Queen of youthful prime, harbinger of the divine desires of Aphrodité, thou that, resting on the eyes of maidens and of boys, bearest one in the hands of gentle destiny, but handlest another far otherwise. Tis sweet for one who hath not swerved from due measure in aught that he doeth, to be able to win the nobler prizes of love. Such loves were the ministers of Cypria’s boons, who hovered round the couch of Zeus and of Aegina, when there sprang from that union a son, who, as Oenéné’s king, was foremost in might and in counsel. Many a time did many a man pray they might behold him; for the flower of the heroes that dwelt around him longed with gladness to submit to his rule of their own free will, both those who marshalled the host in craggy Athens, and the descendants of Pelops in Sparta. Even as a suppliant, do I stretch my hands to the hallowed knees of Aeacus, offering him on behalf of
his dear city and of these his citizens a Lydian fillet decked with song, a thing of grace from Nemea, in honour of the double victory won in the foot-race by Deinias and his father Megas. For, as ye know, prosperity is all the more abiding if it be planted with the blessing of a god, even such prosperity as in olden days loaded Cinyras with wealth in sea-girt Cyprus. Lo! I am standing on feet lightly poised, taking breath before I speak. For many a tale hath been told in many a way; but for any one to coin new fancies, and submit them to the touchstone for assay, is perilous indeed. Tales are a dainty morsel to the envious, and envy ever fasteneth on the noble and striveth not with the mean. Envy it was that devoured the son of Telamon when his flesh closed upon his sword. Verily, in him, one without gift of speech, though bold of heart, is overwhelmed in oblivion amid grievous strife, while the greatest prize hath been held forth to cunning falsehood. For the Danai, by their secret votes, unfairly favoured Odysseus; and Aias, reft of the golden armour, wrestled with death. In very sooth unequal were the wounds which they tore in the warm flesh of the foe with their succouring spears, when sorely prest, at one time over the corse of Achilles newly slain, Cinyras, son of Apollo, and king of Cyprus, was priest
and also on days of carnage spent on other toils. Thus, even in days of old, there was malignant misrepresentation, walking in the ways of crafty language, imagining deceit, mischief-making calumny. She doeth violence to the illustrious, and for the obscure raiseth on high a glory that is rottenness. O father Zeus, may I never have such a spirit as this. May I tread the straightest path of life, that, when I die, I may leave my children a name that hath no ill-repute. Gold men pray for, or for illimitable land; but I only pray that I may find favour with my people, while I ever praise that which merits praise, and cast blame on the doers of wrong, until at last my limbs are covered by the sod. The fame of glorious deeds doth grow, even as when a tree shooteth forth beneath refreshing dews ; even so is fame borne aloft to the liquid air among men who love the song and who love the right. Varied indeed are the uses of friends; the help that is given in the time of distress standeth highest, yet joy is also eager to set before men’s eyes a pledge of friendship. To call thy soul, O Megas, to life again is, for me, impossible ; of futile hopes the end is vain; but
it is easy to uprear a Muses’ monument of song for thy clan and for the Chariadae, in honour of those twice twain feet of happy omen. I rejoice in sounding forth the exultant praise that befitteth such an exploit; and ere now hath one made toil painless by the spell of song. Verily, there was indeed a song of triumph, even in the olden time, even before the strife between Adrastus and the race of Cadmus.
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