---
title: "Victory Odes · Ἐπίνικοι"
author: "Bacchylides"
translator: "Diane Arnson Svarlien"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 1 of 2
url: https://scriptura.si/works/bacchylides-victory-odes/1/
cite: "Bacchylides, tr. Diane Arnson Svarlien, Victory Odes · Ἐπίνικοι, section 1. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/bacchylides-victory-odes/1/"
---

# Victory Odes · Ἐπίνικοι

*Bacchylides, tr. Diane Arnson Svarlien*

Songs for athletes and for Hieron of Syracuse by Pindar’s rival, lost until a papyrus was found in Egypt in 1896, with Croesus on the pyre and Heracles meeting Meleager in Hades.

> Greek: ed. Richard C. Jebb, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0199.tlg001, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Diane Arnson Svarlien, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0199.tlg001.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (chapters and sections), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 1. Odes 1–9

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/bacchylides-victory-odes/1/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/bacchylides-victory-odes/1/#p-N

[¶0] Daughters of Zeus ruling on high, famed for the lyre, … Pierian Muses … weave
… Isthmian land … son-in-law of wise Nereus …
… of the island
… god-built gates of Pelops' shining island
…
… yoked horses to chariots,
and they flew …
… thick … maidens …
of sleep, like honey to the mind … our … ancient city … [homes] on the shores of the sea …
[and under] the rays of the sun …
… and Makelo, loving the distaff,
… by the fair-flowing stream … speaks … fawning with the voice …
… I am bereaved … with double-edged grief …
deprivation … totally …
… on the third day warlike Minos came with a host of Cretans
in fifty ships with flashing sterns.
And by the will of Zeus Eukleios he subdued the deep-waisted maiden Dexithea, and left with her half of his people,
battle-loving men, to whom he gave the craggy land as their share; and then he sailed off to the lovely city of Knossos,
the king, the son of Europa. And in the tenth month the bride with beautiful hair bore
Euxantius, to be ruler over the glorious island …
… daughters …
… city cut deep by the sun's rays.
From his (Euxantius'?) family descended Argeius, who has a strong hand and the spirit of a lion, whenever the need for battle befalls him; and he is
light on his feet, and does not … the fine qualities of his father,
those which Apollo, famed for the bow, bestowed on Pantheides: the art of healing,
and friendly honor towards guests. With a good share of the Graces, and admired by many men, when he ended his life he left behind five greatly-praised sons,
one of whom the son of Cronus seated on high has made a victor at the Isthmus, in return for good deeds, and has given a share of other shining garlands. I say it now and I always will: excellence has the greatest glory.
Wealth keeps company with worthless men as well,
and it tends to swell a man's thoughts; but he who does well to the gods cheers his heart with a more glorious hope.
If a mortal has been granted health and can live off his own goods, he rivals the most fortunate. There is joy in all human life
as long as it lacks disease and helpless deprivation. The rich man desires great things the same way the poor man desires less.
But it is not sweet for mortals to get everything easily; they always seek to catch what flees from them.
A man whose spirit is whirled about by the lightest ambitions
has honor only as long as he lives. Excellence is a difficult struggle, but when the struggle is completed rightly it leaves a man, even when he dies, the enviable ornament of renown.

> Greek: κλυτοφόρμιγγες Δ̣[ιὸς ὑ-
ψιμέδοντος παρθένοι
¯˘˘Πι]ε̣ρίδες
¯¯]ενυφαι[˘˘¯¯
¯˘˘]ο̣υς ἵνα κ[¯
¯¯˘]γαίας Ἰσθμί[ας
¯¯˘]ν, εὐβούλου ν̣[˘¯
¯˘γαμ]βρὸν Νηρέ[ος!˘!!˘!¯!] νάσοιό τʼ ἐϋ-!!˘!!˘!!] αν, ἔνθ̣[¯˘¯
…
ὦ Πέλοπος λιπαρᾶς
νάσου θεόδματοι πύλαι
¯˘¯¯¯˘ὑφʼ ἅρ]μ̣ασιν ἵππους
οἱ δὲ π]έ̣τ̣οντο![˘¯¯
¯˘¯¯]εσσιν ἀν[δρῶν
¯˘˘¯˘]τον αὐτ[¯
¯˘¯]ἄλλαισιν[¯¯¯˘¯¯
˘˘¯¯¯]ν̣ πυκ[ιν¯
˘˘¯¯]γοὶ κόρ̣[αι
¯˘˘¯]αγορā
¯¯]ο̣ μελίφρονος ὕπ̣[νου
¯˘˘ἁμετ[έραν
¯¯˘ ἀ̣ρ]χ̣α̣ίαν πόλιν
¯¯˘¯¯]γ̣οιμεν οἴ-
κους ἐπʼ]ἀ̣νδ̣ήροις ἁλός
ὑπό τʼ α]ὐ̣γαῖς ἀελι̣ο̣υ
…
¯˘˘¯]σαγόραι
¯¯Μα]κ̣ελὼ δὲ τ[˘¯¯
¯˘φιλ]āλάκατος,
¯¯]δʼ ἐπʼ εὐναῆ [πόρον
¯¯]α· προσφώνει τέ νιν
¯˘¯]σαίνουσʼ ὀπί·
˘˘¯¯μ]ὲν στέρομαι
˘˘ἀμ]φάκει δύᾳ
¯˘˘¯π]ενίᾳ
¯¯˘˘¯]!γετ[!] πάμπα[ν
¯˘˘¯˘˘]α̣ς
¯¯˘¯¯¯]ομοι
…
¯ ˘]αφθε[¯ ˘ × ¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ¯!! ς· τριτάτᾳ με[˘ ¯ ¯
ἁμέρᾳ Μίνως ἀρ[ῇο]ς
ἤλυθεν αἰολοπρύμνοις
ναυσὶ πεντήκοντα σὺν Κρητῶν ὁμίλῳ·
Διὸς εὐκλείου δὲ ϝέκα-
τι βαθύζωνον κόραν
Δεξιθέαν δάμασεν·
καί ϝοι λίπεν ἥμισυ λαῶν,
ἄνδρας ἀρηϊφίλους,
τοῖσιν πολύκρημνον χθόνα
νείμας ἀποπλ έω ν ᾤχετʼ ἐς
Κνωσὸν ἱμερτὰν πόλιν
βασιλεὺς Εὐρωπιάδας·
δεκάτῳ δʼ Εὐξάντιον
μηνὶ τέ]κʼ εὐπλόκ[αμος
νύμφα φερ]εκυδέ[ϊ νάσῳ
¯ ˘ ˘ ¯]πρύτα[νιν
δν
…
ἄλλα]ξαν θύγατρες
πόλ[ιν ¯ ¯ ¯]ν βαθυδεί-
ελον· [ἐκ τᾶ]ς μὲν γένος
ἔπλε[το καρτε]ρόχειρ
Ἀργεῖος [˘ ¯ ˘] λέοντος
θυμὸ[ν ἔχων], ὁπότε
χρεῖ[ός τι συμ]βολοῖ μάχας,
ποσσί[ν τʼ ἐλα]φρό[ς, π]ατρίων
τʼ οὐκ [ἀπόκλαρος κ]αλῶν,
τόσα Παν[θείδᾳ κλυτό]το-
ξος Ἀπό[λλων ὤπασε]ν,
ἀμφί τʼ ἰατορίᾳ
ξείνων τε φιλάνορι τιμᾷ·
εὖ δὲ λαχὼν Χαρίτων
πολλοῖς τε θαυμασθεὶς βροτᾶν
αἰῶνʼ ἔλυσεν, πέντε παῖ-
δας μεγαινήτους λιπών.
τῶν ἕνα ϝοι Κρονίδας
ὑψίζυγος Ἰσθμιόνικον
θῆκεν ἀντʼ εὐεργεσιᾶν, λιπαρῶν τʼ ἄλ-
λων στεφάνων ἐπίμοιρον.
φαμὶ καὶ φάσω μέγιστον
κῦδος ἔχειν ἀρετάν, πλοῦ-
τος δὲ καὶ δειλοῖσιν ἀνθρώπων ὁμιλεῖ,
ἐθέλει δʼ αὔξειν φρένας ἀν-
δρός· ὁ δʼ εὖ ἔρδων θεοὺς
ἐλπίδι κυδροτέρᾳ
σαίνει κέαρ· εἰ δʼ ὑγιείας
θνατὸς ἐὼν ἔλαχεν,
ζώειν τʼ ἀπʼ οἰκείων ἔχει,
πρώτοις ἐρίζει· παντί τοι
τέρψις ἀνθρώπων βίῳ
ἕπεται νόσφιν γε νόσων
πενίας τʼ ἀμαχάνου.
ἶσον ὅ τʼ ἀφνεὸς ἱ-
μείρει μεγάλων ὅ τε μείων
παυροτέρων· τὸ δὲ πάν-
των εὐμαρεῖν οὐδὲν γλυκὺ
θνατοῖσιν, ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ τὰ φεύ-
γοντα δίζηνται κιχεῖν.
ὅντινα κουφόταται
θυμὸν δονέουσι μέριμναι,
ὅσσον ἂν ζώῃ λάχε τόνδε χρόνον τι-
μάν· ἀρετὰ δʼ ἐπίμοχθος
μέν, τε]λευταθεῖσα δʼ ὀρθῶς
ἀνδρὶ κ]αὶ εὖτε θάνῃ λεί-
πει πο]λυζήλωτον εὐκλείας ἄγαλμα.

