mouth,
and founded there a holy precinct to the sea-god Poseidon,
and a red herd of Thracian bulls was dedicated
with the slab of an altar new-founded upon piled stones.
Straining now into deep danger, they supplicated the lord of
　　　ships

to escape the stark collision of the Clashing
Rocks. These were two, and alive; they rolled together, with
　　　shock more fleet
than the battalions of thunderous winds; but even now that
　　　sailing
of demigods brought their death. To Phasis thereafter
they came, to meet in their strength the dark men of Kolchis
at the house of King Aietes. But Aphrodite, lady of Kypros,
mistress of rending arrows, sent down from Olympos the
　　　bright wryneck,
binding crosswise over a breakless wheel

the passionate bird, that was brought that time first
to mortal man; and she made Aisonides, Jason, wise in
　　　charm and incantation
that he might loosen Medeia's shame for her parents, and
　　　Hellas be all her desire,
that her heart ablaze under the lash of longing be set in
　　　tumult.
And she revealed forthwith the secret of the trials her father
　　　would set,
and with oil medicating simples against stark pain
gave them for his use. And they compacted marriage to be
joined thereafter in all delight between them.

Now when Aietes before them all had driven home the steel
　　　plowshare,
those oxen, that blew from their tawny jaws the flame of
　　　ravening fire
and tore the soil with brazen hoofs as they passed,
these he led and forced their necks to the yoke, single-handed;
　　　then, running the furrow straight,
drove, and ripped six feet deep the back of earth.
He spoke then : "Let the king, whoever he be,
lord of the ship, do this for me; then take away the robe
　　　unperishing,

"the bright fleece tasseled in gold."
He ended, and Jason, reliant on God, threw down his saffron
　　　mantle
and stepped to the work. Flame, by craft of the strange witch-
　　　maiden, harmed him not.
Gripping the plow, he bent the necks of the oxen under,
binding the yoke upon them, and by main strength of his
　　　shoulders,
with the fell goad laid on, plowed
the whole length perforce.
Aietes, even in pained and speechless amazement,
gasped, admiring that act of strength;

and his friends held out their arms to the man in his might
and with leaf-woven garlands crowned him, and spoke him
　　　fair with admiring words.
Straightway Helios' wonderful son spoke of the shining
　　　fleece
where Phrixos' knife had flayed and hung it.
His hope was that not even so could the man accomplish that
　　　labor,
for it was set in a thicket, and guarded by the rending fangs
　　　of a great snake
that for measure and thickness outpassed a galley of fifty oars
the ax's stroke has labored to build.

The high road is long for me to travel, and time closes. I
　　　know
a short path, I that guide many another in the craft of singers.
By guile he slew the green-eyed serpent of the burnished
　　　scales,
O Arkesilas, and stole away Medeia, with her good will, she
　　　that was bane to Pelias.
They touched the gulfs of Ocean and the Red Sea,
and at Lemnos the breed of women that had slain their
　　　lords;
and there in games,
for prize of raiment, displayed the
　　　strength in their limbs.

They lay with these women. And in this strange soil dropped,
day, or night season that was destined, took up the seed of
　　　your shining
wealth to come. There gendered the blood of Euphamos
　　　waxed
into the rest of time. These lived with the men of Lakedaimon
and in their ways; at last colonized the Lovely Island,
Thera; whence Apollo, Lato's son, has granted Libya's plain
　　　to be yours,
to make great in God's right, and the city divine
of golden-throned Kyrene to be administered

while you find wisdom yours to make counsel of righteous-
　　　ness.
Know now the wisdom of Oidipous: "If, with the cutting
　　　edge of the ax, men shear
the branches of a great oak, and defile its glorious symmetry,
spent though its issue be, it gives account of its worth
if it be brought at last to the winter fire
or with upright columns prop a palace
and shoulder the bitter burden in strange walls,
leaving its own place desolate."

But you are a healer in season, and Apollo Paian knows your
　　　glory.
You must tend the ulcered wound, laying a gentle hand on
　　　the place.
It is a light thing even for a weak man to shake a city,
but to set it again in place is a work of pain and strength,
　　　unless
God himself appear to set right the leaders.
For you gracious ends of these endeavors are weaving.
Be patient to work with full heart for the sake of Kyrene the
　　　blessed.

Read also this, the word of Homer,
and make it true; he said that a noble messenger brought
　　　highest honor to all things done.
The Muse is increased also by true interpretation. Kyrene
　　　knows,
and the storied hall of Battos, the just designs
of Damophilos. Among the youth he is a young man,
but in conclave an elder, as one that has met with a hundred
　　　years;
he bereaves the evil mouth of its clear outcry;
he has learned to loathe the violent man,

but against the noble he strives not, neither delays
accomplishment. Men's opportunity has the measure of a
　　　brief thing.
He knows this well; as a henchman he follows you, no slave.
　　　But they say
of all things this is bitterest, to know the right way, but be
　　　bound
by constraint of foot abroad. The great Atlas even now
struggles under the weight of the sky, far from his father's
　　　lands and his own possessions.
But Zeus immortal set free the Titans. With time
sails change as the winds die down.

His prayer is that, when he has drained to the lees his bitter
　　　affliction,
he may see home, and by Apollo's spring in the festival time
give over his heart to gladness often, and among his own
　　　people
that are wise lift up the elaborate lyre and touch the strings
　　　in peace,
devising no grief for any man, and himself not grieved by his
　　　fellows.
And he might tell you, Arkesilas, as a tale
the spring of immortal words he found of late as a guest in
　　　Thebes.



PYTHIA 5



Wide is the strength of wealth
when mixed with stainless virtue
and, granted of destiny, mortal man leads it home,
most dear companion.
Arkesilas, God's destiny is on you;
from the towering stairs
of your renowned life
you approach it in glory
by Kastor's favor, of the golden chariot,
who, after storm of winter, makes
your hearth shine in the blessed quiet.

Even power granted of God
is carried the better for wisdom.
You walk in righteousness, and great prosperity is unceasing
　　　about you,
twice over: since you are king
of great cities,
for this high privilege
is a shining heritage in your house,
which matches your own temper;
and blessed are you even now, in that,
winning from the famed Pythiad success with horses, your
　　　prayer's end,
you are given this festal choir of men,

delight of Apollo; whereby, forget not,
as you are sung at Kyrene's sweet garden of Aphrodite,
to ascribe all cause to God
and love Karrhotos beyond all companions.
To the house of the swayed kings in the line of Battos
he led not by the hand late-thinking
Epimetheus' daughter, Excuse;
rather, beside Kastalia's
spring, a stranger, he laid on your hair the garland of the
　　　highest, for chariots.

With reins untangled
through the field of twelve fleet courses
he shattered no strength of his gear. The skilled
smith's intricate
work of hand he brought, passing
the hill of Krisa, is hung
in the God's hollow glade,
where the cypress-wood chamber
keeps it, next that image,
the tree's single growth, that the archer Kretans
dedicated to the king of Parnassos.

With fain heart it becomes you
now to greet him. He has done well.
Son of Alexibias, the fair-haired Graces flare about you.
Blessed are you, that even
after the huge toil
you have remembrance in mighty
words. Among forty
charioteers who fell, you brought
perfect your car through, and with heart unshaken,
and are come home from the shining of the games'
prizes to the plain of Libya and the city of your fathers.

No man is unallotted of labors, nor shall be;
but the prosperity from of old of Battos follows still, its course
　　　various,
tower of the city and eyes' shining
on strangers. Even deep-vaunting
lions fled him for fear
when he brought against them his speech of overseas.
And Apollo, leader of foundations,
gave the beasts over to flight and terror,
lest he be false in prophecy to the lord of Kyrene

Apollo, who administers
to men and women healing of heavy sickness;
who gave the lyre and grants the Muse to whom he will,
bringing into their hearts
lawfulness without discord;
who sways the closed mantic
chamber. In which power at Lakedaimon,
in Argos and Pylos the sacrosanct
he has made dwell the strong sons
of Aigimios and of Herakles. Mine to sing
from Sparta the delight and the glory,

Sparta, whence begotten,
men of the stock of Aigeus came to Thera,
my fathers, not without gods, but a destiny led them.
Thereafter, Apollo Karneian,
in your festival, unfolding
contribution of much sacrifice,
we worship Kyrene's city
in its foundation of might;
city held also of strangers delighting in brazen warfare,
Trojans, Antenor's children, that came with Helen
when they had seen their own city smoking

in Ares. Men come now with gifts in their hands
and in due care propitiate with sacrifice a people of horses.
These are the men Aristoteles brought in fleet ships,
making open the deep ways of the salt water.
He founded the mightier groves of the gods,
and, with processionals to Apollo
that avert ills, he established
the paved street in the plain
to be trampled of horses; there at the edge of the market
　　　place he lies apart in death.

Blessed he lived among men,
and therafter he is a hero the people worship.
And apart before his house are other holy
kings, who have death for their lot,
and with perception under the earth
hear great achievement
drenched in the delicate dew
of hymns outpoured: their own
wealth and the grace deserved and held in common
with Arkesilas, their son. And in choir of young men
it beseems him now to invoke Phoibos of the golden sword,

who holds from Pytho
the ransom for expense in splendor of victory,
song's grace. This man is praised of the wise.
I speak what men say.
He ministers a mind
that outruns his years;
speech also; for daring he is the eagle
of wide wings among birds;
in games, strength, like a wall;
among the Muses he goes lightfooted from birth;
he has approved himself a subtle charioteer.

To all splendors in his own land he has dared
the entrance; now God, favoring, makes perfect his power,
and hereafter, you blessed sons of Kronos,
may you grant him in action as in deliberation
such things to have; let no autumn storm-blast
of winds break the bloom.
The great mind of Zeus guides
the angel in men he loves.
I pray that at Olympia also he will give this honor into the
　　　house of Battos.



PYTHIA 6



Listen! It is the field of Aphrodite
with the fluttering eyes or the Graces
we labor now. We approach the templed
centerstone of the thunderous earth.
There stands builded for the glory of Emmenos' children
and Akragas of the river, and for Xenokrates,
a treasure house of song
for victory at Pytho in Apollo's
glen, with its burden of gold.

Neither rain driven from afar on the storm,
not the merciless armies
of the crying cloud, no wind shall sweep it, caught
and stricken with the blown debris into the corners
of the sea. The front shines in the clear air,
Thrasyboulos, on your father announcing
for you and yours the pride
of a chariot victory in the folds of Krisa
a tale to run on the lips of men.

You, keeping Victory erect beside your right hand,
bring home the meaning
of the things men say once on the mountain Chiron,
Philyra's son, urged on strong Peleiades
left in his care: First of all gods, honor
the deep-voiced lord of the lightning and thunderstroke,
Zeus Kronides;
next, through all their destiny never deprive
your parents of such reverence even as this.

In the old days mighty Antilochos proved one
who lived in that word.
He died for his father, standing up
to the murderous onset of the Aithiop champion,
Memnon; for Nestor's horse, smitten by the shaft of Paris,
had fouled the chariot, and Memnon attacked
with his tremendous spear.
And the old Messenian was shaken
at heart and cried aloud on his son's name.

And the word he flung faltered not to the ground; in that
　　　place
standing, the young man
in his splendor bought by his own death his father's rescue,
And of those who lived long ago men judged him
pre-eminent among the youth for devotion
to those who begot them, for that terrible deed.
All that is past.
Of men living now, Thrasyboulos
comes beyond others to the mark in his father's eyes,

and visits his father's brother with fame complete.
He carries wealth with discretion.
The blossom of youth he gathers is nothing violent,
but wise in the devious ways of the Muses.
To you, Poseidon, shaker of the earth, lord
of the mastering of horses, he comes, with mind to please
　　　you.
Also his heart, that is gentle
in the mixing of friends,
passes for sweetness the riddled work of the bees.



