Queenly Season of Youth, herald of the divine embraces of Aphrodite, you who rest in the eyes of young girls and boys, and carry one man in the gentle arms of compulsion, but handle another man differently. It is a desirable thing, for one who has not strayed from due measure in any deed,to be able to win the better kinds of love;such loves, the shepherds of Cyprian Aphrodite’s gifts, attended the marriage-bed of Zeus and Aegina. And from that union a son was born, the king of Oenone, the best in hands and mind. Many men often prayed that they might see him; for, unbidden, the choicest heroes that dwelled around himwanted to submit to his commands willingly,those who marshalled their people in rocky Athens, and the descendants of Pelops in Sparta. As a suppliant I cling to the sacred knees of Aeacus, on behalf of his dear city and these citizens, bringinga Lydian crown embroidered with song, glory from Nemea in the double foot race for Deinias and his father Megas. For prosperity that is planted with a god’s blessing is more abiding for men;such prosperity as once loaded Cinyras with wealth in sea-washed Cyprus. I stand with feet lightly poised, catching my breath before I speak.For many stories have been told in many ways. But to find something new and submit it to the touchstone for testing is danger itself. Words are a dainty morsel for the envious; and envy always clings to the noble, and has no quarrel with worse men.Envy devoured the son of Telamon, throwing him onto his own sword. A man who was not gifted in speech, but brave in his heart, is held down by oblivionunder deadly strife; and the greatest prize of honor has been offered to the shifty lie. For in a secret vote the Danaans favored Odysseus; and Aias, robbed of the golden armor, wrestled with death.Truly, they did not tear equal wounds in the warm flesh of the enemy when they were driven backunder the man-protecting spear, at one time around the newly-slain corpse of Achilles, and on destructive days spent on other toils. It seems that hateful Misrepresentation existed even long ago: a fellow traveler of flattering tales, deceitful-minded, a malignant disgrace. She does violence to the illustrious, and upholds the rotten glory of the obscure.May I never have such a nature, father Zeus; may I stick to the simple paths of life, so that when I die I will not fasten a bad name to my children. Some men pray for gold, others for boundless land; I pray to find favor with my fellow-citizens until my limbs are buried in the earth, by praising what is praiseworthy and casting blame on wrongdoers.Excellence grows among skillful and just men up to the liquid air, as a tree shoots up fed by fresh dew. The uses of friends are of all kinds; those in times of toil are the highest, yet delight also seeks to set a trustworthy pledge before the eyes. Megas, to bring your soul back to life againis not possible for me. Empty hopes end in vain; but it is easy to set up, for your fatherland and for the Chariads, a monument of the Muses in honor of the twice illustrious feet of two men. I rejoice in letting fly a boast suitable to such a deed; and with incantations a manmakes hardship painless. Truly, the song of victory existed long ago, even before the quarrel arose between Adrastus and the race of Cadmus.
ὥρα πότνια, κάρυξ Ἀφροδίτας ἀμβροσιᾶν φιλοτάτων,ἅτε παρθενηΐοις παίδων τʼ ἐφίζοισα γλεφάροις,τὸν μὲν ἁμέροις ἀνάγκας χερσὶ βαστάζεις, ἕτερον δʼ ἑτέραις.ἀγαπατὰ δὲ καιροῦ μὴ πλαναθέντα πρὸς ἔργον ἕκαστοντῶν ἀρειόνων ἐρώτων ἐπικρατεῖν δύνασθαι.οἷοι καὶ Διὸς Αἰγίνας τε λέκτρον ποιμένες ἀμφεπόλησανΚυπρίας δώρων· ἔβλαστεν δʼ υἱὸς Οἰνώνας βασιλεὺςχειρὶ καὶ βουλαῖς ἄριστος. πολλά νιν πολλοὶ λιτάνευον ἰδεῖν.ἀβοατὶ γὰρ ἡρώων ἄωτοι περιναιεταόντωνἤθελον κείνου γε πείθεσθʼ ἀναξίαις ἑκόντες,οἵ τε κρανααῖς ἐν Ἀθάναισιν ἅρμοζον στρατόν,οἵ τʼ ἀνὰ Σπάρταν Πελοπηϊάδαι.ἱκέτας Αἰακοῦ σεμνῶν γονάτων πόλιός θʼ ὑπὲρ φίλαςἀστῶν θʼ ὑπὲρ τῶνδʼ ἅπτομαι φέρωνΛυδίαν μίτραν καναχηδὰ πεποικιλμέναν,Δείνιος δισσῶν σταδίων καὶ πατρὸς Μέγα Νεμεαῖον ἄγαλμα.σὺν θεῷ γάρ τοι φυτευθεὶς ὄλβος ἀνθρώποισι παρμονώτερος·ὅσπερ καὶ Κινύραν ἔβρισε πλούτῳ ποντίᾳ ἔν ποτε Κύπρῳ.ἵσταμαι δὴ ποσσὶ κούφοις, ἀμπνέων τε πρίν τι φάμεν.πολλὰ γὰρ πολλᾷ λέλεκται· ν εα ρὰ δʼ ἐξευρόντα δόμεν βασάνῳἐς ἔλεγχον, ἅπας κίνδυνος· ὄψον δὲ λόγοι φθονεροῖσιν·ἅπτεται δʼ ἐσλῶν ἀεί, χειρόνεσσι δʼ οὐκ ἐρίζει.κεῖνος καὶ Τελαμῶνος δάψεν υἱὸν φασγάνῳ ἀμφικυλίσαις.ἦ τινʼ ἄγλωσσον μέν, ἦτορ δʼ ἄλκιμον, λάθα κατέχειἐν λυγρῷ νείκει· μέγιστον δʼ αἰόλῳ ψεύδει γέρας ἀντέταται.κρυφίαισι γὰρ ἐν ψάφοις Ὀδυσσῆ Δαναοὶ θεράπευσαν·χρυσέων δʼ Αἴας στερηθεὶς ὅπλων φόνῳ πάλαισεν.ἦ μὰν ἀνόμοιά γε δᾴοισιν ἐν θερμῷ χροῒἕλκεα ῥῆξαν πελεμιζόμενοιὑπʼ ἀλεξιμβρότῳ λόγχᾳ, τὰ μὲν ἀμφʼ Ἀχιλεῖ νεοκτόνῳ,ἄλλων τε μόχθων ἐν πολυφθόροιςἁμέραις. ἐχθρὰ δʼ ἄρα πάρφασις ἦν καὶ πάλαι,αἱμύλων μύθων ὁμόφοιτος, δολοφραδής, κακοποιὸν ὄνειδος·ἃ τὸ μὲν λαμπρὸν βιᾶται, τῶν δʼ ἀφάντων κῦδος ἀντείνει σαθρόν.εἴη μή ποτέ μοι τοιοῦτον ἦθος, Ζεῦ πάτερ, ἀλλὰ κελεύθοιςἁπλόαις ζωᾶς ἐφαπτοίμαν, θανὼν ὡς παισὶ κλέοςμὴ τὸ δύσφαμον προσάψω. χρυσὸν εὔχονται, πεδίον δʼ ἕτεροιἀπέραντον· ἐγὼ δʼ ἀστοῖς ἁδὼν καὶ χθονὶ γυῖα καλύψαιμʼ,αἰνέων αἰνητά, μομφὰν δʼ ἐπισπείρων ἀλιτροῖς.αὔξεται δʼ ἀρετά, χλωραῖς ἐέρσαις ὡς ὅτε δένδρεον ᾁσσει,⟨ἐν⟩ σοφοῖς ἀνδρῶν ἀερθεῖσʼ ἐν δικαίοις τε πρὸς ὑγρὸναἰθέρα. χρεῖαι δὲ παντοῖαι φίλων ἀνδρῶν· τὰ μὲν ἀμφὶ πόνοιςὑπερώτατα· μαστεύει δὲ καὶ τέρψις ἐν ὄμμασι θέσθαιπιστόν. ὦ Μέγα, τὸ δʼ αὖτις τεὰν ψυχὰν κομίξαιοὔ μοι δυνατόν· κενεᾶν δʼ ἐλπίδων χαῦνον τέλος·σεῦ δὲ πάτρᾳ Χαριάδαις τʼ Ἐλαφρὸνὑπερεῖσαι λίθον Μοισαῖον ἕκατι ποδῶν εὐωνύμωνδὶς δὴ δυοῖν. χαίρω δὲ πρόσφορονἐν μὲν ἔργῳ κόμπον ἱείς, ἐπαοιδαῖς δʼ ἀνὴρνώδυνον καί τις κάματον θῆκεν. ἦν γε μὰν ἐπικώμιος ὕμνοςδὴ πάλαι καὶ πρὶν γενέσθαι τὰν Ἀδράστου τάν τε Καδμείων ἔριν.
