of Pleuron . And my sweet soul diminished; I knew that my strength was gone, aiai! I breathed my last breath in tears, as I left behind splendid youth. They say that was the only time that the son of Amphitryon, fearless in battle, ever wetted his eyes with tears, pitying the fate of the man who endured grief. And he answered him in this way: For mortals it is best never to be born, never to look on the light of the sun. But there is no profit in lamenting this; one must speak of what can be accomplished. Is there, in the halls of battle-loving Oineus, any daughter, unsubdued by love, whose appearance is like yours? I would gladly make her my splendid bride. And to him the soul of Meleager, steadfast in battle, answered: I left behind at home Deianeira, Deianeira did marry Heracles; later she killed him unintentionally by giving him a robe treated with poison, which she thought was a love-charm. with her neck like a fresh olive; golden Cypris, charmer of mortals, is still unknown to her. White-armed Calliope, stop your well-made chariot right there. Sing of the Olympian ruler of the gods, Zeus son of Cronus, and the untiring stream of the Alpheus, and the strength of Pelops, and Pisa , where glorious Pherenicus won victory in the race with his feet, and returned to Syracuse with its fine towers, bringing to Hieron the leaf of good fortune. For the sake of truth we must give praise, pushing away envy with both hands, if any mortal man does well. A Boeotian man, Hesiod, attendant of the sweet Muses, said this: He whom the gods honor has a good name among men as well. I am easily persuaded to send to Hieron my illustrious voice, not from the path . There is another gap in the papyrus here, and the text is uncertain. For in this way the roots of fine fortune flourish; may the great father Zeus guard them, undisturbed, in peace. Ode 6 For Lachon of Ceos [Boys'] Foot Race at Olympia 452 B. C. Lachon has won from greatest Zeus the best glory with his feet by the streams of the Alpheus [the victories] through which before Ceos rich in vines has been sung at Olympia as victorious in boxing and the foot race, by young men, luxuriant with garlands in their hair. And now by the will of Victory, the hymn of Ourania, ruler of song, honors you, wind-footed son of Aristomenes, in songs before your house, since by your triumph in the foot race you brought glory to Ceos. Ode 7 For Lachon of Ceos [Boys'] Foot Race at Olympia 452 B. C. Shining daughter of Time and Night, the fifty [months have brought] you, sixteenth day of the month at Olympia by the will of to judge the speed of swift feet and preeminence in strength of limbs among the Greeks. The one to whom you give the most distinguished honor of victory is called glorious and much envied among men. You have adorned with garlands [the son] of Aristomenes, Lachon The rest is fragmentary. Ode 8 For Liparion of Ceos? The text of str. 1 is fragmentary. singing the praises of sheep-sacrificing Pytho , and Nemea and the Isthmus. I will make my boast, laying my hand on the earth— every debt of praise shines in the light of truth—no Greek, boy or man, has won more victories in his age-group. Zeus, whose spear is the thunderbolt, by the banks of the silver-whirling Alpheus may you also fulfill his prayers for great god-given glory, and place on his head a gray-green wreath of Aetolian olive in the famous games of Phrygian Pelops. Ode 9 For Automedes of Phlius Pentathlon at Nemea Date unknown Graces with golden distaffs, give fame, which moves the minds of men; for the divinely inspired prophet of the violet-eyed Muses is ready to sing the praises of Phlius and the flourishing plain of Nemean Zeus, where white-armed Hera reared the sheep-slaughtering, deep-voiced lion, the first of Heracles' far-famed labors. There the heroes with red shields, the best of the Argives, held games for the first time in honor of Archemorus, whom a fiery-eyed monstrous dragon killed in his sleep: a sign of the slaughter to come. Powerful fate! The son of Oicles could not persuade them to go back to the streets thronged with good men. Hope robs men [of their sense]: