when he rounded the fourth turn of the course, the spokesmen of the wise judges proclaimed him twice an Isthmian victor, and twice in Nemea , beside the sacred altar of Zeus son of Cronus. Glorious Thebes also welcomed him fittingly, and spacious Argos , and Sicyon , and those who dwell in Pellene , and in Euboea rich in grain, and on the holy island Aegina . Each man seeks a different path on which to walk to attain conspicuous glory; and the forms of knowledge among men are countless. Indeed, a man is skillful if he has a share of honor from the Graces and blooms with golden hope, or if he has some knowledge of the prophetic art; another man aims his artful bow at boys; others swell their spirits with fields and herds of cattle. The future begets unpredictable results: which way will fortune's scale incline? The finest thing is to be envied by many people as a noble man. I know also the great power of wealth, which makes even a useless man valuable. Why have I steered my song in its straight course so far off the road? Delight is appointed for mortals after victory of flutes mix must Ode 11 For Alexidamus of Metapontion Boys' Wrestling at Delphi Date unknown Victory, giver of sweet gifts—to you alone the father seated on high in golden Olympus , standing beside Zeus, you judge the achievement of excellence for immortals and mortals alike. Be gracious, daughter of Styx with her long hair, the upright judge. For your sake even now Metapontion, the city honored by the gods, is filled with delight and with victory processions of young men with fine limbs. They sing the praises of the Pythian victor, the marvellous son of Phaiscus. The Delos-born son of deep-waisted Leto received him with a propitious eye; and many garlands of flowers fell around Alexidamus on the plain of Cirrha