[¶1] Fame, whose gifts are revered, speed to holy Ceos bringing the gracious message:
that Argeius won the victory in the battle of bold hands,
and brought to mind the fine deeds which we, from the holy island of Euxantius, have shown at the famous neck of the Isthmus,
winning seventy garlands.
the native Muse summons the sweet clang of flutes, honoring the dear son of Pantheides with victory songs.

> Greek: ἄ[ϊξεν ἁ] σεμνοδότειρα Φήμα
ἐς Κέον ἱεράν, χαριτώ-
νυμον φέρουσʼ ἀγγελίαν,
ὅτι μ[άχ]ας θρασύχειρος Ἀρ-
γεῖος ἄρατο νίκαν·
καλῶν δʼ ἀνέμνασεν, ὅσʼ ἐν κλεεννῷ
αὐχένι ϝισθμοῦ ζαθέαν
λιπόντες Εὐξαντίδα νᾶ-
σον ἐπεδείξαμεν ἑβδομή-
κοντα σὺν στεφάνοισιν.
καλεῖ δὲ Μοῦσʼ αὐθιγενὴς
γλυκεῖαν αὐλῶν καναχάν,
γεραίρουσʼ ἐπινικίοις
Πανθείδα φίλον υἱόν.

[¶2] Clio, giver of sweet gifts, sing the praises of the mistress of most fertile Sicily, Demeter, and of her violet-garlanded daughter, and of Hieron's swift horses, racers at Olympia;
for they sped with majestic Victory and with Aglaia by the wide-whirling Alpheus, where they made the son of Deinomenes a prosperous man, a victor winning garlands.
And the … people shouted,
“Ah! thrice-blessed man! Zeus has granted him the honor of ruling most widely over the Greeks, and he knows not to hide his towered wealth under black-cloaked darkness.”
The temples teem with cattle-sacrificing festivities; the streets teem with hospitality. Gold flashes and glitters, the gold of tall ornate tripods standing
before the temple, where the Delphians administer the great precinct
of Phoebus beside the Castalian stream. A man should honor the god, for that is the greatest prosperity.
For indeed, once the ruler of horse-taming Lydia,
Croesus—when Zeus was bringing about the decreed fate, and Sardis was being sacked by the Persian army—Croesus was protected by the god of the golden lyre,
Apollo. When he had come to that unexpected day,
Croesus had no intention of waiting any longer for the tears of slavery. He had a pyre built before his bronze-walled courtyard,
and he mounted the pyre with his dear wife and his daughters with beautiful hair;
they were weeping inconsolably. He raised his arms to the steep sky
and shouted, “overweening deity, where is the gratitude of the gods? Where is lord Apollo?”
“The palace of Alyattes falls into ruins … countless … ”
“… city … the Pactolus whirling with [gold runs red with blood],”
“women are brutally led out of the well-built halls.”
“What was hated is loved. To die is sweetest.” So he spoke, and he bid the slave with the delicate step to kindle the wooden structure. His daughters cried out,
and threw their arms out towards their mother;
for death is most hateful to mortals when it is right before their eyes. But when the flashing force of terrible fire began to shoot through the wood,
Zeus set a dark rain-cloud over it, and began to quench the golden flame.
Nothing is unbelievable which is brought about by the gods' ambition. Then Apollo, born on Delos, brought the old man to live among the Hyperboreans,
along with his slender-ankled daughters,
because of his piety, since of all mortals he sent the greatest gifts to holy Pytho. And of all mortal men who live in Greece, not one, o greatly-praised Hieron, will be willing
to say that he has sent more gold than you to Loxias. Every man who does not fatten himself with envy may praise a … warlike man, a lover of horses,
who has the scepter of … Zeus,
and a share of the violet-haired Muses. … once … ephemeral … you consider; [life is] brief.
But winged hope loosens the wits of ephemeral creatures. Lord Apollo … said to the son of Pheres: “Being a mortal, you must cultivate twin”
“thoughts: that tomorrow will be the last day you see”
“the sun's light, and that you will complete another fifty years of life deep in wealth. Cheer your spirit with pious deeds, for this is the highest of profits.”
To the thoughtful, what I sing is intelligible. The deep air is undefiled. The water of the sea does not decay. Gold is a delight. It is not lawful for a man to bypass gray
old age, and recover flourishing youth.
And yet the gleam of a mortal's excellence does not diminish along with the body—no, the Muse nurtures it. Hieron, you
have displayed to mortals the most beautiful flowers of prosperity.
Silence is no ornament for a successful man. With remembrance of fine deeds a man will also sing the gracious recompense made by the honey-voiced Cean nightingale.

