---
title: "Nemean Odes · Νεμεονῖκαι"
author: "Pindar"
translator: "Diane Arnson Svarlien"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 1 of 2
url: https://scriptura.si/works/pindar-nemean-odes/1/
cite: "Pindar, tr. Diane Arnson Svarlien, Nemean Odes · Νεμεονῖκαι, section 1. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/pindar-nemean-odes/1/"
---

# Nemean Odes · Νεμεονῖκαι

*Pindar, tr. Diane Arnson Svarlien*

Eleven victory songs for winners at Nemea.

> Greek: ed. Sir John Sandys, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0033.tlg003, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Diane Arnson Svarlien, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0033.tlg003.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 1–7

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

[¶0] Sacred place where Alpheus breathed again; Ortygia, scion of renowned Syracuse, bed of Artemis, sister of Delos! From you sweet-voiced
song rushes out to give great praise for storm-footed horses, by the grace of Aetnaean Zeus. The chariot of Chromius and Nemea urge me to harness a song of praise for deeds of victory.
The foundations of the song have been laid with the gods, and with this man’s god-given excellence.
The summit of perfect glory is found in good fortune. The Muse loves to remember great contests. Sow some splendor on the island, which Zeus the lord of Olympus gave to Persephone; he nodded assent with his flowing hair, that as the best land on the fruitful earth
he would make Sicily fertile and prosperous in her cities blossoming with wealth. And the son of Cronus sent her a people enamored of bronze-armored battle, horsemen often wedded to the golden leaves of Olympia ’s olive. I have embarked on the occasion for many themes, without flinging a false word.
I have arrived singing of fine deeds at the courtyard gates
of a man who loves guests, where a beautifully arranged meal has been prepared for me, and the halls are often familiar with strangers from other lands. It is his lot to have noble friends to bring against his slanderers, like water against smoke.
Various men have various skills. It is right for a man to follow straight paths, and strive according to his nature.
For strength manifests itself in action, and intelligence in counsels, for those who have the inborn skill of foreseeing the future. Son of Hagesidamus, your way of life
grants you the enjoyment of many things. I take no pleasure in keeping great wealth hidden away in my hall, but in using what I have to be successful and to win a good name by helping my friends. For the hopes of men who toil much come to all alike.
But as for me, I cling to the theme of Heracles gladly, rousing an ancient story from among the great heights of his excellence,
how, when the son of Zeus suddenly came out of his mother’s womb into the brilliant light, escaping her birth-pangs, with his twin brother,
he did not escape the notice of gold-throned Hera when he was placed in his saffron swaddling-clothes. But the queen of the gods,
stung in her heart, immediately sent serpents. The doors opened, and they crept into the spacious inner-chamber, eager to coil their swift jaws around the babies. But Heracles lifted his head straight up, and had his first experience of battle,
seizing
the two necks of the serpents in his two irresistible hands. When they were strangled, time squeezed the breath of life out of their unspeakable limbs. Unbearable fear struck the women who were then helping Alcmena at her bedside;
for she herself leapt to her feet from her bed, unrobed as she was, and tried to ward off the violent attack of the monsters.
And swiftly the chiefs of the Cadmeans rushed in together in their bronze armor, and Amphitryon came brandishing a sword bared from its scabbard, stricken with sharp distress. For each man alike is oppressed by his own trouble, but the heart recovers quickly from someone else’s grief.
He stood, possessed by overwhelming astonishment and delight. For he saw the supernatural courage and power of his son; the immortals had turned the story of the messengers to falsehood for him.
And he called his neighbor, the outstanding prophet of Zeus the highest, the truthful seer Teiresias. And the prophet told him and all the men what fortunes the boy would encounter:
how many he would slay on land, and how many lawless monsters at sea. And he told of a certain one,
most hateful, who walked with crooked insolence towards men, whom the boy would send to his doom. For he said that when the gods meet the giants in battle on the plain of Phlegra, the shining hair of the giants will be stained with dirt beneath the rushing arrows of that hero.
But he himself
will have allotted to him in peace, as an extraordinary reward for his great hardship, continuous peace for all time among the homes of the blessed. He will receive flourishing Hebe as his bride and celebrate the wedding-feast, and in the presence of Zeus the son of Cronus he will praise the sacred law.

> Greek: ἄμπνευμα σεμνὸν Ἀλφεοῦ,
κλεινᾶν Συρακοσσᾶν θάλος Ὀρτυγία,
δέμνιον Ἀρτέμιδος,
Δάλου κασιγνήτα, σέθεν ἁδυεπὴς
ὕμνος ὁρμᾶται θέμεν
αἶνον ἀελλοπόδων μέγαν ἵππων, Ζηνὸς Αἰτναίου χάριν·
ἅρμα δʼ ὀτρύνει Χρομίου Νεμέα θʼ ἔργμασιν νικαφόροις ἐγκώμιον ζεῦξαι μέλος.
ἀρχαὶ δὲ βέβληνται θεῶν
κείνου σὺν ἀνδρὸς δαιμονίαις ἀρεταῖς.
ἔστι δʼ ἐν εὐτυχίᾳ
πανδοξίας ἄκρον· μεγάλων δʼ ἀέθλων
Μοῖσα μεμνᾶσθαι φιλεῖ.
σπεῖρέ νυν ἀγλαΐαν τινὰ νάσῳ, τὰν Ὀλύμπου δεσπότας
Ζεὺς ἔδωκεν Φερσεφόνᾳ, κατένευσέν τέ οἱ χαίταις, ἀριστεύοισαν εὐκάρπου χθονὸς
Σικελίαν πίειραν ὀρθώσειν κορυφαῖς πολίων ἀφνεαῖς.
ὤπασε δὲ Κρονίων πολέμου μναστῆρά οἱ χαλκεντέος
λαὸν ἵππαιχμον θαμὰ δὴ καὶ Ὀλυμπιάδων φύλλοις ἐλαιᾶν χρυσέοις
μιχθέντα. πολλῶν ἐπέβαν καιρὸν οὐ ψεύδει βαλών.
ἔσταν δʼ ἐπʼ αὐλείαις θύραις
ἀνδρὸς φιλοξείνου καλὰ μελπόμενος,
ἔνθα μοι ἁρμόδιον
δεῖπνον κεκόσμηται, θαμὰ δʼ ἀλλοδαπῶν
οὐκ ἀπείρατοι δόμοι
ἐντί· λέλογχε δὲ μεμφομένοις ἐσλοὺς ὕδωρ καπνῷ φέρειν
ἀντίον. τέχναι δʼ ἑτέρων ἕτεραι· χρὴ δʼ ἐν εὐθείαις ὁδοῖς στείχοντα μάρνασθαι φυᾷ.
πράσσει γὰρ ἔργῳ μὲν σθένος,
βουλαῖσι δὲ φρήν, ἐσσόμενον προϊδεῖν
συγγενὲς οἷς ἕπεται.
Ἁγησιδάμου παῖ, σέο δʼ ἀμφὶ τρόπῳ
τῶν τε καὶ τῶν χρήσιες.
οὐκ ἔραμαι πολὺν ἐν μεγάρῳ πλοῦτον κατακρύψαις ἔχειν,
ἀλλʼ ἐόντων εὖ τε παθεῖν καὶ ἀκοῦσαι φίλοις ἐξαρκέων. κοιναὶ γὰρ ἔρχοντʼ ἐλπίδες
πολυπόνων ἀνδρῶν. ἐγὼ δʼ Ἡρακλέος ἀντέχομαι προφρόνως,
ἐν κορυφαῖς ἀρετᾶν μεγάλαις ἀρχαῖον ὀτρύνων λόγον,
ὡς, ἐπεὶ σπλάγχνων ὕπο ματέρος αὐτίκα θαητὰν ἐς αἴγλαν παῖς Διὸς
ὠδῖνα φεύγων διδύμῳ σὺν κασιγνήτῳ μόλεν,
ὡς οὐ λαθὼν χρυσόθρονον
Ἥραν κροκωτὸν σπάργανον ἐγκατέβα·
ἀλλὰ θεῶν βασιλ έα
σπερχθεῖσα θυμῷ πέμπε δράκοντας ἄφαρ.
τοὶ μὲν οἰχθεισᾶν πυλᾶν
ἐς θαλάμου μυχὸν εὐρὺν ἔβαν, τέκνοισιν ὠκείας γνάθους
ἀμφελίξασθαι μεμαῶτες· ὁ δʼ ὀρθὸν μὲν ἄντεινεν κάρα, πειρᾶτο δὲ πρῶτον μάχας,
δισσαῖσι δοιοὺς αὐχένων
μάρψαις ἀφύκτοις χερσὶν ἑαῖς ὄφιας·
ἀγχομένοις δὲ χρόνος
ψυχὰς ἀπέπνευσεν μελέων ἀφάτων.
ἐκ δʼ ἄρʼ ἄτλατον δέος
πλᾶξε γυναῖκας, ὅσαι τύχον Ἀλκμήνας ἀρήγοισαι λέχει·
καὶ γὰρ αὐτά, ποσσὶν ἄπεπλος ὀρούσαισʼ ἀπὸ στρωμνᾶς, ὅμως ἄμυνεν ὕβριν κνωδάλων.
ταχὺ δὲ Καδμείων ἀγοὶ χαλκέοις ἀθρόοι σὺν ὅπλοις ἔδραμον·
ἐν χερὶ δʼ Ἀμφιτρύων κολεοῦ γυμνὸν τινάσσων φάσγανον
ἵκετʼ, ὀξείαις ἀνίαισι τυπείς. τὸ γὰρ οἰκεῖον πιέζει πάνθʼ ὁμῶς·
εὐθὺς δʼ ἀπήμων κραδία κᾶδος ἀμφʼ ἀλλότριον.
ἔστα δὲ θάμβει δυσφόρῳ
τερπνῷ τε μιχθείς. εἶδε γὰρ ἐκνόμιον
λῆμά τε καὶ δύναμιν
υἱοῦ παλίγγλωσσον δέ οἱ ἀθάνατοι
ἀγγέλων ῥῆσιν θέσαν.
γείτονα δʼ ἐκκάλεσεν Διὸς ὑψίστου προφάταν ἔξοχον,
ὀρθόμαντιν Τειρεσίαν· ὁ δέ οἱ φράζε καὶ παντὶ στρατῷ, ποίαις ὁμιλήσει τύχαις,
ὅσσους μὲν ἐν χέρσῳ κτανών,
ὅσσους δὲ πόντῳ θῆρας ἀϊδροδίκας·
καί τινα σὺν πλαγίῳ
ἀνδρῶν κόρῳ στείχοντα τὸν ἐχθρότατον
φᾶσέ νιν δώσειν μόρῳ.
καὶ γὰρ ὅταν θεοὶ ἐν πεδίῳ Φλέγρας Γιγάντεσσιν μάχαν
ἀντιάζωσιν, βελέων ὑπὸ ῥιπαῖσι κείνου φαιδίμαν γαίᾳ πεφύρσεσθαι κόμαν
ἔνεπεν· αὐτὸν μὰν ἐν εἰράνᾳ καμάτων μεγάλων ⟨ἐν⟩ σχερῷ
ἁσυχίαν τὸν ἅπαντα χρόνον ποινὰν λαχόντʼ ἐξαίρετον
ὀλβίοις ἐν δώμασι, δεξάμενον θαλερὰν Ἥβαν ἄκοιτιν καὶ γάμον
δαίσαντα, πὰρ Δὶ Κρονίδᾳ σεμνὸν αἰνήσειν νόμον.

