The great city of Athens is the most beautiful prelude of song, which the widely powerful race of the Alcmaeonids can lay as a foundation of odes in honor of their horses.What fatherland, what family will you name that is more illustrious in Greece?For in all cities the storyof the citizens of Erechtheus makes the rounds, Apollo, how they made your dwelling in divine Pytho a marvel to see. Five Isthmian victories lead my song forward, and one outstanding triumphat Zeus’ Olympian games, and two from Cirrha —yours, Megacles, and your ancestors’. I rejoice at this new success; but I grieve that fine deeds are repaid with envy.It is true what they say: the abiding bloom of good fortune brings with it both good and bad.
κάλλιστον αἱ μεγαλοπόλιες Ἀθᾶναιπροοίμιον Ἀλκμανιδᾶν εὐρυσθενεῖ γενεᾷκρηπῖδʼ ἀοιδᾶνἵπποισι βαλέσθαι.ἐπεὶ τίνα πάτραν, τίνα οἶκονναίων ὀνυμάξεαιἐπιφανέστερονἙλλάδι πυθέσθαι;πάσαισι γὰρ πολίεσι λόγος ὁμιλεῖἘρεχθέος ἀστῶν, Ἄπολλον, οἳ τεόν γε δόμονΠυθῶνι δίᾳθαητὸν ἔτευξαν.ἄγοντι δέ με πέντε μὲν Ἰσθμοῖνῖκαι, μία δʼ ἐκπρεπὴςΔιὸς Ὀλυμπιάς,δύο δʼ ἀπὸ Κίρρας,ὦ Μεγάκλεες, ὑμαί τε καὶ προγόνων.νέα δʼ εὐπραγίᾳ χαίρω τι· τὸ δʼ ἄχνυμαι,φθόνον ἀμειβόμενον τὰ καλὰ ἔργα.φαντί γε μὰν οὕτω κεν ἀνδρὶ παρμονίμανθάλλοισαν εὐδαιμονίαντὰ καὶ τὰ φέρεσθαι.
Kindly Peace, daughter of Justice, you who make cities great, holding the supreme keys of counsels and of wars,receive this honor due to Aristomenes for his Pythian victory. For you know both how to give and how to receive gentleness, with precise timing.And yet, whenever anyone drives pitiless anger into his heart,you meet the strength of your enemies roughly, sinking Arrogance in the flood. Porphyrion did not know your power, when he provoked you beyond all measure. Gain is most welcome, when one takes it from the home of a willing giver.Violence trips up even a man of great pride, in time. Cilician Typhon with his hundred heads did not escape you, nor indeed did the king of the Giants. One was subdued by the thunderbolt, the other by the bow of Apollo, who with a gracious mind welcomed the son of Xenarces on his return from Cirrha, crowned witha garland of laurel from Parnassus and with Dorian victory-song.His island with her just city has not fallen far from the Graces, having attained the famous excellence of the Aeacidae; she has had perfectglory from the beginning. She is praised in song for having fostered heroes who were supreme in many victory-bearing contests and in swift battles;and she is distinguished in these things even for her men. But I do not have the time to set uptheir whole long story to the lyre and the gentle voice, for fear that satiety would come and distress us. But my debt to you, child, which comes running at my feet, your latest fine achievement, let it fly on the wings of my artfulness.For in wrestling you follow in the footsteps of your mother’s brothers, and you do not disgrace Theognetus at Olympia, nor the bold-limbed victory of Cleitomachus at the Isthmus. And by exalting the clan of the Midylids, you fulfill the prophecy which once Amphiaraus the son of Oicles spoke in riddling words, when he saw, in seven-gatedThebes, those sons standing by their spears,when they came from Argos on that second march, the Epigoni. Thus he spoke, while they were fighting: “By nature the genuine spirit of the fathersis conspicuous in the sons. I clearly see Alcmaeon, wielding a dappled serpent on his blazing shield, the first at the gates of Cadmus.And he who suffered in the earlier disaster, the hero Adrastus, now has the tidings of a betterbird of omen. But at home his luck will be the opposite. For he alone of the Danaan army will gather the bones of his dead son, by the fortune sent from the gods, and come with his people unharmedto the spacious streets of Argos, the city of Abas.” So spoke Amphiaraus. And I myself rejoice as I fling garlands over Alcmaeon and sprinkle him with song, because this hero is my neighbor and guardian of my possessions, and he met me when I was going to the songful navel of the earth,and he touched on prophecies with his inborn arts.And you, Apollo, shooting from afar, you who govern the glorious temple, hospitable to all, in the hollows of Pytho, there you granted the greatest of joys.And before, in your festival at home, you brought him a coveted gift for the pentathlon. Lord, I pray that with a willing mindI may observe a certain harmony on every step of my way.Justice stands beside the sweet-singing victory procession. I pray that the gods may regard your fortunes without envy, Xenarces. For if anyone has noble achievements without long toil, to many he seems to be a skillful man among the foolish,arming his life with the resources of right counsel. But these things do not depend on men. It is a god who grants them; raising up one man and throwing down another. Enter the struggle with due measure. You have won a prize of honor at Megara, and in the valley of Marathon; and at the local contest of Herayou were dominant in action with three victories, Aristomenes.And you fell from above on the bodies of four opponents, with grim intent; to them no cheerful homecoming was allotted, as it was to you, at the Pythian festival;nor, when they returned to their mothers, did sweet laughter awaken joy. They slink along the back-streets, away from their enemies, bitten by misfortune.But he who has gained some fine new thing in his great opulenceflies beyond hope on the wings of his manliness, with ambitions that are greater than wealth. But the delight of mortals grows in a short time, and then it falls to the ground, shaken by an adverse thought.Creatures of a day. What is someone? What is no one? Man is the dream of a shadow. But when the brilliance given by Zeus comes, a shining light is on man, and a gentle lifetime. Dear mother Aegina, convey this city on her voyage of freedom, with the blessing of Zeus, and the ruler Aeacus,and Peleus, and good Telamon, and Achilles.