> Greek: ἀριστοκάρπου Σικελίας κρέουσαν
Δάματρα ϝιοστέφανόν τε κούραν
ὕμνει, γλυκύδωρε Κλειοῖ, θοάς τʼ Ὀ-
λυμπιοδρόμους Ἱέρωνος ἵππους.
σεύον]το γὰρ σὺν ὑπερόχῳ τε Νίκᾳ
σὺν Ἀγ]λαΐᾳ τε παρʼ εὐρυδίναν
Ἀλφ εό ν, τόθι Δ]εινομέν εο ς ἔθηκαν
ὄλβιον [γόνον στεφάνω]ν κυρῆσαι.
θρόησε δὲ λ[αὸς ἀπείρων·
ἆ τρισευδαίμ[ων ἀνήρ,
ὃ παρὰ Ζηνὸς λαχὼν
πλείσταρχον Ἑλλάνων γέρας
οἶδε πυργωθέντα πλοῦτον μὴ μελαμ-
φαρέϊ κρύπτειν σκότῳ.
βρύει μὲν ἱερὰ βουθύτοις ἑορταῖς,
βρύουσι φιλοξενίας ἀγυιαί·
λάμπει δʼ ὑπὸ μαρμαρυγαῖς ὁ χρυσὸς
ὑψιδαιδάλτων τριπόδων σταθέντων
πάροιθε ναοῦ, τόθι μέγιστον ἄλσος
Φοίβου παρὰ Κασταλίας ῥεέθροις
Δελφοὶ διέπουσι. θεόν, θεόν τις
ἀγλαϊζέτ ω, ὁ γὰρ ἄριστος ὄλβων.
ἐπεί ποτε καὶ δαμασίππου
Λυδίας ἀρχαγέταν,
εὖτε τὰν πεπ[ρωμέναν
Ζηνὸς τελε[ιοῦσαι κρίσιν
Σάρδιες Περσᾶ[ν ἐπορθεῦντο στρ]ατῷ,
Κροῖσον ὁ χρυσά[ορος
φύλαξʼ Ἀπόλλων. [ὁ δʼ ἐς ἄ]ελπτον ἆμαρ
μολὼν πολυδ[άκρυον] οὐκ ἔμελλε
μίμνειν ἔτι δ[ουλοσύ]ναν· πυρὰν δὲ
χαλκοτειχέος π[ροπάροι]θεν αὐ[λᾶς
ναήσατʼ, ἔνθα σὺ[ν ἀλόχῳ] τε κεδνᾷ
σὺν εὐπλοκάμοις τʼ ἐπέβαινʼ ἄλα[στον
θυγατράσι δυρομέναις· χέρας δʼ ἐς
αἰπὺν αἰθέρα σφετέρας ἀείρας
γέγω]νεν· ὑπέρβιε δαῖμον,
ποῦ θεῶν ἐστιν χάρις;
ποῦ δὲ Λατοίδας ἄναξ;
πίτνουσ]ιν Ἀλυάττα δόμοι,
¯˘¯×¯˘¯×] μυρίων
¯˘¯×¯˘¯]ν;
ׯ˘˘×˘˘˘¯˘]ν ἄστυ,
φοινίσσεται αἵματι χρυσο]δίνας
Πακτωλός· ἀεικελίως γυναῖκες
ἐξ ἐϋκτίτων μεγάρων ἄγονται·
τὰ πρόσθε δʼ ἐχθρὰ φίλα· θανεῖν γλύκιστον.
τόσʼ εἶπε, καὶ ἁβροβάταν κέλευσεν
ἅπτειν ξύλινον δόμον. ἔ[κλαγ]ον δὲ
παρθένοι, φίλας τʼ ἀνὰ ματρὶ χεῖρας
ἔβαλλον· ὁ γὰρ προφανὴς θνα-
τοῖσιν ἔχθιστος φόνων·
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ δεινοῦ πυρὸς
λαμπρὸν διάϊ[σσεν μέ]νος,
Ζεὺς ἐπιστάσα[ς μελαγκευ]θὲς νέφος
σβέννυεν ξανθὰ[ν φλόγα.
ἄπιστον οὐδέν, ὅ τι θ[εῶν μέ]ριμνα
τεύχει· τότε Δαλογενὴς Ἀπόλλων
φέρων ἐς Ὑπερβορέους γέροντα
σὺν τανισφύροις κατένασσε κούραις
δι’ εὐσέβειαν, ὅτι μέγιστα θνατῶν.
ἐς ἀγαθέαν ἀνέπεμψε Πυθώ.
ὅσοι γε μὲν Ἑλλάδʼ ἔχουσιν, οὔτι[ς,
ὦ μεγαίνητε Ἱέρων, θελήσει
φάμ]εν σέο πλείονα χρυσὸν
Λοξί]ᾳ πέμψαι βροτῶν.
εὖ λέγ]ειν πάρεστιν, ὅσ-
τις μὴ φθόνῳ πιαίνεται,
θεοφι]λῆ φίλιππον ἄνδρʼ ἀρήϊον,
τεθμ]ίου σκᾶπτρον Διὸς
ἰοπλό]κων τε μέρο[ς ἔχοντ]α Μουσᾶν·
ὡς δʼ ἐν] Μαλέᾳ ποτέ, [χεῖμα δαί]μων
ἐπʼ ἔθ]νος ἐφάμερον α[ἶψʼ ἵησι.
καίρι]α σκοπεῖς· βραχ[ὺς ἄμμιν αἰών·
δολό]εσσα δʼ ἐλπὶς ὑπ[ὸ κέαρ δέδυκεν
ἐφαμ]ερίων· ὁ δʼ ἄναξ [Ἀπόλλων
ὁ βουκό]λος εἶπε Φέρη[τος υἷι·
θνατὸν εὖντα χρὴ διδύμους ἀέξειν
γνώμας, ὅτι τʼ αὔριον ὄψ εα ι
μοῦνον ἁλίου φάος,
χὥτι πεντήκοντʼ ἔτ εα
ζωὰν βαθύπλουτον τελεῖς.
ὅσια δρῶν εὔφραινε θυμόν· τοῦτο γὰρ
κερδέων ὑπέρτατον.
φρον έο ντι συνετὰ γαρύω· βαθὺς μὲν
αἰθὴρ ἀμίαντος· ὕδωρ δὲ πόντου
οὐ σάπεται· εὐφροσύνα δʼ ὁ χρυσός·
ἀνδρὶ δʼ οὐ θέμις, πολιὸν π[αρ]έντα
γῆρας, θάλειαν αὖτις ἀγκομίσσαι
ἥβαν. ἀρετᾶ[ς γε μ]ὲν οὐ μινύθει
βροτῶν ἅμα σ[ώμα]τι φέγγος, ἀλλὰ
Μοῦσά νιν τρ[έφει]. Ἱέρων, σὺ δʼ ὄλβου
κάλλιστʼ ἐπεδ[είξ]αο θνατοῖς
ἄνθεα· πράξα[ντι] δʼ εὖ
οὐ φέρει κόσμον σιω-
πά· σὺν δʼ ἀλαθείᾳ καλῶν
καὶ μελιγλώσσου τις ὑμνήσει χάριν
Κηΐας ἀηδόνος.