Muses, we will go in victory procession from Apollo’s shrine in Sicyon to newly-founded Aetna, where the doors flung open wide are overwhelmed by guests, at the prosperous home of Chromius. Make a sweet song of verses! For, mounting his chariot of victorious horses, he gives the word to sing for the mother and her twin childrenwho jointly watch over steep Pytho.There is a saying among men: a noble deed when it is accomplished should not be buried silently in the ground; and divine song is suited to boasting. But we will wake the shouting lyre and the flute in honor of the very pinnacle of horse-contests, which Adrastus established for Phoebus by the streams of the Asopus.Having mentioned them, I will adorn that hero with glorious honors,who, at the time when he was ruler there, made his city famous and glorious with new festivals, and contests of men’s strength, and hollow chariots. For once Adrastus fled from bold-thinking Amphiaraus and terrible civil strife, from his ancestral home, Argos; and the sons of Talaus were no longer rulers, overpowered by sedition.A stronger man puts an end to the previous justice.The sons of Talaus gave man-conquering Eriphyle, as a faithful pledge, in marriage to Amphiaraus son of Oicles, and became the most powerful of the golden-haired Danaans; and once they led a noble army of men to seven-gated Thebes—an expedition not attended by birds of good omen. In their mad desire to leave home, the son of Cronus, by whirling his lightning-bolt, urged them not to go,but to abstain from the journey.And so that company, in bronze armor, and with their horses in war-harnesses, was hastening to arrive at manifest doom. And planting their sweet return on the banks of the Ismenus, they fattened the white-flowering smoke with their corpses. For seven funeral pyres feasted on their bodies’ young limbs. But, for the sake of Amphiaraus, Zeus with his all-powerful thunderboltsplit the deep-breasted earth, and concealed him together with his horses,before he could be struck in the back by the spear of Periclymenus, and his warlike spirit disgraced. For amid divinely-sent panic even the children of gods flee. If it is possible, son of Cronus, I would like to put off for as long as I can this fierce trial of empurpled spears, this contest for life and death;and I pray to you, grant to the children of the Aetnaeans the long-lived blessing of good laws,father Zeus, and join the people with splendid celebrations in their city. There they have men who love horses and whose souls are superior to wealth. My words are hard to believe; for reverence, which brings renown, is secretly beguiled by the love of gain. If you had been Chromius’ shield-bearer among foot-soldiers and horses, and in ship-battles,you would have been able to judge the danger of the sharp battle-cry,because in battle it was that goddess, Reverence, who armed his warrior-spirit to repel the destruction of the war-god. But few are able to conspire with hand and heart to turn back against the ranks of the enemy the cloud of slaughter that presses close upon them. Indeed men say that glory blossomed for Hector beside the flowing Scamander;and around the steep cliffs of the Helorus’ banksat the place which men call “the passage of Rhea,” this light has shone on the son of Hagesidamus, in his earliest manhood. I will tell of the honors he won at other times, many on the dust of dry land and on the neighboring sea. And out of toils, which are undertaken with the aid of youth and justice, there comes a gentle life at the approach of old age.Let him know that he has received marvellous prosperity from the gods.For if, together with many possessions, a man wins renown and glory, there is no higher peak on which a mortal can set his feet. Peace loves the symposium, and new-flourishing victory is fostered by soft song, and the voice becomes bold beside the mixing-bowl.Let someone mix the wine now, the sweet forerunner of victory-song,and dispense the powerful son of the vine in those silver goblets which once Chromius’ horses won for him and sent from holy Sicyon together with the duly twined garlands of Leto’s son. Father Zeus, I pray that I may celebrate this excellence by the favor of the Graces, and excel many poets in honoring victory with my verses,throwing my shaft nearest of all to the mark of the Muses.