φιλόφρον Ἡσυχία, Δίκαςὦ μεγιστόπολι θύγατερ,βουλᾶν τε καὶ πολέμωνἔχοισα κλαῗδας ὑπερτάτας,Πυθιόνικον τιμὰν Ἀριστομένει δέκευ.τὺ γὰρ τὸ μαλθακὸν ἔρξαι τε καὶ παθεῖν ὁμῶςἐπίστασαι καιρῷ σὺν ἀτρεκεῖ·τὺ δʼ, ὁπόταν τις ἀμείλιχονκαρδίᾳ κότον ἐνελάσῃ,τραχεῖα δυσμενέωνὑπαντιάξαισα κράτει τιθεῖςὝβριν ἐν ἄντλῳ. τὰν οὐδὲ Πορφυρίων μάθενπαρʼ αἶσαν ἐξερεθίζων· κέρδος δὲ φίλτατον,ἑκόντος εἴ τις ἐκ δόμων φέροι.βία δὲ καὶ μεγάλαυχον ἔσφαλεν ἐν χρόνῳ.Τυφὼς Κίλιξ ἑκατόγκρανος οὔ νιν ἄλυξεν,οὐδὲ μὰν βασιλεὺς Γιγάντων· δμᾶθεν δὲ κεραυνῷτόξοισί τʼ Ἀπόλλωνος· ὃς εὐμενεῖ νόῳΞενάρκειον ἔδεκτο Κίρραθεν ἐστεφανωμένονυἱὸν ποίᾳ Παρνασσίδι Δωριεῖ τε κώμῳ.ἔπεσε δʼ οὐ Χαρίτων ἑκὰςἁ δικαιόπολις ἀρεταῖςκλειναῖσιν Αἰακιδᾶνθιγοῖσα νᾶσος· τελέαν δʼ ἔχειδόξαν ἀπʼ ἀρχᾶς. πολλοῖσι μὲν γὰρ ἀείδεταινικαφόροις ἐν ἀέθλοις θρέψαισα καὶ θοαῖςὑπερτάτους ἥρωας ἐν μάχαις·τὰ δὲ καὶ ἀνδράσιν ἐμπρέπει.εἰμὶ δʼ ἄσχολος ἀναθέμενπᾶσαν μακραγορίανλύρᾳ τε καὶ φθέγματι μαλθακῷ,μὴ κόρος ἐλθὼν κνίσῃ. τὸ δʼ ἐν ποσί μοι τράχονἴτω τεὸν χρέος, ὦ παῖ, νεώτατον καλῶν,ἐμᾷ ποτανὸν ἀμφὶ μαχανᾷ.παλαισμάτεσσι γὰρ ἰχνεύων ματραδελφεοὺςὈλυμπίᾳ τε Θεόγνητον οὐ κατελέγχεις,οὐδὲ Κλειτομάχοιο νίκαν Ἰσθμοῖ θρασύγυιον·αὔξων δὲ πάτραν Μιδυλιδᾶν λόγον φέρεις,τὸν ὅνπερ ποτʼ Ὀϊκλέος παῖς ἐν ἑπταπύλοις ἰδὼνυἱοὺς Θήβαις αἰνίξατο παρμένοντας αἰχμᾷ,ὁπότʼ ἀπʼ Ἄργεος ἤλυθονδευτέραν ὁδὸν Ἐπίγονοι.ὧδʼ εἶπε μαρναμένων·φυᾷ τὸ γενναῖον ἐπιπρέπειἐκ πατέρων παισὶ λῆμα. θαέομαι σαφὲςδράκοντα ποικίλον αἰθᾶς Ἀλκμᾶνʼ ἐπʼ ἀσπίδοςνωμῶντα πρῶτον ἐν Κάδμου πύλαις.ὁ δὲ καμὼν προτέρᾳ πάθᾳνῦν ἀρείονος ἐνέχεταιὄρνιχος ἀγγελίᾳἌδραστος ἥρως· τὸ δὲ οἴκοθενἀντία πράξει. μοῦνος γὰρ ἐκ Δαναῶν στρατοῦθανόντος ὀστέα λέξαις υἱοῦ, τύχᾳ θεῶνἀφίξεται λαῷ σὺν ἀβλαβεῖἌβαντος εὐρυχόρους ἀγυιάς. τοιαῦτα μὲνἐφθέγξατʼ Ἀμφιάρηος. χαίρων δὲ καὶ αὐτὸςἈλκμᾶνα στεφάνοισι βάλλω, ῥαίνω δὲ καὶ ὕμνῳ,γείτων ὅτι μοι καὶ κτεάνων φύλαξ ἐμῶνὑπάντασεν ἰόντι γᾶς ὀμφαλὸν παρʼ ἀοίδιμον,μαντευμάτων τʼ ἐφάψατο συγγόνοισι τέχναις.τὺ δʼ,Ἑκαταβόλε, πάνδοκονναὸν εὐκλέα διανέμωνΠυθῶνος ἐν γυάλοις,τὸ μὲν μέγιστον τόθι χαρμάτωνὤπασας· οἴκοι δὲ πρόσθεν ἁρπαλέαν δόσινπενταθλίου σὺν ἑορταῖς ὑμαῖς ἐπάγαγες.ἄναξ, ἑκόντι δʼ εὔχομαι νόῳκατά τινʼ ἁρμονίαν βλέπειν,ἀμφʼ ἕκαστον ὅσα νέομαι.κώμῳ μὲν ἁδυμελεῖΔίκα παρέστακε· θεῶν δʼ ὄπινἄφθονον αἰτέω, Ξείναρκες, ὑμετέραις τύχαις.εἰ γάρ τις ἐσλὰ πέπαται μὴ σὺν μακρῷ πόνῳ,πολλοῖς σοφὸς δοκεῖ πεδʼ ἀφρόνωνβίον κορυσσέμεν ὀρθοβούλοισι μαχαναῖς·τὰ δʼ οὐκ ἐπʼ ἀνδράσι κεῖται· δαίμων δὲ παρίσχει,ἄλλοτʼ ἄλλον ὕπερθε βάλλων, ἄλλον δʼ ὑπὸ χειρῶνμέτρῳ καταβαίνει. Μεγάροις δʼ ἔχεις γέρας,μυχῷ τʼ ἐν Μαραθῶνος, Ἥρας τʼ ἀγῶνʼ ἐπιχώριοννίκαις τρισσαῖς, Ὦριστόμενες, δάμασσας ἔργῳ·τέτρασι δʼ ἔμπετες ὑψόθενσωμάτεσσι κακὰ φρονέων,τοῖς οὔτε νόστος ὁμῶςἔπαλπνος ἐν Πυθιάδι κρίθη,οὐδὲ μολόντων πὰρ ματέρʼ ἀμφὶ γέλως γλυκὺςὦρσεν χάριν· κατὰ λαύρας δʼ ἐχθρῶν ἀπάοροιπτώσσοντι, συμφορᾷ δεδαγμένοι.ὁ δὲ καλόν τι νέον λαχὼνἁβρότατος ἔπι μεγάλαςἐξ ἐλπίδος πέταταιὑποπτέροις ἀνορέαις, ἔχωνκρέσσονα πλούτου μέριμναν. ἐν δʼ ὀλίγῳ βροτῶντὸ τερπνὸν αὔξεται· οὕτω δὲ καὶ πίτνει χαμαί,ἀποτρόπῳ γνώμᾳ σεσεισμένον.ἐπάμεροι· τί δέ τις; τί δʼ οὔ τις; σκιᾶς ὄναρἄνθρωπος. ἀλλʼ ὅταν αἴγλα διόσδοτος ἔλθῃ,λαμπρὸν φέγγος ἔπεστιν ἀνδρῶν καὶ μείλιχος αἰών·Αἴγινα φίλα μᾶτερ, ἐλευθέρῳ στόλῳπόλιν τάνδε κόμιζε Δὶ καὶ κρέοντι σὺν ΑἰακῷΠηλεῖ τε κἀγαθῷ Τελαμῶνι σύν τʼ Ἀχιλλεῖ.