[¶3] Golden-haired Apollo still loves the state of Syracuse and honors Hieron, the city's lawful ruler. For his praises are sung as a Pythian victor for a third time beside the navel of the high-ridged land,
through the excellence of his swift-footed horses. Ourania's sweet-voiced cockerel, ruler of the lyre … but with willing mind …
showered with hymns.
And yet a fourth time we would be honoring the son of Deinomenes if some … held the scales of Justice …
he can be crowned with garlands, as the only man on earth who has accomplished this in the vale of Cirrha by the sea; and he has two Olympian victories to sing of as well. What is better than to be loved by the gods
and to be granted a share of every kind of noble deed?

> Greek: ἔτι Συρακοσίαν φιλεῖ
πόλιν ὁ χρυσοκόμας Ἀπόλλων,
ἀστύθεμίν θʼ Ἱέρωνα γεραίρει·
τρίτον γὰρ παρʼ ὀμφα]λὸν ὑψιδείρου χθονὸς
Πυθιόνικ[ος ἀείδε]ται
ὠκυπόδ[ων ἀρετᾶ] σὺν ἵππων.
έ̣[!!!!] ἁδυεπὴς ἀ[να-
ξιφόρ]μιγγος Ουρ[αν]ίας ἀλέκτωρ!!!!!!]εν· ἀλλʼ ἑκ[όν]τι νόῳ,!!!!!ο]υς ἐπέσεισ̣εν ὕμνους
ἔτι δὲ τέ]τρατον εἴ τις ορ-!!!!!!!]εἵλκε Δίκ]ας τάλαν[τον
Δεινομέν εό ς κʼ ἐγερα[ίρο]μεν υἱόν.
πάρεστίν νιν ἀγχιάλοισ[ι Κρίσ]ας μυχοῖς
μοῦνον ἐπιχθονίων τάδε
μησάμενον στεφάνοις ἐρέπτειν
δύο τʼ Ὀλυμπιονίκας
ἀείδειν. τί φέρτερον ἢ θεοῖσιν
φίλον ἐόντα παντο[δα]πῶν
λαγχάνειν ἄπο μοῖρα[ν ἐσ]θλῶν;

[¶4] Fortunate in your fate, commander of the Syracusans, riders of whirling horses: you,
if any man on earth today, will rightly understand this honor, sweet gift of the violet-garlanded Muses. Now, calm your righteous mind; rest it from cares, and consider: a hymn, woven with the help of the deep-waisted Graces,
is sent from the holy island to your glorious city by your guest-friend, the brilliant servant of Ourania with her golden headband. He wants
to pour forth his voice from his heart
to praise Hieron. High above, slicing the deep air with his swift golden wings, the eagle, messenger of loud-thundering, wide-ruling
Zeus, trusts boldly in his powerful strength, and thin-voiced birds crouch in fear. The peaks of the great earth do not restrain him,
nor the rough, choppy waves of the untiring sea. In the everlasting void he shifts his delicate wings, riding the gusts of the west wind,
a conspicuous sight for men.
So now for me there are countless paths of song leading in every direction, thanks to dark-haired Nike and Ares with his bronze breastplate, to sing of your excellence,
noble sons of Deinomenes. May the god not tire of doing good. Beside the wide-whirling Alpheus, golden-armed Dawn saw the victory of the chestnut horse Pherenicus, a runner swift as a wind-storm,
and she saw him win in very holy Pytho. Laying my hand on the earth, I make this declaration: never in any contest has he been fouled by the dust of faster horses
as he strained toward the finish-line. In force he is like Boreas; obeying his rider, he speeds a new victory and new applause to hospitable Hieron.
Prosperous is he to whom a god has given a share of fine things, and a rich life to live out with enviable luck. For no man on earth
was born to be fortunate in everything.
So it was, they say, that the gate-destroying unconquerable son of Zeus of the flashing thunderbolt went down to the halls of slender-ankled Persephone
to bring up into the light from Hades the razor-toothed dog, son of the fearsome Echidna. There he saw the souls of miserable mortals by the streams of Cocytus,
like leaves swirled by the wind along the sheep-pasturing headlands of shining Ida. Among them, the shade of Porthaon's bold,
spear-wielding descendant stood out.
When the marvellous hero, son of Alcmene, saw him shining in his armor, he stretched the clear-sounding bowstring onto his bow, and opened the lid of his quiver and drew out a bronze-tipped
arrow. But the soul of Meleager appeared in front of him and spoke to him, knowing him well: “Son of great Zeus,”
“stand where you are, and calm your spirit—”
“Do not shoot a harsh arrow from your hands in vain against the souls of those who have perished. You have no need to fear.” So he spoke. And the son of Amphitryon was astonished,
and said, “What god or mortal raised such a fine young plant as you? In what land? Who killed you? No doubt Hera with her beautiful belt will soon”
“send that killer after me. But that must be the concern of golden-haired Pallas.” And Meleager answered him, in tears, “It is hard”
“for men on earth to sway the minds of the gods;”
“for otherwise my father, horse-driving Oineus, would have appeased the anger of holy, white-armed Artemis with her garland of buds,”
“when he entreated her with sacrifices of many goats and red-backed cattle. But the maiden goddess' anger was unconquerable; she sent an immensely violent”
“boar, a ruthless fighter, to Calydon, the place of lovely choruses; there, his strength raging like a flood, he cut down vine-rows with his tusk, and slaughtered flocks, and whatever mortals”
“came across his path.”
“We, the best of the Hellenes, fought hard to sustain the hateful battle against him, for six days continuously. But when some god gave the upper hand to the Aetolians,”
“we buried those whom the loud-roaring boar had killed in his violent attacks: Ancaeus, and Agelaus, the best of my dear brothers, whom”
“Althaea bore in the far-famed halls of Oineus.”
“Ruinous fate destroyed … For not yet did the hostile goddess, the savage daughter of Leto, [stop] her anger. We fought hard for the beast's fiery hide”
“with the Couretes, steadfast in battle. Then I killed, among many others, Iphiclus and noble Aphares, my mother's swift brothers; for”
“strong-spirited Ares does not discern a friend in battle—shafts fly blindly from the hands against the souls of the enemy, and bring death”
“to whomever the god wishes.”
“My mother, the hostile daughter of Thestius, did not take this into account; she brought about my evil fate, the fearless woman, and planned my destruction.”
“She took the log of my swift doom out of the ornate chest, and burned it. Fate had marked off that this should be the boundary of my life. I happened to be slaying”
“Clymenus, Daïpylus' valiant son, whose body was flawless; I had overtaken him in front of the towers. The others”
“were fleeing to the well-built ancient city”
“of Pleuron. And my sweet soul diminished; I knew that my strength was gone, aiai! I breathed my last breath in tears, as I left behind splendid youth.”
They say that was the only time that the son of Amphitryon, fearless in battle, ever wetted his eyes with tears, pitying the fate of the man who endured grief. And he answered him in this way:
“For mortals it is best never to be born,”
“never to look on the light of the sun. But there is no profit in lamenting this; one must speak of what can be accomplished.”
“Is there, in the halls of battle-loving Oineus, any daughter, unsubdued by love, whose appearance is like yours? I would gladly make her my splendid bride.”
And to him the soul of Meleager, steadfast in battle, answered: “I left behind at home Deianeira, with her neck like a fresh olive; golden”
“Cypris, charmer of mortals, is still unknown to her.”
White-armed Calliope, stop your well-made chariot right there. Sing of the Olympian ruler of the gods, Zeus son of Cronus,
and the untiring stream of the Alpheus, and the strength of Pelops, and Pisa, where glorious Pherenicus won victory in the race with his feet, and returned to Syracuse with its fine towers,
bringing to Hieron the leaf of good fortune. For the sake of truth we must give praise, pushing away envy with both hands,
if any mortal man does well.
A Boeotian man, Hesiod, attendant of the sweet Muses, said this: “He whom the gods honor has a good name among men as well.”
I am easily persuaded to send to Hieron my illustrious voice, not … from the path …. For in this way the roots of fine fortune flourish; may the great father
Zeus guard them, undisturbed, in peace.