κωμάσομεν παρʼ Ἀπόλλωνος Σικυώνοθε, Μοῖσαι,τὰν νεοκτίσταν ἐς Αἴτναν, ἔνθʼ ἀναπεπταμέναι ξείνων νενίκανται θύραι,ὄλβιον ἐς Χρομίου δῶμʼ. ἀλλʼ ἐπέων γλυκὺν ὕμνον πράσσετε.τὸ κρατήσιππον γὰρ ἐς ἃρμʼ ἀναβαίνων ματέρι καὶ διδύμοις παίδεσσιν αὐδὰν μανύειΠυθῶνος αἰπεινᾶς ὁμοκλάροις ἐπόπταις.ἔστι δέ τις λόγος ἀνθρώπων, τετελεσμένον ἐσλὸνμὴ χαμαὶ σιγᾷ καλύψαι· θεσπεσία δʼ ἐπέων καύχαις ἀοιδὰ πρόσφορος.ἀλλʼ ἀνὰ μὲν βρομίαν φόρμιγγʼ, ἀνὰ δʼ αὐλὸν ἐπʼ αὐτὰν ὄρσομενἱππίων ἄθλων κορυφάν, ἅτε Φοίβῳ θῆκεν Ἄδραστος ἐπʼ Ἀσωποῦ ῥεέθροις· ὧν ἐγὼμνασθεὶς ἐπασκήσω κλυταῖς ἥρωα τιμαῖς,ὃς τότε μὲν βασιλεύων κεῖθι νέαισί θʼ ἑορταῖςἰσχύος τʼ ἀνδρῶν ἁμίλλαις ἅρμασί τε γλαφυροῖς ἄμφαινε κυδαίνων πόλιν.φεῦγε γὰρ Ἀμφιαρῆ ποτε θρασυμήδεα καὶ δεινὰν στάσινπατρῴων οἴκων ἀπό τʼ Ἄργεος· ἀρχοὶ δʼ οὐκ ἔτʼ ἔσαν Ταλαοῦ παῖδες, βιασθέντες λύᾳ.κρέσσων δὲ καππαύει δίκαν τὰν πρόσθεν ἀνήρ.ἀνδροδάμαντʼ Ἐριφύλαν, ὅρκιον ὡς ὅτε πιστόν,δόντες Οἰκλείδᾳ γυναῖκα, ξανθοκομᾶν Δαναῶν ἔσσαν μέγιστοι καί ποτεἐς ⟨λὸν ἐς⟩ ἑπταπύλους Θήβας ἄγαγον στρατὸν ἀνδρῶν αἰσιᾶνοὐ κατʼ ὀρνίχων ὁδόν· οὐδὲ Κρονίων ἀστεροπὰν ἐλελίξαις οἴκοθεν μαργουμένουςστείχειν ἐπώτρυνʼ, ἀλλὰ φείσασθαι κελεύθου.φαινομέναν δʼ ἄρʼ ἐς ἄταν σπεῦδεν ὅμιλος ἱκέσθαιχαλκέοις ὅπλοισιν ἱππείοις τε σὺν ἔντεσιν· Ἰσμηνοῦ δʼ ἐπʼ ὄχθαισι γλυκὺννόστον ἐρεισάμενοι λευκανθέα σώματʼ ἐπίαναν καπνόν·ἑπτὰ γὰρ δαίσαντο πυραὶ νεογυίους φῶτας· ὁ δʼ Ἀμφιαρῇ σχίσσεν κεραυνῷ παμβίᾳΖεὺς τὰν βαθύστερνον χθόνα, κρύψεν δʼ ἅμʼ ἵπποις,δουρὶ Περικλυμένου πρὶν νῶτα τυπέντα μαχατὰνθυμὸν αἰσχυνθῆμεν. ἐν γὰρ δαιμονίοισι φόβοις φεύγοντι καὶ παῖδες θεῶν.εἰ δυνατόν, Κρονίων, πεῖραν μὲν ἀγάνορα Φοινικοστόλωνἐγχέων ταύταν θανάτου πέρι καὶ ζωᾶς ἀναβάλλομαι ὡς πόρσιστα, μοῖραν δʼ εὔνομοναἰτέω σε παισὶν δαρὸν Αἰτναίων ὀπάζειν,Ζεῦ πάτερ, ἀγλαΐαισιν δʼ ἀστυνόμοις ἐπιμῖξαιλαόν. ἐντί τοι φίλιπποί τʼ αὐτόθι καὶ κτεάνων ψυχὰς ἔχοντες κρέσσοναςἄνδρες. ἄπιστον ἔειπʼ· αἰδὼς γὰρ ὑπὸ κρύφα κέρδει κλέπτεται,ἃ φέρει δόξαν. Χρομίῳ κεν ὑπασπίζων παρὰ πεζοβόαις ἵπποις τε ναῶν τʼ ἐν μάχαιςἔκρινας ἂν κίνδυνον ὀξείας ἀϋτᾶς,οὕνεκεν ἐν πολέμῳ κείνα θεὸς ἔντυεν αὐτοῦθυμὸν αἰχματὰν ἀμύνειν λοιγὸν Ἐνυαλίου. παῦροι δὲ βουλεῦσαι φόνουπαρποδίου νεφέλαν τρέψαι ποτὶ δυσμενέων ἀνδρῶν στίχαςχερσὶ καὶ ψυχᾷ δυνατοί· λέγεται μὰν Ἕκτορι μὲν κλέος ἀνθῆσαι Σκαμάνδρου χεύμασινἀγχοῦ, βαθυκρήμνοισι δʼ ἀμφʼ ἀκταῖς Ἑλώρου,ἔνθα Ῥέας πόρον ἄνθρωποι καλέοισι, δέδορκενπαιδὶ τοῦθʼ Ἁγησιδάμου φέγγος ἐν ἁλικίᾳ πρώτᾳ· τὰ δʼ ἄλλαις ἁμέραιςπολλὰ μὲν ἐν κονίᾳ χέρσῳ, τὰ δὲ γείτονι πόντῳ φάσομαι.ἐκ πόνων δʼ, οἳ σὺν νεότατι γένωνται σύν τε δίκᾳ, τελέθει πρὸς γῆρας αἰὼν ἁμέρα.ἴστω λαχὼν πρὸς δαιμόνων θαυμαστὸν ὄλβον.εἰ γὰρ ἅμα κτεάνοις πολλοῖς ἐπίδοξον ἄρηταικῦδος, οὐκ ἔστι πρόσωθεν θνατὸν ἔτι σκοπιᾶς ἄλλας ἐφάψασθαι ποδοῖν.ἡσυχία δὲ φιλεῖ μὲν συμπόσιον· νεοθαλὴς δʼ αὔξεταιμαλθακᾷ νικαφορία σὺν ἀοιδᾷ· θαρσαλέα δὲ παρὰ κρητῆρα φωνὰ γίνεται.ἐγκιρνάτω τίς νιν, γλυκὺν κώμου προφάταν,ἀργυρέαισι δὲ νωμάτω φιάλαισι βιατὰνἀμπέλου παῖδʼ, ἅς ποθʼ ἵπποι κτησάμεναι Χρομίῳ πέμψαν θεμιπλέκτοις ἁμᾷΛατοΐδα στεφάνοις ἐκ τᾶς ἱερᾶς Σικυῶνος. Ζεῦ πάτερ,εὔχομαι ταύταν ἀρετὰν κελαδῆσαι σὺν Χαρίτεσσιν, ὑπὲρ πολλῶν τε τιμαλφεῖν λόγοιςνίκαν, ἀκοντίζων σκοποῖʼ ἄγχιστα Μοισᾶν.
