Far-reaching power has wealth for him to whom + 

It comes, a gift that Destiny sends + 

With stainless honour linked: so leads he home + 

A charm that wins him friends. + 

Thon, O Arkesilas the heaven-blest, + 

Since from its first steps glory crowned + 

Thy life, hast held that boon of Heaven in quest, + 

Hast sought fair fame, and found, + 

With aid of Kastor of the chariot golden, + 

Who bade the wintry tempest cease, + 

And sheds upon thine hearthstone bliss-enfolden + 

Sunlight of skies of peace. + 

Whoso are noble bear with fairest grace + 

Such power as God bestows on thee; + 

And thou on paths of righteousness dost pace + 

Crowned with prosperity; + 

For over mighty cities king thou art; + 

And thy discernment eagle-eyed, + 

Inborn with thee, hath wedded to thine heart + 

Honour as to a bride. + 

And this day crowns thy bliss with triumph glorious + 

In Pythian Games by fleet steeds won. + 

Now hast thou welcomed home the chant victorious + 

As sweeps the revel on, + 

Phoebus’ delight. So, when the song they raise + 

Around Kyrene’s garden fair + 

Of Aphrodite, to give God the praise + 

For all, have thou a care. + 

And hold Karrhotus dearest friend, who brought + 

Not back, to cloak disaster’s shame, + 

Excuse, the child of late-wise Afterthought, + 

When to the halls he came + 

Of Battus’ sons, whose just rule lives in story; + 

But, hailed her guest by Kastaly’s Spring, + 

Won for thee with his car a crown of glory⁠— + 

Thy car all-conquering! + 

With reins unsnapped through all that hallowed space + 

Around the courses twelve he swung, + 

Nor car nor harness brake he in the race, + 

But dedicate hath hung + 

On Phoebus’ wall the craftsmen’s masteries + 

Riding whereon he passed ere then + 

The hill of Krisa to the plain that lies + 

In the God’s bosomed glen. + 

The cypress shrine now hath them in possession + 

By that self-moulded statue placed + 

Which Cretan bowmen ’neath the roof Parnassian + 

Unto the God upraised. + 

Beseems that with blithe heart thou welcome one + 

Who hath done thee such service fair. + 

Splendour ye shed on Alexibius’ son, + 

O Graces of bright hair! + 

O happy thou, that after labour sore + 

Thou hast the praise of noblest song + 

To keep thy memory green! Mid those twoscore + 

Drivers, who mid the throng + 

Were hurled to earth, thou with a heart undaunted + 

Didst drive unscathed thy chariot on, + 

And now to Libya from Games glory-haunted + 

And thy sires’ home hast won. + 

No man is now, nor shall be, portionless + 

Of trouble: yet on Battus’ line + 

Still waits the olden bliss, though happiness + 

And grief may intertwine. + 

Kyrene’s warder-tower is this, a light + 

Of splendour on the stranger shed. + 

Yea, thunder-throated lions in affright + 

From Battus’ outcry fled⁠— + 

That voice from overseas! Your founder Apollo + 

Thrilled them with dread, that on the word + 

Of prophecy might sure fulfilment follow + 

For him, Kyrene’s lord. + 

’Tis Phoebus gives to men and women skill + 

To heal all manner of disease; + 

He gave the lyre, he teacheth whom he will + 

All Song’s sweet melodies. + 

Into men’s hearts Fair Governance he brings, + 

Mother of peace: o’er Pytho’s cell + 

He broodeth, whence his voice prophetic rings. + 

In Sparta he made dwell, + 

In Argos, Pylos’ hallowed town, undaunted + 

Heracles’ and Aigimius’ line. + 

Now Sparta’s dear renown must needs be chanted + 

By her son’s lips, yea, mine. + 

Thence my forefathers sprang, the Aigeïdae, + 

Who, by the Gods’ grace destiny-led, + 

To Thera fared of old, whence also we + 

That Feast inherited + 

Of sacrifice wherein all people share, + 

And in thy feast Karneian, King + 

Apollo, of Kyrene builded fair + 

The glorious honour sing, + 

Where dwell the brazen-harnessed Trojan strangers, + 

Antenor’s sons, who fled the war + 

Wherein they saw Troy burnt, and came, sea-rangers, + 

With Helen from afar. + 

Kind welcome to that chariot-driving band + 

With gifts and sacrifice they gave + 

Whom Aristoteles brought to Libyan land + 

In swift ships o’er the wave, + 

Cleaving a deep path through the sea, and made + 

Greater the temple-groves divine, + 

And for the festival-processions laid + 

A paved road’s level line + 

For trampling steeds, and pilgrims magnifying + 

Apollo, Helper of our race. + 

There now in death apart is Battus lying + 

Hard by the market-place. + 

Blest was he while with men he found a home: + 

All reverence him, their hero, yet. + 

Apart from him is each king’s hallowed tomb + 

Before the palace set. + 

To them in Hades wins some echo through⁠— + 

If such life-music reach the dead⁠— + 

How prowess is besprent with kindly dew + 

Of victory-song outshed. + 

So theirs too is Arkesilas’ triumph-story, + 

The fame that justice doth award. + 

While chant the youths, ’tis meet he sing the glory + 

Of Phoebus Golden-sword, + 

He whom glad Pythian songs immortalize⁠— + 

The victor’s guerdon for all pains. + 

I bat repeat the praises of the wise + 

In these my triumph-strains. + 

His mind, his tongue, transcend his spring of life; + 

In courage as a broad-winged erne + 

Mid weakling fowl, a tower in athlete-strife + 

No strength can overturn. + 

Even from his mother’s knee did he give token + 

Of wings with my Song-queens to soar: + 

Of his car-driving skill the praise is spoken + 

By this the wide world o’er. + 

And all paths that exalt his Libyan home + 

Hath he essayed. Now graciously + 

God perfecteth his powers. Through years to come, + 

Blest Kronos’ Sons, do ye + 

Vouchsafe to him alike with hand and mind + 

Still to excel. May his work stay, + 

Wrecked by no blast of devastating wind + 

In his life’s autumn-day. + 

The mighty mind of Zeus is ever guiding + 

Their destiny whom he loveth well. + 

To Battus’ seed may he grant fame abiding + 

Also in Pisa’s dell. + 