> Greek: εὔμοιρε Συρακοσίων
ἱπποδινήτων στραταγέ,
γνώσει μὲν ἰοστεφάνων
Μοισᾶν γλυκύδωρον ἄγαλμα, τῶν γε νῦν
αἴ τις ἐπιχθονίων,
ὀρθῶς· φρένα δʼ εὐθύδικον
ἀτρέμʼ ἀμπαύσας μεριμνᾶν
δεῦρʼ ἐπάθρησον νόῳ,
ᾗ σὺν Χαρίτεσσι βαθυζώνοις ὑφάνας
ὕμνον ἀπὸ ζαθέας
νάσου ξένος ὑμετέραν πέμ-
πει κλεεννὰν ἐς πόλιν,
χρυσάμπυκος Οὐρανίας κλει-
νὸς θεράπων· ἐθέλει δὲ
γᾶρυν ἐκ στηθ έω ν χέων
αἰνεῖν Ἱέρωνα. βαθὺν
δʼ αἰθέρα ξουθαῖσι τάμνων
ὑψοῦ πτερύγεσσι ταχεί-
αις αἰετὸς εὐρυάνακτος ἄγγελος
Ζηνὸς ἐρισφαράγου
θαρσεῖ κρατερᾷ πίσυνος
ἰσχύϊ, πτάσσοντι δʼ ὄρνι-
χες λιγύφθογγοι φόβῳ·
οὔ νιν κορυφαὶ μεγάλας ἴσχουσι γαίας,
οὐδʼ ἁλὸς ἀκαμάτας
δυσπαίπαλα κύματα· νωμᾶ-
ται δʼ ἐν ἀτρύτῳ χάει
λεπτότριχα σὺν ζεφύρου πνοι-
αῖσιν ἔθειραν ἀρίγνω-
τος μετʼ ἀνθρώποις ἰδεῖν·
τὼς νῦν καὶ ἐμοὶ μυρία πάντᾳ κέλευθος
ὑμετέραν ἀρετὰν
ὑμνεῖν, κυανοπλοκάμου θʼ ἕκατι Νίκας
χαλκεοστέρνου τʼ Ἄρηος,
Δεινομένευς ἀγέρω-
χοι παῖδες· εὖ ἔρδων δὲ μὴ κάμοι θεός.
ξανθότριχα μὲν Φερένικον
Ἀλφεὸν παρʼ εὐρυδίναν
πῶλον ἀελλοδρόμαν
εἶδε νικάσαντα χρυσόπαχυς Ἀώς,
Πυθῶνί τʼ ἐν ἀγαθέᾳ·
γᾷ δʼ ἐπισκήπτων πιφαύσκω·
οὔπω νιν ὑπὸ προτέρων
ἵππων ἐν ἀγῶνι κατέχρανεν κόνις
πρὸς τέλος ὀρνύμενον·
ῥιπᾷ γὰρ ἴσος βορέα
ὃν κυβερνήταν φυλάσσων
ἵεται νεόκροτον
νίκαν Ἱέρωνι φιλοξείνῳ τιτύσκων.
ὄλβιος ᾧτινι θ εὸ ς
μοῖράν τε καλῶν ἔπορεν
σύν τʼ ἐπιζήλῳ τύχᾳ
ἀφν εὸ ν βιοτὰν διάγειν· οὐ
γάρ τις ἐπιχθονίων
πάντα γʼ εὐδαίμων ἔφυ.
καὶ μάν π]οτʼ ἐρειψιπύλαν
παῖδʼ ἀνίκ]ατον λέγουσιν
δῦναι Διὸς] ἀργικεραύ-
νου δώματα Φερσεφόνας τανισφύρου,
καρχαρόδοντα κύνʼ ἄ-
ξοντʼ ἐς φάος ἐξ Ἀΐδα,
υἱὸν ἀπλάτοιʼ Ἐχίδνας·
ἔνθα δυστάνων βροτῶν
ψυχὰς ἐδάη παρὰ Κωκυτοῦ ῥεέθροις,
οἷά τε φύλλʼ ἄνεμος
Ἴδας ἀνὰ μηλοβότους
πρῶνας ἀργηστὰς δονεῖ.
ταῖσιν δὲ μετέπρεπεν εἴδω-
λον θρασυμέμνονος ἐγ-
χεσπάλου Πορθανίδα·
τὸν δʼ ὡς ἴδεν Ἀλκμήνιος θαυμαστὸς ἥρως
τεύχεσι λαμπόμενον,
νευρὰν ἐπέβασε λιγυκλαγγῆ κορώνας,
χαλκεόκρανον δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐξ-
είλετο ϝιὸν ἀνα-
πτύξας φαρέτρας πῶμα· τῷ δʼ ἐναντία
ψυχὰ προφάνη Μελεάγρου
καί νιν εὖ εἰδὼς προσεῖπεν·
υἱὲ Διὸς μεγάλου,
στᾶθί τʼ ἐν χώρᾳ, γελανώσας τε θυμόν
μὴ ταΰσιον προΐει
τραχὺν ἐκ χειρῶν ὀϊστὸν
ψυχαῖσιν ἔπι φθιμένων·
οὔτοι δέος. ὣς φάτο· θάμβησεν δʼ ἄναξ
Ἀμφιτρυωνιάδας,
εἶπέν τε· τίς ἀθανάτων
ἢ βροτῶν τοιοῦτον ἔρνος
θρέψεν ἐν ποίᾳ χθονί;
τίς δʼ ἔκτανεν; ἦ τάχα καλλίζωνος Ἥρα
κεῖνον ἐφʼ ἁμετέρᾳ
πέμψει κεφαλᾷ· τὰ δέ που
Παλλάδι ξανθᾷ μέλει.
τὸν δὲ προσέφα Μελέαγρος
δακρυόεις· χαλεπὸν
θ εῶ ν παρατρέψαι νόον
ἄνδρεσσιν ἐπιχθονίοις.
καὶ γὰρ ἂν πλάξιππος Οἰνεὺς
παῦσεν καλυκοστεφάνου
σεμνᾶς χόλον Ἀρτέμιδος λευκωλένου
λισσόμενος πολέων
τʼ αἰγῶν θυσίαισι πατὴρ
καὶ βοῶν φοινικονώτων·