[¶1] Just as the Homeridae, the singers of woven verses, most often begin with Zeus as their prelude, so this man has received a first down-payment of victory in the sacred games by winning
in the grove of Nemean Zeus, which is celebrated in many hymns.
And if the life that guides him straight along the path of his fathers has given him as an adornment to great Athens, it must be that the son of Timonous will often reap the finest bloom of the Isthmian games, and be victorious in the Pythian contests.
It is right
for Orion to travel not far from the mountain Pleiades. And certainly Salamis can raise a warrior. In Troy Hector heard of Aias. And you, Timodemus, are exalted
by your enduring spirit of valor in the pancratium.
Acharnae has long been famous for fine men. And in everything that has to do with contests, the sons of Timodemus are proclaimed the most outstanding. Beside Parnassus, ruling on high, they carried off four victories in the games,
while the men of Corinth
have already given them eight garlands in the glades of noble Pelops; in the Nemean contest of Zeus they have won seven times, and at home their victories are countless. Citizens, praise Zeus in a victory procession for Timodemus’ glorious homecoming.
Begin with a sweet-singing voice!

> Greek: ὅθεν περ καὶ Ὁμηρίδαι
ῥαπτῶν ἐπέων τὰ πόλλʼ ἀοιδοὶ
ἄρχονται, Διὸς ἐκ προοιμίου· καὶ ὅδʼ ἀνὴρ
καταβολὰν ἱερῶν ἀγώνων νικαφορίας δέδεκται πρῶτον Νεμεαίου
ἐν πολυυμνήτῳ Διὸς ἄλσει.
ὀφείλει δʼ ἔτι, πατρίαν
εἴπερ καθʼ ὁδόν νιν εὐθυπομπὸς
αἰὼν ταῖς μεγάλαις δέδωκε κόσμον Ἀθάναις,
θαμὰ μὲν Ἰσθμιάδων δρέπεσθαι κάλλιστον ἄωτον, ἐν Πυθίοισί τε νικᾶν
Τιμονόου παῖδʼ· ἔστι δʼ ἐοικὸς
ὀρειᾶν γε Πελειάδων
μὴ τηλόθεν Ὠαρίωνα νεῖσθαι.
καὶ μὰν ἁ Σαλαμίς γε θρέψαι φῶτα μαχατὰν
δυνατός. ἐν Τρωΐᾳ μὲν Ἕκτωρ Αἴαντος ἄκουσεν· ὦ Τιμόδημε, σὲ δʼ ἀλκὰ
παγκρατίου τλάθυμος ἀέξει.
Ἀχάρναι δὲ παλαίφατοι
εὐάνορες· ὅσσα δʼ ἀμφʼ ἀέθλοις,
Τιμοδημίδαι ἐξοχώτατοι προλέγονται.
παρὰ μὲν ὑψιμέδοντι Παρνασῷ τέσσαρας ἐξ ἀέθλων νίκας ἐκόμιξαν·
ἀλλὰ Κορινθίων ὑπὸ φωτῶν
ἐν ἐσλοῦ Πέλοπος πτυχαῖς
ὀκτὼ στεφάνοις ἔμιχθεν ἤδη·
ἑπτὰ δʼ ἐν Νεμέᾳ τὰ δʼ οἴκοι μάσσονʼ ἀριθμοῦ
Διὸς ἀγῶνι. τόν, ὦ πολῖται, κωμάξατε Τιμοδήμῳ σὺν εὐκλέϊ νόστῳ·
ἁδυμελεῖ δʼ ἐξάρχετε φωνᾷ.

[¶2] Queenly Muse, our mother! I entreat you, come in the sacred month of Nemea to the much-visited Dorian island of Aegina. For beside the waters of the Asopus young men are waiting, craftsmen of honey-voiced
victory-songs, seeking your voice. Various deeds thirst for various things; but victory in the games loves song most of all, the most auspicious attendant of garlands and of excellence.
Send an abundance of it, from my wisdom;
begin, divine daughter, an acceptable hymn to the ruler of the cloud-filled sky, and I will communicate it by the voices of those singers and by the lyre. The hymn will have a pleasant toil, to be the glory of the land where the ancient Myrmidons lived, whose marketplace, famous long ago,
Aristocleides, through your ordinance, did not stain with dishonor by proving himself too weak in the strenuous
course of the pancratium. But in the deep plain of Nemea, his triumph-song brings a healing cure for wearying blows. Still, if the son of Aristophanes, who is beautiful, and whose deeds match his looks,
embarked on the highest achievements of manliness, it is not easy to cross the trackless sea beyond the pillars of Heracles,
which that hero and god set up as famous witnesses to the furthest limits of seafaring. He subdued the monstrous beasts in the sea, and tracked to the very end the streams of the shallows,
where he reached the goal that sent him back home again, and he made the land known. My spirit, towards what foreign headland are you turning my voyage? I bid you to summon the Muse in honor of Aeacus and his race; consummate justice attends the precept, “praise the noble.”
And no man should prefer to desire what is alien. Search at home; you have won a suitable adornment for singing something sweet. Among old examples of excellence is king Peleus, who rejoiced when he cut a matchless spear, and who alone, without an army, captured Iolcus,
and caught the sea-nymph Thetis after many struggles. And powerful Telamon, the comrade of Iolaus, sacked the city of Laomedon;
and once he followed him to meet the bronze-bowed strength of the Amazons. And fear, the subduer of men, never dulled the edge of his mind.
A man with inborn glory has great weight; but he who has only learned is a man in darkness, breathing changeful purposes, never taking an unwavering step, but trying his hand at countless forms of excellence with his ineffectual thought.
But golden-haired Achilles, staying in the home of Philyra as a child, played at great deeds, often
brandishing in his hands a javelin with a short blade; swift as the wind, he dealt death to wild lions in battle, and he slew wild boars and carried their panting bodies to the Centaur, son of Cronus, first when he was six years old, and afterwards for all the time he spent there.
Artemis and bold Athena gazed at him with wonder,
as he slew deer without the help of dogs and crafty nets; for he excelled with his feet. I have this story as it was told by earlier generations. Deep-thinking Cheiron reared Jason under his stone roof, and later Asclepius,
whom he taught the gentle-handed laws of remedies. And he arranged a marriage for Peleus with the lovely-bosomed daughter of Nereus, and brought up for her their incomparable child, nurturing his spirit with all fitting things,
so that when the blasts of the sea-winds sent him
to Troy, he might withstand the spear-clashing war-shout of the Lycians and Phrygians and Dardanians; and when he came into close conflict with the spear-bearing Ethiopians, he might fix it in his mind that their leader, powerful Memnon the kinsman of Helenus, should not return to his home.
From that point the light of the Aeacids has been fixed to shine far.
Zeus, it is your blood and your contest at which my song aimed its shot, shouting the joy of this land with the voices of young men. Their cry is well-suited to victorious Aristocleides, who linked this island with glorious praise and the sacred
Theoric temple of the Pythian god with splendid ambitions. By trial the accomplishment is made manifest, of that in which a man proves himself preeminent,
as a boy among young boys, a man among men, or, thirdly, among elders, according to each stage which we, the race of men, possess.
And mortal life sets in motion four excellences, and bids us to think of what is at hand. You are not without these excellences. Farewell, my friend! I am sending this to you, honey mixed with white milk, crested with foam from mixing, a draught of song accompanied by the Aeolian breathings of flutes,
although it is late. The eagle is swift among birds: he swoops down from afar, and suddenly seizes with his talons his blood-stained quarry; but chattering daws stay closer to the ground. By the grace of Clio on her lovely throne and because of your victorious spirit, the light has shone on you from Nemea and Epidaurus and Megara.