With the help of the deep-waisted Graces I want to shout aloud proclaiming the Pythian victory with the bronze shield of Telesicrates, a prosperous man, the crowning glory of chariot-driving Cyrene;the long-haired son of Leto once snatched her from the wind-echoing glens of Mt. Pelion, and carried the girl of the wilds in his golden chariot to a place where he made her mistress of a land rich in flocks and most rich in fruits, to live and flourish on the root of the third continent.Silver-footed Aphrodite welcomedthe Delian guest from his chariot, touching him with a light hand, and she cast lovely modesty on their sweet union, joining together in a common bond of marriage the god and the daughter of wide-ruling Hypseus. He was at that time king of the proud Lapiths, a hero of the second generation from Oceanus;in the renowned glens of Mt. Pindus a Naiad bore him, Creusa the daughter of Gaia, delighting in the bed of the river-god Peneius.And Hypseus raised his lovely-armed daughter Cyrene. She did not care for pacing back and forth at the loom, nor for the delights of luncheons with her stay-at-home companions;instead, fighting with bronze javelins and with a sword, she killed wild beasts, providing great restful peace for her father’s cattle; but as for her sweet bed-fellow, sleep,she spent only a little of it on her eyelids as it fell on them towards dawn.Once the god of the broad quiver, Apollo who works from afar, came upon her wrestling alone and without spears with a terrible lion. Immediately he called Cheiron from out of his halls and spoke to him:“Leave your sacred cave, son of Philyra, and marvel at the spirit and great strength of this woman; look at what a struggle she is engaged in, with a fearless head, this young girl with a heart more than equal to any toil; her mind is not shaken with the cold wind of fear. From what mortal was she born? From what stock has this cutting been taken,that she should be living in the hollows of the shady mountainsand putting to the test her boundless valor? Is it lawful to lay my renowned hand on her? And to cut the honey-sweet grass of her bed?” And the powerful Centaur, laughing softly with a gentle brow, right away gave his wise advice in reply: “Hidden are skilled Persuasion’s keys to holy love,Phoebus, and both gods and men blush to take the pleasure of a bed for the first time openly.For even in your case, for whom it is unlawful to touch on falsehood, a gentle impulse has swayed you to dissemble your words. You ask me from what race the girl comes, lord Apollo? You who know the appointed end of all things,and all the paths that lead to them? And how many leaves the earth puts forth in spring, and how many grains of sand in the sea and in rivers are dashed by the waves and the gusting winds; and that which will be, and from where it will come, all this you clearly see.But if I must match myself even against one who is wise,I will speak. You came to this glen to be her husband, and you will bear her over the sea to the choicest garden of Zeus, where you will make her the ruler of a city, when you have gathered the island-peopleto the hill encircled by plains. And now queen Libya of the broad meadows will gladly welcome your glorious bride in her golden halls. There she will right away give her a portion of land to flourish with her as her lawful possession, not without tribute of all kinds of fruit, nor unfamiliar with wild animals.There she will bear a child, whom famous Hermeswill take from beneath his own dear mother and carry to the Seasons on their lovely thrones and to Gaia. They will admire the baby on their knees and drop nectar and ambrosia on his lips, and they will make him immortal, to be called Zeus and holy Apollo, a delight to men he loves, an ever-present guardian of flocks,Agreus and Nomius, and others will call him Aristaeus.” Having spoken thus, Cheiron urged the god to fulfill the delightful consummation of his marriage.Accomplishment is swift when the gods are already hurrying, and the roads are short. That very day decided the matter. They lay together in the bedchamber of Libya, rich in gold, where she possesses a most beautiful citywhich is renowned for victories in contests. And now in very holy Pytho, where by his victory he had Cyrene proclaimed, the son of Carneiades brought lovely, flourishing good fortune to her; she will welcome him graciously, when he brings back home to the land of beautiful womendesirable fame from Delphi.Great excellence can always inspire many stories; but to embroider a short account from a lengthy theme is what wise men love to hear. Right proportion in the same way contains the gist of the whole; as seven-gated Thebes once knew well,Telesicrates was not dishonored by Iolaus; when he had cut off the head of Eurystheus with the edge of his sword, he was buried below the earth by the tomb of the charioteer Amphitryon, his father’s father, where he lay as the guest of the Sown Men, having come to dwell in the streets of the Cadmeans, who ride on white horses.Wise Alcmena lay with Amphitryon and with Zeus, and borein a single birth twin sons, strong and victorious in battle. Only a mute man does not have Heracles’ name on his lips, and does not always remember the waters of Dirce, which reared him and Iphicles. To them I will sing a victory-song for the fulfillment of my prayer;may the pure light of the clear-voiced Graces not desert me. For I say that I have praised this city three times, in Aegina and on the hill of Nisus,truly escaping silent helplessness. Therefore, whether a man is friendly or hostile among the citizens, let him not obscure a thing that is done well for the common good and so dishonor the precept of the old man of the sea,who said to praise with all your spirit, and with justice, even an enemy when he accomplishes fine deeds. The women saw your many victories at the seasonal rites of Pallas, and each silently prayed that you could be her dear husband,Telesicrates, or her son;and in the Attic Olympia too, and in the contests of deep-bosomed Mother Earth, and in all your local games. But while I am quenching my thirst for song, someone exacts an unpaid debt from me, to awake againthe ancient glory of his ancestors as well: for the sake of a Libyan woman they went to the city of Irasa, as suitors of the very famous daughter of Antaeus with the beautiful hair. Many excellent kinsmen sought her, and many strangers too, since her beauty was marvellous.They wantedto pluck the flowering fruit of golden-crowned Youth. But her father, cultivating for his daughter a more renowned marriage, heard how Danaus once in Argos had found for his forty-eight daughters, before noon overtook them, a very swift marriage. For right away he stood the whole band of suitors at the end of a course,and told them to decide with a footrace which of the heroes, who came to be bridegrooms, would take which bride.The Libyan too made such an offer in joining his daughter with a husband. He placed her at the goal, when he had arrayed her as the crowning prize, and in their midst he announced that that man should lead her to his home, whoever was the first to leap forwardand touch her robes. There Alexidamus, when he had sped to the front of the swift race, took the noble girl’s hand in his hand and led her through the crowd of Nomad horsemen. They cast on that man many leaves and garlands,and before he had received many wings for his victories.
ἐθέλω χαλκάσπιδα Πυθιονίκανσὺν βαθυζώνοισιν ἀγγέλλωνΤελεσικράτη Χαρίτεσσι γεγωνεῖν,ὄλβιον ἄνδρα, διωξίππου στεφάνωμα Κυράνας·τὰν ὁ χαιτάεις ἀνεμοσφαράγων ἐκ Παλίου κόλπων ποτὲ Λατοΐδαςἅρπασʼ, ἔνεικέ τε χρυσέῳ παρθένον ἀγροτέραν δίφρῳ, τόθι νιν πολυμήλουκαὶ πολυκαρποτάτας θῆκε δέσποιναν χθονὸςῥίζαν ἀπείρου τρίταν εὐήρατον θάλλοισαν οἰκεῖν.ὑπέδεκτο δʼ ἀργυρόπεζʼ ἈφροδίταΔάλιον ξεῖνον θεοδμάτωνὀχέων, ἐφαπτομένα χερὶ κούφᾳ.καί σφιν ἐπὶ γλυκεραῖς εὐναῖς ἐρατὰν βάλεν αἰδῶ,ξυνὸν ἁρμόζοισα θεῷ τε γάμον μιχθέντα κούρᾳ θʼ Ὑψέος εὐρυβία·ὃς Λαπιθᾶν ὑπερόπλων τουτάκις ἦν βασιλεύς, ἐξ Ὠκεανοῦ γένος ἥρωςδεύτερος· ὅν ποτε Πίνδου κλεενναῖς ἐν πτυχαῖςΝαῒς εὐφρανθεῖσα Πηνειοῦ λέχει Κρείοισʼ ἔτικτεν,Γαίας θυγάτηρ. ὁ δὲ τὰν εὐώλενονθρέψατο παῖδα Κυράναν· ἁ μὲν οὔθʼ ἱστῶν παλιμβάμους ἐφίλησεν ὁδούς,οὔτε δείπνων οἰκοριᾶν μεθʼ ἑταιρᾶν τέρψιας,ἀλλʼ ἀκόντεσσίν τε χαλκέοιςφασγάνῳ τε μαρναμένα κεράϊζεν ἀγρίουςθῆρας, ἦ πολλάν τε καὶ ἡσύχιονβουσὶν εἰρήναν παρέχοισα πατρῴαις, τὸν δὲ σύγκοιτον γλυκὺνπαῦρον ἐπὶ γλεφάροιςὕπνον ἀναλίσκοισα ῥέποντα πρὸς ἀῶ.κίχε νιν λέοντί ποτʼ εὐρυφαρέτραςὀμβρίμῳ μούναν παλαίοισανἄτερ ἐγχέων ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων.αὐτίκα δʼ ἐκ μεγάρων Χείρωνα προσέννεπε φωνᾷ.σεμνὸν ἄντρον, Φιλλυρίδα, προλιπὼν θυμὸν γυναικὸς καὶ μεγάλαν δύνασινθαύμασον, οἷον ἀταρβεῖ νεῖκος ἄγει κεφαλᾷ, μόχθου καθύπερθε νεᾶνιςἦτορ ἔχοισα· φόβῳ δʼ οὐ κεχείμανται φρένες.τίς νιν ἀνθρώπων τέκεν; ποίας δʼ ἀποσπασθεῖσα φύτλαςὀρέων κευθμῶνας ἔχει σκιοέντων,γεύεται δʼ ἀλκᾶς ἀπειράντου;ὁσία κλυτὰν χέρα οἱ προσενεγκεῖν,ἦ ῥα; καὶ ἐκ λεχέων κεῖραι μελιηδέα ποίαν;τὸν δὲ Κένταυρος ζαμενής, ἀγανᾷ χλαρὸν γελάσσαις ὀφρύϊ, μῆτιν ἑὰνεὐθὺς ἀμείβετο· κρυπταὶ κλαΐδες ἐντὶ σοφᾶς Πειθοῦς ἱερᾶν φιλοτάτων,Φοῖβε, καὶ ἔν τε θεοῖς τοῦτο κἀνθρώποις ὁμῶςαἰδέοντʼ, ἀμφανδὸν ἁδείας τυχεῖν τὸ πρῶτον εὐνᾶς.καὶ γὰρ σέ, τὸν οὐ θεμιτὸν ψεύδει θιγεῖν,ἔτραπε μείλιχος ὀργὰ παρφάμεν τοῦτον λόγον. κούρας δʼ ὁπόθεν γενεὰνἐξερωτᾷς, ὦ ἄνα; κύριον ὃς πάντων τέλοςοἶσθα καὶ πάσας κελεύθους·ὅσσα τε χθὼν ἠρινὰ φύλλʼ ἀναπέμπει, χὠπόσαιἐν θαλάσσᾳ καὶ ποταμοῖς ψάμαθοικύμασιν ῥιπαῖς τʼ ἀνέμων κλονέονται, χὤ τι μέλλει, χὠπόθενἔσσεται, εὖ καθορᾷς.εἰ δὲ χρὴ καὶ πὰρ σοφὸν ἀντιφερίξαι,ἐρέω. ταύτᾳ πόσις ἵκεο βᾶσσαντάνδε, καὶ μέλλεις ὑπὲρ πόντουΔιὸς ἔξοχον ποτὶ κᾶπον ἐνεῖκαι·ἔνθα νιν ἀρχέπολιν θήσεις, ἐπὶ λαὸν ἀγείραιςνασιώταν ὄχθον ἐς ἀμφίπεδον· νῦν δʼ εὐρυλείμων πότνιά σοι Λιβύαδέξεται εὐκλέα νύμφαν δώμασιν ἐν χρυσέοις πρόφρων· ἵνα οἱ χθονὸς αἶσαναὐτίκα συντελέθειν ἔννομον δωρήσεται,οὔτε παγκάρπων φυτῶν νήποινον, οὔτʼ ἀγνῶτα θηρῶν.τόθι παῖδα τέξεται, ὃν κλυτὸς Ἑρμᾶςεὐθρόνοις Ὥραισι καὶ Γαίᾳἀνελὼν φίλας ὑπὸ ματέρος οἴσει.ταὶ δʼ ἐπιγουνίδιον θαησάμενοι βρέφος αὐταῖς,νέκταρ ἐν χείλεσσι καὶ ἀμβροσίαν στάξοισι, θήσονταί τέ νιν ἀθάνατονΖῆνα καὶ ἁγνὸν Ἀπόλλωνʼ, ἀνδράσι χάρμα φίλοις ἄγχιστον, ὀπάονα μήλων,Ἀγρέα καὶ Νόμιον, τοῖς δʼ Ἀρισταῖον καλεῖν.ὣς ἄρʼ εἰπὼν ἔντυεν τερπνὰν γάμου κραίνειν τελευτάν.ὠκεῖα δʼ ἐπειγομένων ἤδη θεῶνπρᾶξις ὁδοί τε βραχεῖαι. κεῖνο κεῖνʼ ἆμαρ διαίτασεν· θαλάμῳ δὲ μίγενἐν πολυχρύσῳ Λιβύας· ἵνα καλλίσταν πόλινἀμφέπει κλεινάν τʼ ἀέθλοις.καί νυν ἐν Πυθῶνί νιν ἀγαθέᾳ Καρνειάδαυἱὸς εὐθαλεῖ συνέμιξε τύχᾳ·ἔνθα νικάσαις ἀνέφανε Κυράναν, ἅ νιν εὔφρων δέξεται,καλλιγύναικι πάτρᾳδόξαν ἱμερτὰν ἀγαγόντʼ ἀπὸ Δελφῶν.ἀρεταὶ δʼ αἰεὶ μεγάλαι πολύμυθοι·βαιὰ δʼ ἐν μακροῖσι ποικίλλειν,ἀκοὰ σοφοῖς· ὁ δὲ καιρὸς ὁμοίωςπαντὸς ἔχει κορυφάν. ἔγνον ποτὲ καὶ Ἰόλαονοὐκ ἀτιμάσαντά νιν ἑπτάπυλοι Θῆβαι· τόν, Εὐρυσθῆος ἐπεὶ κεφαλὰνἔπραθε φασγάνου ἀκμᾷ, κρύψαν ἔνερθʼ ὑπὸ γᾶν διφρηλάτα Ἀμφιτρύωνοςσάματι, πατροπάτωρ ἔνθα οἱ Σπαρτῶν ξένοςκεῖτο, λευκίπποισι Καδμείων μετοικήσαις ἀγυιαῖς.τέκε οἷ καὶ Ζηνὶ μιγεῖσα δαΐφρωνἐν μόναις ὠδῖσιν Ἀλκμήναδιδύμων κρατησίμαχον σθένος υἱῶν.κωφὸς ἀνήρ τις, ὃς Ἡρακλεῖ στόμα μὴ παραβάλλει,μηδὲ Διρκαίων ὑδάτων ἀὲ μέμναται, τά νιν θρέψαντο καὶ Ἰφικλέα·τοῖσι τέλειον ἐπʼ εὐχᾷ κωμάσομαί τι παθὼν ἐσλόν· Χαρίτων κελαδεννᾶνμή με λίποι καθαρὸν φέγγος. Αἰγίνᾳ τε γὰρφαμὶ Νίσου τʼ ἐν λόφῳ τρὶς δὴ πόλιν τάνδʼ εὐκλεΐξαι,σιγαλὸν ἀμαχανίαν ἔργῳ φυγών·οὕνεκεν, εἰ φίλος ἀστῶν, εἴ τις ἀντάεις, τό γʼ ἐν ξυνῷ πεποναμένον εὖμὴ λόγον βλάπτων ἁλίοιο γέροντος κρυπτέτω.κεῖνος αἰνεῖν καὶ τὸν ἐχθρὸνπαντὶ θυμῷ σύν γε δίκᾳ καλὰ ῥέζοντʼ ἔννεπεν.