O Syracuse, city in greatness excelling, + 

Precinct of Ares through gulfs of war + 

Who plungeth, O nurse of the warrior and steed + 

That in clash of the steel of battle-weed + 

Exult, from radiant Thebes do I speed + 

Bearing a song of the great race, telling + 

Of the swift earth-shaking four-horsed car, + 

The race wherein Hiero triumphward riding + 

Flashed down the course with his glorious team, + 

And crowned with garlands that glowed far-seen + 

Ortygia, the haunt of the River-queen + 

Artemis⁠—aided of her, I ween, + 

His hands as with spells of enchantment were guiding + 

Those steeds with a bridle of rainbow-gleam; + 