> Greek: ὦ πότνια Μοῖσα, μᾶτερ ἁμετέρα, λίσσομαι,
τὰν πολυξέναν ἐν ἱερομηνίᾳ Νεμεάδι
ἵκεο Δωρίδα νᾶσον Αἴγιναν· ὕδατι γὰρ
μένοντʼ ἐπʼ Ἀσωπίῳ μελιγαρύων τέκτονες
κώμων νεανίαι, σέθεν ὄπα μαιόμενοι.
διψῇ δὲ πρᾶγος ἄλλο μὲν ἄλλου·
ἀε θλονικία δὲ μάλιστʼ ἀοιδὰν φιλεῖ,
στεφάνων ἀρετᾶν τε δεξιωτάταν ὀπαδόν·
τᾶς ἀφθονίαν ὄπαζε μήτιος ἀμᾶς ἄπο·
ἄρχε δʼ οὐρανοῦ πολυνεφέλα κρέοντι, θύγατερ,
δόκιμον ὕμνον· ἐγὼ δὲ κείνων τέ νιν ὀάροις
λύρᾳ τε κοινάσομαι. χαρίεντα δʼ ἕξει πόνον
χώρας ἄγαλμα, Μυρμιδόνες ἵνα πρότεροι
ᾤκησαν, ὧν παλαίφατον ἀγορὰν
οὐκ ἐλεγχέεσσιν Ἀριστοκλείδας τεὰν
ἐμίανε κατʼ αἶσαν ἐν περισθενεῖ μαλαχθεὶς
παγκρατίου στόλῳ· καματωδέων δὲ πλαγᾶν
ἄκος ὑγιηρὸν ἐν βαθυπεδίῳ Νεμέᾳ τὸ καλλίνικον φέρει.
εἰ δʼ ἐὼν καλὸς ἔρδων τʼ ἐοικότα μορφᾷ
ἀνορέαις ὑπερτάταις ἐπέβα παῖς Ἀριστοφάν εο ς· οὐκέτι πρόσω
ἀβάταν ἅλα κιόνων ὑπὲρ Ἡρακλέος περᾶν εὐμαρές,
ἥρως θεὸς ἃς ἔθηκε ναυτιλίας ἐσχάτας
μάρτυρας κλυτάς· δάμασε δὲ θῆρας ἐν πελάγεσιν
ὑπέροχος, διά τʼ ἐξερεύνασε τεναγέων
ῥοάς, ὅπα πόμπιμον κατέβαινε νόστου τέλος,
καὶ γᾶν φράδασσε. θυμέ, τίνα πρὸς ἀλλοδαπὰν
ἄκραν ἐμὸν πλόον παραμείβ εαι;
Αἰακῷ σε φαμὶ γένει τε Μοῖσαν φέρειν,
ἕπεται δὲ λόγῳ δίκας ἄωτος, ἐσλὸς αἰνεῖν·
οὐδʼ ἀλλοτρίων ἔρωτες ἀνδρὶ φέρειν κρέσσονες·
οἴκοθεν μάτευε. ποτίφορον δὲ κόσμον ἔλαβες
type="unspecified" γλυκύ τι γαρυέμεν. παλαιαῖσι δʼ ἐν ἀρεταῖς
γέγαθε Πηλεὺς ἄναξ ὑπέραλλον αἰχμὰν ταμών·
ὃς καὶ Ἰωλκὸν εἷλε μόνος ἄνευ στρατιᾶς,
καὶ ποντίαν Θέτιν κατέμαρψεν
ἐγκονητί. Λαομέδοντα δʼ εὐρυσθενὴς
Τελαμὼν Ἰόλᾳ παραστάτας ἐὼν ἔπερσεν·
καί ποτε χαλκότοξον Ἀμαζόνων μετʼ ἀλκὰν
ἕπετό οἱ· οὐδέ νίν ποτε φόβος ἀνδροδάμας ἔπαυσεν ἀκμὰν φρενῶν.
συγγενεῖ δέ τις εὐδοξίᾳ μέγα βρίθει·
ὃς δὲ διδάκτʼ ἔχει, ψεφηνὸς ἀνὴρ ἄλλοτʼ ἄλλα πνέων οὔ ποτʼ ἀτρεκεῖ
κατέβα ποδί, μυριᾶν δʼ ἀρετᾶν ἀτελεῖ νόῳ γεύεται.
ξανθὸς δʼ Ἀχιλεὺς τὰ μὲν μένων Φιλύρας ἐν δόμοις
παῖς ἐὼν ἄθυρε μεγάλα ἔργα, χερσὶ θαμινὰ
βραχυσίδαρον ἄκοντα πάλλων, ἴσα τʼ ἀνέμοις
μάχᾳ λεόντεσσιν ἀγροτέροις ἔπρασσεν φόνον,
κάπρους τʼ ἔναιρε, σώματα δὲ παρὰ Κρονίδαν
Κένταυρον ἀσθμαίνοντα κόμιζεν,
ἑξέτης τὸ πρῶτον, ὅλον δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἂν χρόνον·
τὸν ἐθάμβεον Ἄρτεμίς τε καὶ θρασεῖʼ Ἀθάνα,
κτείνοντʼ ἐλάφους ἄνευ κυνῶν δολίων θʼ ἑρκέων·
ποσσὶ γὰρ κράτεσκε. λεγόμενον δὲ τοῦτο προτέρων
ἔπος ἔχω· βαθυμῆτα Χείρων τράφε λιθίνῳ
Ἰάσονʼ ἔνδον τέγει, καὶ ἔπειτεν Ἀσκλήπιον,
τὸν φαρμάκων δίδαξε μαλακόχειρα νόμον·
νύμφευσε δʼ αὖτις ἀγλαόκαρπον
Νηρέος θύγατρα, γόνον τέ οἱ φέρτατον
ἀτίταλλεν, ⟨ἐν⟩ ἀρμένοισι πᾶσι θυμὸν αὔξων·
ὄφρα θαλασσίαις ἀνέμων ῥιπαῖσι πεμφθεὶς
ὑπὸ Τρωΐαν, δορίκτυπον ἀλαλὰν Λυκίων τε προσμένοι καὶ Φρυγῶν
Δαρδάνων τε, καὶ ἐγχεσφόροις ἐπιμίξαις
Αἰθιόπεσσι χεῖρας, ἐν φρασὶ πάξαιθʼ, ὅπως σφίσι μὴ κοίρανος ὀπίσω
πάλιν οἴκαδʼ ἀνεψιὸς ζαμενὴς Ἑλένοιο Μέμνων μόλοι.
τηλαυγὲς ἄραρε φέγγος Αἰακιδᾶν αὐτόθεν·
Ζεῦ, τεὸν γὰρ αἷμα, σέο δʼ ἀγών, τὸν ὕμνος ἔβαλεν
ὀπὶ νέων ἐπιχώριον χάρμα κελαδέων.
βοὰ δὲ νικαφόρῳ σὺν Ἀριστοκλείδᾳ πρέπει,
ὃς τάνδε νᾶσον εὐκλέϊ προσέθηκε λόγῳ
καὶ σεμνὸν ἀγλααῖσι μερίμναις
Πυθίου Θεάριον. ἐν δὲ πείρᾳ τέλος
διαφαίνεται, ὧν τις ἐξοχώτερος γένηται,
ἐν παισὶ νέοισι παῖς, ἐν ἀνδράσιν ἀνήρ, τρίτον
ἐν παλαιτέροισι, μέρος ἕκαστον οἷον ἔχομεν
βρότεον ἔθνος. ἐλᾷ δὲ καὶ τέσσαρας ἀρετὰς
⟨ὁ⟩ θνατὸς αἰών, φρονεῖν δʼ ἐνέπει τὸ παρκείμενον.
τῶν οὐκ ἄπεσσι. χαῖρε, φίλος. ἐγὼ τόδε τοι
πέμπω μεμιγμένον μέλι λευκῷ
σὺν γάλακτι, κιρναμένα δʼ ἔερσʼ ἀμφέπει,
πόμʼ ἀοίδιμον Αἰολῇσιν ἐν πνοαῖσιν αὐλῶν,
ὀψέ περ. ἔστι δʼ αἰετὸς ὠκὺς ἐν ποτανοῖς,
ὃς ἔλαβεν αἶψα, τηλόθε μεταμαιόμενος, δαφοινὸν ἄγραν ποσίν·
κραγέται δὲ κολοιοὶ ταπεινὰ νέμονται.
τίν γε μέν, εὐθρόνου Κλεοῦς ἐθελοίσας, ἀεθλοφόρου λήματος ἕνεκεν
Νεμέας Ἐπιδαυρόθεν τʼ ἄπο καὶ Μεγάρων δέδορκεν φάος.