PYTHIA 7



The great city of Athens is the loveliest
invocation, to cast down as foundation stone for the song
to magnify the wide-flung strength of the sons of Alkmaion,
　　　and their victory with horses.
What country could you live in? what habitation? and name
one more conspicuous
for all Hellas to attend.

In every city the tale is an intimate thing
of the citizens of Erechtheus. At holy Pytho, Apollo,
they made magnificent the front of your templed house.
I am guided by five wins at the Isthmos, one pre-eminent
at Olympia, Zeus' own,
two victories gained from Kirrha

yours, Megakles, and your fathers' before you.
In your late success I find some pleasure, but am troubled
at rancor changing beautiful things done. Even so, men say,
blessedness that remains
by a man to blossom over him brings,
with good, some things that are otherwise.



PYTHIA 8



Hesychia, kind goddess of peace, daughter
of Justice and lady of the greatness of cities:
you who hold the high keys
of wars and of councils,
accept for Aristomenes this train of Pythian victory.
For you understand, in strict measure of season,
deeds of gentleness and their experience likewise.

And you, when one fixes
anger without pity fast in his heart,
are stern to encounter
the strength of the hateful ones, and sink
pride in the bilge. Porphyrion understood you not
when wantonly he vexed you. Gain is sweet
if one carry it from the house of him who gives in good will.

But violence and high vaunting fail at the last.
Typhon the Kilikian, the hundred-headed, avoided not this,
nor yet the king of the Giants. They were smitten down by
　　　the thunderbolt
and the bow of Apollo, who now in mood of kindness
has received Xenarkes' son, home from Kirrha and garlanded
with leaves of Parnassos and with song in the Dorian strain.

This island, that in its city's
righteousness has touched
the famed valors of the Aiakidai, has
fallen away from the Graces. She keeps
glory perfect from the beginning and is sung of many
for her shaping of heroes that surpassed in excellence
of games, and in the speed of their fighting also.

These things shine in her men likewise.
In my haste I cannot lay
leisure of long-drawn speech
on the lyre and the soft singing,
lest surfeit come to vex. Let your own need, my child,
and your youngest splendors run the path at my feet,
made a thing of speed by my fashioning.

For at wrestling you go the way of your mother's brethren,
nor shame Theognetos at Olympia,
nor Kleitomachos' victory of tough limbs at Isthmos.
Prospering the city of the Meidylidai, you wear the saying
Oikleos' son spoke darkly once, as he watched
the young men enduring the spears in the seven gates of
　　　Thebes,

when the latter-born came again
to Argos, a second journey.
Thus he spoke, in their striving:
"The heritage of valor from their fathers shines
through in the sons' blood. I gaze in wonder and see plain
Alkmaon steering the spangled snake on his bright
shield, foremost in the gates of Kadmos.

"And he that flinched in that first disaster,
the hero Adrastos, now
goes compassed by message of augury
more favorable. Yet in his own house
otherwise shall he fare. Alone out of the Danaan host,
he shall gather the ashes of his son perished, and by the gods'
　　　chance
shall come home with the rest of his people scatheless

"to the wide streets of the city of Abas." Thus
the voice of Amphiaraos. And I also take joy
to cast a garland on Alkmaon and drench him in song.
He is my neighbor and the keeper of my possessions;
he met me in the way as I went to the singing centerstone of
　　　the earth,
and with the sooth that is his by blood made prophecy.

But you, archer of the far cast, lord
of the famed temple, where all gather,
in the deep folds of Pytho,
have granted this boy delight that is highest;
and, aforetime, a gift to fold in the arms,
you brought him home in triumph of your own five-contests.
My lord, I pray you that of my heart's will

I look on each thing in my course
even as you look also.
Justice herself stands over
the sweet singing in celebration; but I ask, Xenarkes,
the gods' gaze unresentful upon your fortunes.
For if one, even without long-drawn labors, compass splen-
　　　dors,
to many he seems as a wise man among fools

to crown his life with device and straight counsels.
Yet this lies not with men; God's luck is the giver,
that casts one man now aloft, and yet another beneath his
　　　hand.
Come back to measure. You have your prize at Megara,
and in the recess of Marathon; and with three successes,
Aristomenes, you have won at home the games of Hera.

And above four bodies you threw
your weight and your rage.
To these lads was ordained
at the Pythiad no delightful homefaring,
nor, as they came to their mothers, did laughter break sweetly
　　　about them
to stir delight. Down back ways, avoiding mockers,
they skulk, all stricken with their sad fortune.

But he that has won some new
splendor, in high pride
of hope rides the air
on the wings of his man's strength, and keeps
desire beyond his wealth. In brief space mortals'
delight is exalted, and thus again it drops to the ground,
shaken by a backward doom.

We are things of a day. What are we? What are we not ? The
　　　shadow of a dream
is man, no more. But when the brightness comes, and God
　　　gives it,
there is a shining of light on men, and their life is sweet.
Aigina, dear mother, bring this city to haven
in free guise, by Zeus' aid and strong Aiakos',
Peleus and goodly Telamon aiding, and with Achilles.



PYTHIA 9



My desire, with the deep-girdled Graces aiding,
is to sing Telesikrates, proclaiming him
Pythian conqueror in the race with the brazen shield,
a blessed man and a garland upon Kyrene, mistress of char-
　　　iots
Kyrene that once from the windy folds of Pelion Lato's son
　　　Apollo, he of the flowing hair,
carried away, a wild maiden, in his car of gold, to make her
dwell as queen in a country rich in flocks, in grain most rich,
flowering and desired, third branch of the mighty earth.

And Aphrodite, she whose feet are as silver, welcomed
her brother of Delos, laying a light hand
on the chariot built by skill of gods.
Over the delight of their bed she cast a spell of winsome shy-
　　　ness,
joining the close union of the god lying with the daughter of
　　　powerful Hypseus,
king in that time of the haughty Lapiths and a hero in the
　　　second generation
from Ocean; whom on a time in the storied valleys of Pindos
a naiad nymph, Kreousa, brought to birth, after her joy with
　　　Peneus;

Earth's daughter. And Hypseus reared a child,
Kyrene of the white arms. She loved not the shuttling ways
　　　of the loom,
nor joy of circling dances in the house with the mates of her
　　　age,
but with bronze shod throwing spears
and the sword's blade, she encountered and slew wild beasts,
bringing great quietness and peace upon
her father's herds; and little time she had for sleep, sweet
　　　night
companion, nor let it lie
long over her eyes at the breaking time of dawn.

Apollo, of the broad quiver and arrows that range
afar, saw her one day, wrestling alone,
unarmed, with a fell lion. Straightway,
lifting his voice, he called from his chamber of stone Chiron:
"Son of Philyra, leave your grave cavern to admire the
　　　strength of a girl
and her spirit also, the fight she carries cool-headed; a
　　　maiden with heart too high
for distress. Her bosom knows not the winter of fear.
What mortal could have begotten her ? From what nurture
　　　torn

"keeps she the secret places of the shadowy hills?
Her valor is of that which has no ending.
Might it be becoming if I were to lay
my famed hand on her body, even cull the delicate meadows
　　　in her bed?"
And the centaur, prophetic, with a cool smile and a lift of
　　　his brow, made answer
straightway : "Secret are the keys kept of wise Persuasion to
　　　love's sacraments,
Phoibos; gods would blush and men likewise to enter
openly before all on the delight of love's first encounter.

"And you, whom lies are forbidden to touch,
some genial humor has stirred you to this irony. Whence the
　　　race of this girl
you ask, my lord? You know the appointed end
of each thing and the ways they are brought to pass;
and the number of the spring leaves earth blossoms, the
　　　number
of the sands in the sea and the rivers,
shaken by the waves and the streaming winds; and things to
　　　be
and whence they shall come to pass. All this you know.
But if I must match myself against your wisdom,

"I will speak: you have come to this glade
her bridegroom. You shall carry her over the sea
to the favored garden place of God.
There you shall make her queen of a city, assembling
a people of islanders to the ness between two plains; and
　　　Libya, lady of fair meadows,
shall welcome gladly in the golden house the bride in her
　　　glory. She shall be given
straightway and in full measure an allotment of earth
not without destiny of various growing things, nor unknown
　　　of beasts.

"There she will bear a son whom glorious Hermes,
lifting from the side of his beloved mother, will bring
to the Hours and Earth in their thrones of magnificence.
These, admiring in the brightness the child at their knees,
will minister to his lips ambrosia and nectar, and make him
　　　to be immortal,
a Zeus, a holy Apollo, a delight to men, beloved and trusty
　　　keeper of flocks,
to be called spirit of the wilds and the pastures, and to some
　　　Aristaios."
With these words he made ready the wedding's sweet
accomplishment.

Rapid is the action of gods quickened
to move, and brief their ways. That day those things were
　　　done. In the golden chamber
of Libya they were brought together. There she sways
a city of loveliness and glory in contests.
Even now at Pytho the sacrosanct, Karneiades' son
has brought her close to the flowering of success;
by his victory he has made Kyrene shine afar, and she in
　　　kindness will welcome him
back to that city of lovely women,
bringing from Delphoi home the winsome glory.

High achievements run ever to many words,
but to elaborate few things among many
for the wise is to be heard. But Season in all things
keeps the utter heights. Thebes of the seven gates
upon a day knew lolaos, how he failed not this. He severed
　　　Eurystheus'
head with the sword's edge, and they laid him under the
　　　earth at the tomb of the charioteer,
Amphitryon, his forefather, where he lay, guest-friend to the
　　　men of the dragon's teeth,
a dweller now in the city of the Kadmeians and the streets
　　　with white horses.

Joined to him and to Zeus, Alkmana
the wise in a single travail bore
the overmastering strength in battle of twin sons.
Stupid is the man, whoever he be, whose lips defend not
　　　Herakles,
who remembers not the waters of Dirke that gave him life,
　　　and Iphikles.
I, who have had some grace of them, shall accomplish my
　　　vow to bring them glory; let only the shining
light of the singing Graces fail me not. Ere now, I say that at
　　　Aigina
and beside the hill of Nisos three times I have sung the
　　　praise of this city,

escaping in proof the embarassment of silence.
Therefore, be a citizen friend or opponent, let him not darken
　　　the thing
labored well for the good of all, but keep the word of the
　　　sea's ancient,
who gave counsel to praise even the foeman
that with all his heart and in righteousness accomplishes fair
　　　things.
In the seasonable games of Pallas, Telesikrates, the maidens
　　　and women who saw you conquer prayed
voiceless and each aside that you might be
beloved husband or else as a son to them.

So also at the Olympian games, those
of Earth the deep-bosomed, and the games in the cities.
I, staunching the thirst of song,
am driven by some need once again to waken the memory,
ancient though it be, of your fathers: how they came for the
　　　sake of a Libyan woman
to Irasa city, suitors for Antaios' glorious daughter of the
　　　lovely hair.
Many were the princes among her kindred who sought her
hand, and many outlanders also. There was a splendor

of beauty upon her, and their will was to reap
the flowering pride of youth of the gold garlands that was
　　　hers.
Her father designed for his child a bridal to be famed
afar. He had heard how Danaos once in Argos
had caused his eight and forty daughters to be bestowed in
　　　marriage most fleet
before midday was sped; for he let the whole choir of them
　　　stand at the edge of the running field
and in competitions for speed of foot disposed
the maiden to be given each hero of all his sons-in-law.

Thus Antaios bestowed his daughter, finding her a Libyan
youth to wed. She was set at the mark in her glory, to be the
　　　prize,
and he spoke in their midst: that man should have her who
　　　in his driving pace
caught first at her robe's edge.
Alexidamos, run free of the straining pack,
took by the hand the grave maiden
and led her away through the multitude of the nomad riders.
　　　Many flowers
they heaped upon them, and garlands, even
as many were the wings of victory he had put on him in
　　　time before.



