As when from a wealthy hand one lifting a cup, made glad within with the dew of the vine, maketh gift thereof to a youth his daughter’s spouse, a largess of the feast from home to home, an all-golden choicest treasure, that the banquet may have grace, and that he may glorify his kin; and therewith he maketh him envied in the eyes of the friends around him for a wedlock wherein hearts are wedded—­

So also I, my liquid nectar sending, the Muses’ gift, the sweet fruit of my soul, to men that are winners in the games at Pytho or Olympia make holy offering.  Happy is he whom good report encompasseth; now on one man, now on another doth the Grace that quickeneth look favourably, and tune for him the lyre and the pipe’s stops of music manifold.

Thus to the sound of the twain am I come with Diagoras sailing home, to sing the sea-girt Rhodes, child of Aphrodite and bride of Helios, that to a mighty and fair-fighting man, who by Alpheos’ stream and by Kastalia’s hath won him crowns, I may for his boxing make award of glory, and to his father Demegetos in whom Justice hath her delight, dwellers in the isle of three cities with an Argive host, nigh to a promontory of spacious Asia.

Fain would I truly tell from the beginning from Tlepolemos the message of my word, the common right of this puissant seed of Herakles.  For on the father’s side they claim from Zeus, and on the mother’s from Astydameia, sons of Amyntor.

Now round the minds of men hang follies unnumbered—­this is the unachievable thing, to find what shall be best hap for a man both presently and also at the last.  Yea for the very founder[1] of this country once on a time struck with his staff of tough wild-olive-wood Alkmene’s bastard brother Likymnios in Tiryns as he came forth from Midea’s chamber, and slew him in the kindling of his wrath.  So even the wise man’s feet are turned astray by tumult of the soul.

Then he came to enquire of the oracle of God.  And he of the golden hair from his sweet-incensed shrine spake unto him of a sailing of ships that should be from the shore of Lerna unto a pasture ringed with sea, where sometime the great king of gods rained on the city golden snow, what time by Hephaistos’ handicraft beneath the bronze-wrought axe from the crown of her father’s head Athene leapt to light and cried aloud with an exceeding cry; and Heaven trembled at her coming, and Earth, the Mother.

Then also the god who giveth light to men, Hyperion, bade his beloved sons see that they guard the payment of the debt, that they should build first for the goddess an altar in the sight of all men, and laying thereon a holy offering they should make glad the hearts of the father and of his daughter of the sounding spear.  Now Reverence, Forethought’s child, putteth valour and the joy of battle into the hearts of men; yet withal there cometh upon them bafflingly the cloud of forgetfulness and maketh the mind to swerve from the straight path of action.  For