Then Apollo pondering, the sign spake straightway unto Aiakos by his side:  ’Hero, where thy hands have wrought is Pergamos taken:  thus saith this sign, sent of the son of Kronos, loud-thundering Zeus.  And that not without thy seed; but with the first and fourth it shall be subdued’[4].

Thus plainly spoke the god, and away to Xanthos and the Amazons of goodly steeds and to Ister urged his car.

And the Trident-wielder for Isthmos over seas harnessed his swift chariot, and hither[5] first he bare with him Aiakos behind the golden mares, and so on unto the mount of Corinth, to behold his feast of fame.

Now shall there never among men be aught that pleaseth all alike.  If I for Melesias[6] raise up glory in my song of his boys, let not envy cast at me her cruel stone.  Nay but at Nemea too will I tell of honour of like kind with this, and of another ensuing thereon, won in the pankration of men.

Verily to teach is easier to him that knoweth:  it is folly if one hath not first learnt, for without trial the mind wavereth.  And beyond all others can Melesias declare all works on that wise, what method shall advance a man who from the sacred games may win the longed-for glory.

Now for the thirtieth time is honour gained for him by the victory of Alkimedon, who by God’s grace, nor failing himself in prowess, hath put off from him upon the bodies of four striplings the loathed return ungreeted of fair speech, and the path obscure[7]; and in his father’s father he hath breathed new vigour to wrestle with old age.  A man that hath done honourable deeds taketh no thought of death.

But I must needs arouse memory, and tell of the glory of their hands that gave victory to the Blepsiad clan, to whom this is now the sixth crown that hath come from the wreathed games to bind their brows.

Even the dead have their share when paid them with due rites, and the grace of kinsmen’s honour the dust concealeth not.  From Hermes’ daughter Fame shall Iphion[8] hear and tell to Kallimachos this lustre of Olympic glory, which Zeus hath granted to this house.  Honour upon honour may he vouchsafe unto it, and shield it from sore disease[9].  I pray that for the share of glory fallen to them he raise against them no contrary discontent, but granting them a life unharmed may glorify them and their commonwealth.

[Footnote 1:  Alkimedon’s brother.  He had won a victory at the Nemean games.]

[Footnote 2:  Aigina had a high commercial reputation, and strangers were equitably dealt with in her courts.]

[Footnote 3:  The two first dragons typify the Aiakids, Aias and Achilles, who failed to enter Troy, the third typifies Achilles’ son, Neoptolemos, who succeeded.]

[Footnote 4:  Aiakos’ son, Telamon, was with Herakles when he took Troy:  his great-grandson Neoptolemos was in the Wooden Horse.]

[Footnote 5:  To Aigina.]

[Footnote 6:  Alkimedon’s trainer.]