Graces, sing of the city of Danaus and his fifty daughters on their splendid thrones, Hera’s Argos, a home suitable for a god; it blazes with countless excellences because of its bold deeds. Long indeed is the story of Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa,and many are the cities founded in Egypt by the devising of Epaphus. Nor did Hypermnestra go astray, when she restrained in its scabbard her sword, which was alone in its verdict.And once the golden-haired, gray-eyed goddess made Diomedes an immortal god; and the earth in Thebes, thunder-struck by the bolts of Zeus, swallowed up the prophetic son of Oicles, Amphiaraus, the storm-cloud of war.And Argos has long been the best city for women with beautiful hair; Zeus made this saying clear by visiting Alcmena and Danae, and he united the fruit of intelligence with straightforward justice in the father of Adrastus and in Lynceus.And Zeus nourished the spear of Amphitryon, who attained the height of prosperity and entered into kinship with that god, when, clad in bronze armor,he slew the Teleboae. Taking on the appearance of Amphitryon, the king of the immortals entered the hall of that hero, bearing the fearless seed of Heracles; whose bride Hebe, the most beautiful of the goddesses, walks forever in Olympus beside her mother Hera, goddess of marriage.My mouth is too small to tell the whole story of all the noble things in which the precinct of Argos has a share.And there is also the satiety of men, which is grievous to encounter. But nevertheless, awaken the well-strung lyre, and take thought of wrestling; the contest for the bronze shield calls the people to the sacrifice of oxen in honor of Hera and to the trial of contests. There the son of Ulias, Theaeus, was victorious twice, and gained forgetfulness of toils that were bravely borne.And he once was victor over the people of Greece at Pytho; and, going with good fortune, he won the crown at the Isthmus and at Nemea, and he gave the Muses a field to plough, since he won three times at the gates of the sea, and three times on the sacred ground, according to the ordinance of Adrastus. Father Zeus, his mouth keeps silent what his heart truly desires. The accomplishment of alldeeds rests with you. Adding boldness to a heart that does not shrink from labor, he asks for your grace.I sing what is known to the god and to whoever strives for the chief crown in the foremost games. Pisa holds the highest ordinance, that of Heracles. Still, the sweet voices of the Athenians at their festival twice sang victory-songs as a prelude for Theaeus,and in earth baked by fire olive oil came to the fine men of Hera’s city in jars with richly painted sides.Theaeus, the honor of successful contests often attends on the well-known race of your maternal ancestors, by the favor of the Graces and the Tyndarids. I would think it right, if I were a kinsman of Thrasyclusand Antias, not to veil the light in my eyes. For this horse-breeding city of Proetus has flourished with so many victories in the glens of Corinth, and four times from the men of Cleonae.And from Sicyon they returned with silver wine-goblets, and from Pellana with soft wool cloaks around their shoulders.But it is impossible to give a full reckoning of their countless prizes of bronze—for it would require long leisure to number them—which Cleitor and Tegea and the upland cities of the Achaeans and Mount Lycaeon set by the racecourse of Zeus for men to win with the strength of their feet and hands.But since Castorand his brother Polydeuces