[Footnote 6:  Poseidon.]

[Footnote 7:  Sisyphos, Ixion, and Tityos.]

II.

For Theron of Akragas,

Winner in the chariot-race.

* * * * *

  Theron’s ancestors the Emmenidai migrated from Rhodes to Sicily and
  first colonized Gela and then Akragas (the Latin Agrigentum and
  Italian Girgenti).  His chariot won this victory B.C. 476.

* * * * *

Lords of the lute[1], my songs, what god, what hero, or what man, are we to celebrate?[2] Verily of Zeus is Pisa the abode, of Herakles the Olympian feast was founded from the chief spoils of war, and Theron’s name must we proclaim for his victory with the four-horse-car, a righteous and god-fearing host, the stay of Akragas, of famous sires the flower, a saviour of the state.

They after long toils bravely borne took by a river’s side a sacred dwelling place, and became the eye of Sicily, and a life of good luck clave to them, bringing them wealth and honour to crown their inborn worth.

O son of Kronos and of Rhea, lord of Olympus’ seat, and of the chief of games and of Alpheos’ ford, for joy in these my songs guard ever graciously their native fields for their sons that shall come after them.

Now of deeds done whether they be right or wrong not even Time the father of all can make undone the accomplishment, yet with happy fortune forgetfulness may come.  For by high delights an alien pain is quelled and dieth, when the decree of God sendeth happiness to grow aloft and widely.

And this word is true concerning Kadmos’ fair-throned daughters, whose calamities were great, yet their sore grief fell before greater good.  Amid the Olympians long-haired Semele still liveth, albeit she perished in the thunder’s roar, and Pallas cherisheth her ever, and Father Zeus exceedingly, and her son, the ivy-bearing god.  And in the sea too they say that to Ino, among the sea-maids of Nereus, life incorruptible hath been ordained for evermore.

Ay but to mortals the day of death is certain never, neither at what time we shall see in calm the end of one of the Sun’s children, the Days, with good thitherto unfailing; now this way and now that run currents bringing joys or toils to men.

Thus destiny which from their fathers holdeth the happy fortune of this race[3], together with prosperity heaven-sent bringeth ever at some other time better reverse:  from the day when Laios was slain by his destined son[4] who met him on the road and made fulfilment of the oracle spoken of old at Pytho.  Then swift Erinys when she saw it slew by each other’s hand his war-like sons:  yet after that Polyneikes fell Thersander[5] lived after him and won honour in the Second Strife[6] and in the fights of war, a saviour scion to the Adrastid house.