[¶3] When toils have been resolved, festivity is the best physician; and songs, the skillful daughters of the Muses, soothe with their touch. And warm water does not wet the limbs so gently
as praise that accompanies the lyre. Speech lives longer than deeds; whatever words the tongue, with the favor of the Graces, draws from the deep mind.
May it be mine to set forth such speech, in honor of Zeus the son of Cronus, and Nemea,
and Timasarchus’ wrestling, as a prelude to my song. And may it be welcomed by the home of the Aeacids, with its fine towers, that light which shines for all, with justice that defends the stranger. And if your father Timocritus had still been warmed by the strength of the sun, playing embroidered notes on the cithara
and bending to this strain, he would have often celebrated his triumphant son,
because he had sent back from the contest at Cleonae a chain of garlands, and from splendid, illustrious Athens; and because in seven-gated Thebes,
beside Amphitryon’s splendid tomb, the Cadmeans gladly crowned him with flowers, for the sake of Aegina. For he looked on a hospitable city, when he came as a friend to friends, to the prosperous court of Heracles,
with whom once powerful Telamon destroyed Troy and the Meropes and the great and terrible warrior Alcyoneus, but not before that giant had laid low, by hurling a rock, twelve chariots and twice twelve horse-taming heroes who were riding in them.
A man who did not understand this proverb would appear to be inexperienced in battle: since “it is likely that the doer will also suffer.”
The laws of song and the hurrying hours prevent me from telling a long story,
and I am drawn, by a magic charm on my heart, to touch on the new-moon festival. Nevertheless, although the deep salt sea holds you around the middle, strain against treacherous plots. We will be seen arriving in the light far above our enemies. But another man, with an envious glance,
broods in the darkness over an empty thought
that falls to the ground. As for me, I know that whatever excellence ruling destiny gave me, time will creep forward and bring it to its appointed perfection. Weave out, sweet lyre, right now,
the beloved song with Lydian harmony, for Oenone and Cyprus, where Teucer the son of Telamon reigns far from home; but Aias holds ancestral Salamis,
and Achilles holds the shining island in the Euxine sea.
Thetis rules in Phthia, and Neoptolemus in the expanses of Epirus, where jutting ox-pasturing headlands, beginning in Dodona, slope down to the Ionian sea. But beside the foot of Pelion,
Peleus turned a warlike hand against Iolcus and gave it in subjection to the Haemones
after encountering the crafty arts of Acastus’ wife Hippolyte. With the sword of Daedalus, the son of Pelias sowed the seeds of death for Peleus
from an ambush. But Cheiron rescued him and carried out the destiny which had been fated by Zeus. And Peleus, having thwarted all-powerful fire, and the sharp claws of bold-plotting lions, and the edge of their terrible teeth,
married one of the Nereids throned on high, and saw the fine circle of seats in which the lords of sky and sea were sitting, as they gave him gifts and revealed the future strength of his race. Beyond Gadeira towards the western darkness there is no passage; turn back
the ship’s sails again to the mainland of Europe, for it is impossible for me to tell the full story of the sons of Aeacus.
For the Theandridae, having pledged my word, I went as a ready herald of the limb-strengthening contests
at Olympia and the Isthmus and Nemea, where, whenever they make trial of their skill, they return home with the glorious fruit of garlands; in that home, Timasarchus, we hear that your family is an attendant of victory songs. But if
in honor of your uncle Callicles you bid me
to build a monument whiter than Parian stone, know that gold, when it is refined, shows all radiance, and a song in honor of noble deeds makes a man equal in fortune to kings.
May that man, who dwells beside the stream of Acheron, hear my voice singing, where in the contest of the loud-roaring wielder of the trident he flourished with crowns of Corinthian wild celery.
Euphanes, your aged grandfather,
once willingly sang his praises, child. Each man has his own generation; and each man expects to speak best of what he has seen himself. If he were praising Melesias, how he would throw his opponent in the struggle! Weaving his words, impossible to wrestle down in speech;
with gentle thoughts towards noble men, but a rough adversary to his opponents.

> Greek: ἄριστος εὐφροσύνα πόνων κεκριμένων
ἰατρός· αἱ δὲ σοφαὶ
Μοισᾶν θύγατρες ἀοιδαὶ θέλξαν νιν ἁπτόμεναι.
οὐδὲ θερμὸν ὕδωρ τόσον γε μαλθακὰ τέγγει
γυῖα, τόσσον εὐλογία φόρμιγγι συνάορος.
ῥῆμα δʼ ἑργμάτων χρονιώτερον βιοτεύει,
ὅ τι κε σὺν Χαρίτων τύχᾳ
γλῶσσα φρενὸς ἐξέλοι βαθείας.
τό μοι θέμεν Κρονίδᾳ τε Δὶ καὶ Νεμέᾳ
Τιμασάρχου τε πάλᾳ
ὕμνου προκώμιον εἴη· δέξαιτο δʼ Αἰακιδᾶν
ἠΰπυργον ἕδος, δίκᾳ ξεναρκέϊ κοινὸν
φέγγος. εἰ δʼ ἔτι ζαμενεῖ Τιμόκριτος ἁλίῳ
σὸς πατὴρ ἐθάλπετο, ποικίλον κιθαρίζων
θαμά κε, τῷδε μέλει κλιθείς,
υἱὸν κελάδησε καλλίνικον
Κλεωναίου τʼ ἀπʼ ἀγῶνος ὅρμον στεφάνων
πέμψαντα καὶ λιπαρᾶν
εὐωνύμων ἀπʼ Ἀθανᾶν, Θήβαις τʼ ἐν ἑπταπύλοις,
οὕνεκʼ Ἀμφιτρύωνος ἀγλαὸν παρὰ τύμβον
Καδμεῖοί νιν οὐκ ἀέκοντες ἄνθεσι μίγνυον,
Αἰγίνας ἕκατι. φίλοισι γὰρ φίλος ἐλθὼν
ξένιον ἄστυ κατέδρακεν
Ἡρακλέος ὀλβίαν πρὸς αὐλάν.
σὺν ᾧ ποτε Τρωΐαν κραταιὸς Τελαμὼν
πόρθησε καὶ Μέροπας
καὶ τὸν μέγαν πολεμιστὰν ἔκπαγλον Ἀλκυονῆ,
οὐ τετραορίας γε πρὶν δυώδεκα πέτρῳ
ἥρωάς τʼ ἐπεμβεβαῶτας ἱπποδάμους ἕλεν
δὶς τόσους. ἀπειρομάχας ἐών κε φανείη
λόγον ὁ μὴ συνιείς· ἐπεὶ
ῥέζοντά τι καὶ παθεῖν ἔοικεν.
τὰ μακρὰ δʼ ἐξενέπειν ἐρύκει με τεθμὸς
ὧραί τʼ ἐπειγόμεναι·
ἴϋγγι δʼ ἕλκομαι ἦτορ νουμηνίᾳ θιγέμεν.
ἔμπα, καίπερ ἔχει βαθεῖα ποντιὰς ἅλμα
μέσσον, ἀντίτεινʼ ἐπιβουλίᾳ· σφόδρα δόξομεν
δαΐων ὑπέρτεροι ἐν φάει καταβαίνειν·
φθονερὰ δʼ ἄλλος ἀνὴρ βλέπων
γνώμαν κενεὰν σκότῳ κυλίνδει
χαμαὶ πετοῖσαν· ἐμοὶ δʼ ὁποίαν ἀρετὰν
ἔδωκε πότμος ἄναξ,
εὖ οἶδʼ ὅτι χρόνος ἕρπων πεπρωμέναν τελέσει.
ἐξύφαινε, γλυκεῖα, καὶ τόδʼ αὐτίκα, φόρμιγξ,
Λυδίᾳ σὺν ἁρμονίᾳ μέλος πεφιλημένον
Οἰνώνᾳ τε καὶ Κύπρῳ, ἔνθα Τεῦκρος ἀπάρχει
ὁ Τελαμωνιάδας· ἀτὰρ
Αἴας Σαλαμῖνʼ ἔχει πατρῴαν·
ἐν δʼ Εὐξείνῳ πελάγει φαεννὰν Ἀχιλεὺς
νᾶσον· Θέτις δὲ κρατεῖ
Φθίᾳ· Νεοπτόλεμος δʼ Ἀπείρῳ διαπρυσίᾳ,
βουβόται τόθι πρῶνες ἔξοχοι κατάκεινται
Δωδώναθεν ἀρχόμενοι πρὸς Ἰόνιον πόρον.
Παλίου δὲ πὰρ ποδὶ λατρείαν Ἰαωλκὸν
πολεμίᾳ χερὶ προστραπὼν
Πηλεὺς παρέδωκεν Αἱμόνεσσιν
δάμαρτος Ἱππολύτας Ἄκαστος δολίαις
τέχναισι χρησάμενος·
τᾷ Δαιδάλου τε μαχαίρᾳ φύτευέ οἱ θάνατον
ἐκ λόχου, Πελίαο παῖς· ἄλαλκε δὲ Χείρων,
καὶ τὸ μόρσιμον Διόθεν πεπρωμένον ἔκφερεν·
πῦρ δὲ παγκρατὲς θρασυμαχάνων τε λεόντων
ὄνυχας ὀξυτάτους ἀκμὰν
τε δεινοτάτων σχάσαις ὀδόντων
ἔγαμεν ὑψιθρόνων μίαν Νηρεΐδων,
εἶδεν δʼ εὔκυκλον ἕδραν,
τᾶς οὐρανοῦ βασιλῆες πόντου τʼ ἐφεζόμενοι
δῶρα καὶ κράτος ἐξέφαναν ἐγγενὲς αὐτῷ.
Γαδείρων τὸ πρὸς ζόφον οὐ περατόν· ἀπότρεπε
αὖτις Εὐρώπαν ποτὶ χέρσον ἔντεα ναός·
ἄπορα γὰρ λόγον Αἰακοῦ
παίδων τὸν ἅπαντά μοι διελθεῖν.
Θεανδρίδαισι δʼ ἀεξιγυίων ἀέθλων
κάρυξ ἑτοῖμος ἔβαν
Οὐλυμπίᾳ τε καὶ Ἰσθμοῖ Νεμέᾳ τε συνθέμενος,
ἔνθα πεῖραν ἔχοντες οἴκαδε κλυτοκάρπων
οὐ νέοντʼ ἄνευ στεφάνων, πάτραν ἵνʼ ἀκούομεν,
Τιμάσαρχε, τ εὰ ν ἐπινικίοισιν ἀοιδαῖς
πρόπολον ἔμμεναι. εἰ δέ τοι
μάτρῳ μʼ ἔτι Καλλικλεῖ κελεύεις
στάλαν θέμεν Παρίου λίθου λευκοτέραν·
ὁ χρυσὸς ἑψόμενος
αὐγὰς ἔδειξεν ἁπάσας, ὕμνος δὲ τῶν ἀγαθῶν
ἑργμάτων βασιλεῦσιν ἰσοδαίμονα τεύχει
φῶτα· κεῖνος ἀμφʼ Ἀχέροντι ναιετάων ἐμὰν
γλῶσσαν εὑρέτω κελαδῆτιν, Ὀρσοτριαίνα
ἵνʼ ἐν ἀγῶνι βαρυκτύπου
θάλησε Κορινθίοις σελίνοις·
τὸν Εὐφάνης ἐθέλων γεραιὸς προπάτωρ
σὸς ἄεισέν ποτε, παῖ.
ἄλλοισι δʼ ἅλικες ἄλλοι· τὰ δʼ αὐτὸς ἄν τις ἴδῃ,
ἔλπεταί τις ἕκαστος ἐξοχώτατα φάσθαι.
οἷον αἰνέων κε Μελησίαν ἔριδα στρέφοι,
ῥήματα πλέκων, ἀπάλαιστος ἐν λόγῳ ἕλκειν,
μαλακὰ μὲν φρονέων ἐσλοῖς,
τραχὺς δὲ παλιγκότοις ἔφεδρος.

