Mother of the Sun-god, Theia of many names! for thy sake men even set a stamp upon gold, as mighty beyond all beside!; because, for the sake of thy worth, O queen, not only ships racing on the sea, but also mares yoked to chariots in the swiftly-whirling struggles of battle, win wonder. And, in the contests of the games, he it is that reapeth the fame for which he yearneth, whose hair is wreathed with many a garland, when he hath been victorious with his hands, or with swiftness of feet. But it is owing to the‘ gods that the prowess of men is approved ; and two things alone there are which, amid the fair flowers of wealth, cherish the sweetest bloom of life, if a man have good hap and win fair praise. Strive not to be a Zeus; all things are thine, should a share of these fair boons fall to thy lot. Mortal aims befit mortal men. But for thee, Phylacidas, there is stored up at the Isthmus a two-fold meed of fame unfading,
and at Nemea for you both, even for Pytheas with thee, the prize of the pancratium. But my heart cannot taste of songs without telling of the race of Aeacus. At the call of Lampon’s sons have I come, with the Graces, to this city of good laws; and, if she hath entered the clear high-road of heavenly deeds, then grudge not to mix for her in song the fitting meed in recompense for toil. For, even in the heroic time, brave warriors of (Aegina) were wont to win fame, and they are praised on the lyre and on the manifold music of the flute for uncounted time ; and, by grace of Zeus, they have given anew theme to poets wise. And so the brave sons of Oeneus are adored in the gleaming sacrifices of the Aetolians, and in Thebes the bold horseman Iolaüs hath his reward, and Perseus in Argos, and the spear of Castor and Polydeuces by the streams of Eurétas ; but in Oenéné the high-hearted spirits of Aeacus and his sons, who, by battles,’ twice joined in sacking the Trojans’ town, first when they followed Heracles, and again with the sons of Atreus. Drive now, my Muse, away from earth ; tell me who they were that slew Cycnus,‘ and who Hector, and the dauntless leader of the Aethiop hosts, the armed warrior, Memnon? Who, again, was he who, by the
banks of Caicus, wounded Télephus with his spear? Men for whom the lips tell of Aegina as their fatherland, Aegina, glorious isle, builded of old as a tower for men to climb by lofty deeds. Full many an arrow hath my deftly speaking tongue to ring out in praise of those heroes; and even now could the land of Aias attest in war that she was saved from falling by her sailors, yes, Salamis, in the ruinous, heaven-sent storm, when slaughter thick as hail fell on unnumbered warriors. Yet, do thou drown thy boast in silence. Zeus giveth this, and giveth that,—Zeus, who is lord of all. But, in lovely song that is sweet as honey, such honours also as these welcome a gladsome strain of victory. Let a man strive and contend in the games Gif he dare), when he hath fully heard of the clan of Cleonicus. The long toil of the brave is not quenched in darkness, nor hath counting the cost fretted away the zeal of their hopes? I praise Pytheas also among pancratiasts, who, in guiding aright the course of Phylacidas’ blows, was skilful with hands, and a match in mind. Take for him a crown and carry him a fillet of fine wool, and speed him on his way with this new-winged song.
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