came to Pamphaës to receive a hospitable welcome, it is no wonder that it is innate in their race to be good athletes; since the Dioscuri, guardians of spacious Sparta, along with Hermes and Heracles, administer the flourishing institution of the games, and they care very much for just men. Indeed, the race of the gods is trustworthy.Changing places in alternation, the Dioscuri spend one day beside their dear father Zeus, and the other beneath the depths of the earth in the hollows of Therapne, each fulfilling an equal destiny, since Polydeuces preferred this life to being wholly a god and living in heaven, when Castor was killed in battle.For Idas, angered for some reason about his cattle, stabbed him with the point of his bronze spear.Looking out from Taÿgetus, Lynceus saw them seated in the hollow of an oak; for that man had the sharpest eye of all who live on earth. He and Idas at once reached the spot with swift feet, and quickly contrived a mighty deed;and these sons of Aphareus themselves suffered terribly by the devising of Zeus. For right away Polydeuces the son of Leda came in pursuit. They were stationed opposite, near the tomb of their father;from there they seized the grave-column, monument to Hades, a polished stone, and hurled it at the chest of Polydeuces. But they did not crush him, or drive him back; rushing forward with his swift javelin,he drove its bronze point into the ribs of Lynceus, and Zeus hurled against Idas a fiery smoking thunderbolt. They burned together, deserted. Strife with those who are stronger is a harsh companion for men.Swiftly Polydeuces the son of Tyndareus went back to his mighty brother, and found him not yet dead, but shuddering with gasps of breath.Shedding warm tears amid groans, he spoke aloud: “Father, son of Cronus, what release will there be from sorrows? Order me to die too, along with him, lord. A man’s honor is gone when he is deprived of friends; but few mortals are trustworthy in times of toilto share the hardship.” So he spoke. And Zeus came face to face with him,and said these words: “You are my son. But Castor was begotten after your conception by the hero, your mother’s husband, who came to her and sowed his mortal seed. But nevertheless I grant you your choice in this. If you wish to escape death and hated old age, and to dwell in Olympus yourself with me and with Athena and Ares of the dark spear,you can have this lot. But if you strive to save your brother, and intend to share everything equally with him, then you may breathe for half the time below the earth, and for half the time in the golden homes of heaven.” When Zeus had spoken thus, Polydeuces did not have a second thought.He opened the eye, and then released the voice of the bronze-clad warrior, Castor.
Δαναοῦ πόλιν ἀγλαοθρόνων τε πεντήκοντα κορᾶν, Χάριτες,Ἄργος Ἥρας δῶμα θεοπρεπὲς ὑμνεῖτε· φλέγεται δʼ ἀρεταῖςμυρίαις ἔργων θρασέων ἕνεκεν.μακρὰ μὲν τὰ Περσέος ἀμφὶ Μεδοίσας Γοργόνος·πολλὰ δʼ Αἰγύπτῳ καταοίκισθεν ἄστη ταῖς Ἐπάφου παλάμαις·οὐδʼ Ὑπερμνήστρα παρεπλάγχθη, μονόψαφον ἐν κολεῷ κατασχοῖσα ξίφος.