ἀλλʼ ἀνίκατον θεὰ
ἔσχεν χόλον· εὐρυβίαν δʼ ἔσσευε κούρα
κάπρον ἀναιδομάχαν
ἐς καλλίχορον Καλυδῶ-
νʼ, ἔνθα πλημύρων σθένει
ὄρχους ἐπέκειρεν ὀδόντι,
σφάζε τε μῆλα, βροτῶν
θʼ ὅστις εἰσάνταν μόλοι.
τῷ δὲ στυγερὰν δῆριν Ἑλλάνων ἄριστοι
στασάμεθʼ ἐνδυκέως
ἓξ ἄματα συνεχέως· ἐπεὶ δὲ δαίμων
κάρτος Αἰτωλοῖς ὄρεξεν,
θάπτομεν οὓς κατέπε-
φνεν σῦς ἐριβρύχας ἐπαΐσσων βίᾳ,
Ἀγκαῖον ἐμῶν τʼ Ἀγέλαον
φ[έρτ]ατον κεδνῶν ἀδελφ εῶ ν,
οὓς τέ]κεν ἐν μεγάροις
πατρὸ]ς Ἀλθαία περικλειτοῖσιν Οἰνέος·
τῶν δʼ ὤ]λεσε μοῖρʼ ὀλοὰ
πλεῦνα]ς· οὐ γάρ πω δαΐφρων
παῦσεν] χόλον ἀγροτέρα
Λατοῦς θυγάτηρ· περὶ δʼ αἴθωνος δορᾶς
μαρνάμεθʼ ἐνδυκέως
Κουρῆσι μενεπτολέμοις·
ἔνθʼ ἐγὼ πολλοῖς σὺν ἄλλοις
Ἴφικλον κατέκτανον
ἐσθλόν τʼ Ἀφάρητα, θοοὺς μάτρωας· οὐ γὰρ
καρτερόθυμος Ἄρης
κρίνει φίλον ἐν πολέμῳ·
τυφλὰ δʼ ἐκ χειρῶν βέλη
ψυχαῖς ἔπι δυσμενέων φοι-
τᾷ θάνατόν τε φέρει
τοῖσιν ἂν δαίμων θέλῃ·
ταῦτʼ οὐκ ἐπιλεξαμένα
Θεστίου κούρα δαΐφρων
μάτηρ κακόποτμος ἐμοὶ
βούλευσεν ὄλεθρον ἀτάρβακτος γυνά·
καῖέ τε δαιδαλέας
ἐκ λάρνακος ὠκύμορον
φιτρὸν ἀγκλαύσασα, τὸν δὴ
μοῖρʼ ἐπέκλωσεν τότε
ζωᾶς ὅρον ἁμετέρας ἔμμεν. τύχον μὲν
Δαϊπύλου Κλύμενον
παῖδʼ ἄλκιμον ἐξεναρί-
ζων ἀμώμητον δέμας,
πύργων προπάροιθε κιχήσας·
τοὶ δὲ πρὸς εὐκτιμέναν
φεῦγον ἀρχαίαν πόλιν
Πλευρῶνα· μινύνθη δέ μοι ψυχὰ γλυκεῖα,
γνῶν δʼ ὀλιγοσθενέων·
αἰαῖ· πύματον δὲ πνέων δάκρυσα τλ[άμων
ἀγλαὰν ἥβαν προλείπων.
φασὶν ἀδεισιβόαν
Ἀμφιτρύωνος παῖδα μοῦνον δὴ τότε
τέγξαι βλέφαρον, ταλαπενθ έο ς
πότμον οἰκτίροντα φωτός·
καί νιν ἀμειβόμενος
τοῖʼ ἔφα· θνατοῖσι μὴ φῦναι φέριστον,
μηδʼ ἀελίου προσιδεῖν
φέγγος· ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ τίς ἐστιν
πρᾶξις τάδε μυρομένοις,
χρὴ κεῖνο λέγειν ὅ,τι καὶ μέλλει τελεῖν.
ἦ ῥα τις ἐν μεγάροις
Οἰνῆος ἀρηϊφίλου
ἔστιν ἀδμήτα θυγάτρων,
σοὶ φυὰν ἀλιγκία;
τάν κεν λιπαρὰν ἐθέλων θείμαν ἄκοιτιν.
τὸν δὲ μενεπτολέμου
ψυχὰ προσέφα Μελεά-
γρου· λίπον χλωραύχενα
ἐν δώμασι Δαϊάνειραν,
νῆϊν ἔτι χρυσέας
Κύπριδος θελξιμβρότου.
λευκώλενε Καλλιόπα,
στᾶσον εὐποίητον ἅρμα
αὐτοῦ· Δία τε Κρονίδαν
ὕμνησον Ὀλύμπιον ἀρχαγὸν θεῶν,
τόν τʼ ἀκαμαντορόαν
Ἀλφ εό ν, Πέλοπός τε βίαν,
καὶ Πίσαν, ἔνθʼ ὁ κλεεννὸς
ποσσὶ νικάσας δρόμῳ
ἦλθ]εν Φερένικος ⟨ἐς ⟩ εὐπύργους Συρακόσ-
σας Ἱέρωνι φέρων
εὐδ]αιμονίας πέταλον.
χρὴ δʼ ἀλαθείας χάριν
αἰνεῖν, φθόνον ἀμφοτέραισιν
χερσὶν ἀπωσάμενον,
εἴ τις εὖ πράσσοι βροτῶν.
Βοιωτὸς ἀνὴρ τᾷδε φών[ησεν, γλυκειᾶν
Ἡσίοδος πρόπολος
Μουσᾶν, ὃν ⟨ἂν ⟩ ἀθάνατοι τι[μῶσι, τούτῳ
καὶ βροτῶν φήμαν ἕπ[εσθαι.
πείθομαι εὐμαρέως
εὐκλ έα κελεύθου γλῶσσαν οὐ[κ ἐκτὸς δίκας
πέμπειν Ἱέρωνι· τόθεν γὰρ
πυθμένες θάλλουσιν ἐσθλ[ῶν,
τοὺς ὁ μεγιστοπάτωρ
Ζεὺς ἀκινήτους ἐν εἰρήν[ᾳ φυλάσσοι.