[¶4] I am not a sculptor, to make statues that stand motionless on the same pedestal. Sweet song, go on every merchant-ship and rowboat that leaves Aegina, and announce that Lampon’s powerful son Pytheas
won the victory garland for the pancratium at the Nemean games, a boy whose cheeks do not yet show the tender season that is mother to the dark blossom.
He has brought honor to the Aeacids, the heroic spearmen descended from Cronus and Zeus and the golden Nereids, and to his mother city, a land friendly to guests.
Once by the altar of father Zeus Hellenius the illustrious sons of Endais and the strong, mighty Phocus stood and prayed, stretching their hands to the sky, that the city would one day be famous for men and ships.
Phocus was the son of the goddess Psamatheia; he was born by the shore of the sea. Reverence restrains me from speaking of an enormous and unjust venture,
how indeed they left the glorious island, and what divine power drove the brave men from Oenone. I will stop: it is not always beneficial for the precise truth to show her face, and silence is often the wisest thing for a man to heed.
But if it is resolved to praise wealth, or the strength of hands, or iron war,
let someone mark off a long jump for me from this point. I have a light spring in my knees, and eagles swoop over the sea. The most beautiful chorus of Muses sang gladly for the Aeacids on Mt. Pelion, and among them Apollo, sweeping the seven-tongued lyre with a golden plectrum,
led all types of strains. And the Muses began with a prelude to Zeus, then sang first of divine Thetis and of Peleus; how Hippolyte, the opulent daughter of Cretheus, wanted to trap him with deceit. With elaborate planning she persuaded her husband, the watcher of the Magnesians, to be a partner in her plot, and she forged a false story;
that Peleus had made an attempt on her
in Acastus’ own bed. But the opposite was true; for she often begged him and coaxed him with all her heart, but her reckless words provoked his temper. Without hesitating he refused Acastus’ bride, fearing the anger of father Zeus, the god of hospitality. And from the sky Zeus who rouses the clouds noticed,
Zeus the king of the immortals, and he promised that soon he would make one of the Nereids of the golden distaff the sea-dwelling wife of Peleus,
after gaining the consent of their brother-in-law Poseidon, who often comes from Aegae to the famous Dorian Isthmus. There joyful bands welcome the god with the cry of reed-pipes, and contend with the bold strength of their limbs.
The fortune that is born along with a man decides in every deed. And you, Euthymenes from Aegina, have twice fallen into the arms of Victory and attained embroidered hymns.
Truly even now, Pytheas, your mother’s brother honors the kindred race of that hero following after you. Nemea is linked to him, and Aegina’s festival month which belongs to Apollo.
And he was victorious over his peers both at home and in the lovely hollows of the hill of Nisus. I rejoice, because every state strives for noble deeds. Know that through the help of Menander’s good fortune you won sweet requital for your toils.
It is fitting that a trainer of athletes should come from Athens.
But if you come to Themistius, let there be no more coldness! Lift up your voice, and hoist the sails to the top-most yard; proclaim him as a boxer, and tell how he claimed double excellence with his victory in the pancratium at Epidaurus. Bring to the porch of Aeacus green garlands of flowers, in company with the golden-haired Graces.

> Greek: οὐκ ἀνδριαντοποιός εἰμʼ, ὥστʼ ἐλινύσοντα ἐργάζεσθαι ἀγάλματʼ ἐπʼ αὐτᾶς βαθμίδος
ἑσταότʼ· ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ πάσας ὁλκάδος ἔν τʼ ἀκάτῳ, γλυκεῖʼ ἀοιδά,
στεῖχʼ ἀπʼ Αἰγίνας, διαγγέλλοισʼ, ὅτι
Λάμπωνος υἱὸς Πυθέας εὐρυσθενὴς
νίκη Νεμείοις παγκρατίου στέφανον,
οὔπω γένυσι φαίνων τέρειναν ματέρʼ οἰνάνθας ὀπώραν,
ἐκ δὲ Κρόνου καὶ Ζηνὸς ἥρωας αἰχματὰς φυτευθέντας καὶ ἀπὸ χρυσεᾶν Νηρηΐδων
Αἰακίδας ἐγέραιρεν ματρόπολίν τε, φίλαν ξένων ἄρουραν·
τάν ποτʼ εὔανδρόν τε καὶ ναυσικλυτὰν
θέσσαντο πὰρ βωμὸν πατέρος Ἑλλανίου
στάντες, πίτναν τʼ εἰς αἰθέρα χεῖρας ἁμᾷ
Ἐνδαΐδος ἀριγνῶτες υἱοὶ καὶ βία Φώκου κρέοντος,
ὁ τᾶς θεοῦ, ὃν Ψαμάθεια τίκτʼ ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι πόντου.
αἰδέομαι μέγα εἰπεῖν ἐν δίκᾳ τε μὴ κεκινδυνευμένον,
πῶς δὴ λίπον εὐκλέα νᾶσον, καὶ τίς ἄνδρας ἀλκίμους
δαίμων ἀπʼ Οἰνώνας ἔλασεν. στάσομαι· οὔ τοι ἅπασα κερδίων
φαίνοισα πρόσωπον ἀλάθειʼ ἀτρεκής·
καὶ τὸ σιγᾶν πολλάκις ἐστὶ σοφώτατον ἀνθρώπῳ νοῆσαι.
εἰ δʼ ὄλβον ἢ χειρῶν βίαν ἢ σιδαρίταν ἐπαινῆσαι πόλεμον δεδόκηται, μακρά μοι
αὐτόθεν ἅλμαθʼ ὑποσκάπτοι τις· ἔχω γονάτων ἐλαφρὸν ὁρμάν·
καὶ πέραν πόντοιο πάλλοντʼ αἰετοί.
πρόφρων δὲ καὶ κείνοις ἄειδʼ ἐν Παλίῳ
Μοισᾶν ὁ κάλλιστος χορός, ἐν δὲ μέσαις
φόρμιγγʼ Ἀπόλλων ἑπτάγλωσσον χρυσέῳ πλάκτρῳ διώκων
ἁγεῖτο παντοίων νόμων· αἱ δὲ πρώτιστον μὲν ὕμνησαν Διὸς ἀρχόμεναι σεμνὰν Θέτιν
Πηλέα θʼ, ὥς τέ νιν ἁβρὰ Κρηθεῒς Ἱππολύτα δόλῳ πεδᾶσαι
ἤθελε ξυνᾶνα Μαγνήτων σκοπὸν
πείσαισʼ ἀκοίταν ποικίλοις βουλεύμασιν,
ψεύσταν δὲ ποιητὸν συνέπαξε λόγον,
ὡς ἆρα νυμφείας ἐπείρα κεῖνος ἐν λέκτροις Ἀκάστου
εὐνᾶς. τὸ δʼ ἐναντίον ἔσκεν· πολλὰ γάρ νιν παντὶ θυμῷ
παρφαμένα λιτάνευεν· τοῦ δὲ ὀργὰν κνίζον αἰπεινοὶ λόγοι·
εὐθὺς δʼ ἀπανάνατο νύμφαν, ξεινίου πατρὸς χόλον
δείσαις· ὁ δʼ ἐφράσθη κατένευσέν τέ οἱ ὀρσινεφὴς ἐξ οὐρανοῦ
Ζεὺς ἀθανάτων βασιλεύς, ὥστʼ ἐν τάχει
ποντίαν χρυσαλακάτων τινὰ Νηρεΐδων πράξειν ἄκοιτιν,
γαμβρὸν Ποσειδάωνα πείσαις, ὃς Αἰγᾶθεν ποτὶ κλειτὰν θαμὰ νίσσεται Ἰσθμὸν Δωρίαν·
ἔνθα μιν εὔφρονες ἶλαι σὺν καλάμοιο βοᾷ θεὸν δέκονται,
καὶ σθένει γυίων ἐρίζοντι θρασεῖ.
πότμος δὲ κρίνει συγγενὴς ἔργων περὶ
πάντων. τὺ δʼ Αἰγίναθε δίς, Εὐθύμενες,
Νίκας ἐν ἀγκώνεσσι πίτνων ποικίλων ἔψαυσας ὕμνων.
ἤτοι μεταΐξαντα καὶ νῦν τεὸς μάτρως ἀγάλλει κείνου ὁμόσπορον ἔθνος, Πυθέα.
ἁ Νεμέα μὲν ἄραρεν μείς τʼ ἐπιχώριος, ὃν φίλησʼ Ἀπόλλων·
ἅλικας δʼ ἐλθόντας οἴκοι τʼ ἐκράτεις
Νίσου τʼ ἐν εὐαγκεῖ λόφῳ. χαίρω δʼ, ὅτι
ἐσλοῖσι μάρναται πέρι πᾶσα πόλις.
ἴσθι, γλυκεῖάν τοι Μενάνδρου σὺν τύχᾳ μόχθων ἀμοιβὰν
ἐπαύρεο· χρὴ δʼ ἀπʼ Ἀθανᾶν τέκτονʼ ἀθληταῖσιν ἔμμεν.
εἰ δὲ Θεμίστιον ἵκεις, ὥστʼ ἀείδειν, μηκέτι ῥίγει· δίδοι
φωνάν, ἀνὰ δʼ ἱστία τεῖνον πρὸς ζυγὸν καρχασίου,
πύκταν τέ νιν καὶ παγκρατίῳ φθέγξαι ἑλεῖν Ἐπιδαύρῳ διπλόαν
νικῶντʼ ἀρετάν, προθύροισιν δʼ Αἰακοῦ
ἀνθέων ποι άε ντα φέρε στεφανώματα σὺν ξανθαῖς Χάρισσιν.