PYTHIA 10



Blessed is Lakedaimon,
happy Thessaly. Both have kings of one line
from Herakles, best in battle.
Is this boasting to no point? But Pytho and Pelinna lead me
on, and Aleuas' sons, to bring to Hippokleas
ringing praise of a chorus of men.

He has his share of prizes.
In the host of the dwellers-about, the crook of Parnassos
knew him best of boys in the double race.
Apollo, the end is made sweet and the beginning
for men when God drives; by your design he did it,
only he stepped in the tracks of his father,

Olympic winner twice in the warlike
armor of Ares,
and the games in the deep meadow under Kirrha's
rocks saw Phrikias best of sprinters.
May destiny, closing in later days,
make wealth blossom to glory about them.

Out of the joys in Hellas
let them take no small share, never encounter
the gods' thought shifting to evil. To be without grief
of heart is to be god; but blessed, worthy the poet's song, is
　　　the man
who by excellence of hand and speed in his feet
takes by strength and daring the highest of prizes,

living yet, sees his son
in the turn of his youth reaping Pythian garlands.
He cannot walk in the brazen sky, but among
those goods that we of mortality attain to he goes
the whole way. Never on foot or ship could you find
the marvelous road to the feast of the Hyperboreans.

Perseus came to them once, a leader of men,
entered their houses,
found them making hecatombs of asses
to Apollo, who in their joyance and favorable
speech rejoices, and smiles to see
the rampant lust of the lewd beasts.

Never the Muse is absent
from their ways: lyres clash, and the flutes cry,
and everywhere maiden choruses whirling.
They bind their hair in golden laurel and take their holiday.
Neither disease nor bitter old age is mixed
in their sacred blood; far from labor and battle

they live; they escape Nemesis,
the overjust. Danae's son came that day,
breathing strength in his heart, and Athene led him
to mix with those blessed men. He killed the Gorgon, came
bearing the head, intricate with the snake hair,
the stone death to the islanders. It is not mine

to wonder; when the gods appoint it,
nothing is too strange.
Check the oar now, grapple the anchor quick to the
beach at the prow, guard at the rock-reef.
See, the shimmering of the song's praise
skims as a bee does, story to story.

Now as the Ephyraians
shed my sweet song at the Peneios banks, I hope
even more to make with songs for the garlands' sake
Hippokleas honored among the youth and his elders,
and to young maidens a troubled thought, for, as
the age changes, new loves flutter the heart.

That which a man desires,
if he grasp, he must keep it in care beside him.
A year hence nothing is plain to see.
My trust is in the hospitality of Thorax; his favor, wafted,
yoked me this chariot of the Pierides,
friend to friend, leader to leader in kindness.

Gold shines gold when you test it
and the right wisdom.
Also I shall praise the noble brothers, because
they carry aloft the Thessalian way
and increase it. In their good hands is rested
the gift of their fathers, excellent government of cities.



PYTHIA 11



Daughters of Kadmos, Semele, dweller among the Olym-
　　　pians,
and Ino, the white goddess,
keeper of the chambered sea among Nereus' daughters,
come in company of Herakles' mother
of high degree to Melia and the shrine that is treasure house
　　　of golden
tripods, honored beyond all else of Apollo,

who has named it Ismenian, true seat of prophecy.
Children of Harmonia, there
he summons you, a conclave of fiefed queens
to assemble together
and sing Themis, Pytho, and the earth's
center, where the decrees are strict, at the edge of evening:

a grace on Thebes of the seven
gates, and the contest at Kirrha,
where Thrasydaios woke the fame of the hearth
of his fathers, casting upon it a third garland,
victor in the abundant lands of Pylades
that was friend of old to Lakonian Orestes.

Him, as his father fell, cut down by Klytaimnestra's
strong hands, the nurse
Arsinoe snatched from the treacherous act of death,
even as the queen with stroke of gray bronze sent
Dardanian Priam's daughter,
Kassandra, to pass with Agamemnon's ghost to the shadowy
　　　strand of Acheron,

a pitiless lady. Was it Iphigeneia, who at the Euripos crossing
was slaughtered far from home,
that vexed her to drive in anger the hand of violence?
Or was it couching in a strange bed
by night that broke her will and set her awry for young
　　　wives
a sin most vile, and that may not be hidden ever

from neighbors and their speech.
Fellow-citizens are fain to speak evil.
Grand wealth keeps envy to match its bulk,
while he who breathes low speaks and none hear.
Atreides, the hero, returning home in time delayed,
fell at Amyklai the glorious,

and brought to her death also the mantic maiden, after
he had broken from their delicacy of wealth the houses of
　　　Troy,
burned with fire for the sake of Helen. But Orestes, the young
　　　head of a kingdom,
came to his aged friend, Strophios,
at his home beside the foot of Parnassos; and with late-visited
　　　Ares
slew his mother, and laid Aigisthos low in his blood.

Friends, have I been whirled about at the shift of the cross-
　　　roads,
though I went the right way before?
Has some gale driven me from
my course, like a boat on the sea?
Muse, it rests with you, if for hire you have contracted me to
　　　render
my silvered voice, to stir one theme and another

for this man's father Pythonikos
and again for Thrasydaios.
The kindliness of glory burns as a light about them.
Long ago with chariots they were made beautiful with suc-
　　　cess.
At Olympia, and the games bespoken afar,
the running nimbus of victory in the horse race was theirs,

and now at Pytho they have come down into the naked
　　　course to deny
the assembled host of the Hellenes
by the speed in their feet. May God grant me love for that
　　　which has splendor;
but in this time of my life let me strive for attainable things;
for I have looked in the city and found the middle estate
　　　flowers
in prosperity far longer. I scorn the destiny of tyrants.

I am strung to the common virtues; the envious are put aside.
Of these if a man win the uttermost
and, shepherding it in peace, escape the blame
of pride, more beautiful is the ending he makes
in dark death, and to his sweet posterity
hands down the mightiest of possessions, grace of good
　　　name.

Such grace as makes glorious Iphikles'
son, lolaos, a hero
of songs, and the great strength of Kastor,
and you, lord Polydeukes, twin sons of gods
who dwell by day in the founded earth of Therapne,
by night on Olympos.



PYTHIA 12



Beloved brightness, loveliest of the cities of mortals,
house of Persephone, you who keep by the banks of Akragas
where the sheep wander, the templed hill--I beseech you,
　　　lady,
graciously, in the kindness of men and immortals likewise,
accept from Pytho this garland for splendid Midas;
accept him also. He has beaten Hellas at the art that once
Pallas Athene found when she followed in song
the death dirge of the bitter Gorgons.

She heard that melody in the agony of their sorrow, dripping
down from the forbidding, snake-locked heads of the
　　　maidens,
after Perseus slew one of the three sisters
and brought home death to the people in Seriphos by the sea.
Surely he blinded the strange race of Phorkos
and made a bitterness of the feast of Polydektes, and his
　　　mother's
long slavery and her bed of necessity,
by drawing forth the head of lovely Medusa,

he, Danae's son, who, I affirm, was born of the raining gold.
The maiden goddess, when she had saved her friend
from distress, discovered the polyphonal music of flutes,
with instruments to mimic the wailing clamor
that grew from the mouthing jaws of Euryala
The goddess found it and, finding, gave it to mortals to use,
naming it the melody many-headed,
splendid herald of rivalries to rouse people,

rippling forth from the thin bronze bound on reeds
that dwell next to the Graces' city of lovely meadows
in the holy domain of Kephisos, fair witnesses to the dancers.
Success for men, if it comes ever, comes not unattended
with difficulty. A god can end it, even
today. That which is fated you cannot escape. But a time
　　　will come
such that it will strike in amazement beyond
expectation, to give one thing desired, to withhold another.



NEMEA 1



Grave child of the waters of Alpheus,
leafed branch of glorious Syracuse, Ortygia,
resting place of Artemis,
sister of Delos, from you the sweetly spoken
hymn begins, to shape
the great strain of praise for horses with storm in their feet,
　　　by grace of Zeus on Aitna;
and the chariot of Chromios is urgent with me, and Nemea,
　　　to link the song of glory for triumph in contests.

The beginnings are cast down by the gods,
aided by that man's divine gifts.
The uttermost of reputation lies
in achievement; for high trials
the Muse would be remembered in singing.
Scatter, now, some glory on this island, that the lord of
　　　Olympos,
Zeus, gave Persephone, and bowed his head to assent, the
　　　pride of the blossoming earth,

Sicily, the rich, to control under towering cities
opulent;
Kronion granted her also
a people eager in brazen warfare,
horsemen; a people garlanded over and again with the
　　　golden leaves of olive
Olympian. I mount this occasion
for manifold praise, nor cast my words in falsehood.

I stand at the courtyard gates
of a generous host and lead the lovely song.
There the delight of the feast
is ordered to splendor, the house knows well
guests that throng from afar.
It is the privilege of great men to quench the smoke of envy
against traducers. Skills vary with the man. We must tread a
　　　straight path and strive by that which is born in us;

for strength is realized in action,
and mind in council, predicting the way to come
of inborn nature.
Son of Agesidamos, in the way of your nature lies
that which will achieve all manner of things.
I love not vast wealth darkened deep in the house,
but with it there to know good treatment and reputation; to
　　　serve friends. The hopes of men that labor long

have some community. I give you now
with glad heart
Herakles, great in the high places
of valor. I raise again an ancient story
how, when that child of Zeus escaped the darkness of labor
　　　and came
with his twin brother forth
from his mother's loins into the brightness,

he came not unmarked by Hera
of the golden throne, even in his child's wrappings saffron
　　　dyed;
but the queen of the gods
in her heart's anger sent two snakes upon him straightway.
These came through the opened gates
into the great inner chamber, raging to grip the children
in their swift jaws. But Herakles raised his head upright and
　　　tasted his first battle,

with two unescapable hands,
clutching the throat of either serpent,
locked to crush
the strangling breath from their terrible bodies.
But fear beyond endurance
smote the women that tended Alkmana's lying-in,
and she herself, barefooted as she was, sprang from the bed
　　　to fight the rearing monsters.

And with speed the lords of the Kadmeians, assembled
in armor
of bronze, ran in; and Amphitryon,
shaking in his hand the sword torn from its sheath,
came stricken with savage doubt. That which is close to
　　　home afflicts all alike,
but a heart soon goes free of grief
over a stranger's unhappiness.

He stood in painful amazement mixed
with joy, for he saw the unnatural
courage and strength of his son.
The gods had ordained the upshot to contradict
his messengers.
But he called on his neighbor, the great prophet of Zeus on
　　　high,
Teiresias, the strict seer; who told before him and all the
　　　company his son's encounters to be,

all the beasts he must slay by land,
all the beasts of the sea, brutes without right or wrong;
likewise the man walking, crossed
with conceit in hatefulness,
he must give over to death;
and how, when the gods in the plain of Phlegra met the
　　　Giants in battle,
under the storm of his shafts these also must drag their bright
　　　hair in the dust.

All this he told; and in time how Herakles should have the
　　　rest
of eternity in peace,
in quittance of great things done;
rest and a life beyond all men
in the blessed house, and with blossoming Hebe given to be
　　　his wife, and domain;
and, feasting beside Kronian Zeus,
should praise the high design of the gods.



NEMEA 2



Even as the Homeridai,
the rhapsode singers of stories, for the greater part
begin with a prelude to Zeus, so this man also
is given his first choral for victory in the sacred games at
　　　Nemea
in Zeus' grove, the much-besung.

If his life in its speed
along the path his fathers trod has given
glory to great Athens, it is his due
over and again to reap the splendid flowers of Isthmian vic-
　　　tories,
Pythian also,
this son of Timonoos. It is fitting

for Orion to follow
not far behind the mountain Peleiades.
Likewise Salamis is strong to build a man who can be
a fighter. At Troy, Hektor gave way before Ares. O Timo-
　　　damos,
your strength
and patient courage in the pankration will bring you
　　　through.

Acharnai's sons (it is proverbial)
are brave men, and for contests
the Timodamidai are pre-eminent in men's speech.
From beside high, brooding Parnassos they brought home
　　　four victories in the games;
and at the hands of the men of Korinth

in the hollows of princely Pelops
they have gathered into their arms ere now eight garlands,
seven at Zeus' festival in Nemea, at home
time beyond number. Citizens, make Zeus your song as
　　　Timodamos comes home in triumph.
Strike up the sweet choral singing.



NEMEA 3



Lady and Muse, our mother, I entreat you,
in the holy Nemean month, come to the city thronged with
　　　strangers,
the Dorian island, Aigina; for beside
the waters of Asopos the craftsmen of lovely
choral songs, the young men, await your voice.
Every achievement has a different thirst,
but victory in games longs beyond all for singing
and the skill to glorify garlands and strength proved.

Of such inspiration grant me abundance.
Daughter to the cloudy king of the sky, begin
his stately song. And I shall elaborate it
with voice and in the lyre's strain. Gracious will be the work
of glorification of the land where the Myrmidons lived
in old time, whose legendary assembling place
Aristokleides, under your destiny, lady, stained not
with reproach, weakening under the circling strength

of contestants in the pankration. To heal
the painful blows taken in the deep Nemean plain, he brings
　　　home the splendor of victory.
Beautiful as he is and with work not shaming his stature,
this son of Aristophanes has come to the uttermost manliness.
　　　So. Further
you cannot go lightly in the impassable sea, beyond the pillars
　　　of Herakles,

which the heroic god set down, to mark in fame
journey's end. He broke monsters that rose
up out of the sea, tested the current of every
shoal, to where the end was and the turning-point for home.
He explored the land. My heart, to what alien headland
do you fetch my course along shore?
I say we must bring music to Aiakos and his race.
For highest justice attends the saying: Praise the good.

Passions for things alien are not best for a man to have.
Seek nearer home. You have found glory that lends occasion
for fair speech. Among men of old, Peleus
rejoiced in valor, who cut the spear that surpassed all others,
who took lolkos alone, with no host behind him,
who caught Thetis of the sea in his grasp.
And Telamon of the vast strength
stood by lolaos to sack Laomedon's city,

and went with him against the Amazons strong in their
　　　brazen bows,
and the terror that breaks men did not stop the force in his
　　　heart.
The splendor running in the blood has much weight.
A man can learn and yet see darkly, blow one way, then
　　　another, walking ever
on uncertain feet, his mind unfinished and fed with scraps
　　　of a thousand virtues.

But tawny Achilles lived in the house of Philyra
and as yet a boy did great things; in his hands hefting
javelins scantly tipped with iron, wind-light,
he wreaked death in bloody combat upon wild lions;
he struck down boars, and to the house of the Kronian
centaur dragged the gasping carcasses,
at six years, and thereafter for the rest of his time;
and amazed Artemis and stern Athene,

killing deer without hounds or treacherous nets,
for he ran them down in his speed. I tell these tales
out of old time. Under his stone-caverned roof, Chiron
trained Jason, the deeply wise, and thereafter Asklepios,
teaching the gentle-handed way of healing.
He brought to pass the marriage
of Nereus' daughter of the shining breasts, and nursed
her magnificent son, waxing his heart to all things becoming,

so that, carried on the run of the sea winds, beneath Troy
he might stand up against the clamor and shock of spears of
　　　Lykians, Phrygians,
Dardanians, and come to handstrokes with hard-fighting
Aithiopians; and fix it in his heart that never more might
　　　come home
their lord, Helenos' valiant kinsman, Memnon.

Thence the shining of the Aiakidai has cast its light afar.
Their blood, Zeus, is yours, and yours the victory that the
　　　song peals out
in the voices of young singers, a delight for men that live
　　　near.
Their music shines forth with Aristokleides also,
who has brought this island again into men's speech of
　　　praise,
and likewise by his splendid ambitions the Thearion
of the Pythian god. The end shines through
in the testing of actions where excellence is shown,

as a boy among boys, a man among men, last
among the elders, each part that makes
our mortal life. Human destiny drives
four excellences, with urgency to think of the thing at hand.
This fails not here. Hail, friend. I send you this,
mixed of pale honey
and milk, and a liquid shining is on the mixture,
a draught of song rippled in Aiolian flutes,

late though it come. Among birds the eagle is swift.
Pondering his prey from afar, he plummets suddenly to blood
　　　the spoil in his claws.
Clamorous daws range the low spaces of the sky.
Aristokleides, by grace of Kleo throned on high, and your
　　　own will to victory,
from Nemea and Epidauros, from Megara also, the light has
brightened about you.



NEMEA 4



The best healer for struggles of pain, after the issue is clear,
is happiness; and wise songs,
daughters of the Muses, stroke one with hands of gentleness.
Not warm water even laps in such ease
the body as praise molded to the lyre's measure.
The story of things done outlives the act
when, by the Graces' assent,
the lips lift it up out of the deep heart.

Let this be the proem of the hymn I cast
for Zeus, child of Kronos, for Nemea
and Timasarchos' wrestling; may it find favor in
the established tower of the Aiakidai, light of fair salvation
　　　to all
strangers. And if Timokritos, your father, still went warm
in the sun's blaze, over and again with intricacy
of lyre playing, leaning upon this melody,
he would have chanted the splendor of his son's success;

the chain of garlands from the games at Kleonai
brought home; and from shining
Athens the magnificent; at Thebes of the seven gates,
where beside the bright tomb of Amphitryon
the Kadmeians with good will circled him with flowers
for Aigina's sake. Friend among friends, he came
to the city of his hosts, to look
upon the rich court of Herakles,

with whom mighty Telamon long ago sacked
Troy, slew the Meropes
and the armed ghastly giant Alkyones
not before he had crushed with the boulder twelve
chariots and twice as many heroes, tamers of horses,
that rode them. The man who understands not
this, understands not fighting; nothing
is accomplished without loss to the man who does it.

I am barred from telling these things by the song's rule
and time insistent upon me,
yet I am dragged by a new-moon magic to lay my hands
　　　thereon.
Still, though the deep sea's water lie
between, resist conspiracy; thus shall we show
far better than our enemies, and come down to the trial in
　　　brightness.
A man looking upon another in envy
drives the vain shaft of his opinion in darkness, wavering,

to drop groundward. Such virtue as lordly
Destiny has bestowed on me,
I know time surging shall bring it to the fulness ordained.
Now, my sweet lyre, weave out
in Lydian harmony a song beloved
of Oinona and Kypros, where Telamonian Teukros
is given his lordship. Aias
keeps Salamis, after his father's right.

And in the Euxine sea Achilles has his bright
island. Thetis is queen
in Phthia. Neoptolemos sways the Mainland at the strait,
where the grazed headlands sprawl, running
all the way down from Dodona to the Ionian
Beside the foot of Pelion, turning
against lolkos the hand of violence, Pelei
over to slavery, and to the men of Haij

He had endured the treachery of Akast
Hippolyta, and her lewd designs.
Her lord, Pelias' son, planned death for her sake by ambush
and the fair-wrought knife; but Chiron stood by Peleus,
and the destiny of Zeus' design brought him through.
When he had withstood the overwhelming force of fire, the
　　　savagery
of lions, the stroke of the tearing
claws, the ghastly teeth,

he married one of the throned Nereids of the deep.
He saw in a grand circle the sessions
of the sky's kings and the kings of the sea beside him,
the gifts they gave and the power for his race thereafter.
Into the night beyond Gades you may not pass; bend back
against the shore of Europe your ship's gear.
There are no means for me
to tell all the long tale of the sons of Aiakos.

But I have come to the Theandridai a glad herald
of games in their strength,
and I unite them with Olympia, with Nemea and the Isthmos.
They tried their strength there and came home
not without garlands in their famed leafage, so that we all
　　　may know,
Timasarchos, how your country is minister
to hymns of victory. If you bid
that I raise up also to Kallikles, your uncle,

a monolith shining whiter than Parian stone:
gold tested in the heat
shows forth the full blaze of its glory, and the song
of brave things done makes a man's fortune rival
kings. Let him, who dwells now beside Acheron,
hear yet my voice's cry, where in the contest
of the trident wielder, Poseidon the deep-thundering,
he was glorified with the parsley wreath of Korinth.

Euphanes, your aged forefather, would have sung gladly
in his honor, before their kinsmen;
and others, fellows of an age, before others; a man's hope is
to bespeak what he has seen himself beyond all beside.
Let one so praising Melesias parry bitterness,
grappling the words, one not to be overthrown by sleight of
　　　speech,
one whose thoughts toward the right men are kindly,
but who will second him fiercely against his enemies.



NEMEA 5



I am no maker of images, not one to fashion idols standing
　　　quiet
on pedestals. Take ship of burden rather, or boat, delight of
　　　my song,
forth from Aigina, scattering the news
that Lampon's son, Pytheas the strong,
has won the garland of success at Nemea, pankratiast,
showing not yet on his cheeks the summer
of life to bring soft blossoming.

He has done honor to the fighting heroes descended of Zeus
　　　and Kronos, and the golden
Nereids, the Aiakidai; he has honored the city his mother, a
　　　land beloved of strangers
that once they prayed might be famous for ships and for men,
standing before the altar of their father, Zeus Hellanios,
and spread their arms in the air
together, the renowned sons of Endais,
with the man of great strength, Phokos

the goddess' son, that Psamatheia
brought forth on the beach where the sea breaks.
I take shame to speak of a thing done
monstrous, adventured against justice,
how they left their island of fair fame,
how some god drove
these mighty men from Oinona. I stop there. Not every sheer
　　　truth
is the better for showing her face. Silence also
many times is the wisest thing for a man to have in his mind.

But if it is prosperity, or strength of hand, or the iron of war
　　　we must praise, let them
dig me a long pit for leaping. The spring in my knees is light.
The beating wings of eagles carry them over the sea.
On Pelion was sung before these generously the song
from the Muses' splendid choir, and among them
Apollo, stroking the seven strings
of his lyre with the golden plectrum,

was leader of the changing melody. The song in the begin-
　　　ning
was Zeus; they sang of proud Thetis
and Peleus; how Kretheus' daughter, Hippolyta the luxu-
　　　rious,
sought to ensnare him
by craft, beguiling her lord, king
of the Magnesians, by the subtlety of her designs.
She fabricated a story that was a lie,
how Peleus had sought to be with
her, a wife, in the bridal bed of Akastos.

It was the other way.
Over and again with all her heart
she had entreated him with her persuasions.
Indeed, the abrupt words had troubled his passion;
but he denied the girl forthwith,
fearing the anger of our Father
the Hospitable. And Zeus, who ranges the clouds, king of
　　　the immortals, was pleased
and from the sky bent his head to will that without delay
some Nereid of the sea, one of those who work with a golden
　　　spindle, should be his wife,

prevailing upon her kinsman, Poseidon, who many times
　　　fares over the sea from Aigai
to the great Dorian Isthmos, where the glad companies meet
　　　the god with a clamor of reed flutes
and dare the strength of their limbs in contest.
Destiny in the blood decides all
action. Euthymenes, twice at Aigina you
were folded into the arms of victory
and given formal glorification in song.

Now again, Pytheas, your uncle's pride is in your feet that
　　　go in the track of his blood.
Nemea was his and the month in the land Delphinios, Apol-
　　　lo's beloved.
You at home defeated all comers of your age
and at the fair curve of the hill of Nisos. All your city
is a contender in lordly deeds, and I am glad.
Know that in success you have repaid
delight to Menandros, your trainer, for hard work

given. (A smith to mold
athletes must come from the city of Athens.)
If, my song, you adventure
into the presence of Themistios, fear not.
Speak out, run the sails aloft
to the crossbar at the masthead.
Speak of him as pankratiast and boxer, who achieved at
　　　Epidauros
twofold success, and now before the doors of Aiakos
wears the wreath luxuriant with flowers, the gift of the fair-
　　　haired Graces.



NEMEA 6



There is one
race of men, one race of gods; both have breath
of life from a single mother. But sundered power
holds us divided, so that the one is nothing, while for the
　　　other the brazen sky is established
their sure citadel forever. Yet we have some likeness in great
intelligence, or strength, to the immortals,
though we know not what the day will bring, what course
after nightfall
destiny has written that we must run to the end.

For witness
even now, behold how his lineage works in Alkimidas.
It is like cornfields that exchange their estate,
now in their year to yield life to men from their level spaces
while again they lie fallow to gather strength. He came
home from the lovely games at Nemea,
a boy contestant; and steering this destiny from God
he shows now
as one not ill-starred in his quest of prizes for wrestling,

laying his feet in the steps that are his by blood
of his grandfather, Praxidamas.
He was Olympionician and first
brought home to the Aiakidai from Alpheus the olive
　　　branches,
and went five times garlanded at the Isthmos,
thrice at Nemea, to abate forgetfulness
fallen upon Sokleidas, mightiest
of the sons of Hagesimachos.

For these three
have come home, bearing prizes; their achievement reached
　　　the uttermost;
and it was these who knew the struggle also. By God's grace,
boxing has brought forth no one house to possess
more garlands in any corner of all Hellas. I hope,
high though my speech be, it strikes the mark squarely,
as from a bow drawn true. My Muse, steer me the flight
of these my words
straight and glorious. For men pass,

but the songs
and the stories bring back the splendor of their deeds.
And the Bassidai have no dearth, their race is bespoken of
　　　old,
as on long voyages they have come with a freight of praise,
　　　for the gardeners of the Muses
giving occasion to hymns for the sake of high deeds.
Kallias also, of the blood of this same stock,
at sacred Pytho, his hands bound in the thongs,
won victory
and pleased the children of Lato of the gold hair,

and beside Kastalia at nightfall
was brightened in acclamation of the Graces.
The tireless bridge of the sea, at the two-year games
of the dwellers-about, where an ox is slaughtered,
glorified him in Poseidon's precinct.
And on a time the Lion's parsley
shaded his victor's brows in the dark glen
of Phleious under the primeval mountains.

Wide are the ways
from all sides, for the tellers of tales
to glorify this splendid island; for the Aiakidai
have made mighty its destiny, showing forth great things
　　　done in valor,
and over the earth and across the seas afar wings
the name of them; as far as the Aithiopians
it went suddenly when Memnon came not home. Heavy
was the assault of Achilles
when he came down from his chariot

and with the
edge of the angry sword struck down the child
of the shining Dawn. All this is a way the men
before me discovered long ago, but I follow it also, carefully.
When the ship is laboring, always the wave that rolls nearest
　　　her forefoot,
they say, brings terror beyond aught else to all men's
hearts. But I gladly have taken on my back a twofold burden
and come a messenger,
heralding this twenty-fifth

triumph won from games that are called sacred.
Alkimidas, you have been true
to the splendor of your race. Twice, my child, at the precinct
of Kronian Zeus, only a random draw
despoiled you and Polytimidas of Olympian garlands.
Melesias I would liken
to a dolphin in his speed through the sea's water,
a man to guide the strength in a boy's hands.



NEMEA 7



Eleithyia, seated beside the grave, wise Muses,
child of almighty Hera, bringer of children to birth, listen:
　　　without you
we look not on daylight nor on black evening, receive not
for our own your sister of the young glorious limbs, Hebe.
The breath of life that all draw is not the same;
one thing or another tied to a destiny checks it. By your
　　　means
the son also of Thearion, Sogenes, predominant
for prowess, is made glorious in song for the five-contests.

He lives in the city that loves singing, city of the Aiakidai
of the crashing spears; with favor they guide a spirit like
　　　theirs, hardy in the struggle.
If a man be fortunate and win, he casts the delight
of his cause in the Muses' stream; even high strength,
lacking song, goes down into the great darkness.
There are means to but one glass that mirrors deeds of
　　　splendor;
by the shining waters of Memory
is found recompense for strain in poetry that rings far.

Wise men have learned of the third day's wind to come;
their greed does not bemuse them.
Rich man and poor move side by side toward the limit
of death. I think the tale
of Odysseus is greater than his deeds, all through the grace of
　　　Homer.

Upon his lies and the winged intelligence
there is a kind of majesty; genius persuasive in speech de-
　　　ceives us; blind
is the heart in the multitude of men. Else,
could they have seen the truth, never would great Aias,
angered over the weapons, have driven the burnished
sword through his own heart after Achilles the strongest
　　　fighter
the west wind, straightening, carried in the swift ships
to bring back fair-haired Menelaos' lady

from Ilion. The wave of death comes over us all.
It breaks unexpected; it comes if you look for it also. Fame
　　　is theirs
for whom God makes delicate the legend after their death.
Beside the great, deep-folded navel
of the earth, there came as a helper he who lies
in the Pythian precinct, Neoptolemos, sacker of Priam's city,
where the Danaans labored long. On the home voyage
he lost Skyros, was driven and came to Ephyra.

A short while he was king
in Molossia; his seed carries that right
forever. He came to Apollo,
bringing gifts out of the spoil from Troy.
There, in a quarrel over the meats, a man with a knife
　　　stabbed him.

The hospitable Delphians were exceedingly heavy at heart.
But he gave destiny its own. It was fated that in the primeval
　　　grove
some one of the great Aiakidai must lie for the rest of time
beside the God's walled house, and with heroic processionals
dwell there, mantic, amid much sacrifice.
To make justice fair, three words will serve.
A witness who shall not lie stands over the things done,
Aigina, by your children and Zeus'. I am bold to speak

from within, by the high road of speech, over shining
excellence. But in all things rest is sweet; there is surfeit
even in honey, even in Aphrodite's lovely flowers.
By birth each of us is given his own life to carry.
They differ one way and another. No one man
can lift and hold blessedness entire; I cannot
speak of any to whom Destiny gave good, lasting
unshaken. Thearion, to you she proffers deserved occasion

for success; you dare splendid things,
and she does not make void the thoughtfulness in your heart.
I am a friend; I put aside the darkness of blame
and bring to a man beloved, like streams of water,
glory in sincere praise; such recompense befalls the good
　　　men.

An Achaian standing beside me will find no fault,
one who dwells beyond the Ionian sea. I trust in my proxeny.
　　　Among fellow-citizens
I look with clear eyes, without excess.
I keep my feet from all things violent; may time to come
be gracious accordingly. Let a man think, then say
if I go out of key, if my words are crooked.
Sogenes, descended of Euxenos, I swear
I have not overstepped the line, to cast my speech

in speed, like that bronze-shod javelin that released from the
　　　sweat
of wrestling the strength of your shoulders, without the sun's
　　　blaze on your body.
For what hard work there was, the joy that follows is greater.
Let be. If for the victor's sake I have raised
my voice too high, I am not too stubborn to set it aright.
Lightly will I make garlands. Strike up now. For you the
　　　Muse
binds gold upon white ivory with
the lily growth, raised dripping from the sea.

Mindful of Zeus, over Nemea
let the mixed clamor of the choral sound forth
in peace. It beseems us, in this dancing place,
to make our song's theme the king of the gods
in mild voice. They say he engendered Aiakos in the womb
　　　of his mother

to be lord of his own famous country
and, Herakles, your trusted guest-friend and brother. Of the
　　　good things given
between man and man, I say that a neighbor,
true and loving in heart, to neighbor is a joy beyond
all things else. If God sustain this,
grant, you who beat down the Giants, that Sogenes wish to
　　　dwell
in your favor beside his father, with gentle spirit toward him,
in the holy street fair-founded of his ancestors;

for, as in the cross-yoke of a four-horse chariot,
his house is between your precincts on either hand as you go.
　　　O Blessed,
yours it is to persuade Hera's lord
and the gray-eyed maiden. You can give men strength
over and again against bewilderment and distress.
As you made his life strong in body,
may you keep him thus in his shining youth and old age also
and make him fortunate; and his children's children

shall be given such favor and even more hereafter.
For me: my heart will not confess
I assaulted Neoptolemos in disorderly
words. To say this thrice and four times over
turns into futility, like the meaningless cry of children,
　　　Zeus Korinthos.



NEMEA 8



Divine Youth, messenger of Aphrodite
and her shining and immortal tendernesses,
you who lie on the eyelids of young girls, and of boys,
some you lift up with soft hands of necessity, others in
　　　harder fashion.
It is a glad thing not to fail opportunity, and come in time
to each thing done, possessing those loves that are stronger.

Such were they who dispensed
the gifts of Kypris and tended the bed of Zeus
and Aigina. And from Oinona grew a son and a king,
splendid in council and the hand's work. And many over
　　　and again entreated his presence,
for without advertisement the best of the heroes that dwelt
　　　about him
asked, with no constraint, to obey his lordship,

they who at Athens of the rocks were the marshals of armies,
and the children of Pelops at Sparta.
For the sake of a beloved city and these its citizens
I embrace, in supplication, the hallowed knees of Aiakos,
　　　bearing
this Lydian veil embroidered with clashing song,
a thing to glorify Deinias for his two-length race at Nemea,
　　　and for Megas his father.
Success abides longer among men
when it is planted by the hand of God;

God who loaded Kinyras with weight of wealth
in sea-borne Kypros long ago.
I stand on light feet and draw my breath before I speak.
Many things have been spoken in many a way, but when one
　　　discovers a new thing and tests it
at the touchstone, there all is danger; talking delights the
　　　envious,
ever busy against the noble, meddling not with smaller men.

It was this that slaughtered the son of Telamon
and bent him over his own sword.
A quiet man, no talker, steadfast of heart, lies forgotten
in the rage of dispute. The great prize is given to the supple
　　　liar.
In their secret ballots the Danaans made much of Odysseus,
and Aias lost the golden armor and died struggling in his
　　　own blood.

In truth, otherwise were the gashes that in the onset
they tore in the warm flesh of their adversaries
under the spears of defense about Achilles' body,
in many another combat of those wasting
days. But hate, even then, was there with its pretexts.
It walks companion of beguiling words; it is sly and a spite
　　　that makes evil;
it violates the beautiful and brilliant
to lift up out of things obscure a glory rotten at the heart.

Zeus father, may such never be my way;
let me, walking always in the path
of simplicity, make my life, and die thus, leaving
to my children fame without reproach. Some pray for gold,
　　　some for lands
without limit, but I to lay my limbs in the ground as one who
　　　gladdened his fellow-citizens,
praising that which deserves it, scattering blame on the
workers of evil.

But excellence waxes as the vine
growth in the young green tendrils,
raised up among the men who are righteous and wise into the
limpid sky. Various are the uses of friends, beyond all else
in difficulty, but joy also looks for trust that is clear
in the eyes. O Megas, bring back your soul to life,

I cannot; the end of empty hopes is despair;
but blithe am I to raise up to your city
and the Chariadai a marble column of the Muses because of
　　　the speed in your feet,
yours and your son's. I am glad to utter
a vaunt to match the very achievement; while by song a man
can take the pain even from labor. There were hymns of
　　　congratulation
long ago, before
the strife of Adrastos and the Kadmeians.



NEMEA 9



From Apollo and Sikyon, Muses, bring we the festival song
to new-founded Aitna, where the doors unfolded are
　　　thronged beyond their measure with guests,
and the rich house of Chromios; now make lovely the strain
　　　of song.
For, riding the chariot in its power of horses, he calls aloud
　　　to the mother and her twin children,
coholders and guardian divinities of the steep of Pytho.

There is a saying among men: Hide not in grounded silence
a noble thing fulfilled. Song in magic of words brings glorifi-
　　　cation.
Strike up, then, the thrum of the lyre, lift up the flute's cry
to crown the contest of horses Adrastos established for
　　　Phoibos beside Asopos' streams; and, remembering,
I will work out for that hero praise that shall ring far.

Then he was king in that place and with new festivals
and with contests of men's strength and with graven chariots
　　　showed forth his city's glory.
There was a time he fled the angry spirit of Amphiaraos and
　　　dread faction,
from the house of his fathers and Argos. Talaos' children,
　　　overborne in conflict, no longer were lords.
A stronger man beats down the right of old.

Eriphyle the baneful, as if to seal the oath,
they gave Oikleos' son to wife. Thereafter they were the high
　　　lords of the fair-haired Danaans;
and on a day they led to seven-gated Thebes an army of men
not in the way of good augury; nor did Kronian Zeus, shak-
　　　ing
his thunderbolt against their insolence,
bid them go from home, but rather spare the venture.

But this throng hastened into destruction that showed plain
with brazen armor and horses and gear; and by Ismene's
　　　banks, bereft
of sweet homecoming, they made rich with their bodies the
　　　pale-blossoming smoke.
Seven corpse-fires fed on the young limbs of men; but Zeus
　　　in all his strength, with lightning
split the deep-bosomed earth for Amphiaraos and covered
　　　him and his horses,

or ever, stabbed in the back with Periklymenos' spear, that
　　　warrior
shamed his own valor. In more than mortal panics even the
　　　gods' sons flee.
Kronion, if I may, I would put off to the utmost the
　　　glorious trial
of spears for life and death with the Punic men; I ask you to
　　　grant
to the sons of the Aitnaians that their destiny of fair laws
　　　may abide long,

Zeus father, and that you bring this people to glory in their
　　　city's domain.
Behold, these men love horses, and they have souls greater
　　　than their possessions.
I speak, and none will believe; for honor, who brings glory,
　　　is covered in secrecy
by love for gain. Carrying the shield for Chromios among
　　　the foot and the horsemen and in the sea-fighting,
you had honored him amid the danger of the loud onset.

There in battle that goddess made strong his fighting heart
to beat off the blight of Ares. Few can take counsel
and turn aside the cloud of instant slaughter against the
　　　enemy ranks
with heart and hand; yet it is said that glory blossomed for
　　　Hektor beside Skamander waters,
and by the deep-slung headlands of Eloros, where men

speak of Rhea's crossing, this same light
looked down on the son of Agesidamos in his first youth;
　　　and on other days
I might speak of much more done on the dusty land and the
　　　sea hard by.
But out of labors, for them who have with their youth
　　　righteousness, the day of their life grows green toward old
　　　age.
Let him know that at God's hand he is given prosperity to
　　　be admired.

For if with much possession a man win conspicuous honor,
there lies beyond no mark for a mortal to overtake with his
　　　feet.
But peace loves the gay banquet, and victory in its young
　　　growth prospers
with gentle song; and the voice becomes confident by the
　　　mixing-bowl.
Let them pour the wine, sweet prophet of revelry,

and serve the vine's strong child in the silver cups
his horses won for Chromios once and brought home with
　　　fairly plaited
wreaths of Apollo from holy Sikyon. Zeus father,
I pray that with the Graces' aid I may sing his excellence and
　　　on many occasions
honor success, throwing my spear right close to the Muses'
　　　mark.



NEMEA 10



Sing, O Graces, the city of Danaos and his
fifty daughters of
　　　the shining
thrones, Argos, the house of Hera, fit dwelling place for
　　　gods. The flame of excellence
for brave things done in their thousands shines about it.
Long is the tale of Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa;
many are the cities of Egypt founded at Epaphos' hands;
there is Hypermestra the steadfast, who alone kept the
　　　sword's doom fast in its sheath.

And of old the gray-eyed maiden of the fair hair made
　　　Diomedes a god immortal;
at Thebes the earth, thunder-smitten by the bolts of Zeus,
　　　received
the seer, Oikleos' son, storm-cloud of battle.
The city from of old surpasses in lovely-haired women;
a tale proved, for Zeus came to Alkmana and Danae;
and for Adrastos' father and for Lynkeus he married the
yield of their minds to straight justice.

He fostered the spear's might of Amphitryon, who, high in
　　　blessedness,
came even into his kinship, when in brazen armor
he slew the Teleboans, and in his likeness
the king of the immortals entered his courtyard,
carrying the fearless seed of Herakles, to whom on Olympos
Hebe is wife, loveliest of the goddesses, who walks beside
　　　her mother, lady of marriage.

My lips are brief to rehearse all that destiny of glories the
　　　holy ground
of Argos keeps. There remains surfeit of men, a harsh thing
　　　to encounter.
Nevertheless, wake the well-strung lyre
and take thought of wrestling now; for the brazen games
stir the people toward the ox-sacrifice of Hera, and the judg-
　　　ment of contests,
where Oulias' son, Theaios, twice has conquered to win for-
　　　getfulness of his labors lightly borne.

He has defeated the assembled Hellenes at Pytho and, com-
　　　ing with good fortune,
won the wreath at Nemea and the Isthmos, that the Muses
　　　be not idle;
and thrice at the Sea Gates success was his,
and thrice in the holy fields of Adrastos' domain.
Zeus father, his mouth is silent of his heart's desire; yet every
　　　end
of achievement lies in you. With heart not strange to en-
　　　deavor, he brings hardihood to beg grace.

I sing that which is known to God and all who strive
on the heights for the uttermost prizes. Pisa keeps
Herakles' ordinances supreme; yet twice before
in their ceremonies the Athenian voices have risen in sweet-
　　　ness
to acclaim him; and in earth burnt by fire and the keeping
　　　of figured vessels
the olive's yield has come to Hera's land of brave men.

Theaios, honor of games' success, with the Graces and the
　　　Tyndaridai,
attends always the seed renowned of your mother's people.
Were I kinsman of Thrasyklos and of Antias,
I would not deign in Argos to veil the light
of my eyes, for all the victories won, wherein Proitos' city of
　　　horses
has blossomed. In the recesses of Korinth and at the hands of
　　　the men of Kleonai they won four times.

From Sikyon they departed with silver of the wine goblets,
and from Pellana, mantling their shoulders in robes soft
　　　woven.
But the thousand fold bronze: I may not
count it; too long would be leisure for its numbering:
all that Kleitor gave, and Tegea, the towering cities of the
　　　Achaians;
all that the Lykaian sanctuary by the field of Zeus set to be
　　　won by strength of foot or of hand.

Since Kastor came to Pamphaes' entertainment
and Polydetikes his brother, it is no marvel
that to be good athletes runs in their blood. The lords
of Sparta and the wide dancing lawns dispose
the ordinances of games in their beauty, with Herakles and
　　　with Hermes beside them.

They care for men that are righteous. Indeed, the race of the
　　　gods fails not their friends.
They with life changing to and fro dwell one day beside
　　　their father beloved,
Zeus, and the day that follows under the secret places of the
　　　earth in the hollows of Therapne.
The destiny they fulfil is the same; such
was the choice of Polydeukes rather than be god indeed
and dwell in the sky, when Kastor fell in the fighting,
whom Idas, angered over some driving of cattle, stabbed
with the bronze spearhead.

Lynkeus, staring from Taygetos, saw them hiding
in an oak tree, for beyond all mortals else his eye
was sharpest. And in ravening speed of their feet
they came down and devised at once a monstrous act,
and terribly did these sons of Aphareus suffer at the hands
　　　of Zeus; for straightway
Leda's son, Polydeukes, came pursuing, and they stood at
　　　bay by their father's tomb.

Ripping aloft the dedication of death, the smoothed grave-
　　　stone,
they cast it at Polydeukes' chest, but availed not to shatter
nor drive him back. He, leaping with quick spear,
buried the bronze in Lynkeus' side,
and Zeus on Idas crashed the flame of the smoking thunder-
　　　bolt.
These two burned, forlorn. Men find strife bitter when they
　　　undertake those who are stronger.

With speed Tyndareus' son ran back to his mighty brother,
and found him not dead, drawing yet some shuddering
　　　breath of life.
In grief, letting fall hot tears,
he cried aloud: "Kronion, my father, what release
shall there be from sorrow? Grant death also to me with this
　　　man, my lord.
Bereft of his friends a man's honor is gone. Few mortals are
　　　steadfast in distress

"to endure hardship." He spoke, and Zeus came near
and answered: "You are my son; but thereafter her lord, a
　　　hero,
embracing your mother, shed seed that is mortal:
this man. Behold: of these two things I give you choice
entire; if you would escape death and age that all men hate,
to dwell beside me on Olympos with Athene and Ares of the
　　　black spear,

"that right is yours. But if all your endeavor is for
your twin, and you would have in all things shares alike
half the time you may breathe under the earth,
half the time in the golden houses of the sky."
He spoke, and no twofold counsel divided
but he set free from darkness the eyes
　　　brazen belt, and his voice thereafter.



NEMEA 11



Daughter of Rhea, mistress appointed of prytanies,2 Hestia:
sister of Zeus on high and of Hera, his queen and consort,
with favor welcome into your house Aristagoras,
with favor also near your bright scepter his companions,
who honor you as they keep Tenedos upright,

propitiating you first of goddesses with much libation
and smoke of victims; the lyre murmurs deep among them,
　　　and singing;
the right of Zeus the Hospitable is wrought at their quenchless
feasting tables. But in honor let him pass
the twelve-month period with heart not torn.

I bless this man for Agesilas, his father,
for the splendor and linked serenity of his limbs.
Yet if one, keeping wealth, surpass in beauty likewise
and show his strength by excellence in the games,
let him yet remember the limbs he appoints are mortal
and that he must put upon him earth, the end of all things.

In the speech of good citizens he should win praise
and be a theme of elaboration in the deep, sweet singing.
From contests among the neighbors, sixteen times
shining successes have garlanded Aristagoras
and his city in fair repute for wrestling and the vaunting
　　　pankration.

The hopes too hesitant of his parents kept their son's strength
from endeavor in the games at Pytho and Olympia.
By oath, I say, to my thinking had he ventured
beside Kastalia and the grove of the slope of Kronos,
he had come back in glory beyond his straining antagonists;

he had kept the revel of the five-year cycle ordained
by Herakles, and bound his hair in the shining
branches. But one man, light-minded, vaunting hopes
drive from the good; another one, who blames overmuch
his own strength, the undaring spirit drags at his hand
to falter him back from splendors that are his by right.

It were easy to guess the blood from Sparta and from
Peisandros of old, who came from Amyklai with Orestes,
leading hither a host of Aiolians in their brazen gear,
and from the waters of Ismenos a mixed strain
by Melanippos on his mother's side. But the valors rooted of
　　　old,

interchanging, reveal the strength in the generations of men.
Neither in the soil do the black plow-acres
nor orchards in every circling year consent to yield
blossoming and fragrance equal in richness,
but in seasons alternate. The same destiny controls

mortality. From Zeus comes no clear sign
to men. Even so we go abroad in our manhood's height,
pondering many designs; for our limbs are shackled to shame-
　　　less
hope, and the streams of forethought lie afar.
We should seek out some measure in things gained;
too bitter are the pangs of madness after loves that are past
　　　attainment.