πλεῖστα νικάσαντά σε καὶ τελεταῖςὡρίαις ἐν Παλλάδος εἶδον ἄφωνοί θʼ ὡς ἕκασται φίλτατονπαρθενικαὶ πόσιν ἢυἱὸν εὔχοντʼ, ὦ Τελεσίκρατες, ἔμμεν,ἐν Ὀλυμπίοισί τε καὶ βαθυκόλπουΓᾶς ἀέθλοις ἔν τε καὶ πᾶσινἐπιχωρίοις. ἐμὲ δʼ ὦν τις ἀοιδᾶνδίψαν ἀκειόμενον πράσσει χρέος αὖτις ἐγεῖραικαὶ παλαιὰν δόξαν ἑῶν προγόνων· οἷοι Λιβύσσας ἀμφὶ γυναικὸς ἔβανἼρασα πρὸς πόλιν, Ἀνταίου μετὰ καλλίκομον μναστῆρες ἀγακλέα κούραν·τὰν μάλα πολλοὶ ἀριστῆες ἀνδρῶν αἴτεονσύγγονοι, πολλοὶ δὲ καὶ ξείνων. ἐπεὶ θαητὸν εἶδοςἔπλετο· χρυσοστεφάνου δέ οἱ Ἥβαςκαρπὸν ἀνθήσαντʼ ἀποδρέψαιἔθελον. πατὴρ δὲ θυγατρὶ φυτεύωνκλεινότερον γάμον, ἄκουσεν Δαναόν ποτʼ ἐν Ἄργειοἷον εὗρεν τεσσαράκοντα καὶ ὀκτὼ παρθένοισι, πρὶν μέσον ἆμαρ ἑλεῖν,ὠκύτατον γάμον. ἔστασεν γὰρ ἅπαντα χορὸν ἐν τέρμασιν αὐτίκʼ ἀγῶνος·σὺν δʼ ἀέθλοις ἐκέλευσεν διακρῖναι ποδῶν,ἅντινα σχήσοι τις ἡρώων, ὅσοι γαμβροί σφιν ἦλθον.οὕτω δʼ ἐδίδου Λίβυς ἁρμόζων κόρᾳνυμφίον ἄνδρα· ποτὶ γραμμᾷ μὲν αὐτὰν στᾶσε κοσμήσαις τέλος ἔμμεν ἄκρον,εἶπε δʼ ἐν μέσσοις ἀπάγεσθαι, ὃς ἂν πρῶτος θορὼνἀμφί οἱ ψαύσειε πέπλοις.ἔνθʼ Ἀλεξίδαμος, ἐπεὶ φύγε λαιψηρὸν δρόμον,παρθένον κεδνὰν χερὶ χειρὸς ἑλὼνἆγεν ἱππευτᾶν Νομάδων διʼ ὅμιλον. πολλὰ μὲν κεῖνοι δίκονφύλλʼ ἔπι καὶ στεφάνους·πολλὰ δὲ πρόσθεν πτερὰ δέξατο νικᾶν.
Lacedaemon is prosperous; Thessaly is divinely blessed. Both are ruled by the race of a single ancestor, Heracles, the best in battle. Why do I make this untimely boast? Because Pytho summons me, and Pelinna,and the sons of Aleuas; they want me to present to Hippocleas the glorious voices of men in celebration.For he is trying his hand at contests, and the gorge of Parnassus proclaimed him to the people that live around as the greatest of the boys in the double-course footrace.Apollo, the end and the beginning both grow sweet when a god urges on a man«s work. No doubt he accomplished this with the help of your counsels. Kinship has stepped into the footprints of the father,who was twice an Olympic victor in the war-enduring armor of Ares;and the contest in the deep meadow that stretches beneath the rock of Cirrha made Phricias victorious in the race. May a good fate follow them in their future days as well, so that their noble wealth will blossom;having received no small share of the delights of Greece, may they encounter no envious reversals at the hands of the gods. A god«s heart should be free from pain; but a man is considered fortunate, and wise poets sing his praises, if he wins victory with his hands or the excellence of his feet, and takes the greatest prizes through his courage and strength,and lives to see his young son duly winning Pythian garlands. He can never set foot in the bronze heavens; but whatever splendor we mortals can attain, he reaches the limit of that voyage. Neither by ship nor on foot could you findthe marvellous road to the meeting-place of the Hyperboreans—Once Perseus, the leader of his people, entered their homes and feasted among them, when he found them sacrificing glorious hecatombs of donkeys to the god. In the festivities of those peopleand in their praises Apollo rejoices most, and he laughs when he sees the erect arrogance of the beasts.The Muse is not absent from their customs; all around swirl the dances of girls, the lyre«s loud chords and the cries of flutes.They wreathe their hair with golden laurel branches and revel joyfully. No sickness or ruinous old age is mixed into that sacred race; without toil or battlesthey live without fear of strict Nemesis. Breathing boldness of spiritonce the son of Danae went to that gathering of blessed men, and Athena led him there. He killed the Gorgon, and came back bringing stony death to the islanders, the head that shimmered with hair made of serpents. To menothing that the gods accomplish ever appearsunbelievable, however miraculous. Hold the oar! Quick, let the anchor down from the prow to touch the bottom, to protect us from the rocky reef. The choicest hymn of praise flits from theme to theme, like a bee.And I hope that, while the Ephyreans pour forth my sweet voice beside the Peneius, with my songs I will make Hippocleas even more admired for his garlands by boys his age and by his elders, and I will make the girls think of him. Forpeople«s minds are tickled by various desires;but whatever each man strives for, let him hold on to it eagerly if he gets it, the concern that is close at hand. It is impossible to foresee what will happen a year from now. I trust in the gentle friendship of Thorax; he made busy efforts for my sake,and yoked this four-horse chariot of the Pierian Muses, a friend for a friend, going gladly arm in arm.Gold shows its nature when it is tried by the touchstone, and so does a right-thinking mind. We shall further praise his noble brothers, becausethey exalt and strengthen the traditional laws of the Thessaliaaans; the good piloting of states, handed from father to son, rests in the hands of noble men.
ὄλβια Λακεδαίμων,μάκαιρα Θεσσαλία· πατρὸς δʼ ἀμφοτέραις ἐξ ἑνὸςἀριστομάχου γένος Ἡρακλεῦς βασιλεύει.τί κομπέω παρὰ καιρόν; ἀλλά με Πυθώ τε καὶ τὸ Πελινναῖον ἀπύειἈλεύα τε παῖδες, Ἱπποκλέᾳ ἐθέλοντεςἀγαγεῖν ἐπικωμίαν ἀνδρῶν κλυτὰν ὄπα.γεύεται γὰρ ἀέθλων·στρατῷ τʼ ἀμφικτιόνων ὁ Παρνάσιος αὐτὸν μυχὸςδιαυλοδρομᾶν ὕπατον παίδων ἀνέειπεν.Ἄπολλον, γλυκὺ δʼ ἀνθρώπων τέλος ἀρχά τε δαίμονος ὀρνύντος αὔξεται·ὁ μέν που τεοῖς γε μήδεσι τοῦτʼ ἔπραξεν·τὸ δὲ συγγενὲς ἐμβέβακεν ἴχνεσιν πατρὸςὈλυμπιονίκα δὶς ἐν πολεμαδόκοιςἌρεος ὅπλοις·ἔθηκε καὶ βαθυλείμων ὑπὸ Κίρρας ἀγὼνπέτραν κρατησίποδα Φρικίαν.ἕσποιτο μοῖρα καὶ ὑστέραισινἐν ἁμέραις ἀγάνορα πλοῦτον ἀνθεῖν σφίσιν·τῶν δʼ ἐν Ἑλλάδι τερπνῶνλαχόντες οὐκ ὀλίγαν δόσιν, μὴ φθονεραῖς ἐκ θεῶνμετατροπίαις ἐπικύρσαιεν. θεὸς εἴηἀπήμων κέαρ· εὐδαίμων δὲ καὶ ὑμνητὸς οὗτος ἀνὴρ γίγνεται σοφοῖς,ὃς ἂν χερσὶν ἢ ποδῶν ἀρετᾷ κρατήσαιςτὰ μέγιστʼ ἀέθλων ἕλῃ τόλμᾳ τε καὶ σθένει,καὶ ζώων ἔτι νεαρὸνκατʼ αἶσαν υἱὸν ἴδῃ τυχόντα στεφάνων Πυθίων.ὁ χάλκεος οὐρανὸς οὔ ποτʼ ἀμβατὸς αὐτῷ.ὅσαις δὲ βροτὸν ἔθνος ἀγλαΐαις ἁπτόμεσθα, περαίνει πρὸς ἔσχατονπλόον. ναυσὶ δʼ οὔτε πεζὸς ἰών ⟨κεν⟩ εὕροιςἐς Ὑπερβορέων ἀγῶνα θαυματὰν ὁδόν.παρʼ οἷς ποτε Περσεὺς ἐδαίσατο λαγέτας,δώματʼ ἐσελθών,κλειτὰς ὄνων ἑκατόμβας ἐπιτόσσαις θεῷῥέζοντας· ὧν θαλίαις ἔμπεδονεὐφαμίαις τε μάλιστʼ Ἀπόλλωνχαίρει, γελᾷ θʼ ὁρῶν ὕβριν ὀρθίαν κνωδάλων.Μοῖσα δʼ οὐκ ἀποδαμεῖτρόποις ἐπὶ σφετέροισι· παντᾷ, δὲ χοροὶ παρθένωνλυρᾶν τε βοαὶ καναχαί τʼ αὐλῶν δονέονται·δάφνᾳ τε χρυσέᾳ κόμας ἀναδήσαντες εἰλαπινάζοισιν εὐφρόνως.νόσοι δʼ οὔτε γῆρας οὐλόμενον κέκραταιἱερᾷ γενεᾷ· πόνων δὲ καὶ μαχᾶν ἄτεροἰκέοισι φυγόντεςὑπέρδικον Νέμεσιν. θρασείᾳ δὲ πνέων καρδίᾳμόλεν Δανάας ποτὲ παῖς, ἁγεῖτο δʼ Ἀθάνα,ἐς ἀνδρῶν μακάρων ὅμιλον· ἔπεφνέν τε Γοργόνα, καὶ ποικίλον κάραδρακόντων φόβαισιν ἤλυθε νασιώταιςλίθινον θάνατον φέρων. ἐμοὶ δὲ θαυμάσαιθεῶν τελεσάντων οὐδέν ποτε φαίνεταιἔμμεν ἄπιστον.κώπαν σχάσον, ταχὺ δʼ ἄγκυραν ἔρεισον χθονὶπρῴραθε, χοιράδος ἄλκαρ πέτρας.ἐγκωμίων γὰρ ἄωτος ὕμνωνἐπʼ ἄλλοτʼ ἄλλον ὥτε μέλισσα θύνει λόγον.ἔλπομαι δʼ Ἐφυραίωνὄπʼ ἀμφὶ Πηνεϊὸν γλυκεῖαν προχεόντων ἐμὰντὸν Ἱπποκλέαν ἔτι καὶ μᾶλλον σὺν ἀοιδαῖςἕκατι στεφάνων θαητὸν ἐν ἅλιξι θησέμεν ἐν καὶ παλαιτέροις,νέαισίν τε παρθένοισι μέλημα. καὶ γὰρἑτέροις ἑτέρων ἔρως ὑπέκνισε φρένας·τῶν δʼ ἕκαστος ὀρούει,τυχών κεν ἁρπαλέαν σχέθοι φροντίδα τὰν πὰρ ποδός·τὰ δʼ εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν ἀτέκμαρτον προνοῆσαι.πέποιθα ξενίᾳ προσανέϊ Θώρακος, ὅσπερ ἐμὰν ποιπνύων χάριντόδʼ ἔζευξεν ἅρμα Πιερίδων τετράορον,φιλέων φιλέοντʼ, ἄγων ἄγοντα προφρόνως.πειρῶντι δὲ καὶ χρυσὸς ἐν βασάνῳ πρέπεικαὶ νόος ὀρθός.ἀδελφεοὺς Ἔτʼ ἐπαινήσομεν ἐσλούς, ὅτιὑψοῦ φέροντι νόμον Θεσσαλῶναὔξοντες· ἐν δʼ ἀγαθοῖσι κεῖνταιπατρώϊαι κεδναὶ πολίων κυβερνάσιες.
Daughters of Cadmus, Semele dwelling among the Olympians and Ino Leucothea, sharing the chamber of the Nereid sea-nymphs: come, with the mother of Heracles, greatest in birth, to the presence of Melia; come to the sanctuary of golden tripods,the treasure-house which Loxias honored above alland named the Ismenion, true seat of prophecy. Come, children of Harmonia, where even now he calls the native host of heroines to assemble, so that you may loudly sing of holy Themis and Pytho and the justnavel of the earth, at the edge of evening,in honor of seven-gated Thebes and the contest at Cirrha, in which Thrasydaeus caused his ancestral hearth to be remembered by flinging over it a third wreathas a victor in the rich fields of Pylades, the friend of Laconian Orestes,who indeed, when his father was murdered, was taken by his nurse Arsinoe from the strong hands and bitter deceit of Clytaemnestra, when she sent the Dardanian daughter of Priam,Cassandra, together with the soul of Agamemnon, to the shadowy bank of Acheron with her gray blade of bronze,the pitiless woman. Was it Iphigeneia, slaughtered at the Euripus far from her fatherland, that provoked her to raise the heavy hand of her anger? Or was she vanquished by another bedand led astray by their nightly sleeping together? This is the most hateful error for young brides, and is impossible to concealbecause other people will talk. Citizens are apt to speak evil, for prosperity brings with it envy as great as itself.But the man who breathes close to the ground roars unseen. He himself died, the heroic son of Atreus, when at last he returned to famous Amyclae,and he caused the destruction of the prophetic girl, when he had robbed of their opulent treasures the houses of the Trojans, set on fire for Helen«s sake. And his young son went to the friend of the family, the old manStrophius, who dwelled at the foot of Parnassus. But at last, with the help of Ares, he killed his mother and laid Aegisthus low in blood.My friends, I was whirled off the track at a shifting fork in the road, although I had been traveling on a straight path before. Or did some wind throw me off course,like a skiff on the sea? Muse, it is your task, if you undertook to lend your voice for silver, to let it flit now this way, now that:now to the father, who was a Pythian victor, now to his son Thrasydaeus.Their joyfulness and renown shine brightly. With their chariots they were victorious long ago; they captured the swift radiance of the famous games at Olympia with their horses.And at Pytho, when they entered the naked footrace, they put to shamethe Hellenic host with their speed. May I desire fine things from the gods, seeking what is possible at my time of life. For I have found that those of middle rank in a city flourish with longer prosperity, and I find fault with the lot of tyrannies.I am intent upon common excellences. The evil workings of envy are warded off,if a man who attains the summit and dwells in peace escapes dread arrogance. Such a man would go to the farthest shore of a dark death that is finer when he leaves to his sweetest offspring the grace of a good name, the best of possessions.Such is the grace that spreads abroad the fame of the son of Iphicles,Iolaus, whose praises are sung; and of the strength of Castor, and of you, lord Polydeuces, sons of the gods: you who dwell for one day at home in Therapne, and for the other in Olympus.
Κάδμου κόραι, Σεμέλα μὲν Ὀλυμπιάδων ἀγυιᾶτις,Ἰνώ τε Λευκοθέα ποντιᾶν ὁμοθάλαμε Νηρηΐδων,ἴτε σὺν Ἡρακλέος ἀριστογόνῳματρὶ πὰρ Μελίαν χρυσέων ἐς ἄδυτον τριπόδωνθησαυρόν, ὃν περίαλλʼ ἐτίμασε Λοξίας,Ἰσμήνιον δʼ ὀνύμαξεν, ἀλαθέα μαντίων θῶκον,ὦ παῖδες Ἁρμονίας, ἔνθα καί νυν ἐπίνομον ἡρωΐδωνστρατὸν ὁμαγερέα καλεῖ συνίμεν,ὄφρα Θέμιν ἱερὰν Πυθῶνά τε καὶ ὀρθοδίκανγᾶς ὀμφαλὸν κελαδήσετʼ ἄκρᾳ σὺν ἑσπέρᾳ,ἑπταπύλοισι Θήβαιςχάριν ἀγῶνί τε Κίρρας,ἐν τῷ Θρασυδαῖος ἔμνασεν ἑστίαντρίτον ἐπὶ στέφανον πατρῴαν βαλών,ἐν ἀφνεαῖς ἀρούραισι Πυλάδανικῶν ξένου Λάκωνος Ὀρέστα.τὸν δὴ φονευομένου πατρὸς Ἀρσινόα Κλυταιμνήστραςχειρῶν ὕπο κρατερᾶν ἐκ δόλου τροφὸς ἄνελε δυσπενθέος,ὁπότε Δαρδανίδα κόραν ΠριάμουΚασσάνδραν πολιῷ χαλκῷ σὺν Ἀγαμεμνονίᾳψυχᾷ πόρευσʼ Ἀχέροντος ἀκτὰν παρʼ εὔσκιοννηλὴς γυνά. πότερόν νιν ἄρʼ Ἰφιγένειʼ ἐπʼ Εὐρίπῳσφαχθεῖσα τῆλε πάτρας ἔκνισεν βαρυπάλαμον ὄρσαι χόλον;ἢ ἑτέρῳ λέχεϊ δαμαζομένανἔννυχοι πάραγον κοῖται; τὸ δὲ νέαις ἀλόχοιςἔχθιστον ἀμπλάκιον καλύψαι τʼ ἀμάχανονἀλλοτρίαισι γλώσσαις·κακολόγοι δὲ πολῖται.ἴσχει τε γὰρ ὄλβος οὐ μείονα φθόνον·ὁ δὲ χαμηλὰ πνέων ἄφαντον βρέμει.θάνεν μὲν αὐτὸς ἥρως Ἀτρεΐδαςἵκων χρόνῳ κλυταῖς ἐν Ἀμύκλαις,μάντιν τʼ ὄλεσσε κόραν, ἐπεὶ ἀμφʼ Ἑλένᾳ πυρωθέντωνΤρώων ἔλυσε δόμους ἁβρότατος. ὁ δʼ ἄρα γέροντα ξένονΣτρόφιον ἐξίκετο, νέα κεφαλά,Παρνασοῦ πόδα ναίοντʼ· ἀλλὰ χρονίῳ σὺν Ἄρειπέφνεν τε ματέρα θῆκέ τʼ Αἴγισθον ἐν φοναῖς.ἦ ῥʼ, ὦ φίλοι, κατʼ ἀμευσιπόρους τριόδους ἐδινήθην,ὀρθὰν κέλευθον ἰὼν τὸ πρίν· ἤ μέ τις ἄνεμος ἔξω πλόουἔβαλεν, ὡς ὅτʼ ἄκατον εἰναλίαν;Μοῖσα, τὸ δὲ τεόν, εἰ μισθοῖο συνέθευ παρέχεινφωνὰν ὑπάργυρον, ἄλλοτʼ ἄλλᾳ ταρασσέμενἢ πατρὶ Πυθονίκῳτό γέ νυν ἢ Θρασυδαίῳ·τῶν εὐφροσύνα τε καὶ δόξʼ ἐπιφλέγει.τὰ μὲν ⟨ἐν⟩ ἅρμασι καλλίνικοι πάλαι,Ὀλυμπίᾳ ἀγώνων πολυφάτωνἔσχον θοὰν ἀκτῖνα σὺν ἵπποις·Πυθοῖ τε γυμνὸν ἐπὶ στάδιον καταβάντες ἤλεγξανἙλλανίδα στρατιὰν ὠκύτατι. θεόθεν ἐραίμαν καλῶν,δυνατὰ μαιόμενος ἐν ἁλικίᾳ.τῶν γὰρ ἂμ πόλιν εὑρίσκων τὰ μέσα μακροτέρῳὄλβῳ τεθαλότα, μέμφομʼ αἶσαν τυραννίδων·ξυναῖσι δʼ ἀμφʼ ἀρεταῖς τέταμαι. φθονεροὶ δʼ ἀμύνονταιἆται, εἴ τις ἄκρον ἑλὼν ἁσυχᾶ τε νεμόμενος αἰνὰν ὕβρινἀπέφυγεν· μέλανος ἂν ἐσχατιὰνκαλλίονα θανάτου ⟨στείχοι⟩, γλυκυτάτᾳ γενεᾷεὐώνυμον κτεάνων κρατίσταν χάριν πορών.ἅ τε τὸν Ἰφικλείδανδιαφέρει Ἰόλαονὑμνητὸν ἐόντα, καὶ Κάστορος βίαν,σέ τε, ἄναξ Πολύδευκες, υἱοὶ θεῶν,τὸ μὲν παρʼ ἆμαρ ἕδραισι Θεράπνας,τὸ δʼ οἰκέοντας ἔνδον Ὀλύμπου.
I beseech you, splendor-loving city, most beautiful on earth, home of Persephone; you who inhabit the hill of well-built dwellings above the banks of sheep-pasturing Acragas: be propitious, and with the goodwill of gods and men, mistress,receive this victory garland from Pytho in honor of renowned Midas, and receive the victor himself, champion of Hellas in that art which once Pallas Athena discovered when she wove into music the dire dirge of the reckless Gorgonswhich Perseus heardpouring in slow anguish from beneath the horrible snakey hair of the maidens, when he did away with the third sister and brought death to sea-girt Seriphus and its people. Yes, he brought darkness on the monstrous race of Phorcus, and he repaid Polydectes with a deadly wedding-present for the longslavery of his mother and her forced bridal bed; he stripped off the head of beautiful Medusa,Perseus, the son of Danae, who they say was conceived in a spontaneous shower of gold. But when the virgin goddess had released that beloved man from those labors, she created the many-voiced song of flutesso that she could imitate with musical instruments the shrill cry that reached her ears from the fast-moving jaws of Euryale. The goddess discovered it; but she discovered it for mortal men to have, and called it the many-headed strain, the glorious strain that entices the people to gather at contests,often sounding through thin plates of brass and through reeds, which grow beside the city of lovely choruses, the city of the Graces, in the sacred precinct of the nymph of Cephisus, reeds that are the faithful witnesses of the dancers. If there is any prosperity among men, it does not appear without hardship. A god will indeed grant it in full today...What is fated cannot be escaped. But that time will come, striking unexpectedly, and give one thing beyond all expectation, and withhold another.
αἰτέω σε, φιλάγλαε, καλλίστα βροτεᾶν πολίων,Φερσεφόνας ἕδος, ἅ τʼ ὄχθαις ἔπι μηλοβότουναίεις Ἀκράγαντος ἐΰδματον κολώναν, ὦ ἄνα,ἵλαος ἀθανάτων ἀνδρῶν τε σὺν εὐμενίᾳδέξαι στεφάνωμα τόδʼ ἐκ Πυθῶνος εὐδόξῳ Μίδᾳ,αὐτόν τέ νιν Ἑλλάδα νικάσαντα τέχνᾳ, τάν ποτεΠαλλὰς ἐφεῦρε θρασειᾶν Γοργόνωνοὔλιον θρῆνον διαπλέξαισʼ Ἀθάνα·τὸν παρθενίοις ὑπό τʼ ἀπλάτοις ὀφίων κεφαλαῖςἄϊε λειβόμενον δυσπενθέϊ σὺν καμάτῳ,Περσεὺς ὁπότε τρίτον ἄνυσσεν κασιγνητᾶν μέρος,εἰναλίᾳ τε Σερίφῳ λαοῖσί τε μοῖραν ἄγων.ἤτοι τό τε θεσπέσιον Φόρκοιο μαύρωσεν γένος,λυγρόν τʼ ἔρανον Πολυδέκτᾳ θῆκε ματρός τʼ ἔμπεδονδουλοσύναν τό τʼ ἀναγκαῖον λέχος,εὐπαράου κρᾶτα συλάσαις Μεδοίσαςυἱὸς Δανάας· τὸν ἀπὸ χρυσοῦ φαμεν αὐτορύτουἔμμεναι. ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ ἐκ τούτων φίλον ἄνδρα πόνωνἐρρύσατο, παρθένος αὐλῶν τεῦχε πάμφωνον μέλος,ὄφρα τὸν Εὐρυάλας ἐκ καρπαλιμᾶν γενύωνχριμφθέντα σὺν ἔντεσι μιμήσαιτʼ ἐρικλάγκταν γόον.εὗρεν θεός· ἀλλά νιν εὑροῖσʼ ἀνδράσι θνατοῖς ἔχειν,ὠνόμασεν κεφαλᾶν πολλᾶν νόμον,εὐκλεᾶ λαοσσόων μναστῆρʼ ἀγώνων,λεπτοῦ διανισσόμενον χαλκοῦ θαμὰ καὶ δονάκων,τοὶ παρὰ καλλιχόρῳ ναίοισι πόλει Χαρίτων.Καφισίδος ἐν τεμένει, πιστοὶ χορευτᾶν μάρτυρες.εἰ δέ τις ὄλβος ἐν ἀνθρώποισιν, ἄνευ καμάτουοὐ φαίνεται· ἐκ δὲ τελευτάσει νιν ἤτοι σάμερονδαίμων—τὸ δὲ μόρσιμον οὐ παρφυκτόν,—ἀλλʼ ἔσται χρόνοςοὗτος, ὃ καί τινʼ ἀελπτίᾳ βαλὼνἔμπαλιν γνώμας τὸ μὲν δώσει, τὸ δʼ οὔπω.