[¶5] There is one race of men, one race of gods; and from a single mother we both draw our breath. But all allotted power divides us: man is nothing, but for the gods the bronze sky endures as a secure home forever. Nevertheless, we bear some resemblance to the immortals, either in greatness
of mind or in nature, although we do not know, by day or by night, towards what goal fortune has written that we should run.
Even now Alcimidas gives visible proof that his hereditary qualities are like the fruitful fields, which, in alternation,
at one time give men yearly sustenance from the plains, and at another time gather strength from repose. He has come from the lovely games of Nemea, the athletic boy who, pursuing this ordinance of Zeus, has shown that he is a successful hunter in the wrestling ring,
by planting his step in the tracks of his grandfather, his blood-relative. For that man, an Olympic victor, was the first to bring garlands from the Alpheus to the Aeacidae; and he had himself crowned five times at the Isthmus,
and three times at Nemea, putting an end to the obscurity of Socleides, who proved to be the greatest of the sons of Hagesimachus,
since he had three victorious sons who reached the summit of excellence,
and who had a taste of toils. With the favorable fortune of the gods, no other family has been proclaimed by the boxing contest in the center of all Greece as the guardian of more garlands. I hope, with this great praise, to hit the target squarely, like one who shoots from a bow. Come, Muse, give a straight course to the glorious wind of song for this man.
For when men pass away
songs and stories preserve their fine deeds for them, and there is no shortage of these in the house of the Bassids. Their race has long been famous, carrying a cargo of their own victory songs; for those who plough the field of the Pierian Muses, they are able to provide a rich supply of songs, because of their proud achievements.
In very holy Pytho the blood of this family was once victorious, his hands bound with leather straps—Callias, who had found favor with
the children of Leto of the golden distaff, and beside Castalia at evening he was made radiant by the loud chorus of the Graces.
And the bridge of the untiring sea honored Creontidas in the biennial festival of those who live around, when bulls are slain in the sacred precinct of Poseidon. And the herb of the Nemean lion once
crowned him when he was victorious beneath the shady primeval mountains of Phlius.
There are broad avenues open on every side for storytellers to adorn this glorious island, since the Aeacids provided them by example with an outstanding share of great excellence.
Their name flies far, over the land and across the sea. It even reached the Ethiopians, when Memnon did not return to his home; Achilles descended from his chariot and fell upon them, a grievous antagonist,
when he slew the son of the shining Dawn with the edge
of his raging sword. Poets of former times found this highway, and I myself am following them; this is my concern. But the wave that rolls nearest to the ship is said to stir the spirit most of all. I came as a messenger, willingly bearing on my back a double burden,
to proclaim that this twenty-fifth
boast of victory from the games which men call sacred, Alcimidas, has been provided by you for your glorious family. Beside the sacred precinct of the son of Cronus, child, you and Polytimidas were deprived of two Olympic garlands
by a sudden drawing of lots. I would say that Melesias is equal in speed to a dolphin that darts through the salt sea; he is the charioteer who guided your hands and strength.

> Greek: ἓν ἀνδρῶν, ἓν θεῶν γένος· ἐκ μιᾶς δὲ πνέομεν
ματρὸς ἀμφότεροι· διείργει δὲ πᾶσα κεκριμένα
δύναμις, ὡς τὸ μὲν οὐδέν, ὁ δὲ χάλκεος ἀσφαλὲς αἰὲν ἕδος
μένει οὐρανός. ἀλλά τι προσφέρομεν ἔμπαν ἢ μέγαν
νόον ἤτοι φύσιν ἀθανάτοις,
καίπερ ἐφαμερίαν οὐκ εἰδότες οὐδὲ μετὰ νύκτας ἄμμε πότμος
οἵαν τινʼ ἔγραψε δραμεῖν ποτὶ στάθμαν.
τεκμαίρει καί νυν Ἀλκιμίδας τὸ συγγενὲς ἰδεῖν
ἄγχι καρποφόροις ἀρούραισιν, αἵτʼ ἀμειβόμεναι
τόκα μὲν ὦν βίον ἀνδράσιν ἐπηετανὸν πεδίων ἔδοσαν,
τόκα δʼ αὖτʼ ἀναπαυσάμεναι σθένος ἔμαρψαν. ἦλθέ τοι
Νεμέας ἐξ ἐρατῶν ἀέθλων
παῖς ἐναγώνιος, ὃς ταύταν μεθέπων Διόθεν αἶσαν νῦν πέφανται
οὐκ ἄμμορος ἀμφὶ πάλᾳ κυναγέτας,
ἴχνεσιν ἐν Πραξιδάμαντος ἑὸν πόδα νέμων
πατροπάτορος ὁμαιμίου.
κεῖνος γὰρ Ὀλυμπιόνικος ἐὼν Αἰακίδαις
ἔρνεα πρῶτος ⟨ἔνεικεν⟩ ἀπʼ Ἀλφεοῦ,
καὶ πεντάκις Ἰσθμοῖ στεφανωσάμενος,
νεμέᾳ δὲ τρίς,
ἔπαυσε λάθαν
Σωκλείδα, ὃς ὑπέρτατος
Ἁγησιμάχῳ υἱέων γένετο.
ἐπεί οἱ τρεῖς ἀεθλοφόροι πρὸς ἄκρον ἀρετᾶς
ἦλθον, οἵτε πόνων ἐγεύσαντο. σὺν θεοῦ δὲ τύχᾳ
ἕτερον οὔ τινα οἶκον ἀπεφάνατο πυγμαχία ⟨πλεόνων⟩
ταμίαν στεφάνων μυχῷ Ἑλλάδος ἁπάσας. ἔλπομαι
μέγα εἰπὼν σκοποῦ ἄντα τυχεῖν
ὥτʼ ἀπὸ τόξου ἱείς· εὔθυνʼ ἐπὶ τοῦτον, ἄγε, Μοῖσα, οὖρον ἐπέων
εὐκλέα. παροιχομένων γὰρ ἀνέρων
ἀοιδαὶ καὶ λόγοι τὰ καλά σφιν ἔργʼ ἐκόμισαν,
Βασσίδαισιν ἅ τʼ οὐ σπανίζει· παλαίφατος γενεά,
ἴδια ναυστολέοντες ἐπικώμια, Πιερίδων ἀρόταις
δυνατοὶ παρέχειν πολὺν ὕμνον ἀγερώχων ἑργμάτων
ἕνεκεν. καὶ γὰρ ἐν ἀγαθέᾳ
χεῖρας ἱμάντι δεθεὶς Πυθῶνι κράτησεν ἀπὸ ταύτας αἷμα πάτρας
χρυσαλακάτου ποτὲ Καλλίας ἁδὼν
ἔρνεσι Λατοῦς, παρὰ Κασταλίᾳ τε Χαρίτων
ἑσπέριος ὁμάδῳ φλέγεν·
πόντου τε γέφυρʼ ἀκάμαντος ἐν ἀμφικτιόνων
ταυροφόνῳ τριετηρίδι Κρ εο ντίδαν
τίμασε Ποσειδάνιον ἂν τέμενος·
βοτάνα τέ νιν
πόθʼ ἁ λέοντος
νικάσαντʼ ἤρεφε δασκίοις
Φλιοῦντος ὑπʼ ὠγυγίοις ὄρεσιν.
πλατεῖαι πάντοθεν λογίοισιν ἐντὶ πρόσοδοι
νᾶσον εὐκλέα τάνδε κοσμεῖν· ἐπεί σφιν Αἰακίδαι
ἔπορον ἔξοχον αἶσαν ἀρετὰς ἀποδεικνύμενοι μεγάλας·
πέταται δʼ ἐπί τε χθόνα καὶ διὰ θαλάσσας τηλόθεν
ὄνυμʼ αὐτῶν· καὶ ἐς Αἰθίοπας
Μέμνονος οὐκ ἀπονοστήσαντος ἐπᾶλτο· βαρὺ δέ σφιν νεῖκος Ἀχιλεὺς
ἔμπεσε χαμαὶ καταβὰς ἀφʼ ἁρμάτων,
φαεννᾶς υἱὸν εὖτʼ ἐνάριξεν Ἀόος ἀκμᾷ
ἔγχεος ζακότοιο. καὶ ταύταν μὲν παλαιότεροι
ὁδὸν ἀμαξιτὸν εὗρον· ἕπομαι δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἔχων μελέταν·
τὸ δὲ πὰρ ποδὶ ναὸς ἑλισσόμενον αἰεὶ κυμάτων
λέγεται παντὶ μάλιστα δονεῖν
θυμόν. ἑκόντι δʼ ἐγὼ νώτῳ μεθέπων δίδυμον ἄχθος ἄγγελος ἔβαν,
πέμπτον ἐπὶ εἴκοσι τοῦτο γαρύων
εὖχος ἀγώνων ἄπο, τοὺς ἐνέποισιν ἱερούς,
Ἀλκιμίδα, τέ γʼ ἐπαρκέσαι
κλειτᾷ γενεᾷ· δύο μὲν Κρονίου πὰρ τεμένει,
παῖ, σέ τʼ ἐνόσφισε καὶ Πουλυτιμίδαν
κλᾶρος προπετὴς ἄνθεʼ Ὀλυμπιάδος.
δελφῖνί κεν
τάχος διʼ ἅλμας
ἴσον εἴποιμι Μελησίαν,
χειρῶν τε καὶ ἰσχύος ἁνίοχον.