ISTHMIA 1



Thebes of the golden shield, my mother, I will put
your errand beyond other necessity that is upon me.
Let not Delos of the rocks that is my delight
begrudge me; for what delights the good
more than parents in their graciousness? Give way,
island of Apollo; by God's grace I shall achieve a twofold
　　　task, the delight of both,

making a song of dancing to Phoibos of the uncut hair
in wave-washed Keos among the men of the sea,
likewise for the Isthmos, that shoulder that dykes the surf.
It has granted garlands from games won
six times to the host of the sons of Kadmos, splendor
of fair success for their own land, on whose soil Alkmana
　　　bore a child

fearless, for the savage hounds of Geryon shivered before him.
But I will give Herodotos his meed for the four-horse chariot
　　　race;
and for reins guided by no hands other than his own
I will implicate him in song for Kastor or lolaos.
These two in Lakedaimon and Thebes were the mightiest
　　　charioteers among heroes.

In all trials of strength they won most prizes,
and their houses were made magnificent with tripods,
cauldrons, dishes of gold. The feel
of garlands given in token of victory
was theirs. That excellence is a clear shining
they had alike in the naked race and the course of warriors
　　　among clattering shields,

for the way of the javelin's flight thrown from their hands
and the cast of the stone discus.
There was no pentathlon then, but for each event
the end lay in itself.
And often and again, binding their brows with the clustered
branched garlands, by Dirke's waters they appeared; and
　　　beside Eurotas,

the son of Iphikles, dweller among the breed of the Sown
　　　Men;
and among Achaians Kastor the Tyndarid of the high house
　　　at Therapne.
Farewell both : I must bring the sweep of my song about
to Poseidon and the holy Isthmos and the strands of On-
　　　chestos,
to speak aloud in this man's honor the glorious destiny of
　　　Asopodoros, his father,

and Orchomenos with its ancestral acres
that in sympathy accepted him, he
being stricken and in the unhappiness of shipwreck,
out of the sea immeasurable; now
the fortune in this house has come back, to stand
once more high in its happiness of old; the man who has
　　　had labor of mind wins forethought also.

But if every temper of him is disposed toward virtue
both ways, by outlay and endurance of toil,
toward such finding the goal we should bring lordly
praise, freely and with heart not begrudging;
for it is a light gift for a man well skilled
to find the right word for various labors achieved and build
　　　up splendor in all men's sight.

And, in truth, each man delights in the price befitting work
　　　done
shepherd, plowman, fowler, or one who lives by the sea.
The strain of warding off incessant hunger is on all men,
but he who in contests or in war achieves the delicate glory
is magnified to be given the supreme prize, splendor of
　　　speech from citizen and stranger.

It befits us now to hymn the son of Kronos
the earth-shaker, our neighbor and benefactor,
in requital, the lord of the running of horses,
and to speak, Amphitryon,
of your sons, and the hollow of Minyas,
and the glorious grove of Demeter, Eleusis, and Euboia,
　　　where the ways curve;

your precinct in Phylake, Protesilaos, I bring likewise,
yours, and of the Achaian men.
But to speak of all that Hermes, god of games,
has bestowed on Herodotos
for horses racing, the song's measure is straitened
to prevent me. Indeed, many a time the thing left silent
　　　　　　makes for happiness.

May he be lifted on the shining wings of the Muses,
the melodious, and fill his hands with choice leafage won
from Pytho also and Olympian games by Alpheus, and
bring honor
upon seven-gated Thebes. But if a man keep wealth a secret
　　　thing in his house
and laugh at each encounter, he knows not that he appoints
　　　to Hades a life without glory.



ISTHMIA 2



Thrasyboulos, the men of old who mounted the chariot
of the golden-veiled Muses with the ringing lyre in their
　　　hands
lightly loosed the shafts of their delicate love-songs
for those who were beautiful in the delight and pride
upon them to waken enthroned Aphrodite.

The Muse in those days was not mercenary nor worked for
　　　hire,
nor was the sweetness of Terpsichore's honeyed singing for
　　　sale
nor her songs with faces silvered over for their soft utter-
　　　ance.
Nowdays she drives us to hold with that Argive's
word, that mounts close to the truth itself.

Money is man, he said, forlorn alike of possessions and
　　　friends.
But you are wise; you know whereof I sing
an Isthmian victory with horses
Poseidon granted to Xenokrates,
sending a wreath of Dorian parsley
to bind on his hair in token of triumph;

grace to a great man of chariots and light of Akragas.
And, at Krisa, mighty Apollo looked down upon him and
　　　gave him splendor,
and he met the famed favor of the sons of Erechtheus
at shining Athens, with no cause to blame
the hand of the charioteer that steered well the car,

Nikomachos, handling in skill all reins.
Zeus Kronios' heralds of the season of sacred truce
acclaimed him, men of Elis, who had known his hospitality
　　　of old;
and with glad outcry they hailed him,
gathered to the knees of golden Victory

in their land men call the grove of Olympian Zeus.
There the children of Ainesidamos
were made intimate with immortal honors.
For your house, Thrasyboulos, is no stranger
to the loveliness of such festivals,
nor to the sweet affirmation in songs of praise.

Nowise rocky nor steep is the path we take
to bring home to men of reputation the glories of the Muses
　　　of Helikon.
I have spun the discus far and thus far also would cast the
　　　spear, to tell
how beyond all men gentle was the temper Xenokrates
used in his time; a modest man among citizens

whose horsemanship was in the style to be known among all
　　　Hellenes;
and all the festivals of the gods he embraced, nor did any
　　　gale's blast
strike his sail at the hospitality of his board.
For summer's venture he passed the Phasis,
and the Nile headlands for the winter sailing.

Now, though envious hopes flutter over the minds of mortals,
let Thrasyboulos not be silenced over his father's excellence;
nor silence yet these songs. I did not make them
that they might rest in sleep.
All these things, Nikasippos, dispense
when you come to Thrasyboulos, the friend of my heart.



ISTHMIA 3



If any man be fortunate in the glory of games
or strength of riches, and yet check down bitter excess in his
　　　heart,
it is his to be wrapped in the praise of his city's men.
Great prowess descends upon mortals,
Zeus, from you; the prosperity of the worshipful lives long;
　　　but those whose hearts are aslant,
with them it stays not long to wax and blossom.

In requital for great things done we must praise the noble in
　　　song,
and in our acclamation lift them high with the gentle Graces.
It is Melissos' destiny for twofold success
to turn his heart toward the sweetness of satisfaction.
In the glades of Isthmos he was given garlands, and in the
　　　fold of the valley
of the deep-breasted lion he made Thebes to be acclaimed

by conquering in the chariot race. He refutes not
the virtue in men's blood engendered.
Know that, of old, Kleonymos
was famed for chariots;
and they of his mother's side, akin to the children of Labda-
　　　kos,
advanced laboring their wealth on the four-horsed car.
But time, in the turning-over of days, works change for better
　　　or worse; the unwounded are God's children.



ISTHMIA 4



Multitudinous are the ways the gods have given,
O Melissos, to follow in song the achievements of you and
　　　yours,
such crafty strength did you show at the Isthmos,
in which, flowering forever, the race of Kleonymos,
with God favoring, have gone to the mortal end of life;
　　　except that the changing winds
burst forth variously to drive all men at will.

From the beginning they have been men of honor in Thebes,
friends of strangers in neighbor cities, free of vaunting
pride; in all testimonies borne on the winds among men
for unfailing reputation of those that are gone
and the living also, they have come to the uttermost goal; in
　　　the height of virtue
by pride of blood they touch the pillars of Herakles.

Further than this no man can drive his strength.
These were skilled in horsemanship;
they were pleasing in the sight of Ares the brazen.
But in the space of one day the bitter
snowstorm of battle made desolate
that blessed hearth of four men.
Now once more it is as when, after the winter darkness, the
　　　months change
and earth flowers again in the crimson of roses

by the gods' behest. And the shaker of the earth, who dwells
　　　in Onchestos
and the sea bridge beside the ramparts of Korinth,
granting this song of acclamation to their race,
rouses as from its bed their ancient glory
for splendid things achieved. It had fallen asleep; but, waken-
　　　ing now, it waxes to brilliance,
shining forth as the dawn star among others.

Beside the hills of Athens it had heralded the chariot victory,
and in the games of Adrastos at Sikyon it granted
such drifting leaves of song among men of that generation;
nor did they keep their curved chariot from the communal
　　　games
of all the Hellenes, but strove joyously with lavish expense
　　　on horses.
Silence of obscurity descends on those who will not endeavor,

but even among strivers there may be darkness of luck
before they come to the utmost goal.
The gifts of chance are various and they change.
Also the skill of small men
has thrown the stronger by stealth of sudden attack. Witness
the might of Aias that he himself slaughtered
by dead of night with the thrust of his own sword,
and has got reproach among the sons of the Hellenes who
　　　went to Troy.

Yet Homer has glorified him beyond other men,
and straightened the story of his valor in the rhapsode's
magic words to charm all men thereafter.
A thing said walks in immortality
if it has been said well; and over the fruitful earth and across
　　　the sea
fares the light that dies never of splendid deeds.

May the Muses give me gracious aid to light such a beacon
　　　of song
for Melissos also, a garland for the scion of Telesiadas
worthy his pankratiast's strength. For daring of heart,
in action, he is like thunderous lions among beasts,
but, for cunning, the fox that falls on his back to foil the
　　　eagle's plunge.
All means are fair to baffle the adversary.

He was not given Orion's stature;
rather he is a mean man by his look,
but hard to grapple in strength.
Once before, in the Libyan cornlands,
there came from Kadmeian Thebes to the house of Antaios
a man small in stature, inflexible of will,
to wrestle him and put an end to that building
with skulls of strangers the temple to Poseidon.

It was Alkmana's son, who scaled Olympos, who knew
all earth, and sounded the deeply veiled abyss of the gray sea
to make easy the passage for sailors.
Now he dwells in bliss and magnificence beside
the lord of the aegis, honored and beloved among immortals,
　　　with Hebe to wife,
master in a house of gold and son-in-law to Hera.

To him beside the Elektran gate his citizens have dedicated
　　　a feast
and the freshly built circle of altars; there we feed
the fires for his eight bronze-armored sons who died,
sons that Megara bore him, Kreon's daughter.
In their honor the flames rise up at sunset to shine nightlong
and beat the air with billows of fragrant smoke.

And the second day is given to the issue of annual games
and the work that is for men's strength.
There the head of Melissos has been made bright
with myrtle garlands twice for victory,
once before for success among boys his age.
He heeded the deep counsel of his trainer,
who guided him; to both, Melissos and Orseas now,
I will make my song of triumph and drench them in grace
　　　and delight.



ISTHMIA 5



Mother of Helios, Theia the many-named:
for your sake men have made the great strength of gold
to be a thing prized above other possessions.
And ships that strive on the sea
and horses under the chariot, by your grace, lady,
are made wonderful in the rapid whirl of contests.

She among the assembled games has made
glory to be a lovely thing, when the clustering garlands
are bound over a man's head, for success in strength
of hand, or speed of his feet.
The crucial strength is given of the gods to men;
but two things only there are that minister to the brightest
　　　bloom of life as wealth blossoms:

success and the good speech that a man hears of himself.
Strive not to become Zeus; you have everything
if destiny of such splendors befall you.
Mortals must be content with mortality.
For you, Phylakidas, a twofold blossoming of power
at the Isthmos is laid away in time, and at Nemea for you
and Pytheas, your brother, pankratiasts. My heart
has no traffic here in songs not of the Aiakidai;
but with the Graces to guide me I have come to the sons of
　　　Lampon,

to this just island. If she is turned to a pure way
in actions whose springs are of God,
spare not to mingle the glorification becoming
to song for struggles achieved.
For even among the heroes those fighters who were brave
have gained by praise; they are made famous by lyres, in the
　　　many-voiced symphony of flutes

into time without end; in their worshipfulness they have
　　　given
to singers, by God's grace, the themes of their art.
At the shining sacrifices of the Aitolians
the great children of Oineus,
at Thebes lolaos the charioteer,
have honor; Perseus at Argos; Kastor's spear and Polydeukes
　　　beside the waters of Eurotas.