Διομήδεα δʼ ἄμβροτον ξανθά ποτε Γλαυκῶπις ἔθηκε θεόν·γαῖα δʼ ἐν Θήβαις ὑπέδεκτο κεραυνωθεῖσα Διὸς βέλεσινμάντιν Οἰκλείδαν, πολέμοιο νέφος·καὶ γυναιξὶν καλλικόμοισιν ἀριστεύει πάλαι·Ζεὺς ἐπʼ Ἀλκμήναν Δανάαν τε μολὼν τοῦτον κατέφανε λόγον·πατρὶ δʼ Ἀδράστοιο Λυγκεῖ τε φρενῶν καρπὸν εὐθείᾳ συνάρμοξεν δίκᾳ·θρέψε δʼ αἰχμὰν Ἀμφιτρύωνος. ὁ δʼ ὄλβῳ φέρτατοςἵκετʼ ἐς κείνου γενεάν, ἐπεὶ ἐν χαλκέοις ὅπλοιςΤηλεβόας ἔναρεν· τῷ ὄψιν ἐειδόμενοςἀθανάτων βασιλεὺς αὐλὰν ἐσῆλθενσπέρμʼ ἀδείμαντον φέρων Ἡρακλέος· οὗ κατʼ Ὄλυμπονἄλοχος Ἥβα τελείᾳ παρὰ ματέρι βαίνοισʼ ἔστι, καλλίστα θεῶν.βραχύ μοι στόμα πάντʼ ἀναγήσασθʼ, ὅσων Ἀργεῖον ἔχει τέμενοςμοῖραν ἐσλῶν· ἔστι δὲ καὶ κόρος ἀνθρώπων βαρὺς ἀντιάσαι·ἀλλʼ ὅμως εὔχορδον ἔγειρε λύραν,καὶ παλαισμάτων λάβε φροντίδʼ· ἀγών τοι χάλκεοςδᾶμον ὀτρύνει ποτὶ βουθυσίαν Ἥρας ἀέθλων τε κρίσιν·Οὐλία παῖς ἔνθα νικάσαις δὶς ἔσχεν Θεαῖος εὐφόρων λάθαν πόνων.ἐκράτησε δὲ καί ποθʼ Ἕλλανα στρατὸν Πυθῶνι, τύχᾳ τε μολὼνκαὶ τὸν Ἰσθμοῖ καὶ Νεμέᾳ στέφανον, Μοίσαισί τʼ ἔδωκʼ ἀρόσαι,τρὶς μὲν ἐν πόντοιο πύλαισι λαχών,τρὶς δὲ καὶ σεμνοῖς δαπέδοις ἐν Ἀδραστείῳ νόμῳ.Ζεῦ πάτερ, τῶν μὰν ἔραται φρενί, σιγᾷ οἱ στόμα· πᾶν δὲ τέλοςἐν τὶν ἔργων· οὐδʼ, ἀμόχθῳ καρδίᾳ προσφέρων τόλμαν, παραιτεῖται χάριν·γνώτʼ ἀείδω οἷ τε καὶ ὅστις ἁμιλλᾶται περὶἐσχάτων ἄθλων κορυφαῖς· ὕπατον δʼ ἔσχεν ΠίσαἩρακλέος τεθμόν· ἁδεῖαί γε μὲν ἀμβολάδανἐν τελεταῖς δὶς Ἀθαναίων νιν ὀμφαὶκώμασαν· γαίᾳ δὲ καυθείσᾳ πυρὶ καρπὸς ἐλαίαςἔμολεν Ἥρας τὸν εὐάνορα λαὸν ἐν ἀγγέων ἕρκεσιν παμποικίλοις.ἕπεται δέ, Θεαῖε, ματρώων πολύγνωτον γένος ὑμετέρωνεὐάγων τιμὰ Χαρίτεσσί τε καὶ ⟨σὺν⟩ Τυνδαρίδαις θαμάκις.ἀξιωθείην κεν, ἐὼν ΘρασύκλουἈντία τε ξύγγονος, Ἄργει μὴ κρύπτειν φάοςὀμμάτων. νικαφορίαις γὰρ ὅσαις Προίτοιο τόδʼ ἱπποτρόφονἄστυ θάλησεν Κορίνθου τʼ ἐν μυχοῖς καὶ Κλεωναίων πρὸς ἀνδρῶν τετράκις·Σικυωνόθε δʼ ἀργυρωθέντες σὺν οἰνηραῖς φιάλαις ἐπέβαν,ἐκ δὲ Πελλάνας ἐπιεσσάμενοι νῶτον μαλακαῖσι κρόκαις·ἀλλὰ χαλκὸν μυρίον οὐ δυνατὸνἐξελέγχειν· μακροτέρας γὰρ ἀριθμῆσαι σχολᾶς·ὅντε Κλείτωρ καὶ Τεγέα καὶ Ἀχαιῶν ὑψίβατοι πόλιεςκαὶ Λύκαιον πὰρ Διὸς θῆκε δρόμῳ, σὺν ποδῶν χειρῶν τε νικᾶσαι σθένει.Κάστορος δʼ ἐλθόντος ἐπὶ ξενίαν πὰρ Παμφάηκαὶ κασιγνήτου Πολυδεύκεος, οὐ θαῦμα σφίσινἐγγενὲς ἔμμεν ἀεθληταῖς ἀγαθοῖσιν· ἐπεὶεὐρυχόρου ταμίαι Σπάρτας ἀγώνωνμοῖραν Ἑρμᾷ καὶ σὺν Ἡρακλεῖ διέποντι θάλειαν,μάλα μὲν ἀνδρῶν δικαίων περικαδόμενοι. καὶ μὰν θεῶν πιστὸν γένος.μεταμειβόμενοι δʼ ἐναλλὰξ ἁμέραν τὰν μὲν παρὰ πατρὶ φίλῳΔὶ νέμονται, τὰν δʼ ὑπὸ κεύθεσι γαίας ἐν γυάλοις Θεράπνας,πότμον ἀμπιπλάντες ὁμοῖον· ἐπεὶτοῦτον, ἢ πάμπαν θεὸς ἔμμεναι οἰκεῖν τʼ οὐρανῷ,εἵλετʼ αἰῶνα φθιμένου Πολυδεύκης Κάστορος ἐν πολέμῳ.τὸν γὰρ Ἴδας ἀμφὶ βουσίν πως χολωθεὶς ἔτρωσεν χαλκέας λόγχας ἀκμᾷ.ἀπὸ Ταϋγέτου πεδαυγάζων ἴδεν Λυγκεὺς δρυὸς ἐν στελέχειἡμένους. κείνου γὰρ ἐπιχθονίων πάντων γένετʼ ὀξύτατονὄμμα. λαιψηροῖς δὲ πόδεσσιν ἄφαρἐξικέσθαν, καὶ μέγα ἔργον ἐμήσαντʼ ὠκέως,καὶ πάθον δεινὸν παλάμαις Ἀφαρητίδαι Διός. αὐτίκα γὰρἦλθε Λήδας παῖς διώκων· τοὶ δʼ ἔναντα στάθεν τύμβῳ σχεδὸν πατρωΐῳ·ἔνθεν ἁρπάξαντες ἄγαλμʼ Ἀΐδα, ξεστὸν πέτρον,ἔμβαλον στέρνῳ Πολυδεύκεος· ἀλλʼ οὔ νιν φλάσαν,οὐδʼ ἀνέχασσαν· ἐφορμαθεὶς δʼ ἄρʼ ἄκοντι θοῷἤλασε Λυγκέος ἐν πλευραῖσι χαλκόν.Ζεὺς δʼ ἐπʼ Ἴδᾳ πυρφόρον πλᾶξε ψολόεντα κεραυνόν·ἅμα δʼ ἐκαίοντʼ ἔρημοι. χαλεπὰ δʼ ἔρις ἀνθρώποις ὁμιλεῖν κρεσσόνων.ταχέως δʼ ἐπʼ ἀδελφεοῦ βίαν πάλιν χώρησεν ὁ Τυνδαρίδας,καί νιν οὔπω τεθναότʼ, ἄσθματι δὲ φρίσσοντα πνοὰς ἔκιχεν.θερμὰ δὴ τέγγων δάκρυα στοναχαῖςὄρθιον φώνασε· πάτερ Κρονίων, τίς δὴ λύσιςἔσσεται πενθέων; καὶ ἐμοὶ θάνατον σὺν τῷδʼ ἐπίτειλον, ἄναξ.οἴχεται τιμὰ φίλων τατωμένῳ φωτί· παῦροι δʼ ἐν πόνῳ πιστοὶ βροτῶνκαμάτου μεταλαμβάνειν. ὣς ἔννεπε· Ζεὺς δʼ ἀντίος ἤλυθέ οἱκαὶ τόδʼ ἐξαύδασʼ ἔπος· ἐσσί μοι υἱός· τόνδε δʼ ἔπειτα πόσιςσπέρμα θνατὸν ματρὶ τεᾷ πελάσαιςστάξεν ἥρως. ἀλλʼ ἄγε τῶνδέ τοι ἔμπαν αἵρεσινπαρδίδωμʼ· εἰ μὲν θάνατόν τε φυγὼν καὶ γῆρας ἀπεχθόμενοναὐτὸς Οὔλυμπον θέλεις ⟨ναίειν ἐμοὶ⟩ σύν τʼ Ἀθαναίᾳ κελαινεγχεῖ τʼ Ἄρει,ἔστι τοι τούτων λάχος· εἰ δὲ κασιγνήτου πέριμάρνασαι, πάντων δὲ νοεῖς ἀποδάσσασθαι ἴσον,ἥμισυ μέν κε πνέοις γαίας ὑπένερθεν ἐών,ἥμισυ δʼ οὐρανοῦ ἐν χρυσέοις δόμοισιν.ὣς ἄρʼ αὐδάσαντος οὐ γνώμᾳ διπλόαν θέτο βουλάν.ἀνὰ δʼ ἔλυσεν μὲν ὀφθαλμόν, ἔπειτα δὲ φωνὰν χαλκομίτρα Κάστορος.
Daughter of Rhea, you who have received the town hall under your protection, Hestia, sister of Zeus the highest and of Hera who shares his throne, welcome Aristagoras to your dwelling, and welcome to a place near your splendid scepter his companions,who, in honoring you, guard Tenedos and keep her on a straight course;often they worship you, first of the gods, with libations, and often with the savor of burnt sacrifice. Lyres and songs peal among them, and Themis, who belongs to Zeus the god of hospitality, is honored with everlasting feasts. With glory to the endmay he fulfill his twelve-month office, with his heart unwounded.I call that man blessed in his father Hagesilas, in his marvellous body, and in his inborn steadiness. But if any man who has prosperity surpasses others in beauty, and displays his strength by being best in the games,let him remember that his robes are thrown around mortal limbs, and that he will clothe himself with earth, the end of all.Yet it is right for him to be praised in the good words of his fellow-citizens, and for us to adorn him with the honeyed sound of songs. For in contests of those who live around him, sixteensplendid victories crowned Aristagoras and his illustrious fatherland, in wrestling and in the proud pancratium.But the too hesitant hopes of his parents restrained the boy’s strength from attempting the contests at Pytho and Olympia. For I swear by the power of Oath: in my judgment, whether he went to Castaliaor to the well-wooded hill of Cronus, he would have returned home in finer fashion than the opponents who strove against him,having celebrated the four years’ festival ordained by Heracles, and having crowned his hair with purple wreaths. But, among mortals, empty-headed pridecasts one man out of his goods; and a timid spirit foils another man of the fine achievements that should be his, dragging him back by the hand as he disparages his own strength too much.Truly, it was easy to recognize in him the ancient blood of Peisander of Sparta, who came from Amyclae with Orestes,leading here a bronze-armored host of Aetolians, and also the blending of his blood with that of his mother’s ancestor Melanippus, beside the stream of the Ismenus. But ancient excellenceyields strength in alternate generations of men; the dark fields do not give fruit continuously,nor are trees accustomed to bear an equal wealth of fragrant flowers in every circling year, but in alternation. And thus the race of mortal men is ledby Fate. But no clear sign comes to mortals from Zeus. Nevertheless we embark on bold endeavors,longing for many deeds, for our limbs are bound by shameless hope, while the streams of foresight lie far away. But we must hunt for due measure in our love of gain. The madness of unattainable desires is too sharp.
παῖ Ῥέας, ἅ τε πρυτανεῖα λέλογχας,Ἑστία,Ζηνὸς ὑψίστου κασιγνήτα καὶ ὁμοθρόνου Ἥρας,εὖ μὲν Ἀρισταγόραν δέξαι τεὸν ἐς θάλαμον,.εὖ δʼ ἑταίρους ἀγλαῷ σκάπτῳ πέλας,οἵ σε γεραίροντες ὀρθὰν φυλάσσοισιν Τένεδον,πολλὰ μὲν λοιβαῖσιν ἀγαζόμενοι πρώταν θεῶν,πολλὰ δὲ κνίσσᾳ· λύρα δέ σφι βρέμεται καὶ ἀοιδά·καὶ ξενίου Διὸς ἀσκεῖται Θέμις ἀενάοιςἐν τραπέζαις. ἀλλὰ σὺν δόξᾳ τέλοςδωδεκάμηνον περᾶσαι σὺν ἀτρώτῳ κραδίᾳ,ἄνδρα δʼ ἐγὼ μακαρίζω μὲν πατέρʼ Ἁγησίλαν,καὶ τὸ θαητὸν δέμας ἀτρεμίαν τε ξύγγονον.εἰ δέ τις ὄλβον ἔχων μορφᾷ παραμεύσεται ἄλλους,ἔν τʼ ἀέθλοισιν ἀριστεύων ἐπέδειξεν βίαν,θνατὰ μεμνάσθω περιστέλλων μέλη,καὶ τελευτὰν ἁπάντων γᾶν ἐπιεσσόμενος·ἐν λόγοις δʼ ἀστῶν ἀγαθοῖσί νιν αἰνεῖσθαι χρεών,καὶ μελιγδούποισι δαιδαλθέντα μελιζέμεν ἀοιδαῖς.ἐκ δὲ περικτιόνων ἑκκαίδεκʼ Ἀρισταγόρανἀγλααὶ νῖκαι πάτραν τʼ εὐώνυμονἐστεφάνωσαν πάλᾳ καὶ μεγαυχεῖ παγκρατίῳ.ἐλπίδες δʼ ὀκνηρότεραι γονέων παιδὸς βίανἔσχον ἐν Πυθῶνι πειρᾶσθαι καὶ Ὀλυμπίᾳ ἄθλων.ναὶ μὰ γὰρ ὅρκον, ἐμὰν δόξαν παρὰ Κασταλίᾳκαὶ παρʼ εὐδένδρῳ μολὼν ὄχθῳ Κρόνουκάλλιον ἂν δηριώντων ἐνόστησʼ ἀντιπάλων,πενταετηρίδʼ ἑορτὰν Ἡρακλέος τέθμιονκωμάσαις ἀνδησάμενός τε κόμαν ἐν πορφυρέοιςἔρνεσιν. ἀλλὰ βροτῶν τὸν μὲν κενεόφρονες αὖχαιἐξ ἀγαθῶν ἔβαλον· τὸν δʼ αὖ καταμεμφθέντʼ ἄγανἰσχὺν οἰκείων παρέσφαλεν καλῶνχειρὸς ἕλκων ὀπίσσω θυμὸς ἄτολμος ἐών.συμβαλεῖν μὰν εὐμαρὲς ἦν τό τε Πεισάνδρου πάλαιαἷμʼ ἀπὸ Σπάρτας· Ἀμύκλαθεν γὰρ ἔβα σὺν Ὀρέστᾳ,Αἰολέων στρατιὰν χαλκεντέα δεῦρʼ ἀνάγων·καὶ παρʼ Ἰσμηνοῦ ῥοὰν κεκραμένονἐκ Μελανίπποιο μάτρωος. ἀρχαῖαι δʼ ἀρεταὶἀμφέροντʼ ἀλλασσόμεναι γενεαῖς ἀνδρῶν σθένος·ἐν σχερῷ δʼ οὔτʼ ὦν μέλαιναι καρπὸν ἔδωκαν ἄρουραι,δένδρεά τʼ οὐκ ἐθέλει πάσαις ἐτέων περόδοιςἄνθος εὐῶδες φέρειν πλούτῳ ἴσον,ἀλλʼ ἐν ἀμείβοντι. καὶ θνατὸν οὕτως ἔθνος ἄγειμοῖρα. τὸ δʼ ἐκ Διὸς ἀνθρώποις σαφὲς οὐχ ἕπεταιτέκμαρ· ἀλλʼ ἔμπαν μεγαλανορίαις ἐμβαίνομεν,ἔργα τε πολλὰ μενοινῶντες· δέδεται γὰρ ἀναιδεῖἐλπίδι γυῖα· προμαθείας δʼ ἀπόκεινται ῥοαί.κερδέων δὲ χρὴ μέτρον θηρευέμεν·ἀπροσίκτων δʼ ἐρώτων ὀξύτεραι μανίαι.