[¶5] Lachon has won from greatest Zeus the best glory with his feet by the streams of the Alpheus … [the victories] through which before
Ceos rich in vines has been sung at Olympia as victorious in boxing and the foot race, by young men, luxuriant
with garlands in their hair.
And now by the will of Victory, the hymn of Ourania, ruler of song, honors you, wind-footed son of Aristomenes, in songs before your house,
since by your triumph in the foot race you brought glory to Ceos.

> Greek: Λάχων Διὸς μεγίστου
λάχε φέρτατον πόδεσσι
κῦδος ἐπʼ Ἀλφ εοῦ προχοαῖσ[ι νικῶν,
διʼ ὅσσα πάροιθεν
ἀμπελοτρόφον Κέον
ἄεισάν ποτʼ Ὀλυμπίᾳ
πύξ τε καὶ στάδιον κρατεῦ-
σαν] στεφάνοις ἐθείρας
νεανίαι βρύοντες.
σὲ δὲ νῦν ἀναξιμόλπου
Οὐρανίας ὕμνος ἕκατι νίκ[ας
Ἀριστομένειον
ὦ ποδάνεμον τέκος,
γεραίρει προδόμοις ἀοι-
δαῖς, ὅτι στάδιον κρατή-
σας Κέον εὐκλέϊξας.

[¶6] Shining daughter of Time and Night, the fifty [months have brought] you, sixteenth day of the month at Olympia … by the will of …
… to judge the speed of swift feet and preeminence in strength of limbs among the Greeks. The one to whom you give the most distinguished honor of victory is called glorious
and much envied among men. You have adorned with garlands [the son] of Aristomenes, Lachon …

> Greek: ὦ λιπαρὰ θύγατερ Χρόνου τε κ[αὶ
Νυκτός, σὲ πεντήκοντα μηνῶν ἁμέραν
ἑκκαιδεκάταν ἐν Ὀλυμπ[ίᾳ ˘¯!!!]β̣αρυβρ[!!!!!!!!!!!!!] ἕκατι!!!]ι̣τοσαιμα̣[
κρίνειν τα[χυτᾶτά τε] λαιψηρῶν ποδῶν
Ἕλλασι καὶ γυίων ἀρισταλκὲς σθένος·
ᾧ δὲ σὺ πρεσβύτατον νείμῃς γέρας
νίκας ἐπʼ ἀνθρώποισιν εὔδοξος κέκλη-
ται καὶ πολυζήλωτος. Ἀρ[ιστομένει]ον
νῦν γ]ʼ ἐκόσμη[σας στε]φάν[οισι Λάχω]να

[¶7] … singing the praises of sheep-sacrificing Pytho, and Nemea and the Isthmus. I will make my boast, laying my hand on the earth—
every debt of praise shines in the light of truth—no Greek, boy or man, has won more victories in his age-group.
Zeus, whose spear is the thunderbolt, by the banks of the silver-whirling Alpheus may you also fulfill his prayers for great god-given glory, and place on his head a gray-green wreath
of Aetolian olive in the famous games of Phrygian Pelops.

> Greek: Πυθῶνά τε μηλοθύταν
ὑμν έω ν Νεμέαν τε καὶ Ἰσθμόν·
γᾷ δʼ ἐπισκήπτων χέρα
κομπάσομαι· σὺν ἀλα-
θείᾳ δὲ πᾶν λάμπει χρέος·
οὔτις ἀνθρώπων κ[αθʼ Ἕλλα-
νας ἐν ἅλικι χρόνῳ
παῖς ἐὼ ν ἀνήρ τε π[λεῦ-
νας ἐδέξατο νίκας.
ὦ Ζεῦ κεραυνεγχές, κα[ὶ ἐπʼ ἀργυ]ροδίνα
ὄχθαισιν Ἀλφειοῦ τέλεσσ[ας μεγ]αλοκλ έα ς
θ εο δότους εὐχάς, περὶ κ[ρατί τʼ ὄ]πα[σσα]ς
γλαυκὸν Αἰτωλίδος
ἄνδημʼ ἐλαίας
ἐν Πέλοπος Φρυγίου
κλεινοῖς ἀέθλοις.

[¶8] Graces with golden distaffs, give fame, which moves the minds of men; for the divinely inspired prophet of the violet-eyed Muses is ready to sing the praises of Phlius and
the flourishing plain of Nemean Zeus, where white-armed Hera reared the sheep-slaughtering, deep-voiced lion, the first of Heracles' far-famed labors.
There the heroes with red shields, the best of the Argives, held games for the first time in honor of Archemorus, whom a fiery-eyed monstrous dragon killed in his sleep: a sign of the slaughter to come.
Powerful fate! The son of Oicles could not persuade them to go back to the streets thronged with good men. Hope robs men [of their sense]:
it was she who then sent Adrastus son of Talaus
to Thebes … to Polyneices … The mortal men who crown their golden hair with the triennial garland from those glorious games in Nemea are illustrious;
and now a god has given it to the victorious Automedes,
for he stood out among the pentathletes as the shining moon in the mid-month night sky outshines the light of the stars.
In such a way, amid the vast circling crowd of the Greeks, did he display his marvellous body, hurling the wheel-shaped discus, and raise a shout from the people as he flung the shaft of the dark-leaved elder-tree
from his hand into the steep sky.
He executed the flashing movement of wrestling, and brought strong-limbed bodies down to the earth with such high-spirited strength, then returned to the dark-whirling waters of the Asopus,
whose fame has reached every land, even the farthest reaches of the Nile. And the women skilled with the spear who live by the fair-flowing stream of Thermodon, daughters of horse-driving Ares,
have met with your descendants, much-envied lord of rivers, and so has Troy, the city of high gates. Countless reports of your offspring tread wide paths everywhere, of your daughters
with shining belts, whom the gods established, with good fortune, as founders of cities that were never to be sacked.
Who does not know the well-built city of dark-haired Thebes,
or renowned Aegina, who went to the bed of great Zeus and bore the hero … who … the land of the Achaeans … trials …
… with beautiful robe …
and Peirene with her twisted garland, and as many other
honorable daughters of the ancient resounding river who were overcome in the glorifying beds of gods. … city … victory … the cries of flutes …
… to speak well of golden, violet-haired Cypris, the glorious mother of unbending passions for mortals
… hymn …
… even for one who is dead
… everlasting time, would always declare to later generations your victory at Nemea. A fine deed which attains genuine songs of praise is stored up on high with the gods.
With the true remembrance of men, the finest adornment of the [deep-waisted] Muses is left behind even [after death].
There are many … of men; but the mind of the gods distinguishes
what is hidden in the darkness of night … and the better …
… few men … what will be.
… gave … grace … and Dionysus … city honored by the gods … to dwell …
golden-sceptered … whoever takes a fine thing … praise … for the son of Timoxenos sing praises, with processions [of young men], for his victory in the pentathlon.