Here at Aigina it is the great hearts
of Aiakos and his sons. Embattled
twice, they sacked the city of the Trojans, following
Herakles that first time,
thereafter with the Atreidai. Take flight now from earth.
Say, who slew Kyknos, Hektor,
the fearless marshal of Aithiopian men,
Memnon armored in bronze? Who wounded
brave Telephos with the spear, at the Kai'kos banks?

Therefore, my lips give them to their land, Aigina,
the glorious island, a tower builded from time
primeval, for the highest valors to storm.
There are many arrows of song
my speech has skill to sound forth in their honor.
Today the city of Aias, defended in battle by sailors, will
　　　speak for them,

Salamis, in God's rain and the bloody death-sleet,
where numberless men went down.
Nevertheless, drench arrogance in silence.
Not all the things Zeus gives are of one kind,
and Zeus is master of all. But as the loveliness
of honey are the honors that greet such glad victories. Let a
　　　man

strive in games, learning of the seed
of Kleonikos. The long labors of these men
are not blinded in time, nor did reckoning
of expense make cautious their hopes.
I praise Pytheas also among fighters for showing
his brother the battering strokes' pattern
a man skilful with his hands, and of mind also.
Take for him the garland and the fleecy headband,
and with him bring home the young song with its wings.



ISTHMIA 6



As in the splendor of a revel of men,
we mix a second bowl of the strains of the Muses
for the sake of Lampon's race and all its triumphs. Zeus, in
　　　your own Nemea first
we held up before you the shining of their garlands;
and now again before the lord of the Isthmos
and the fifty Nereids, for the youngest boy,
Phylakidas, has won. May the third time be
such that we make at Aigina our last libation
to Zeus Savior, Olympian, in the honeyed singing.

If any man, gladly lavishing gold
and toil, win to achievement of excellence given of God,
his destiny increases the loveliness of fame. At the uttermost
　　　fortunate strands
he drops anchor, moving in the eyes of God.
In mood like this, Lampon, son
of Kleonikos, makes his prayer to face and take death
and gray age; and I beseech Klotho that is throned on high
and her sister Fates to attend the supplication heard from
　　　afar
of this man, my beloved friend.

Sons of Aiakos, riders in chariots of gold,
I see as I set foot on this island the task
most clear before me, to shower you in praise.
Thousand fold are cut in the land the hundred-foot-wide
　　　roads of your great achievements,
even beyond the waters that feed the Nile,
among the Hyperboreans.
There is no city so barbarian or backward of speech
it knows nothing of the heroic fame of Peleus, the blessed
　　　son-in-law of the gods,

no city that knows not of Telamonian Aias
and his father. Alkmana's son, on his way by ship
to battle loud in bronze at Troy, a trial of fighters, took as a
　　　fain helper
Telamon with the men of Tiryns, to bring
vengeance upon Laomedon for his deceptions.
He took the city of Pergamon, and in the same hero's com-
　　　pany smote
the hosts of the Meropes and the oxherd mountain-high,
Alkyoneus, encountered in the Phlegraian Fields. The hand
of Herakles spared not the deep-voiced

bowstring. First summoning Aiakides
to the venture, he came on the young men at their feasting.
Strong Telamon saw him standing in the lion's skin, called
　　　in invitation
Amphitryoniadas of the heavy spear
to begin the outpouring of nectar, and put in his hands
a wine goblet cut in shuddering gold.
Herakles, lifting into the sky his invincible arms,
spoke aloud: "If ever before, Zeus my father,
you have been moved to listen kindly to prayer of mine,

"now, in divine supplication,
I entreat you, give this man by Eriboia a brave son
to be .my guest and friend, and a destined man.
Grant him strength unbreakable like this beast hide that is
　　　wrapped about me,
this skin of a lion that, first of all my labors,
I killed at Nemea long ago.
Let his heart be such also." As he spoke the god sent
the lord of birds, a great eagle; and sweet delight troubled
　　　his heart within,

and he spoke aloud, as if he had been a seer:
"You shall have the child you ask for, my Telamon.
For the bird that showed him forth, call him mighty Aias, to
　　　be
in the tumult of armies a man of terror."
He spoke, and sat at their table.
It would be long for me to rehearse all the tale of their great
　　　deeds.
I have come, O Muse, to minister to Phylakidas
and Pytheas and Euthymenes their festal choruses. The Ar-
　　　 give way
must be my way; the fewest words.

They have taken victories in the pankration
thrice at the Isthmos, at leafy Nemea,
these glorious young men with their uncle; such occasion,
　　　deserved of song, they have brought up into the light.
The land of the sons of Psalychos they water
with the shining rain of the Graces.
Steadying the house of Themistios, they dwell here in a city
that God loves. Lampon keeps the precept
of Hesiod, careful training toward achievement,
and tenders the saying urgently to his sons,

bringing therewith brilliance upon all his city.
Among strangers he is admired for his kindnesses.
His mind in pursuit and possession is temperate.
His speech keeps within purpose. You could say that as man
　　　among athletes he stood
as Naxian stone among others,
a hone to edge bronze.
I will give them to drink limpid water of Dirke, that the
　　　deep-girdled maidens
draw from the Well of Memory the golden-robed, beside
　　　the strong-flanked gates of Kadmos.



ISTHMIA 7



In which of your native splendors aforetime, Thebe,
blessed city, does your heart take most delight?
Was it when you raised up Dionysos
of the wide-floating hair, to be seated beside bronze-clashing
Demeter? Or when, by midnight, you welcomed the might-
　　　iest
of gods in the gold snowfall

that time he stood in the forecourts
of Amphitryon and approached his wife with the seed of
　　　Herakles in his body?
Or for the shrewd judgments of Teiresias?
Or for lolaos and his horsemanship?
Or for the Sown Men of the spears that failed not? Or
　　　when, from the loud, strong battle,
you sent Adrastos home, forlorn

of his companions in their thousands to Argos, city of
　　　horses?
Or when you set on upright foot
the Dorian inroad,
Lakedaimonians, and the Aigcidai,
men sprung of your seed, took Amyklai by the prophecies
　　　of Pytho?
But grace that is grown old
sleeps, and men are forgetful

of that which issues not binding the high perfection
of poetry to bright streams of words.
Hail, then, in song sweetly chanted
Strepsiades also; for he brings home a victory
in the pankration won at Isthmos; a man tremendous in his
　　　strength and shapely to behold; and he carries courage
that shames not his stature.

The light of the violet-wreathing Muses is about him,
and he has offered his garland to be shared with his uncle
　　　and namesake,
whom Ares of the bronze shield gave his death,
though honor among good men is laid up against it.
Let him be sure, he who in that storm-cloud endures the
　　　bloody rain, for the sake
of his own beloved city,

and carries death into the hosts opposed,
magnifies the glory of his kindred citizens
living, and in death also.
You, son of Diodotos, praised the way
of Meleager, a fighter; the way of Hektor
and Amphiaraos,
to breathe out your flowering youth

among the struggling champions, where the bravest
took the stern verdict of battle among the forlorn hopes
and endured sorrow I cannot speak of. But now
Poseidon, who folds the earth, has granted me calm
out of storm. I will sing this man as I lay the wreaths on his
　　　hair. Let no envy
of immortals break the bloom.

In quest of the fleeting delight
I walk softly into old age and the period
of doom. We die, all of us, alike;
but our destiny is not the same. If one look afar,
short is the way seen to reach the bronze-paved citadel of the
　　　gods. Yet Pegasos,
the winged, cast down

Bellerophon, his lord, when he strove to reach
the houses of the sky and the fellowship
of Zeus. An end in all bitterness awaits
the sweetness that is wrong.
But to us, Loxias, splendid in your golden hair, grant
in your own contests
the blossoming garland even at Pytho.



ISTHMIA 8



To Kleandros in the pride of his youth and in glorious
quittance, O young men, for his striving,
go now beside the shining porch of Telesarchos, his father,
　　　and wake
the song to give him gladness for Isthmian victory
and his strength proved at Nemean contests; and thereto I
　　　also, grieved though I be at heart, ask leave to call
the golden Muse. Slipped free of great sorrows,
let us not fall into desolation of garlands;
cherish not your grief; we have ceased from evils above our
　　　strength.
Let us communicate some sweetness even after the hardship,
since from above our heads
some god has turned aside that stone of Tantalos,

a weight Hellas could never dare. But now
the terror has gone by and taken
away the strong brooding in my heart; it is better always to
　　　watch what is close at hand
in everything. A treacherous age hangs over men's heads;
it makes crooked the way of life. But even this can be healed
　　　in man, with freedom. We must be of good hope.
A child of Thebes, the seven-gated,
should shed the glory of the Graces upon Aigina;
for these were twin daughters of one father, Asopos,
the youngest, and they pleased King Zeus;
and one he made to live by the lovely waters
of Dirke, queen over a city of chariots,

but you, Aigina, he carried away to Oinopia, the island,
and lay with you, and you bore to the lord
of the loud thunder the best of men on earth, brilliant Aiakos.
　　　He was judge
among the divinities even, and his godlike sons
and his sons' sons were warlike, pre-eminent to wield the
　　　bitter, clashing bronze in battle.
And they were temperate men with discretion in their hearts,
a thing remembered in the assemblies of the blessed ones
when Zeus and bright Poseidon came to strife over Thetis,
each desirous to be wed to her beauty
and possess her; the passion was on them.
But the will of the gods did not accomplish such union,

for they had heard things foretold. Themis,
lady of good counsel, rose up among them and spoke
how it was destined for this sea-goddess to bring to birth a
　　　lord
stronger than his father, to wield in his hand a shaft heavier
　　　than the thunderbolt
or the weariless trident, if she lay with Zeus or his brothers.
　　　"Let her go.
She must come rather into a mortal bed.
Let her look upon her son slain in battle,
but a son like Ares for strength of hand, like the thundershaft
　　　for speed of his feet.
For my part, I say grant the divine grace
of this marriage to Aiakos' son, Peleus,
rumored the most upright man that dwells in lolkos plain.

"And let the messages go straightway
to Chiron's immortal cave.
Let not Nereus' daughter put twice in our hands the leaf-
　　　ballots of our contention.
By full moon at evening let her break
the fastening of her lovely virginity for the hero." The god-
　　　dess spoke before the Kronians; they
nodded with immortal brows. The words' harvest
faded not. They say the two kings consented
to Thetis' marriage; and the lips of poets
have published to those who knew not of it the young
　　　strength of Achilles;
who stained the Mysian vineyards
with the dark blood of Telephos, drenching the plain;

and made a bridge to bring the Atreidai home,
and set Helen free, cutting
with the spear's edge the sinews of Troy, that had fought
　　　him off in deadly battle
as he did great deeds in the plain; Memnon the mighty
and impetuous Hektor, others, chiefs among men; Achilles,
　　　the staunch Aiakid, showed them Persephone's house
and revealed the glory of Aigina and the stock he came of.
Even in death, songs did not leave him,
but, standing beside his pyre and his grave, the maidens
of Helikon let fall upon him their abundant dirge.
Even the immortals were pleased
to bestow on a brave man, though perished, the song of
　　　goddesses.

Such is the truth even now, while the chariot
of the Muses goes with speed to glorify
Nikokles in memory of his boxing. Honor him, who in the
　　　Isthmian glade
won the parsley wreath of the Dorians. He conquered the
　　　dwellers-about
with the stroke of that fist none could avoid. The choice
　　　blood of his cousin
does not shame him. Let one of his own age bind
on Kleandros' brow the delicate wreath
of myrtle for the pankration, for with success the games of
　　　Alkathoos ere now
and the youth at Epidauros accepted him.
A good man can give him all praise.
He has not thrust down his youth untried into a place where
　　　splendors are hidden.