The maiden’s lineage dost thou, O king, enquire of me—­thou who knowest the certain end of all things, and all ways?  How many leaves the earth sendeth forth in spring, how many grains of sand in sea and river are rolled by waves and the winds’ stress, what shall come to pass, and whence it shall be, thou discernest perfectly.  But if even against wisdom I must match myself, I will speak on.  To wed this damsel camest thou unto this glen, and thou art destined to bear her beyond the sea to a chosen garden of Zeus, where thou shalt make her a city’s queen, when thou hast gathered together an island-people to a hill in the plain’s midst.  And now shall queenly Libya of broad meadow-lands well-pleased receive for thee within a golden house thy glorious bride, and there make gift to her of a portion in the land, to be an inhabiter thereof with herself, neither shall it be lacking in tribute of plants bearing fruit after all kinds, neither a stranger to the beasts of chase.  There shall she bring forth a son, whom glorious Hermes taking up from his mother’s arms shall bear to the fair-throned Hours and to Earth:  and they shall set the babe upon their knees, and nectar and ambrosia they shall distil upon his lips, and shall make him as an immortal, a Zeus or a holy Apollo, to men beloved of him a very present help, a tutelar of flocks, and to some Agreus and Nomios; but to others Aristaios shall be his name.’

By these words he made him ready for the bridal’s sweet fulfilment.  And swift the act and short the ways of gods who are eager to an end.  That same day made accomplishment of the matter, and in a golden chamber of Libya they lay together; where now she haunteth a city excellent in beauty and glorious in the games.

And now at sacred Pytho hath the son of Karneadas wedded that city to the fair flower of good luck:  for by his victory there he hath proclaimed Kyrene’s name, even her’s who shall receive him with glad welcome home, to the country of fair women bringing precious honour out of Delphi.

Great merits stir to many words:  yet to be brief and skilful on long themes is a good hearing for bards:  for fitness of times is in everything alike of chief import.

That Iolaos had respect thereto[3] seven-gated Thebes knoweth well, for when he had stricken down the head of Eurystheus beneath the edge of the sword, she buried the slayer beneath the earth in the tomb of Amphitryon the charioteer, where his father’s father was laid, a guest of the Spartoi, who had left his home to dwell among the streets of the sons of Kadmos who drave white horses.  To him and to Zeus at once did wise Alkmene bear the strength of twin sons prevailing in battle.

Dull is that man who lendeth not his voice to Herakles, nor hath in remembrance continually the waters of Dirke that nurtured him and Iphikles.  To them will I raise a song of triumph for that I have received good at their hands, after that I had prayed to them that the pure light of the voiceful Graces might not forsake me.  For at Aigma and on the hill of Nisos twice ere now I say that I have sung Kyrene’s praise, and by my act have shunned the reproach of helpless dumbness.