Fame, you visit the races [of men?], and ... [5] ... eyes ... peaceful respite ... now for him his sister's husband [10] has moved the clear-voiced island bee so that the immortal ornament of the Muses will be at hand as a common joy for men, revealing your excellence to men on earth, [15] ... by the will of Victory you have crowned your golden head with blossoms and brought glory to broad Athens and fame to the Oeneidae, when, in Poseidon's far-famed games, [20] you displayed to the Greeks the swift surge of your feet. For when he reached the finish-line of the racecourse, breathing out a storm of hot breath, and again moistened the cloaks of the spectators with olive oil, rushing into the close-packed crowd [25] when he rounded the fourth turn of the course, the spokesmen of the wise judges proclaimed him twice an Isthmian victor, and twice in Nemea, beside the sacred altar of Zeus son of Cronus. [30] Glorious Thebes also welcomed him fittingly, and spacious Argos, and Sicyon, and those who dwell in Pellene, and in Euboea rich in grain, and on the holy [35] island Aegina. Each man seeks a different path on which to walk to attain conspicuous glory; and the forms of knowledge among men are countless. Indeed, a man is skillful if he has a share of honor from the Graces [40] and blooms with golden hope, or if he has some knowledge of the prophetic art; another man aims his artful bow at boys; others swell their spirits with fields and herds of cattle. [45] The future begets unpredictable results: which way will fortune's scale incline? The finest thing is to be envied by many people as a noble man. I know also the great power of wealth, [50] which makes even a useless man valuable. Why have I steered my song in its straight course so far off the road? Delight is appointed for mortals after victory ... of flutes ... [55] mix ... must ...
Bacchylides. Diane Arnson Svarlien. Odes. 1991.
The Annenberg CPB/Project provided support for entering this text.
