By grace of the Gods there be countless paths far-spreading before my feet; + 

But, Melissus, thou at the Isthmian Games hast shown me a highway meet + 

Whereon to follow in song the track of the prowess of thy line + 

Wherein the sons of Kleonymus ever have prospered by help divine, + 

And so pass on to the term of mortal life; but ever shifting + 

Are the winds of fate that swoop upon man, and drive him chartless-drifting. + 

Ay, the story of these from of yore is told, how with honour in Thebes they were named. + 

Warders they were of the tribes dwelling round, and in arrogance brawling unshamed + 

No part they had; and what records soever there be of the men which have died, + 

Or of yet living men, such as fly wind-blown through the whole world far and wide, + 

Records of limitless glory, these they attained in their fullness receiving: + 

Yea, Heracles’ Pillars they touched by the gallant deeds of their line’s achieving;⁠— + 

But let none press on to achievement that reacheth + 

Farther beyond that bound!⁠— + 

And in that house many a lover + 

Of the rearing of steeds was found. + 

And they joyed in the lore that the War-god teacheth. + 

But ere one day’s hours passed over, + 

The merciless sleet-laden tempest of war had bereft of hero-scions four + 

That hearth once happy; but now again + 

After the wintry gloom of the months of changeful vesture, the earth once more + 

Hath blossomed with roses of crimson grain + 

By the will of Heaven. The Shaker of Earth, who hath at Onchestus his halls, + 

And whose mansion is on the sea-lashed ridge afront of Corinth’s walls, + 

Even he bestoweth upon that house this hymn of wondrous praise, + 

And the olden glory of far-famed deeds from her bed doth he upraise + 

Where erst she had fallen on sleep, but now is awakened, and shines resplendent + 

Over all her form, as the Morning Star mid the stars is a light transscendent⁠— + 

That olden glory which even on Athens’ fields proclaimed the renown + 

Of a chariot-triumph; then in Adrastus’ Games at Sikyon-town + 

Gave wreathed leaves of such old-time song as these of our own days are. + 

Nor yet at the national contests failed they to ride the curved car; + 

But they joyed in contending with all the Hellenes, in spending on steeds their treasure. + 

But unhonoured, unsung, is the man that spareth his might against others to measure. + 

Yea, even when champions in strife be contending, + 

Till the end in uncertainty + 

Her face Queen Fortune veileth; + 

For triumph now giveth she + 

And anon defeat; but at whiles in the ending + 

The craft of the weaker prevaileth + 

To cast to the earth the stronger. Ye know of the prowess of Aias the blood-stained fame, + 

How, when the night was now far spent, + 

He cast himself on his own sword, thereby bringing reproach and abiding shame + 

On the sons of Hellenes that Troy ward went. + 

But lo, he is honoured of Homer the wide world over, who set on high + 

All knightly prowess of Aias; and his god-gifted poesy + 

Hath taught the measure whereby all other bards must frame the lay: + 

For a noble song passeth down the years with a voice that liveth for aye, + 

And over the harvest-abounding earth, and across the sea for ever + 

Goeth the sunbright shining of noble deeds, to be quenchèd never. + 

May the Muses to us be gracious, that so we may kindle a beacon-light + 

Of song for Melissus, a wreath that shall worthily crown the pankratian might + 

Of the son of the House of Telesias; for he showeth in conflict’s toil + 

The courage of roaring lions, and coupled therewith the fox’s guile + 

Who lies on his back, so holding at bay the eagle’s swoop down-rushing. + 

So cunning and strength must alike be used for the adversary’s crushing. + 

For not by nature was this man dowered + 

With Orion’s giant height; + 

Mean was he to outward showing, + 

But with iron-heavy might + 

In the grapple his foe he overpowered. + 

So of old for Antaius’ o’erthrowing + 

To his dwelling in Libya’s corn-land came a man low-statured, a hero who bore + 

A spirit unflinching in conflict-strain, + 

A scion of Thebes whose wrestling-grip should for ever stay him from roofing o’er + 

With the skulls of strangers Poseidon’s fane, + 

Even the son of Alkmena, who passed to Olympus after that he + 

Had tracked all lands, and traversed the cliff-walled face of the surf-white sea, + 

Had slain the sea-rovers, and safe for voyagers made the sea’s highway. + 

And now by the Aegis-bearer in glorious bliss he dwelleth for aye, + 

As a friend is honoured of all the Immortals, with Hebe hath made affiance, + 

Is lord of a golden palace, is kinsman to Hera by spousal-alliance. + 

For him above the Elektran Gate we burghers the feast prepare, + 

And the crown-like ring of the altars newly-built will we set to him there, + 

And our sacrifices will offer for those eight bronze-mailed heroes who died, + 

Whom Megara, Kreon’s daughter, bare, that mighty Hero’s bride⁠— + 

They unto whom at the sun’s down-going the nightlong flame is uplifted, + 

And with odorous reek its smoke is lashing the welkin, through cloudland drifted. + 

Then on the second day is holden + 

The struggle of athlete-might, + 

The crown of the year’s games ended. + 

There with his brows made bright + 

With leaves of the myrtle-wreath enfolden + 

Twin triumphs Melissus blended, + 

When already among the boys he had won another by heeding diligently + 

The words of the wisely-counselling tongue + 

Of the pilot trainer who steered his course: with Melissus Orseas’ name join I + 

As I shed on them grace of delightsome song. + 