Isthmian 4: For Melissus of Thebes

Thanks to the gods, I have countless paths opening on every side, for thou, Melissus, at the Isthmian games, hast shown me a ready resource to celebrate in song the valour of thy race;—the valour with which the sons of Cleonymus flourish evermore, as they pass with heaven’s blessing to the term of mortal life. But changeful are the gales that at changeful times rush down upon all men and speed them on. These men verily are spoken of as honoured of old in Thebes, as patrons of the neighbour-towns, and as untainted by boisterous insolence; and, as for the memorials of men now dead or of men that live, the memorials of boundless fame that fly through all the world—all of these did they attain in all their fulness. And by far-reaching deeds of native valour, did they touch the pillars of Heracles; and let none pursue prowess that passeth beyond that bound! Aye, and they became breeders of horses, and were the joy of the mail-clad Ares. But alas! for, on a single day, the rude hail-storm of war bereft a happy hearth of four of its heroes; but now, once more, after the wintry gloom of the many-hued months, hath the ground, as it were, blossomed anew with ruddy roses by the will of heaven. And the shaker of the earth, who dwelleth at Onchestus, and on the wave-washed reef before the walls of Corinth, by granting that house this wondrous ode of victory, raiseth from her resting-place the olden fame of noble deeds; for she was fallen on sleep; but now she is roused again with beaming form, like the star of morning, a sight to see amid the other stars—that olden fame which, even in the fertile fields of Athens, proclaimed their chariot as victorious, and also in Sicyon at the games of Adrastus; and thus gave them from the bards of old leaves of minstrelsy that are like unto mine. Nor from the general games did they keep aloof their curved chariot, but striving with all the Hellenic hosts, they rejoiced in spending their wealth upon steeds. For those who make no trial have an inglorious obscurity; and, even when men strive indeed, fortune doth not show herself until they reach the final goal. For she giveth of this, and of that; and ere now hath the skill of weaker men overtaken and overturned a stronger than they. Verily ye know of the valorous form of the blood-dyed Aias, which at the dead of night he pierced by falling on his own sword, thus bringing blame on all the sons of the Greeks, as many as went to Troy. But lo! he is honoured throughout all the world by Homer, who, having set forth all his prowess, told it after the rule of his epic divine for other bards to toy with. For whatsoever one hath well said goeth forth with a voice that never dieth; and thus, o’er the fruitful earth and athwart the sea, hath passed the light of noble deeds unquenchable for ever. O may we win the favour of the Muses, that, for Melissus also, we may kindle that torch of song, as a well-won prize from the pancratium, even for this scion of the race of Telesias. For, in toil of conflict, he resembleth the spirit of loudly-roaring lions in boldness, while, in craft, he is like the fox, which lieth on her back and so stayeth the swoop of the eagle. But right it is to leave naught undone in throwing one’s adversary into the shade. For fate had not allotted him the stature of an Orion, but he was mean to look upon, though heavy to grapple with in his strength.

Yet, once on a time, from Thebes, the city of Cadmus, there went a hero, short in stature, but in soul unflinching, even unto the home of Antaeus, in corn-bearing Libya, to stay him from roofing Poseidon’s temple with the skulls of strangers, even Alcmene’s son; who to Olympus passed, after he had tracked out all the lands and even the cliff-girt level of the foaming sea, and had tamed the wild straits for the seamen. And now he dwelleth beside the aegis-bearer,' lord of a happiness supreme, by the immortals honoured as a friend; and is wedded to Hebe, is king of a golden home, and husband of Hera’s daughter. For him, above the Electran gates, we Thebans, busily preparing the banquet, and setting the circle of our newly built altars, kill many a victim in honour of those eight slain warriors, the sons whom Megara, Creon’s daughter, bare him—the sons for whom the flame ariseth in the gloaming, and blazeth for the livelong night, lashing with fragrant reek the height of heaven. And, on the second day, is that struggle of strength, the crowning event of the annual games. And there it was that our hero, with head enwreathed with myrtle white, showed forth a double victory, after another won erstwhile among the boys by heeding the wise counsels of his helmsman and trainer, Orseas. Linking his own name’with that of Orseas, I shall honour him in the triumph-song, shedding on both my glad tribute of praise.