[¶6] Eleithuia, seated beside the deep-thinking Fates, hear me, creator of offspring, child of Hera great in strength. Without you we see neither the light nor the dark night before it is our lot to go to your sister, Hebe, with her lovely limbs.
Yet we do not all draw our first breath for equal ends. Under the yoke of destiny, different men are held by different restraints. But it is by your favor that, even so, Sogenes the son of Thearion, distinguished by his excellence, is celebrated in song as glorious among pentathletes.
For he lives in a city that loves music, the city of the Aeacidae with their clashing spears;
and they very much want to foster a spirit familiar with contests. If someone is successful in his deeds, he casts a cause for sweet thoughts into the streams of the Muses. For those great acts of prowess dwell in deep darkness, if they lack songs, and we know of only one way to hold a mirror up to fine deeds:
if, by the grace of Mnemosyne with her splendid headdress, one finds a recompense for toils in glorious song.
Skillful men know the wind that will come on the day after tomorrow, and they do not suffer loss through the love of gain. The rich man and the poor man alike travel together to the boundary of death.
And I expect that the story of Odysseus came to exceed his experiences, through the sweet songs of Homer,
since there is a certain solemnity in his lies and winged artfulness, and poetic skill deceives, seducing us with stories, and the heart of the mass of men is blind. For if
they had been able to see the truth, then mighty Aias, in anger over the arms, would never have planted in his chest the smooth sword—Aias, who was the most powerful in battle, except for Achilles, and whom the breath of the unswerving Zephyr conveyed in swift ships, to bring back the wife of golden-haired Menelaus
from the city of Ilus. But the wave of Hades breaks over all alike; it falls on the man who does not expect it, and on the one who does. There is honor for those whose fame a god causes to grow luxuriant when they are dead. Neoptolemus came to help, to the great navel of the broad-bosomed earth. And he lies beneath the Pythian soil,
after he sacked the city of Priam, where even the Danaans toiled. But on his return voyage he missed Scyros, and after wandering from their course they came to Ephyra.
He ruled in Molossia for a brief time; and his race always bore
this honor of his. He had gone to consult the god, bringing precious things from the finest spoils of Troy; and there he met with a quarrel over the flesh of his sacrifice, and a man struck him with a knife.
The hospitable Delphians were grieved beyond measure; but he fulfilled his fate. It was destined that within that most ancient grove one
of the ruling race of Aeacus should, for all time to come, stay beside the fine-walled house of the god, and dwell there to preside over the processions of heroes, which are honored by many sacrifices. As for their justly earned good name, a few words will suffice: it is no lying witness that presides over achievements of the offspring of you and Zeus,
Aegina. I have this bold speech to make,
an authoritative path of words from their home, for their shining excellence. But enough, for respite is sweet in every deed. Even honey may cloy, and the delightful flowers of Aphrodite. Each of us differs in nature, for we were each allotted a different life.
One man has this, others have something else; but for one man to win the prize of complete happiness is impossible. I cannot say to whom Fate has handed this consummation as a lasting possession. But to you, Thearion, she gives a due measure of prosperity,
and while you have gained a bold spirit for fine deeds,
she does not impair the wisdom of your mind. I am your friend; averting the dark shadow of abuse, and bringing genuine glory, like streams of water, to the man who is dear to me, I shall praise him. This wage is worthy of good men.
If any Achaean man is nearby
who lives above the Ionian sea, he will not find fault with me. I trust in my being their representative. And among my fellow townsmen, the glance of my eye is bright; I have not overshot the mark, and I have thrust all violence away from my path. May the rest of my days approach benevolently. Anyone who knows the truth will declare whether I follow a path that is out of tune, singing a twisted song.
Sogenes, of the Euxenid clan, I swear that I did not overstep the line when I hurled, like a bronze-cheeked javelin,
my swift tongue—a throw that disqualifies a man’s strong neck from the sweat of the wrestling-match, before his limbs fall under the burning sun. If there was toil, greater delight follows.
Let me go on. If I rose too high and shouted loudly, I am not too rude to pay my debt of gratitude to the victor. It is easy to weave garlands. Strike up the song! The Muse welds together gold and white ivory with coral, the lily she has stolen from beneath the ocean’s dew.
But in remembrance of Zeus and in honor of Nemea, whirl a far-famed strain of song, softly. On this spot it is fitting to sing with a gentle voice of the king of gods. For they say that he planted the seed of Aeacus, received by the mother,
to be a city-ruler in my illustrious fatherland, and to be a kindly friend and brother to you, Heracles. If one man has any benefit from another, we would say that a neighbor, if he loves his neighbor with an earnest mind, is a joy worth any price. But if a god should also uphold this truth,
then under your protection, Heracles, you who subdued the Giants, Sogenes would dwell happily, fostering a spirit of devotion to his father, beside the rich and sacred road of his ancestors,
since he has his house in your precincts, flanking him on either hand as he goes, like the yoke-arms of a four-horse chariot. Blessed Heracles,
it is fitting for you to persuade the husband of Hera and the gray-eyed virgin goddess; you are often able to give mortals courage against the impasse of helplessness. Would that you might join their youth and splendid old age to a strong and secure life, and weave it through to the end
in good fortune, and may their children’s children always have
the honor of the present day, and a still better one to come. But my heart will never say that I have done violence to Neoptolemus with cruel words. To plough the same ground three or four times
is poverty of thought, like babbling “Corinth of Zeus” to children.