> Greek: δόξαν, ὦ χρυσαλάκατοι Χάριτες,
πεισίμβροτον δοίητʼ, ἐπεὶ
Μουσᾶν γε ϝιοβλεφάρων θεῖος προφάτας
εὔτυκος Φλειοῦντά τε καὶ Νεμεαίου
Ζηνὸς εὐθαλὲς πέδον
ὑμνεῖν, ὅθι μηλοδαΐκταν
θρέψεν ἁ λευκώλενος
Ἥρα περικλειτῶν ἀέθλων
πρῶτον Ἡρακλεῖ βαρύφθογγον λέοντα.
κεῖ[θι φοι]νικάσπιδες ἡμίθεοι
πρώτιστον Ἀργείων κριτοὶ
ἄθλησαν ἐπʼ Ἀρχεμόρῳ, τὸν ξανθοδερκὴς
πέφνʼ ἀωτεύοντα δράκων ὑπέροπλος,
σᾶμα μέλλοντος φόνου.
ὦ μοῖρα πολυκρατές· οὔ νιν
πεῖθʼ Ὀϊκλείδας πάλιν
στείχειν ἐς εὐάνδρους ἀγυιάς.
ἐλπὶς ἀνθρώπων ὑφαιρ[εῖται νόημ]α
ἃ καὶ τότʼ Ἄδραστον Ταλ[αϊονίδαν
πέμπεν ἐς Θήβας Πολυνείκεϊ πλα[γκτῷ] πρόξεν[ον.
κείνων ἀπʼ εὐδόξων ἀγώνων
ἐν Νεμ έᾳ κλεινοὶ βροτῶν
οἳ τριέτει στεφάνῳ
ξανθὰν ἐρέψωνται κόμαν.
Αὐτομήδει νῦν γε νικά-
σαντί νιν δαίμων ἔδωκεν.
πενταέθλοισιν γὰρ ἐνέπρεπεν ὡς
ἄστρων διακρίνει φάη
νυκτὸς διχομήνιδος εὐφεγγὴς σελάνα·
τοῖος Ἑλλάνων διʼ ἀπείρονα κύκλον
φαῖνε θαυμαστὸν δέμας,
δισκὸν τροχοειδέα ῥίπτων,
καὶ μελαμφύλλου κλάδον
ἀκτ έα ς ἐς αἰπεινὰν προπέμπων
αἰθέρʼ ἐκ χειρὸς βοὰν ὤτρυνε λαῶν,
ἢ τελευταίας ἀμάρυγμα πάλας·
τοιῷ[δʼ ὑπερθύ]μῳ σ[θένε]ι
γυια[λκέα σώ]ματα [πρὸς γ]αίᾳ πελάσσας
ἵκετʼ [Ἀσωπὸ]ν παρὰ πορφυροδίναν,
τοῦ κ[λέος π]ᾶσαν χθόνα
ἦλθε[ν καὶ] ἐπʼ ἔσχατα Νείλου·
ταί τʼ ἐπʼ ε[ὐν]αεῖ πόρῳ
οἰκεῦσι Θερμώδοντος, ἐγχ έω ν
ἵστορες κοῦραι διωξίπποιʼ Ἄρηος,
σῶν, ὦ πολυζήλωτε ϝάναξ ποταμῶν,
ἐγγόνων γεύσαντο, καὶ ὑψιπύλου Τροίας ἕδος.
στείχει διʼ εὐρείας κελεύθου
μυρία παντᾷ φάτις
σᾶς γενεᾶς λιπαρο-
ζώνων θυγάτρων, ἃς θεοὶ
σὺν τύχαις ᾤκισσαν ἀρχα-
γοὺς ἀπορθήτων ἀγυιᾶν.
τίς γὰρ οὐκ οἶδεν κυανοπλοκάμου
Θήβας ἐΰδμ[ατον πόλι]ν,
ἢ τὰν μεγαλώνυ]μον Αἴγιναν, μεγίστου
Ζηνὸς ἃ πλαθεῖσα λέ]χει τέκεν ἥρω
¯ δ̣ε̣σ̣ω̣ ¯ ¯ ου·
ὃς γ]ᾶς βασά[νοισιν Ἀχ]αιῶν
¯ ˘ ¯ × ¯ ˘ ¯
¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯
α[˘ ¯ ¯ ¯ ˘ ε]ὔπ[ε]πλον [
ἠ[δὲ Πειράν]αν ἑλικοστέφα[νον
κ[ούραν, ὅ]σαι τʼ ἄλλαι θεῶν
ε̣[ὐναῖς ἐδ]άμησαν ἀριγνώτοις π[α]λαι[οῦ
παῖδες αἰ]δ̣οῖαι ποταμοῦ κελάδοντος·
¯˘¯¯]αν πόλιν
¯¯˘˘¯]σί τε νίκα[ς
¯˘¯ αὐ]λῶν βοαὶ
σύμφωνα πνείο]υσαι· με[γίστου
¯˘¯¯¯˘¯¯¯˘¯]α̣ν·
¯¯˘¯¯¯˘˘¯˘]νέος
χρ]υσέα[ν προσ]θέντα ϝιόπλοκον εὖ εἰπεῖν [κόραν,
καὶ μ]ατ[έρʼ ἀγ]νάμπτων ἐρώτων
¯ ˘ ¯ κλε]ινὰν βροτο[ῖς
¯ ˘ ˘ ¯ ˘]λέων
¯ ¯ ˘ ¯ ¯ ¯ ˘ ¯
¯ ˘ ¯ νασι]ώταν
¯ ˘ ¯ ¯ ¯ ˘]ν ὕμνον,
¯ ˘ ¯ ¯ ¯] καὶ ἀποφθιμένῳ
τὸν πάντʼ ἐς ἄτ]ρυτον χρόνον,
καὶ τοῖς ἐπιγ]ιγνομένοις αἰεὶ πιφαύσκοι
σὰν Νε]μέᾳ νίκαν· τό [γέ] τοι καλὸν ἔργον
γνησίων ὕμνων τυχὸν
ὑψοῦ παρὰ δαίμοσι κεῖται·
σὺν δʼ ἀλαθείᾳ βροτῶν
κάλλιστον, εἴπ[ερ καὶ θάνῃ τις,
λείπεται Μουσᾶν [˘¯¯¯ ἄθυ]ρμα.
εἰσὶ δʼ ἀνθρ[ώπων ˘˘¯˘˘¯
πολλαί· διακρίνει δὲ θ εῶ ν
βουλὰ [τὸ καλυπτό]μενον νυκτὸς [δνόφοισιν·!]!!![˘¯¯¯˘]γε καὶ τὸν ἀρείω
¯˘¯¯¯˘]που.
¯¯˘˘¯˘˘]εύσων
¯˘¯¯¯˘¯
¯¯˘¯¯¯˘ π]αύροις
ἀν]δρ[άσιν ¯¯˘¯¯¯]ι̣ τὸ μέλλον·!!]ι̣μιω̣[¯¯˘ ἔδ]ωκε χάριν
κ]αὶ Διων[ύσου Κρονίδας] θεοτίματον πόλιν
ναίειν ἀπο[ρθήτους θαλ]εῦντας·
χρυσεοσκάπτρ[ου Διὸς
ὅς] τι καλὸν φέ[ρεται,
πᾶς αἰ]νέοι· Τιμοξ[ένου
πα]ιδὶ σὺν κώ[μοις ἁμαρ-
τ[έ]ο]ιτε πεντ[άθλου ϝέκατι.