> Greek: Ἐλείθυια, πάρεδρε Μοιρᾶν βαθυφρόνων,
παῖ μεγαλοσθενέος, ἄκουσον, Ἥρας, γενέτειρα τέκνων· ἄνευ σέθεν
οὐ φάος, οὐ μέλαιναν δρακέντες εὐφρόναν
τεὰν ἀδελφεὰν ἐλάχομεν ἀγλαόγυιον Ἥβαν.
ἀναπνέομεν δʼ οὐχ ἅπαντες ἐπὶ ἴσα·
εἴργει δὲ πότμῳ ζυγένθʼ ἕτερον ἕτερα. σὺν δὲ τὶν
καὶ παῖς ὁ Θεαρίωνος ἀρετᾷ κριθεὶς
εὔδοξος ἀείδεται Σωγένης μετὰ πενταέθλοις.
πόλιν γὰρ φιλόμολπον οἰκεῖ δορικτύπων
Αἰακιδᾶν· μάλα δʼ ἐθέλοντι σύμπειρον ἀγωνίᾳ θυμὸν ἀμφέπειν.
εἰ δὲ τύχῃ τις ἔρδων, μελίφρονʼ αἰτίαν
ῥοαῖσι Μοισᾶν ἐνέβαλε· ταὶ μεγάλαι γὰρ ἀλκαὶ
σκότον πολὺν ὕμνων ἔχοντι δεόμεναι·
ἔργοις δὲ καλοῖς ἔσοπτρον ἴσαμεν ἑνὶ σὺν τρόπῳ,
εἰ Μναμοσύνας ἕκατι λιπαράμπυκος
εὕρηται ἄποινα μόχθων κλυταῖς ἐπέων ἀοιδαῖς.
σοφοὶ δὲ μέλλοντα τριταῖον ἄνεμον
ἔμαθον, οὐδʼ ὑπὸ κέρδει βλάβεν·
ἀφνεὸς πενιχρός τε θανάτου πέρας
ἅμα νέονται. ἐγὼ δὲ πλέονʼ ἔλπομαι
λόγον Ὀδυσσέος ἢ πάθαν διὰ τὸν ἁδυεπῆ γενέσθʼ Ὅμηρον·
ἐπεὶ ψεύδεσί οἱ ποτανᾷ ⟨τε⟩ μαχανᾷ
σεμνὸν ἔπεστί τι· σοφία δὲ κλέπτει παράγοισα μύθοις· τυφλὸν δʼ ἔχει
ἦτορ ὅμιλος ἀνδρῶν ὁ πλεῖστος. εἰ γὰρ ἦν
ἓ τὰν ἀλάθειαν ἰδέμεν, οὔ κεν ὅπλων χολωθεὶς
ὁ καρτερὸς Αἴας ἔπαξε διὰ φρενῶν
λευρὸν ξίφος· ὃν κράτιστον Ἀχιλέος ἄτερ μάχᾳ
ξανθῷ Μενέλᾳ δάμαρτα κομίσαι θοαῖς
ἐν ναυσὶ πόρευσαν εὐθυπνόου Ζεφύροιο πομπαὶ
πρὸς Ἴλου πόλιν. ἀλλὰ κοινὸν γὰρ ἔρχεται
κῦμʼ Ἀΐδα, πέσε δʼ ἀδόκητον ἐν καὶ δοκέοντα· τιμὰ δὲ γίνεται
ὧν θεὸς ἁβρὸν αὔξει λόγον τεθνακότων
βοαθόων, τοὶ παρὰ μέγαν ὀμφαλὸν εὐρυκόλπου
μόλον χθονός· ἐν Πυθίοισι δὲ δαπέδοις
κεῖται, Πριάμου πόλιν Νεοπτόλεμος ἐπεὶ πράθεν,
τᾷ καὶ Δαναοὶ πόνησαν· ὁ δʼ ἀποπλέων
Σκύρου μὲν ἅμαρτε, πλαγχθέντες δʼ εἰς Ἐφύραν ἵκοντο·
Μολοσσίᾳ δʼ ἐμβασίλευεν ὀλίγον
χρόνον· ἀτὰρ γένος αἰεὶ φέρεν
τοῦτό οἱ γέρας. ᾤχετο δὲ πρὸς θεόν,
κτέανʼ ἄγων Τρωΐαθεν ἀκροθινίων·
ἵνα κρεῶν νιν ὑπὲρ μάχας ἔλασεν ἀντιτυχόντʼ ἀνὴρ μαχαίρᾳ.
βάρυνθεν δὲ περισσὰ Δελφοὶ ξεναγέται.
ἀλλὰ τὸ μόρσιμον ἀπέδωκεν· ἐχρῆν δέ τινʼ ἔνδον ἄλσει παλαιτάτῳ
Αἰακιδᾶν κρεόντων τὸ λοιπὸν ἔμμεναι
θεοῦ παρʼ εὐτειχέα δόμον, ἡρωΐαις δὲ πομπαῖς
θεμισκόπον οἰκεῖν ἐόντα πολυθύτοις.
εὐώνυμον ἐς δίκαν τρία ἔπεα διαρκέσει·
οὐ ψεῦδις ὁ μάρτυς ἔργμασιν ἐπιστατεῖ,
Αἴγινα, τεῶν Διός τʼ ἐκγόνων. θρασύ μοι τόδʼ εἰπεῖν
φαενναῖς ἀρεταῖς ὁδὸν κυρίαν λόγων
οἴκοθεν· ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἀνάπαυσις ἐν παντὶ γλυκεῖα ἔργῳ· κόρον δʼ ἔχει
καὶ μέλι καὶ τὰ τέρπνʼ ἄνθεʼ Ἀφροδίσια.
φυᾷ δʼ ἕκαστος διαφέρομεν βιοτὰν λαχόντες,
ὁ μὲν τά, τὰ δʼ ἄλλοι· τυχεῖν δʼ ἕνʼ ἀδύνατον
εὐδαιμονίαν ἅπασαν ἀνελόμενον· οὐκ ἔχω
εἰπεῖν, τίνι τοῦτο Μοῖρα τέλος ἔμπεδον
ὤρεξε. Θεαρίων, τὶν δʼ ἐοικότα καιρὸν ὄλβου
δίδωσι, τόλμαν τε καλῶν ἀρομένῳ
σύνεσιν οὐκ ἀποβλάπτει φρενῶν.
ξεῖνός εἰμι· σκοτεινὸν ἀπέχων ψόγον,
ὕδατος ὥτε ῥοὰς φίλον ἐς ἄνδρʼ ἄγων
κλέος ἐτήτυμον αἰνέσω· ποτίφορος δʼ ἀγαθοῖσι μισθὸς οὗτος.
ἐὼν δʼ ἐγγὺς Ἀχαιὸς οὐ μέμψεταί μʼ ἀνὴρ
Ἰονίας ὑπὲρ ἁλὸς οἰκέων· προξενίᾳ πέποιθʼ· ἔν τε δαμόταις
ὄμματι δέρκομαι λαμπρόν, οὐχ ὑπερβαλών,
βίαια πάντʼ ἐκ ποδὸς ἐρύσαις, ὁ δὲ λοιπὸς εὔφρων
ποτὶ χρόνος ἕρποι. μαθὼν δέ τις ἀνερεῖ,
εἰ πὰρ μέλος ἔρχομαι ψάγιον ὄαρον ἐννέπων.
Εὐξενίδα πάτραθε Σώγενες, ἀπομνύω
μὴ τέρμα προβὰς ἄκονθʼ ὥτε χαλκοπάρᾳον ὄρσαι
θοὰν γλῶσσαν, ὃς ἐξέπεμψεν παλαισμάτων
αὐχένα καὶ σθένος ἀδίαντον, αἴθωνι πρὶν ἁλίῳ γυῖον ἐμπεσεῖν.
εἰ πόνος ἦν, τὸ τερπνὸν πλέον πεδέρχεται.
ἔα με· νικῶντί γε χάριν, εἴ τι πέραν ἀερθεὶς
ἀνέκραγον, οὐ τραχύς εἰμι καταθέμεν.
εἴρειν στεφάνους ἐλαφρόν· ἀναβάλεο· Μοῖσά τοι
κολλᾷ χρυσὸν ἔν τε λευκὸν ἐλέφανθʼ ἁμᾷ
καὶ λείριον ἄνθεμον ποντίας ὑφελοῖσʼ ἐέρσας.
Διὸς δὲ μεμναμένος ἀμφὶ Νεμέᾳ
πολύφατον θρόον ὕμνων δόνει
ἡσυχᾷ. βασιλῆα δὲ θεῶν πρέπει
δάπεδον ἂν τόδε γαρυέμεν ἁμέρᾳ
ὀπί· λέγοντι γὰρ Αἰακόν νιν ὑπὸ ματροδόκοις γοναῖς φυτεῦσαι,
ἐμᾷ μὲν πολίαρχον εὐωνύμῳ πάτρᾳ,
Ἡράκλεες, σέο δὲ προπράονʼ ἔμεν ξεῖνον ἀδελφεόν τʼ. εἰ δὲ γεύεται
ἀνδρὸς ἀνήρ τι, φαῖμέν κε γείτονʼ ἔμμεναι
νόῳ φιλήσαντʼ ἀτενέϊ γείτονι χάρμα πάντων
ἐπάξιον· εἰ δʼ αὐτὸ καὶ θεὸς ἀνέχοι,
ἐν τίν κʼ ἐθέλοι, Γίγαντας ὃς ἐδάμασας, εὐτυχῶς
ναίειν πατρὶ Σωγένης ἀταλὸν ἀμφέπων
θυμὸν προγόνων ἐϋκτήμονα ζαθέαν ἀγυιάν·
ἐπεὶ τετραόροισιν ὥθʼ ἁρμάτων ζυγοῖς
ἐν τεμένεσσι δόμον ἔχει τεοῖς, ἀμφοτέρας ἰὼν χειρός. ὦ μάκαρ,
τὶν δʼ ἐπέοικεν Ἥρας πόσιν τε πειθέμεν
κόραν τε Γλαυκώπιδα· δύνασαι δὲ βροτοῖσιν ἀλκὰν
ἀμαχανιᾶν δυσβάτων θαμὰ διδόμεν.
εἰ γάρ σφισιν ἐμπεδοσθενέα βίοτον ἁρμόσαις
ἥβᾳ λιπαρῷ τε γήραϊ διαπλέκοις
εὐδαίμονʼ ἐόντα, παίδων δὲ παῖδες ἔχοιεν αἰεὶ
γέρας τό περ νῦν καὶ ἄρειον ὄπιθεν.
τὸ δʼ ἐμὸν οὔ ποτε φάσει κέαρ
ἀτρόποισι Νεοπτόλεμον ἑλκύσαι
ἔπεσι· ταὐτὰ δὲ τρὶς τετράκι τʼ ἀμπολεῖν
ἀπορία τελέθει, τέκνοισιν ἅτε μαψυλάκας, Διὸς Κόρινθος.